Oddly, I think I am more done and fed up with Tage than mitts. I don’t think Tage will ever learn to use his size. Dude could wreck house and be a pk monster with his reach. But he’s a big wet sloppy Nancy. His nickname should be WOP. Which should also be his theme song. If Tage had a 1/4 of Gerbe’s truculence he’d be a hall of fame player. But he doesn’t. He’s a Nancy. He can go.

And I’m not saying king of the pull-ups has that fight in him. But I’d ship Tage and see what Mitts has.
- Gr8daygo

Agreed.
He has no skill in the small game/-tight space that is the NHL.
He looks pretty doing stick handling drills in the neutral zone, then crosses the blue line and boom...turnover. he could give clinics on turnovers in the O-zone.

He's another piece of dead weight. But he's tall.
- lacaprup

i felt like fatty wasn't as bad as giraffe when he played the few games this season..

Agreed.
He has no skill in the small game/-tight space that is the NHL.
He looks pretty doing stick handling drills in the neutral zone, then crosses the blue line and boom...turnover. he could give clinics on turnovers in the O-zone.
- IonSabres

This is a bigger problem than him not using his size. Dangle, dangle, brainfreeze, giveaway. Not only is he too tall for his own good, he doesn't see the game well enough. He plays the game by himself and he's not talented enough to do that

This is a bigger problem than him not using his size. Dangle, dangle, brainfreeze, giveaway. Not only is he too tall for his own good, he doesn't see the game well enough. He plays the game by himself and he's not talented enough to do that
- jcragcrumple

But. But. But. He’s tall. And he’s EXACTLY who bots targeted in that trade. 🙄

i felt like fatty wasn't as bad as giraffe when he played the few games this season..
- SabresFaninIndiana

Mitts has actually made a few plays. Saw a clip on him from the Devils game. He actually busts ass in the neutral zone chasing Gusev who coughs it up, lead to a goal.

He may still be a big bust, but he has looked better this year for sure.

i felt like fatty wasn't as bad as giraffe when he played the few games this season..
- SabresFaninIndiana

Both guy's need a legitimate look, after we fall out of the playoffs. More so Casey.

With size and height being tage "game", he may still need to grow into his body?

Sabres can't be teasing themselves again next year.

But. But. But. He’s tall. And he’s EXACTLY who bots targeted in that trade. 🙄
- Gr8daygo

Botts really liked berglund as the replacement 2C as well.

😐

This is a bigger problem than him not using his size. Dangle, dangle, brainfreeze, giveaway. Not only is he too tall for his own good, he doesn't see the game well enough. He plays the game by himself and he's not talented enough to do that
- jcragcrumple

It's also the part of the game that's fixable. The game is still moving too fast for him. Most players eventually figure that part out, though some take longer than others. The ability to use your size and to be aggressive is rarely teachable.

It's also the part of the game that's fixable. The game is still moving too fast for him. Most players eventually figure that part out, though some take longer than others. The ability to use your size and to be aggressive is rarely teachable.
- buffalofan19

I think he's always going to make bonehead plays. The question is will he ever produce enough offensively to offset the dumb stuff that he's going to do. So far he's very much on the wrong side of that.

I definitely don't think he's a 1st or 2nd line player and his giveaways preclude him from being a 3rd or 4th line guy.

So if the dangles don't work (they don't, at least not enough to off-set the dumb stuff), then he's going to be an NHL tweener who is too skilled for the AHL but not good enough for the NHL.

Unless he figures out how to play defense, he's going to be dangling in Duesseldorf with Derek Roy

It's also the part of the game that's fixable. The game is still moving too fast for him. Most players eventually figure that part out, though some take longer than others. The ability to use your size and to be aggressive is rarely teachable.
- buffalofan19

Disagree.
Being tall myself at 6'5" it is difficult to play in tight, the physics just work against you...hence why if your tall and muscular, you need to use that size to create additional space you can in fact play within.i couldn't i imagine being 6'7" and be expected to navigate in close the same as say Marchant.
It's akin to an aircraft carrier chasing down a PT Boat. Ain't happening without physicality

Disagree.
Being tall myself at 6'5" it is difficult to play in tight, the physics just work against you...hence why if your tall and muscular, you need to use that size to create additional space you can in fact play within.i couldn't i imagine being 6'7" and be expected to navigate in close the same as say Marchant.
It's akin to an aircraft carrier chasing down a PT Boat. Ain't happening without physicality
- IonSabres

You learn something new every day.

You post like a 7'5 guy 🤔

Disagree.
Being tall myself at 6'5" it is difficult to play in tight, the physics just work against you...hence why if your tall and muscular, you need to use that size to create additional space you can in fact play within.i couldn't i imagine being 6'7" and be expected to navigate in close the same as say Marchant.
It's akin to an aircraft carrier chasing down a PT Boat. Ain't happening without physicality
- IonSabres

He's like a create-a-character in a video game. He maxed out his height and dangles but there were no skill points left for anything else

Speaking of Tage, Mikko Koivu retired yesterday. Remember when Tage broke him with his gangliness?

https://www.nbcsports.com...-koivu-tears-acl-meniscus

^ video

He's like a create-a-character in a video game. He maxed out his height and dangles but there were no skill points left for anything else

Speaking of Tage, Mikko Koivu retired yesterday. Remember when Tage broke him with his gangliness?

https://www.nbcsports.com...-koivu-tears-acl-meniscus

^ video
- jcragcrumple

Another 7 foot poster 🙉

30 yo Duchene, playing 3 more games and 2:30 ATOI more per game; has 1 point more than 36 YO Eric Staal. He also had 5 less points last season.

Do we really want to hitch our wagon to that guy for 6 years?
I'd rather fire Ralph and put Skinner on L1 with Jack and SM for a reunion tour.
- IonSabres

One doesn’t have to be protected for the expansion draft, the other we have to protect.

One is owed $41ish mil over the rest of his deal, the one on our roster is owed $50+ mil over the rest of his deal.

One is a center, the other isn’t.

One the coach will use properly, the other is on the 4th line.

The way I see it, there are more advantages to making the trade.

One has to be protected for the expansion draft, the other we have to protect.

One is owed $41ish mil over the rest of his deal, the one on our roster is owed $50+ mil over the rest of his deal.

One is a center, the other isn’t.

One the coach will use properly, the other is on the 4th line.

The way I see it, there are more advantages to making the trade.
- dadeadhead

I'd rather just pay Seattle to take Skinner if he so generously waives.

Duchene would be an anchor really soon

I love Skinner, but these last two years and the next two were supposed to be the "good" 4 years of his contract. That time is running out.

I'd rather just pay Seattle to take Skinner if he so generously waives.

Duchene would be an anchor really soon

I love Skinner, but these last two years and the next two were supposed to be the "good" 4 years of his contract. That time is running out.
- sbroads24

maybe ralph will opt out and someone else can make up the lines for the rest of the season

I'd rather just pay Seattle to take Skinner if he so generously waives.

Duchene would be an anchor really soon

I love Skinner, but these last two years and the next two were supposed to be the "good" 4 years of his contract. That time is running out.
- sbroads24

You’d have to pay less to make them take Duchene.

Centers outweigh wingers and without looking back at the numbers after this season, I’m pretty sure Duchene is owned under $39 mil the rest of his deal while Skinner is owed an extra year and still $50-51 mil.

One doesn’t have to be protected for the expansion draft, the other we have to protect.

One is owed $41ish mil over the rest of his deal, the one on our roster is owed $50+ mil over the rest of his deal.

One is a center, the other isn’t.

One the coach will use properly, the other is on the 4th line.

The way I see it, there are more advantages to making the trade.
- dadeadhead

Good points.
IMO, I would discount a bit he Expansion Draft issue since the Sabres should be fine with 7-3-1...but I get the point.

The money as salary aspect doesn't concern me, but the extra term of Skinner's contract is valid, but he is 2 years younger..so in some respects their similar.

Center helps, but if Cozens blooms into 2c, then $8m for a 3c is bad too and becomes a liability like Okposo. And you have alot of faith in Krueger that I'm not sure is justified.

Seems like 6 of 1, half dozen of another...unless Francis would find a 31C at $8m attractive...then, forget everything I said and go for it!

You’d have to pay less to make them take Duchene.

Centers outweigh wingers and without looking back at the numbers after this season, I’m pretty sure Duchene is owned under $39 mil the rest of his deal while Skinner is owed an extra year and still $50-51 mil.
- dadeadhead

i believe same length of contract but duchene is 8 mil and skins is 9 mil.. i could be wrong on the length though

edit im wrong ... skinner contract is longer

Good points.
IMO, I would discount a bit he Expansion Draft issue since the Sabres should be fine with 7-3-1...but I get the point.

The money as salary aspect doesn't concern me, but the extra term of Skinner's contract is valid, but he is 2 years younger..so in some respects their similar.

Center helps, but if Cozens blooms into 2c, then $8m for a 3c is bad too and becomes a liability like Okposo. And you have alot of faith in Krueger that I'm not sure is justified.

Seems like 6 of 1, half dozen of another...unless Francis would find a 31C at $8m attractive...then, forget everything I said and go for it!
- IonSabres

Duchene has played LW during his career.

He’s not fond of playing there but he has the ability to.

You’d have to pay less to make them take Duchene.

Centers outweigh wingers and without looking back at the numbers after this season, I’m pretty sure Duchene is owned under $39 mil the rest of his deal while Skinner is owed an extra year and still $50-51 mil.
- dadeadhead

Yes, Salary wise...but curious, why do we care about money versus Cap?

Good points.
IMO, I would discount a bit he Expansion Draft issue since the Sabres should be fine with 7-3-1...but I get the point.

:
- IonSabres

do we have to protect 11?

I don't see that many that need to be protected

i believe same length of contract but duchene is 8 mil and skins is 9 mil.. i could be wrong on the length though

edit im wrong ... skinner contract is longer
- SabresFaninIndiana

Skinner is owed $52 mil after this season and 6 yrs.

Duchene is owed $38 mil after this season for 5 yrs.

To me the biggest thing is NMC compared to can be sent anywhere.

Yes, Salary wise...but curious, why do we care about money versus Cap?
- IonSabres

Pegula is bleeding money with the Sabres.

Duchene has played LW during his career.

He’s not fond of playing there but he has the ability to.
- dadeadhead

Can he play RW on the 4th line to learn how to play The Sabres Way?