Great comments, thank you all for your input.
Very constructive.
Quoting: NV94
Could probably swing a trade to Nashville for Johansen...What would it take to bring Johansen to Buffalo?
He could be a good asset and help the team reach the floor.
Quoting: Black61
I would say he has to do it more than once...He has been doing this for years, unfortunately he suffered the most under Krueger.
He was outstanding in Rochester and the Prospect Challenge.
Krueger sent him to the minors, in his first game back, he was injured and missed the balance of the season.
Big players take longer to develop and he has developed more through this year as well.
Quoting: Fjordy
Unfortunately Tage lacks hockey IQ, but he is still a good player and he has a very good shot, he needs to improve on face-offs and in defensive play. I think he has a decent IQ, I see him moving to where the puck is about to go before a defenseman makes a pass.
He has a great shot, and IMO it is getting more accurate.
His FO is also improving, his FO% was below 40% at the start of the season. While not great it has creeped over that now.
Quoting: gary_bettman
...3 zone play, hockey iq, face offs, leadership - all things needed for a top line C. You are correct, the entire line of Skinner-Thompson-Tuch is very weak in the defensive zone. But Granato has been using him on the PK.
I think Don is doing this to help him develop his defensive zone play.
His FO% is improving, but obviously could be better.
Well Skinner turned his game around once Tage became his center, I think he has demonstrated leadership.
Quoting: Shibbal18
Duchene is having a career year Who would have thought?
He had been a bad reputation prior to this season.
Quoting: sabres89
Anybody can be a 1C. I mean if you wanna be good however... The most inciteful comment.
See below.
I think the Sabres have depth at Center, just not top end.
As many of you pointed out his short comings, but as Joseph Stalin said: "Quantity has a quality all its own".
Buffalo center depth should be noted, Tage, Dylan, Casey (do not give up on him 6 pts in last 5 games and 9 in his last 13), Payton are all still young and developing.
Zemgus is under rated and IMO could be anchor a really good fourth line with Kyle.
While a small sample 8-3-2 (all playoff teams other than the Kings) over the last 13 games is playoffs.
Finally, as
@sabres89 insinuated, nearly all of the teams that do not have a center with more points than Tage are not in the playoff hunt.
All the same, he is doing a great imitation of a top line center IMO.
RHD and GK are the only things keeping this team from making the playoffs.
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