Buffalo Sabres Lineup: The Third Offensive Line
One of the most popular things to have done this offseason for Buffalo Sabres fans has been to play armchair coach to pick the starting lineup. While I may agree with some of the general consensuses about which players will play at which positions, this is going to be a little bit more of a fun series. I am going line by line to choose which players that I think should play where, and why they should. I hope you will all play along in the comments!
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Starting with the Buffalo Sabres third line (because I discussed the fourth line a bit in the article above this), there are a few characteristics that I like to have in my third line.
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The third line is instrumental to success in the NHL because it rounds out the offense, while maintaining the defensive aspect just as well. The players that I would select to play on the Sabres third line would be Johan Larsson (center/left wing), Brian Gionta (right wing), and Sam Reinhart (left wing/center). Each of these players have distinct qualities and skills that will make up my premier choice of third line.
Johan Larsson is a fantastic two-way possession player. He has the hustle to jump up and down the ice efficiently, but he also has the scoring touch to occasionally put the puck in the back of the net. Last season, Larsson was the Sabres best possession player amongst players that played 35 games or more. He has the skills to pull it off, and being in the center slot primarily will allow his game to flourish (similar to how Tyler Kennedy was with the Penguins a few seasons ago).
Brian Gionta is still (so far) the captain of the Buffalo Sabres so his leadership can be used all around the ice. By having him play on the third line, he will add his scoring ability and his hockey IQ to help the two younger players exceed at their positions. Though he is slowing down a bit with his production, he is a strong secondary scoring asset that will compliment Larsson and Reinhart very well.
Sam Reinhart is a playmaking, two-way style player that has some of the best hockey sense I have ever seen. I have said it before, and I’ll say it again, Reinhart has the uncanny ability to always be in the right place at the right time. He has worked hard over the past year so he could be ready for the NHL this year and he is undoubtedly ready. He has elite level vision to make his line mates better with crisp passes, and he has the speed to add on to it.
Having Reinhart play on the wing is just a start. By having him there he can work his way into the NHL center scene a little smoother.
One thing that these players all have in common is their defensive responsibility. They all are more than aware of what is going on in each end of the ice, but they all come with a great set of offensive skills to add some much needed depth scoring to the Sabres.
For the first installment, I say the Buffalo Sabres third offensive line should be made up of Johan Larsson, Sam Reinhart, and Brian Gionta.
Next: Who Wore it For Buffalo: #80
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