:: View topic - Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings

With the Sabres' intrasquad scrimmage tournament over, it's time for a few days of nothing but practice as the team learns the system and gets ready for the exhibition season. It's also a chance for coach Lindy Ruff to test line combinations, and the experiment is underway.

The Sabres have assembled the following forward lines and defense combinations:

FORWARDS

Thomas Vanek-Derek Roy-Drew Stafford

Jochen Hecht-Tim Connolly-Jason Pominville

Nathan Gerbe-Paul Gaustad-Mike Grier

Tyler Ennis-Rob Niedermayer-Cody McCormick

Colin Stuart-Matt Ellis-Patrick Kaleta

DEFENSE

Shaone Morrisonn-Tyler Myers

Jordan Leopold-Steve Montador

Chris Butler-Craig Rivet

Mike Weber-Andrej Sekera

Ruff, of course, has a history of changing lines from period-to-period let alone game-to-game, but the early units show his desire to mix skill and grit on both offense and defense.

---John Vogl

Vanek could play RW as well.

Question: At the end of last season you were moved to the right wing. Will that continue this year?
Vanek: I really don’t know yet. I played on the left wing during the scrimmages and practice. But I don’t have any problems if the coach puts me on the right wing.

Source: http://www.thomasvanek.at/index.php?id=2&L=1 new interview

Question: Can you reveal if they’ll be boys or girls?
Vanek: Alright, we’re expecting two boys. Together with Blake that already makes a complete line of forwards (laughs)…

These line combinations are a test. Keep that in mind.

I'd rather Lindy do this now than in January.

yes, lets put a 5-5 "scoring" winger with defensive forwards.

UGH!

ironyisadeadscene wrote:

yes, lets put a 5-5 "scoring" winger with defensive forwards.

UGH!

I think some people are reading too far in to these pairings. Its a pre season scrimmage. Maybe Ruff wants to see how some of these guys can handle playing outside of their typical roles. I could give two fucks what the pre season lines look like, other than Im pissed some of the younger guys arent getting more time (Kassian, Adam)

Offtopic:

How awesome would be a Vanek line

Quote:

Question: Can you reveal if they’ll be boys or girls?
Vanek: Alright, we’re expecting two boys. Together with Blake that already makes a complete line of forwards (laughs)…

Also wondering why our captytain is logging 3rd pairing minutes while the free agents are pairing up on the 1st and 2nd pairings. I can understand wanting to leave him with Chris Butthead, but it's making the defense suffer.

daz28 wrote:

Lindy already knows what Rivet can do. It makes perfect sense to give the new guys more minutes in the pre-season to get a better feel for what they provide.

I really think you guys are overreacting. It's preseason FFS.

Author:	CriminallyVu1gar [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/201 ... rings.html Quote: With the Sabres' intrasquad scrimmage tournament over, it's time for a few days of nothing but practice as the team learns the system and gets ready for the exhibition season. It's also a chance for coach Lindy Ruff to test line combinations, and the experiment is underway. The Sabres have assembled the following forward lines and defense combinations: FORWARDS Thomas Vanek-Derek Roy-Drew Stafford Jochen Hecht-Tim Connolly-Jason Pominville Nathan Gerbe-Paul Gaustad-Mike Grier Tyler Ennis-Rob Niedermayer-Cody McCormick Colin Stuart-Matt Ellis-Patrick Kaleta DEFENSE Shaone Morrisonn-Tyler Myers Jordan Leopold-Steve Montador Chris Butler-Craig Rivet Mike Weber-Andrej Sekera Ruff, of course, has a history of changing lines from period-to-period let alone game-to-game, but the early units show his desire to mix skill and grit on both offense and defense. ---John Vogl

Author:	fan4life61 [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
i hope those lines don't stick after this experiment, they suck

Author:	CriminallyVu1gar [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
Yeah, kind of agree.

Author:	sabretoothpick [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
Don't like Stafford on the first line, don't like Gerbe on the third, don't like Ennis on the fourth. I can live with the D pairings, but I'm wondering what happens if Weber - Sekera are having a great preseason. Montador in the press box?

Author:	Skyline_BNR34 [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
I like the Myers/Morrison pairing best. The Weber/Sekera pairing I hope is great too. Our defense really does not look bad at all

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Author:	BlueandYellow [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
Ennis on the 4th line? If this happens, I commit suicide.

Author:	jordano [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:41 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
No Luke Adam? That's disappointing.

Author:	ironyisadeadscene [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
yes, lets put a 5-5 "scoring" winger with defensive forwards. UGH!

Author:	N3M [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
Vanek could play RW as well. Question: At the end of last season you were moved to the right wing. Will that continue this year? Vanek: I really don’t know yet. I played on the left wing during the scrimmages and practice. But I don’t have any problems if the coach puts me on the right wing. Source: http://www.thomasvanek.at/index.php?id=2&L=1 new interview

Author:	sabretoothpick [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
N3M wrote: Vanek could play RW as well. Question: At the end of last season you were moved to the right wing. Will that continue this year? Vanek: I really don’t know yet. I played on the left wing during the scrimmages and practice. But I don’t have any problems if the coach puts me on the right wing. Source: http://www.thomasvanek.at/index.php?id=2&L=1 new interview Thanks, I completely forgot about his homepage. Schöne Grüße

Author:	Squanto [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
These line combinations are a test. Keep that in mind. I'd rather Lindy do this now than in January.

Author:	jvaccaro6 [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
Also, these lines are 1 injury away from being blown up all to hell. Plus Gerbe isn't making the roster this year, I can all but promise you that.

Author:	daz28 [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:41 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
Squanto wrote: These line combinations are a test. Keep that in mind. I'd rather Lindy do this now than in January. Lindy's lines are always a 'test' of our patience. I agree with everyone else about Ennis, Gerbe, and Helen. Don't see how McCormick has stolen Pattymouth's spot, as he has been over-achieving(imo). Also wondering why our captytain is logging 3rd pairing minutes while the free agents are pairing up on the 1st and 2nd pairings. I can understand wanting to leave him with Chris Butthead, but it's making the defense suffer. Oh well, I'll disagree with Ruff's (juggled) lines most of the season. I also like the idea of being able to drop Pommers and Hecht to 3rd line duty whenever necessary(and Stafford to 4th). When is the juggling going to stop ffs? These guys have been playing together(under him even) for YEARS.

Author:	HelloMyKneeGrows [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
ironyisadeadscene wrote: yes, lets put a 5-5 "scoring" winger with defensive forwards. UGH! I think some people are reading too far in to these pairings. Its a pre season scrimmage. Maybe Ruff wants to see how some of these guys can handle playing outside of their typical roles. I could give two fucks what the pre season lines look like, other than Im pissed some of the younger guys arent getting more time (Kassian, Adam)

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Author:	daz28 [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
HelloMyKneeGrows wrote: ironyisadeadscene wrote: yes, lets put a 5-5 "scoring" winger with defensive forwards. UGH! I think some people are reading too far in to these pairings. Its a pre season scrimmage. Maybe Ruff wants to see how some of these guys can handle playing outside of their typical roles. I could give two fucks what the pre season lines look like, other than Im pissed some of the younger guys arent getting more time (Kassian, Adam) Kassian will get time in the pre-season games, I think. All the young guys will, plus hopefully the free-agents.

Author:	Skyline_BNR34 [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
sabretoothpick wrote: Offtopic: How awesome would be a Vanek line Quote: Question: Can you reveal if they’ll be boys or girls? Vanek: Alright, we’re expecting two boys. Together with Blake that already makes a complete line of forwards (laughs)… That's hilariously funny.

Author:	Squanto [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
daz28 wrote: Also wondering why our captytain is logging 3rd pairing minutes while the free agents are pairing up on the 1st and 2nd pairings. I can understand wanting to leave him with Chris Butthead, but it's making the defense suffer. Lindy already knows what Rivet can do. It makes perfect sense to give the new guys more minutes in the pre-season to get a better feel for what they provide. I really think you guys are overreacting. It's preseason FFS.

Author:	daz28 [ Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Sabres Unveil Early Line Combos, D Pairings
Squanto wrote: daz28 wrote: Also wondering why our captytain is logging 3rd pairing minutes while the free agents are pairing up on the 1st and 2nd pairings. I can understand wanting to leave him with Chris Butthead, but it's making the defense suffer. Lindy already knows what Rivet can do. It makes perfect sense to give the new guys more minutes in the pre-season to get a better feel for what they provide. I really think you guys are overreacting. It's preseason FFS. I see what you're saying, but I don't see Ruff separating him and Butler. He likes to set his D pairings in stone, and play Russian rummy with his forwards. Edit; I really don't see Craig playing in the first couple pre-season games, either.