Do you think Stafford goal pace could be maintained next year? Is he really a 35-40 goal threat if he plays 82 games or he's just playing over is head this season (I noticed a unreal goal stretch form him last a month ago).
Stafford has as much upside as anybody in the league. He's big, fast, has great hands/stick skills, and isn't afraid to go to the net.
That said, his commitment to being as good as he can be will come into question until he proves it over a longer period of time, but it terms of talent, he definitely has the ability to be a premier goal-scoring forward.
Assuming he plays a full season I'm pretty confident he'll put in 30+ next season. 35-40 is definitely in his potential, but I'm not quite ready to say he'll be there just yet next year.
It's really going to all come down to maintaining the attitude with that guy. I have an intuitive feeling that he has turned the corner and the maturation process really began last summer when he trained his tail off. I could be wrong, but I don't think it's a contract year abberation. (I hope!)
What kind of minutes is he supposed to play? Top line? Second line?
Thanks for the answers!
Lindy spreads out the ice time amongst the top nine line pretty evenly. The player he used the most was Derek Roy and he would rarely get over 18 minutes of ice time. He'll get 16-18 minutes a game most nights.
He'll definitely be in the top six, but you're really splitting hairs with "first line" and "second line". He's a first line quality player, but Ruff doesn't have such distinctions really. Rarely do players finish the game on the same line they started on
I'm guessing this is fishing for a fantasy league? I would say you could steal him late in a draft if that is the case. Definitely worth keeping on your radar. It's hard to say what will happen with him this off-season, seeing as he could either be trade bait for a #1 center, or Pominville goes instead and he gets bumped up to the #1 slot in Pommer's absence. Then again, Lindy is notorious for line up bingo, so classifying him as a first line or second line guy is kinda hard to do. Most people here agree that if he continues the way he has, he will be a solid 30-30-60 guy.
Edit: haha 3 posts all saying the same thing. I <3 this subforum.
I'm guessing this is fishing for a fantasy league? I would say you could steal him late in a draft if that is the case. Definitely worth keeping on your radar. It's hard to say what will happen with him this off-season, seeing as he could either be trade bait for a #1 center, or Pominville goes instead and he gets bumped up to the #1 slot in Pommer's absence. Then again, Lindy is notorious for line up bingo, so classifying him as a first line or second line guy is kinda hard to do. Most people here agree that if he continues the way he has, he will be a solid 30-30-60 guy.
Edit: haha 3 posts all saying the same thing. I <3 this subforum.
You guess right! It's for a keeper league, and I'm evaluating the possibility to trade for him. I always thought his potential was underestimated but I wanted to know for sure.
I really like the way the Sabres play, so I would also like to cheer for a couple of them in a playoff race, very exciting!
So I hear his future with the Sabres is uncertain?
You guess right! It's for a keeper league, and I'm evaluating the possibility to trade for him. I always thought his potential was underestimated but I wanted to know for sure.
I really like the way the Sabres play, so I would also like to cheer for a couple of them in a playoff race, very exciting!
So I hear his future with the Sabres is uncertain?
He's an RFA at the end of the year. If he doesn't end up signing a 2+ year contract I'd be absolutely shocked.
I think I see him staying, it's just that there are so many possibilities this summer that Sabres fans have never even considered. With new ownership, the sky is potentially the limit. I would honestly say it would be worth your time to consider the trade, so long as the price isn't ridiculous.
