Kris Baker’s weekly trip around the rinks includes thoughts on:
Would considering moving Zach Benson up the lineup be a good or bad idea this early in the season?
Ryan Johnson and Nikita Novikov showing an early ability to play the way the Sabres’ system requires of their D…
Again, Prokhor Poltapov finds ways to impact the game as he develops in a lower-line role…
William Von Barnekow taking his top-line assignment and running with it…
Expectations as Noah Ostlund continues his SHL ramp-up…
Updates on Jake Richard, Stiven Sardarian, Aaron Huglen as they get their NCAA seasons going in a good direction.
And from the “Where are they now?” files: Vaclav Karabacek – what are you doing, man?
17 Comments
I say leave the lines as they are with victor a scratch.
I'm leaving my comment right now before listening to the thing, because I have an opinion on Benson here (Penguins fan who watches a lot of Sabres btw): Tage and the top line isn't working as of right now (ofc it'll get better with time). To me, Tage is trying to do too much, but moving Skinner down and Benson up surely can't hurt? Skinner isn't a great PP asset either, he's fantastic on even strength, but not really all that on PP. Need changes there. I'd love to see a Tuch – Tage – Benson kinda thing, just for fun. You'll strengthen the even strength of the Cozens line and you'll move the beast of Benson to the very top. Why not?
If it ain't working, it would make sense to change it up. Hopefully, by November, everyone will be smooth sailing.
Thanks for the updates and film Great channel.
I'm not worried about Thompson yet, he was buzzing last night and could have had a goal or two if the bounces went his way. I think once he gets a goal, the dominoes will fall. Last year, Thompson only had 1G, 2A through the first 7 games before catching fire.
I love the show. Its so granular. Thanks for doing this.
Confused when you said former sabres prospect Vsevold Komarov?
Amerks have the potential to win it all this year.
What about swapping Tage and Casey?
No, you don't shake up the top line… yet.
Leave Benson on L3 for now. Tage is a big man off to a slow start. Same for Tuch. They will come around. And Benson doesn't need to play against top defenders (yet).
I think that if Benson, Greenway and zemgus can be productive then they should keep them together for the time being. I have watched the Amerks games and they also seem to have starting slow like the Sabres but that's probably due to Weber and Peca being replaced. Good points about Kozak and Cederqvist, they are very responsible both ways, great stick activity and add a bit of sandpaper to the game while on the ice.
Might be best to keep that Mitts line intact. More worried about Cozens' RW. If Krebs can't cut it, would like to see Savoie get a shot.
The possibilities are endless. Next year many contracts end leaving room for Johnson Novichov Kozak Rousek Kulich Rosen. As badly as we want a playoff run this year and next year their real start is 2025 with six plus amazing years to enjoy
No. I would let the Top Line find its groove. However, I would absolutely put Benson on the Cozens-Peterka line! Benson may be the closest player the Sabres have that matches the skill of Quinn and putting him on that line may get them going and SHOULD be a no-brainer.
I like Thompson and Tuch together. Skinner is the piece I'm not sure about. I can see him being replaced by one of the young forwards eventually, when they show they're worthy of the promotion. Not that I dislike Skinner. I appreciate his effort and results, just at times it appears his size hurts him a bit. He seems to get pushed off the puck a fair amount. I wonder if he'd do better on the second line, maybe getting away from the better defensive forwards and top defensemen that the number one line ends up playing against.
I wonder if Cozens Skinner and maybe Peterka could be a thing. I'm not factoring in, left wing/right wing considerations. Just talking the players. So far, it's looked like JJ is off to a decent start. Not sure Dylan has reached the form he was in last year yet. I'm not worried about him though. I'd like to see him play with more consistent wingers.
Benson to me always seems to make good decisions. I rarely see him make dumb or questionable moves. I think I've seen only one so far, that really stood out. I don't know how to describe it, but he just seems to have really high hockey IQ. It reminds me of watching Nick Lidstrom from the Wings, to a lesser extent in years gone by. It's really odd to say that about an 18 year old. But he gives me those thoughts when none of his peers do. I'm very interested in seeing what 22 or 23 year old Zach Benson is going to be capable of.
What’s up with Poltapov??? He was taken 2nd round 33rd overall