Buffalo needs toughness...

Buffalo needs a tough 3rd line griner (NOT a good) and maybe a tough 4th liner as well. Would prefer the grinder to chip in 10-15 goals, preferably big ones. I think Buffalo could fit this need by just signing steve thomas, but who knows what will happen.

Buffalo needs a tough 3rd line griner (NOT a good) and maybe a tough 4th liner as well. Would prefer the grinder to chip in 10-15 goals, preferably big ones. I think Buffalo could fit this need by just signing steve thomas, but who knows what will happen.

Well for the 4th liner you will probably see Mair, Peters, and Boulton/Botterill/Gaustad on the 4th line, that is a tough enough line. Pyatt will become that grinder this season I think. The only way Stumpy gets signed is if Brown/Connolly get dealt.

Buffalo needs a tough 3rd line griner (NOT a good) and maybe a tough 4th liner as well. Would prefer the grinder to chip in 10-15 goals, preferably big ones. I think Buffalo could fit this need by just signing steve thomas, but who knows what will happen.

So who do you dump or scratch to fill these needs? The Sabres are already log-jammed at forward.

How about Gratton for Briere?

:D

How about Gratton for Briere?

:D

Hmm, how about no?

You want Stevenson?

Well for the 4th liner you will probably see Mair, Peters, and Boulton/Botterill/Gaustad on the 4th line, that is a tough enough line. Pyatt will become that grinder this season I think. The only way Stumpy gets signed is if Brown/Connolly get dealt.

As of right now, I would probably Pencil in Connolly in for the 4th line duty. With Begin gone, i would expect....

Satan-Drury-Kotalik
Hecht-Briere-Dumont
Pyatt-Brown-Mair
Peters-Connoly-Afinogenov

However, i think Buffalo would be MUCH better off with a lineup like:

Satan-Drury-Kotalik
Pyatt-Briere-Afinogenov
Hecht-Brown-Thomas
Peters-Gaustaud-Mair

Who does that make extra? Dumont, Connolly. I think that gives the a little more balanced Physical/scoring and one heck of an energy 4th line. What could they trade for? I would like to see a physical d-man, maybe offer around Connoly, Dumont, and Biron as a package, see what is offered in return.

As of right now, I would probably Pencil in Connolly in for the 4th line duty.

It's better to not post while under the influence of drugs buddy. Tim Connolly could not, would not, and will not survive on the 4th line. And neither could Afinogenov. It's a good idea to not put a guy coming off of a concussion on the grinding checking 4th line. You're idea=Buffalo's idea. You're first idea=crack smoking + random placement of players.

OK, as for a package of Connolly + Dumont + Biron, who starts in net? Miller? If this team wants playoffs I don't think Miller is ready. Neither is Noronen. I agree Connolly needs to be moved. I still like Dumont but if he doesn't produce this year, so long JP. Who is the odd defenseman out if you get a physical guy? Won't be Tallinder, won't be Delmore, won't be McKee, won't be Kalinin, won't be Zhitnik. It probably wouldn't be Campbell. So therefore for Buffalo to move Connolly, Dumont and Biron you could expect draft picks or prospects. As for signing Thomas, if you trade away Dumont, sure why not.

When Dumont gets ticked off he plays with a pretty decent edge. If he were on a line with Pyatt and Brown, he might play more chippier.

It's better to not post while under the influence of drugs buddy. Tim Connolly could not, would not, and will not survive on the 4th line. And neither could Afinogenov. It's a good idea to not put a guy coming off of a concussion on the grinding checking 4th line. You're idea=Buffalo's idea. You're first idea=crack smoking + random placement of players.




As I see you are from the God forsaken state of Ohio, i'll give you a little break. So, where would you rather put Connoly? One one of the top two lines in front of more deserving players? On the checking line where he would harm you more than hurt you? For Connolly, its either 4th line or the bench. You seem to think that the 4th line HAS to be a grinding line, and I agree, it should be one, but with the roster the way it is, Buffalo doesn't have the bodies to make it one. Unless they make room for the Grinders down there, its going to end up being a 3rd wave scoring line with limited ice time, players like Afinogenov and Connolly make too much to be benched on a regular basis. Afinogenov, IMHO, should be on the 2nd line, but right now, there just isn't enough room up front. Buffalo has alot of 2nd tier scorers and positional D-men, and not enough physical players.

As I see you are from the God forsaken state of Ohio, i'll give you a little break. So, where would you rather put Connoly? One one of the top two lines in front of more deserving players? On the checking line where he would harm you more than hurt you? For Connolly, its either 4th line or the bench. You seem to think that the 4th line HAS to be a grinding line, and I agree, it should be one, but with the roster the way it is, Buffalo doesn't have the bodies to make it one. Unless they make room for the Grinders down there, its going to end up being a 3rd wave scoring line with limited ice time, players like Afinogenov and Connolly make too much to be benched on a regular basis. Afinogenov, IMHO, should be on the 2nd line, but right now, there just isn't enough room up front. Buffalo has alot of 2nd tier scorers and positional D-men, and not enough physical players.

According to Regier the fourth line will probably look like Peters-Mair-Boulton.

These are the way things will pan out:

Kotalik-Drury-Satan
Hecht-Briere-Dumont
Pyatt-Brown-Afinogenov (Connolly)
Peters-Mair-Boulton

I think that if the team gels from the beginning, Connolly sits the bench after he returns. Then he gets dealt within 20 games.

As for who plays fourth line duty while Boltz is hurt for a week, I don't know. Maybe Roy sticks for a few games and then goes back to Rochester (where he will end up). He's not a fourth line type player anyway, but he'd only be a fill in.

As I see you are from the God forsaken state of Ohio, i'll give you a little break. So, where would you rather put Connoly? One one of the top two lines in front of more deserving players? On the checking line where he would harm you more than hurt you? For Connolly, its either 4th line or the bench. You seem to think that the 4th line HAS to be a grinding line, and I agree, it should be one, but with the roster the way it is, Buffalo doesn't have the bodies to make it one. Unless they make room for the Grinders down there, its going to end up being a 3rd wave scoring line with limited ice time, players like Afinogenov and Connolly make too much to be benched on a regular basis. Afinogenov, IMHO, should be on the 2nd line, but right now, there just isn't enough room up front. Buffalo has alot of 2nd tier scorers and positional D-men, and not enough physical players.

No, I would trade Connolly. And thanks for the break on Ohio :rolleyes: Connolly doesn't deserve third line on this team and the only advantage to putting his sorry self on the 4th line would be if he got hurt. Buffalo indeed has the bodies to make one. Boulton-Mair-Peters is a line to fear. Peters alone is enough to fear. Afinogenov is a 3rd liner. As of right now you can't break up Briere's line with Hecht and Dumont. Until and if Dumont gets dealt. In which case you move up Max, slide Brown to right wing or Roy and use Derek on the 3rd line. I agree that they don't have enough physical players. But only on defense. Taylor Pyatt will be a force this season and with the aforementioned 4th line Buffalo has some toughness up front. On defense McKee is the only hitter. Zhitnik will bang a little, but not enough. Let me give you the simple summary for this.

Kotalik-Drury-Satan
Hecht-Briere-Afinogenov (trading Dumont)
Pyatt-Brown-Roy (trading Connolly)
Boulton-Mair-Peters (insert Gaustad at center till Boulton is ready, when Boulton comes back Mair to center)

Buffalo needs a tough 3rd line griner (NOT a good) and maybe a tough 4th liner as well. Would prefer the grinder to chip in 10-15 goals, preferably big ones. I think Buffalo could fit this need by just signing steve thomas, but who knows what will happen.If you dont think Andrew Peters is ready just bring back the Rayzor. He should finish in Buffalo and he can still do a good job. What about Sean McMorrow?

If you dont think Andrew Peters is ready just bring back the Rayzor. He should finish in Buffalo and he can still do a good job. What about Sean McMorrow?

The thing is, Andrew Peters is ready. That's why I don't get this thread. He's 6'4" and bulked up to 247 pounds. That means he weighs more than Laraque.

A fourth line of Peters-Mair-Boulton is incredibly tough and can play some hockey, too.

The only thing that I think Buffalo needs is a big, young tough top four defender (in the mold of a guy like Colin White), but that just isn't happening. Guys like that don't grow on trees and would cost an arm and a leg.

Buffalo has the extra forwards and defensemen and goalies to make a trade, but I don't know if Regier would be willing to make the necessary package.

I cant believe how many teams passed on Todd Simpson.
i have to agree with you on this..

I cant believe how many teams passed on Todd Simpson.

I know... good scrapper that can play decent hockey.

Price tag I tell you, price tag.

You could probably pry away Lance Ward from the Ducks
He can play forward or defense and is hard-nosed although slow
Todd Simpson, Garrett Burnett and Cam Severson have taken away his potential roster spots at forward and defense
although the Duck would probably rather holding on to him until after Carney comes back from injury

How about Ian Laperriere?