skinner and lazar have synergy not seen by ralph since skinner and sobotka

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.
- IonSabres

Last year was last year. I'm not defending, nor attacking, Skinner's placement in the lineup in a preseason practice. Especially when the opening day lineup is not available until Wednesday.

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

Seriously, if Ralph is intent on driving Skinner to lest than top 6, then friggin trade him...hold $3m and be done...better than pissing away $9m with 11 ATOI.

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.
- TheSabresTaco

Which shouldn’t matter, as we both know guys go through slumps all the time

Was he getting shots? Was he hitting posts? Who were his linemates? Was he on the PP?

I personally don’t know if Skinner did anything to warrant being the only one who was jerked around, despite other players on this team going through obvious rough stretches

Marcus Johansson had a stretch of 15-ish games where he was the worst player on the ice, I don’t think he was ever treated as Skinner was

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.
- TheSabresTaco

injured


played with guys like eord and frolik

etc

Seriously, if Ralph is intent on driving Skinner to lest than top 6, then friggin trade him...hold $3m and be done...better than pissing away $9m with 11 ATOI.
- IonSabres

What if Skinner, Cozens and center X is a better, more effective trio than Olofsson, Cozens and Center X?

Which shouldn’t matter, as we both know guys go through slumps all the time

Was he getting shots? Was he hitting posts? Who were his linemates? Was he on the PP?

s
- sbroads24

I am convinced he was not healthy when he came back from injury

injured


played with guys like eord and frolik

etc
- homiedclown

Like I said, several factors. I think we all went through this conversation enough to pulp a horse.

Which shouldn’t matter, as we both know guys go through slumps all the time

Was he getting shots? Was he hitting posts? Who were his linemates? Was he on the PP?

I personally don’t know if Skinner did anything to warrant being the only one who was jerked around, despite other players on this team going through obvious rough stretches

Marcus Johansson had a stretch of 15-ish games where he was the worst player on the ice, I don’t think he was ever treated as Skinner was
- sbroads24

What if he was jerked around BECAUSE of his 5v5 ability? You wouldn't put Olofsson through that, right? You yourself spoke of how much more effective Skinner was with Eichel in 5v5.

So when you take that elite 5v5 playdriving talent to a desolate line, you're helping to create (apparently not execute) more offense, hence taking pressure off the only line on our team.

And as far as on ice effectiveness, MoJo and anyone under Eichel and Reinhart couldn't carry Skinner's (frank)ing jock.

Seriously, if Ralph is intent on driving Skinner to lest than top 6, then friggin trade him...hold $3m and be done...better than pissing away $9m with 11 ATOI.
- IonSabres

We'll see if Krueger actually goes through with this. Every year one of these coaches does something that pisses me off or someone I like doesn't make the team. So this is a good candidate for "dumb poop training camp move"

I'm numb to inexplicable coaching decisions

I am convinced he was not healthy when he came back from injury
- homiedclown

Second the season ended, I declared it was a bounce back year for Skinner, in a big way, and I stand by it again today.

This would make sense to me:

Hall-Eichel-Thompson
Olofsson-Staal-Reinhart
Skinner-Lazar-Cozens
Ruotsalinen/Reider-Eakin-Okposo

Swap out Lazar for Larsson for that third line and that would have been an analytical wet dream but let’s pay Eakin and Reider to crater our playoff hopes

Second the season ended, I declared it was a bounce back year for Skinner, in a big way, and I stand by it again today.
- TheSabresTaco

In a 56 game season, if they're going to make the playoffs, he needs to score at least 20.

Second the season ended, I declared it was a bounce back year for Skinner, in a big way, and I stand by it again today.
- TheSabresTaco

Tough to see Skinner bouncing back with Lazar and Sheahan. Some (me) would say impossible

It's practice, that's what it's used for, try different things, get players used to each other, injuries happen.

This would make sense to me:

Hall-Eichel-Thompson
Olofsson-Staal-Reinhart
Skinner-Lazar-Cozens
Ruotsalinen/Reider-Eakin-Okposo

Swap out Lazar for Larsson for that third line and that would have been an analytical wet dream but let’s pay Eakin and Reider to crater our playoff hopes
- Pegullaville

I'd swap Eakin and Lazar. Eakin has years of 16, 19, 16 and 22 goals.

Seriously, if Ralph is intent on driving Skinner to lest than top 6, then friggin trade him...hold $3m and be done...better than pissing away $9m with 11 ATOI.
- IonSabres

But really, this is like buying a nice thick porterhouse from the butcher and then wrapping it in cellophane and cooking it in the dishwasher

Tough to see Skinner bouncing back with Lazar and Sheahan. Some (me) would say impossible
- jcragcrumple

Sheahan is not there.

What if Skinner, Cozens and center X is a better, more effective trio than Olofsson, Cozens and Center X?
- TheSabresTaco

Any other Coach in the league, maybe the planet would think...hmmm 40G's...followed by 15sh...hmmmm
How do I get that guy back to 40G's?
Not
How do I get Jeff to a 47% corsi from 45%

It's practice, that's what it's used for, try different things, get players used to each other, injuries happen.
- Buff36

wat? no.

Any other Coach in the league, maybe the planet would think...hmmm 40G's...followed by 15sh...hmmmm
How do I get that guy back to 40G's?
Not
How do I get Jeff to a 47% corsi from 45%
- IonSabres

I mean if his corsi is increasing, his production is likely following.

Sheahan is not there.
- TheSabresTaco

Oh, ok. I was going off the pham tweet.

Paul Hamilton
@pham1717
New lines. Hall Eichel Thompson. Olofsson Staal Reinhart. Rieder Eakin Okposo. Skinner Lazar Sheahan.

Who's there if not Sheahan?

Oh, ok. I was going off the pham tweet.



Who's there if not Sheahan?
- jcragcrumple

Sorry, was unclear.

Sheahan is in all liklihood a fill-in for Cozens. Or Cozens will be placed somewhere in the top 9 and so will Reinhart and Thompson.

Sorry, was unclear.

Sheahan is in all liklihood a fill-in for Cozens. Or Cozens will be placed somewhere in the top 9 and so will Reinhart and Thompson.
- TheSabresTaco

If Ralph went

Skinner-Cozens-Thompson

Ok, that's fun and different. But I dont need Skinner with Lazar ever, like I never needed Girgensons with Eichel, ever.

If Ralph went

Skinner-Cozens-Thompson

Ok, that's fun and different. But I dont need Skinner with Lazar ever, like I never needed Girgensons with Eichel, ever.
- jcragcrumple

If Skinner can play well with Larry, I think he could play well with Lazar, too. It may not be ideal, but with Cozens on the other side, I don't think it's as doom and gloom as it looks on the surface.