I know we've had lots of discussions this year about how it isn't logical to take a small sample size of games a rookie has played and compare them to a veteran on this team, but I'm going there anyways.

From what I've seen out of Gragnani, I think he's a better option than Leopold.

Grags is more physical in our own end than Leopold. He seems to have more strength than Leo. And at the same time, he plays a very simple game. He never tries to overdo it. A quick, simple pass right when he sees it.

Is anyone feeling the same way about this kid so far? I'd have a tough time taking him out in favor of Leo.

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Wheelhouse

Not saying he is the next Bobby Orr or getting too high on him (yet), but I think since Grags has had time to work on his game as a whole in Portland without him making the jump too early to the NHL, it has helped him really settle in to being reliable on the blueline. I don't think there will be a question of him staying in the lineup especially with Leopold out with his hand injury. I'd love to see Leo back in on the ice especially with the way he was scoring this season but if that can't happen then in Grags I trust.

Can't help but wonder what a pairing of Leo & Gragnani would look like on D, though..

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Just lock this before I hematoma all over the message board

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mechaphil

I'm having trouble telling from the reactions if this is a serious thread or somehow a joke aimed at people asking if rookies should be replacing vets.

Knowing PSP, this thread is absolutely 100% serious.

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mechaphil

Alright fuck you guys.

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Wheelhouse

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HOCKEY IS BACK!

I'm not sure what reaction you really expected.

Well I think the one thing we can agree on is that Butler sucks and Lalime needs to be shot. No hate needed.

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I like him a hellualot more than Morrisonn that's for DAMN sure.


But he gets bumped when Leopold comes back and I got zero problem with that. Honestly, I have not seen enough of him play to know if he's ready for the NHL. Defensively he has not hurt the team at all, but other than the goal-which was a great heads up play and a little bit lucky too-he hasn't done anything offensively.

Here's the thing, I don't want to ask more of the young guys then they are ready for. You can push Montador and Leopold because at this point in their careers they should be able to handle intense playoff pressure and a lot of ice time. Grags is fine in the role he's in now, but he's probbaly not ready for Leopold minutes.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Yeah especially when Leopold has been our best defenseman at times this season.

Might as well be asking if he should replace Myers since I think Myers has been worse, and for longer this year, even if he has picked it up.

In short, I agree with Tom's first post.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

ouch. come on guys. dude asked a legit question.

i dont see grags replacing leo this season, but i would rather have grag as a 7th dman next season over butler, IMO. ive always read about grags that hes whoaful defensively. but who knows.

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Sorry Adam, no idea how you came to that conclusion.

Gragnani
12-14 minutes icetime
against bottom liners
no special teams time
no playoff experience

Leopold
20-25 minutes
against top liners
plays both special teams
playoff experience

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Who knows is right.

You have a known quantity in Leopold, and an unknown quantity in Gragnani. When you have the option to pick one of the two players, why would you pick the unknown?

i meant whether or not grags is really that bad in his own zone. i havnt seen enough to judge.

which kinda cements the point that at this point, picking grags over leopold is a dangerous gamble the sabres cant make.

plus, wouldnt that be a bad signal to potential free agents? dont sign with the sabres, they may promote someone over you for the playoffs after you worked all year to make it. leopold hasnt been bad enough to replace.

sorry adam, i disagree.

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Hey Xpens fan; how did Leopold fare with the Penguins in the playoffs? From the games I can remember, he wasn't very good.

Leopold has had 1 or 2 very good games this season. Outside of that, he's been good offensively, but not so good in our own end.

I wasn't worried a bit when he went down, and the Sabres obviously haven't missed a beat.

Whatever. I like going by what I can see; not what I can't predict. And from what I've seen, Grags has got the stones to man up in our own zone more so than Jordan Leopold.

Just a thought that's crossed my mind. Sorry if it made blood spew from your fucking ears.

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Wheelhouse

playing well for a stretch of games is vastly different from years of experience.

you keep pointing to one play to justify your argument, like with vanek and the nashville goal, and now the joey crabb shortie against leopold. any player who plays enough is going to make an absolutely horrific play. thats the exception, not the rule.

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Jordan Leopold had more minutes in the playoffs last season than Gragnani has in his entire NHL career.

Please.

Leopold has been one of the better defenseman on this team this year. Like any player, he's going to have down games. Only 1 or 2 good games? That's hyperbole to try and shore up your argument.

There is no reason to take Leopold out of the lineup at all, let alone because you think that Gragnani's 40 minutes of icetime this callup has somehow turned him into a full time NHL defenseman.

To put your position in perspective, Mike and I agree about NOTHING. However, we both agree that this is a silly idea. What does that tell you?