Playing around with the idea of no moves or signings

Team: 2020-21 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 24, 2020

Published: Jul. 24, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Playing around with some line combinations if the Sabres decide not to make a splash in the UFA or Trade market. Trying to pair players with people they had chemistry with last year/ have a complimentary play style.

I think the UFA market for a 2C is kinda thin so I am going with Reinhart at 2C. I know there has been plenty of opportunities for him to go down and play that position and they have not put him there, so why would they do that now. But I think if this season is as crazy as it seems with Covid and Expansion draft on the horizon it might be tough to move and accquire players at a reasonable cap hit.

I know the first reaction this roster wont be a good one. But I think there is a ton of potential here. I am a firm believer that this is a fringe playoff team, and with the addittion of a bonfde 2c would be a solid playoff team.

As for the line construction the first line Skinner and Eichel obviously have great chemistry and having a player of Eichels caliber I think makes up for Tage being a weak RW1. However I think is skill set is perfect for this line. Tage is a big body that will battle down low and help open space for Skinner to score his dirty goals. He also has a rocket of a shot and having Eichel dish him some clappers I think would work well. This would be a cheap option to finish out a top line while spreading out the talent.

2nd line is a complete mystery lol. This would be the line that determines the success, and I know people have not had great opinions of Mittelstadt but he is a solid play maker that got out bodied and lost in his first stint. I think he gained some confidence in the AHL and hoping he puts up a little more size during his year long offseason. Reinhart has the tangibles to be a solid C in the league he has great vision and is excellent with break out passess. I think Cozens will be the guy that recieves a lot of reinharts passess to exit the zone with speed. I think overall the line composition is okay its just very unknown having basically 2 rookies and an inexperienced center.

the 3rd line looked awesome at the end of the year. I dont know enough about Kahun style but these 3 looked excellent.

4th line is kinda meh Okposo will bring good leadership Lazar was an awesome addition perfect 4th line, hardworking responsible and great with faceoffs. Asplund will hopefully help this line put up some offensive numbers. I know LOG was great but Larsson isnt coming back and Girgs will make some team very happy, the dude just could not finish.

Obviously they will have to make some kind of move so this is largely useless but if they dont make a big splash I could see something like this working.

Except its buffalo so they will definitely suck but it was wort a try