Take 5, Dennis. Take 5.
- TheSabresTaco

Right, because fvcking Ralph didn't pull this poop with Skinner last season for more than a few games. It was all a mirage.

I'm not losing sleep about it just yet, more like just rolling my eyes.
- buffalofan19

I am too, but that's the extent. Wait for the lineup to form, wait for Cozens, wait for the Sheahan lineup replacement to be removed.

Right, because fvcking Ralph didn't pull this poop with Skinner last season for more than a few games. It was all a mirage.
- IonSabres

I forgot last year and this year we have the same lineup, and that today is last year.

if Rieder Eakin Okposo is the third line instead of the 4th line then we have a coaching issue



too early to freak out IMO
- homiedclown

Over Skinner (who we all know shouldn't be there), Lazar and Sheahan?

Disagree.

Eakin and Okposo should absolutely play above Lazar and Sheahan, at least to start.

likeable used car salesman .
- kingcong39

doesn't exist


they are scum

Would you have said the same about larsson? Who actually played commendable with skinner for that short time. If the wing to center break in process is 10-15 games, thats not so hard to swallow.

Does anyone know kirby dachs progression games wise, he started on wing but moved to center
- ieetbred

Skinner was at his best with Larsson as his center last season and then Ralph took him off that line.

Again you're paying a guy $9 million and are setting him up for failure

He doesn't need to play with Eichel, you just have to give him line mates that he can work with. Curtis AHL Lazar is not that.

Over Skinner (who we all know shouldn't be there), Lazar and Sheahan?

Disagree.

Eakin and Okposo should absolutely play above Lazar and Sheahan, at least to start.
- Powerslave

that's my point

lazar and sheahan should not even be playing


eichel
hall
skinner
reinhart
cozens
olofsson
tage
casey
quinn
ruotsalainen
asplund

top 9 should come from these 11

Gotta see who gels together, some new pieces to the puzzle.

Skinner Lazar Sheehan

Ralph is out of his mind
- Stripes77

Sounds like ralph wanted to see tage and olofsson in certain roles while leaving the new Lockport line intact...no biggie

Doing the good work here buddy

It is a little strange how it always seems to be skinner, but this is exactly it. Someone is getting bumped to that 3rd line this year and it really doesnt matter who, if the team is scoring with 3 lines

Skinner and cozens on a 3rd line could be very dangerous
- ieetbred

The freakouts are so unwarranted.

We have 3 scoring LWs. Hall, Skinner, Olofsson. One of them is getting sent to the third line. That third line will be a scoring line this year, mark my words. Whether it's Olofsson or Skinner there. Cozens will be a 3C, or a 3RW. We have 3 scoring RWs. Reinhart, Cozens, Thompson.

There will be player movement this year. And you, fans, should be (frank)ing thrilled to see 6 players able to play the wings and actually be able to score in the National Hockey League.

capfriendly, yahoo fantasy also have him on IR.

He'll hit LTIR if the Sabres want or need the space.
- TheSabresTaco

Isn't the Cap Relief amount for LTIR limited to only the CAP overage?
I.e. the relief amount isn't an automatic credit...so since Sabres are not yet over the Cap, there is no monetary benefit of placing him on LTIR until they transact an additional contract ( aaahhhem, cough...Kuemper) is on the roster.

It absolutely matters who, especially when you are already paying massive dollars to Skinner while you have no idea what kind of player Olofsson is away from Eichel.

Do you really want to still not know that when you have to pay Olofsson again in 2 seasons?

Doesn't seem like an intelligent idea.

How dangerous will Skinner and Cozens be dragging around Lazar?
- kingcong39

Ok so stick olofsson with the anchor when you know skinner can handle himself? I really dont understand how it can matter if the team is scoring goals and winning games, obviously a big if

I wanted them to lock olofsson up longer term so it wasnt an issue with him in 2 years

Also food for thought, because im sick of skinners money being the biggest factor in where he should play in the lineup.. but maybe they dont give a (frank) that he makes 9 million. I dont need him to play with eichel. I want the sabres to win games

He should probably be on the 2nd line but if isnt and the team scores and wins the coach will get the credit right? I just want to know

if Rieder Eakin Okposo is the third line instead of the 4th line then we have a coaching issue



too early to freak out IMO
- homiedclown

I forgot last year and this year we have the same lineup, and that today is last year.
- TheSabresTaco

Sorry taco, no offense meant, but to ms this is a less than stellar take.
There has been a precedent set with the exact same player.

Gotta see who gels together, some new pieces to the puzzle.
- Buff36

No the coach is not allowed to shuffle the lines and try things in preseason practice.

The freakouts are so unwarranted.

We have 3 scoring LWs. Hall, Skinner, Olofsson. One of them is getting sent to the third line. That third line will be a scoring line this year, mark my words. Whether it's Olofsson or Skinner there. Cozens will be a 3C, or a 3RW. We have 3 scoring RWs. Reinhart, Cozens, Thompson.

There will be player movement this year. And you, fans, should be (frank)ing thrilled to see 6 players able to play the wings and actually be able to score in the National Hockey League.
- TheSabresTaco

Mucho caliente take

Ok so stick olofsson with the anchor when you know skinner can handle himself? I really dont understand how it can matter if the team is scoring goals and winning games, obviously a big if

I wanted them to lock olofsson up longer term so it wasnt an issue with him in 2 years

Also food for thought, because im sick of skinners money being the biggest factor in where he should play in the lineup.. but maybe they dont give a (frank) that he makes 9 million. I dont need him to play with eichel. I want the sabres to win games

He should probably be on the 2nd line but if isnt and the team scores and wins the coach will get the credit right? I just want to know
- ieetbred

What is wrong with the following, especially considering how well the top 2 lines have looked so far in camp?

Hall - Eichel - Olofsson
Skinner - Staal - Reinhart
Thompson - Eakin - Cozens
Sheahan - Lazar - Okposo
Ruotsalainen

Sorry taco, no offense meant, but to ms this is a less than stellar take.
There has been a precedent set with the exact same player.
- IonSabres

If you disagree, that's ok, that's why we're here. But it's a new year, and I don't live in the past.

I disagree with what Ralph did to Skinner last year, but he also did no favors for himself. Skinner will see time all over the roster. It's just the player he is. New year, new roster, new, and improved, forwards. It's a different ball game.

I won't lose a second of sleep seeing Skinner on a future "3rd line" [Ice time from last year indicates there was hardly a difference in ATOI from the 2nd and 3rd line] with Cozens.

What is wrong with the following, especially considering how well the top 2 lines have looked so far in camp?

Hall - Eichel - Olofsson
Skinner - Staal - Reinhart
Thompson - Eakin - Cozens
Sheahan - Lazar - Okposo
Ruotsalainen
- kingcong39

It puts the Jeff on its 4th line or else it gets the hose again!

Ok so stick olofsson with the anchor when you know skinner can handle himself? I really dont understand how it can matter if the team is scoring goals and winning games, obviously a big if

I wanted them to lock olofsson up longer term so it wasnt an issue with him in 2 years

Also food for thought, because im sick of skinners money being the biggest factor in where he should play in the lineup.. but maybe they dont give a (frank) that he makes 9 million. I dont need him to play with eichel. I want the sabres to win games

He should probably be on the 2nd line but if isnt and the team scores and wins the coach will get the credit right? I just want to know
- ieetbred

I only think people are getting their jimmies rustled because it’s Skinner, and it’s obvious the coach and Skinner do not see eye to eye.

I fully expect Skinner to produce very well at EV like he always does but his raw numbers will be bad for a 9 mil winger and will draw the ire of most

Krueger sucks

If you disagree, that's ok, that's why we're here. But it's a new year, and I don't live in the past.

I disagree with what Ralph did to Skinner last year, but he also did no favors for himself. Skinner will see time all over the roster. It's just the player he is. New year, new roster, new, and improved, forwards. It's a different ball game.

I won't lose a second of sleep seeing Skinner on a future "3rd line"
- TheSabresTaco[Ice time from last year indicates there was hardly a difference in ATOI from the 2nd and 3rd line] with Cozens.

Examples please

Isn't the Cap Relief amount for LTIR limited to only the CAP overage?
I.e. the relief amount isn't an automatic credit...so since Sabres are not yet over the Cap, there is no monetary benefit of placing him on LTIR until they transact an additional contract ( aaahhhem, cough...Kuemper) is on the roster.
- IonSabres

I'm a novice capologist, but this sounds generally right. When I say 'need', they'll put him on LTIR to open up cap for another guy or a trade or whatever. They have no reason to put him on there if they don't need to, as it creates overages into the next season (because the team needed to do it in the first place).

Lun can probably answer, if he's lurking.

What is wrong with the following, especially considering how well the top 2 lines have looked so far in camp?

Hall - Eichel - Olofsson
Skinner - Staal - Reinhart
Thompson - Eakin - Cozens
Sheahan - Lazar - Okposo
Ruotsalainen
- kingcong39

If they are winning then nothing at all

If you disagree, that's ok, that's why we're here. But it's a new year, and I don't live in the past.

I disagree with what Ralph did to Skinner last year, but he also did no favors for himself. Skinner will see time all over the roster. It's just the player he is. New year, new roster, new, and improved, forwards. It's a different ball game.

I won't lose a second of sleep seeing Skinner on a future "3rd line"
- TheSabresTaco[Ice time from last year indicates there was hardly a difference in ATOI from the 2nd and 3rd line] with Cozens.

But that was last year, right? Can't use that info if I understood you properly with the Skinner take.

This training camp, great chemistry between Skinner, Staal and Reinhart...so let's break that up.
Why not see what Skinner and Jack look like, and Hall on Staal's line.
so, so many other combinations to evaluate, rather than go back to the strategy of cutting a 40G scorer down to 15 AGAIN.

Another head scratcher from Ralph, who has many of them from last year.

Examples please
- sbroads24

I'll preface by stating that you know my position on Skinner the player, so, let's not go down the road today.

He went 22 games without scoring a goal. That is not Jeff Skinner telling Ralph that he deserves more playing time. There were plenty of factors at play, including QoL, luck and so on. What matters is that he did not capitalize.

He is still a very valuable player.