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Ralph Krueger

Created by: Skyraider112
Team: 2020-21 Buffalo Sabres
Initial Creation Date: Jan. 10, 2021
Published: Jan. 10, 2021
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
People are hating on Krueger alot these days. Mostly because Skinner is playing low in the lineup. Let's all be honest here, he isn't playing like a 9mil player (has he ever?). That is to say, he has struggled in camp imo and doesn't deserve a top 6 or even top 9 spot in the roster. Krueger is all about hard work gets you more minutes. Skinner hasn't been busting his butt at all unlike guys like Tage, Rieder, or Eakin. These guys deserve a roster spot because they are showing to the team that they work for their merit. Since Skinner signed the contract, I feel like he may have the attitude that he doesn't really have to work hard in order to get minutes or a spot in the top 6.

Ralph is sending a overt message to him that he needs to get his act together and show proof that he deserves more minutes and a spot on a more offensive line.

Remember that Ralph never labels his lines as "First line" or "Fourth line." It's against his idea of what a team is. Every player is important in their own way to the team having success. Labelling lines tends to bring connotations of the value or worth of players on those lines (for obvious reasons). I like the idea that Ralph avoids this and I think that's why all his current and former players love him.

To sum up. Skinner will get top 6 minutes if he plays like he belongs there. If Rieder is working harder than anyone on the team and it's paying off on both ends of the ice, shouldn't he deserve more minutes? Conversely, if a guy like Skinner is not working hard, he should be on the ice as little as possible. This is an aside but I think that is why Risto still gets lots of minutes under Ralph. Say what you want about the results of him being on the ice but Risto works extremely hard during the offseason to be in shape and he is a workhorse on the ice.
Buyouts
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2021
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2022
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2023
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ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
23$81,500,000$74,847,459$1,487,500$4,337,500$6,652,541
Left WingCentreRight Wing
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$4,000,000$4,000,000
LW
NMC
UFA - 1
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$10,000,000$10,000,000
C
UFA - 6
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$1,400,000$1,400,000
C
UFA - 3
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$3,050,000$3,050,000
RW, LW
UFA - 2
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$1,625,000$1,625,000
C
M-NTC
UFA - 1
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$5,200,000$5,200,000
RW
UFA - 1
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$9,000,000$9,000,000
LW, RW
NMC
UFA - 7
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$874,125$874,125
LW, C
RFA - 1
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$894,167$894,167 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
C, LW
UFA - 3
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$700,000$700,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
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$2,250,000$2,250,000
C
UFA - 2
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$6,000,000$6,000,000
RW
M-NTC
UFA - 3
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
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$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$2,850,000$3M)
LD/RD
UFA - 1
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$3,875,000$3,875,000
RD
UFA - 2
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$2,600,000$2,600,000
G
UFA - 1
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$2,850,000$2,850,000
LD/RD
UFA - 1
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$5,400,000$5,400,000
RD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Buffalo Sabres
$2,750,000$2,750,000
G
UFA - 1
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$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$637,500$638K)
RD
RFA - 1
Logo of the Buffalo Sabres
$3,850,000$3,850,000
RD
UFA - 1
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
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$800,000$800,000
RW, C
UFA - 2
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$2,200,000$2,200,000
LW, C
UFA - 3
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$700,000$700,000
LW, C
UFA - 1
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$700,000$700,000
LD/RD
UFA - 1

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Jan. 10, 2021 at 4:37 p.m.
#1
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I work hard as f**k. Slot me in next to Eichel.
Jan. 10, 2021 at 4:40 p.m.
#2
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Well it’s going to hurt the team having him playing in a defensive role.
wojme liked this.
Jan. 10, 2021 at 4:51 p.m.
#3
MisstheWhalers
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"To sum up. Skinner will get top 6 minutes if he plays like he belongs there. If Rieder is working harder than anyone on the team and it's paying off on both ends of the ice, shouldn't he deserve more minutes?"

If it's paying off in actual goals then sure but otherwise no, if Skinner can bury chances that Rieder can't then I don't care if he works harder then Skinner he shouldn't be in that spot in the lineup.
Jan. 10, 2021 at 4:56 p.m.
#4
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Earning a spot is for players that don't have the talent Skinner has. Not maximizing player's talents will be the downfall of Ralph and the sabres. Gronborg would never
Jan. 10, 2021 at 5:01 p.m.
#5
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Utter nonsense.

Krueger is a horrible coach who will sabotage Skinner and then play ristolainen 25 minutes a night.

Tobias Rieder sucks btw
BuFfaLOFaN, GenXHockey, bhavikp27 and 1 other person liked this.
Jan. 10, 2021 at 5:02 p.m.
#6
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Quoting: MisstheWhalers
"To sum up. Skinner will get top 6 minutes if he plays like he belongs there. If Rieder is working harder than anyone on the team and it's paying off on both ends of the ice, shouldn't he deserve more minutes?"

If it's paying off in actual goals then sure but otherwise no, if Skinner can bury chances that Rieder can't then I don't care if he works harder then Skinner he shouldn't be in that spot in the lineup.


Exactly. There are some teams that can afford to have this type of attitude. The Sabres aren't one of them, imo.
BuFfaLOFaN and MisstheWhalers liked this.
Jan. 10, 2021 at 5:23 p.m.
#7
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Look I get what you’re saying but you can’t play skinner on the fourth line coming off a down year. Even if he never works hard again he’s still better than half the wingers . He’s signed for 7 years at 9mil with a flat cap. His contract is unmovable. If you don’t give him the opportunity to succeed he’s not going to. If skinner doesn’t bounce back Buffalo will miss the playoffs for the duration of his contract.

He isn’t some spoiled rookie or an aging vet who is going to ufa. You can’t make the playoffs with 10mil in dead cap and if skinner is playing 4th line minutes that’s what he is for the next 7 years.
MisstheWhalers liked this.
Jan. 10, 2021 at 8:38 p.m.
#8
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Guys, take a deep breath on this. No need to overreact to practice lines on one day of training camp when we had two forwards taking a rest day.

Skinner isn't going to be on the defensive fourth line. That line will almost surely be Reider - Eakin - Okposo. Skinner will most likely be on a line with Cozens or Mittelstadt. He'll have offensive talents with him, and that line will most likely get sheltered offensive zone minutes if anything.

We'll be fine. And we should all be excited that Tage has been looking good on the first line. That is really great to see.
Skyraider112 liked this.
Jan. 11, 2021 at 4:14 a.m.
#9
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Disagree, Krueger needs to be flexible because Skinner is unlikely to change, but he can be useful if he plays in the top 6 and scores a lot of goals.
Jan. 12, 2021 at 9:23 a.m.
#10
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Quoting: SalamiCheese
Disagree, Krueger needs to be flexible because Skinner is unlikely to change, but he can be useful if he plays in the top 6 and scores a lot of goals.


I agree...Skinner is who he is as a player. How do you take a player who scored 40 goals playing with Eichel and give him Lazar, Johansson etc as his centers and expect close to the same results. Ralph is bullheaded and with Hall now here and was probably guaranteed to play with Eichel the whole year, Skinner's talent as a goal scorer will be wasted...AGAIN!!!
Jan. 12, 2021 at 11:54 a.m.
#11
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Quoting: Lenny54
I agree...Skinner is who he is as a player. How do you take a player who scored 40 goals playing with Eichel and give him Lazar, Johansson etc as his centers and expect close to the same results. Ralph is bullheaded and with Hall now here and was probably guaranteed to play with Eichel the whole year, Skinner's talent as a goal scorer will be wasted...AGAIN!!!


On the other hand, there are examples of players like Skinner changing their game for the sake of the team, but the problem is that Jeff is as stubborn as Krueger and it will be difficult to compromise. The only option is to try to make the third line of offensive Skinner - Eakin - Cozens and this may work to some extent, but Skinner will not score 35-40 goals, especially in a shortened season.
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Jan. 12, 2021 at 6:23 p.m.
#12
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Quoting: SalamiCheese
On the other hand, there are examples of players like Skinner changing their game for the sake of the team, but the problem is that Jeff is as stubborn as Krueger and it will be difficult to compromise. The only option is to try to make the third line of offensive Skinner - Eakin - Cozens and this may work to some extent, but Skinner will not score 35-40 goals, especially in a shortened season.


I hope you are right, regardless Skinner will outlast Krueger as a Sabre...lol
A good coach puts his players to succeed and to their strength...guess Krueger has not conferred with McDermott like Adams has with Beane.
SalamiCheese liked this.
 
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