We are a day away from the Sabres’ season opener against Ottawa.
If you’re a Sabres fan, or just an NHL fan in general, you probably find yourself predicting the outcomes of games before they start. Well, now you have the chance to submit your predictions and win prizes based on how well you do.
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The roster for the 2010-2011 Buffalo Sabres is set at 23 men, with 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders. Some players on the roster have taken their positive play from the playoffs last season and translated that into a roster spot. Some players have left during free agency over the summer, while others have been brought in via the same route.
Below is a brief overview of the key roster moves made over the offseason:
Departures
D Henrik Tallinder (New Jersey)
D Toni Lydman (Anaheim)
W Adam Mair (New Jersey)
W Tim Kennedy (NY Rangers)
Acquisitions
D Jordan Leopold (Florida/Pittsburgh)
D Shaone Morrisonn (Washington)
C Rob Niedermayer (New Jersey)
Here is a breakdown of the Sabres roster, along with analysis for each group:
Forwards
Jochen Hecht Tim Connolly Jason Pominville
Thomas Vanek Derek Roy Drew Stafford
Tyler Ennis Rob Niedermayer Mike Grier
Patrick Kaleta Paul Gaustad Cody McCormick
Nathan Gerbe
Once again the group of top six forwards will be relied upon to provide the scoring in both the regular season and the playoffs. Centers Derek Roy and Tim Connolly will most likely lead the team in regular season scoring, but it was their play in the playoffs that drew the ire of many fans, with a combined three assists in six games. If the Sabres are to make a deep playoff run, these two players will need to step up their games in the postseason.
Thomas Vanek, while he had a good showing during the playoffs, had only 28 goals during the regular season, the lowest total since his rookie year. For the Sabres to be a top contender in the Eastern Conference, Vanek needs to regain his 35-40 goal form.
The Sabres got bigger and more physical at forward with the additions of Niedermayer (6’2”, 200) and McCormick (6’3”, 217). Niedermayer, along with Mike Grier, will provide a strong leadership presence in the locker room. Niedermayer is the only Sabre to have won the Stanley Cup, winning it with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. McCormick, after a good showing in the postseason, is an upgrade over Adam Mair.
The Sabres have also added offense from within the organization with the additions of Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Ennis. Both of the diminutive forwards had impressive showings in the postseason, and with more prominent roles on the team, could help a struggling power play. Both players have won the AHL Rookie of the Year award (Gerbe in 2009, Ennis in 2010) and should provide excitement and skill to the forward ranks.
In the hot seat is winger Drew Stafford. Despite playing on a line with Vanek and Roy for most of his career, Stafford has a career-high of 20 goals. The former first-round pick, must consistently use his size to his advantage and drive to the net to be an effective force that other teams have to account for. Stafford is on the last year of his deal and must play well if he plans on continuing to wear the blue and gold in the future.
Defensemen
Shaone Morrisonn Tyler Myers
Jordan Leopold Steve Montador
Craig Rivet Mike Weber
Chris Butler Andrej Sekera
The play of the defense begins and ends with the play of Calder Trophy winner Tyler Myers. It is hard to imagine the 20-year-old has only scratched his potential as he put up very good offensive numbers (11 G, 37 A, 48 Pts) as well as posting a rating of +13. Myers will be looked upon to increase his offensive totals, to become more physical, and use his giant-like frame and reach more to his advantage.
The loss of Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman forced management to sign veteran defensemen Jordan Leopold and Shaone Morrisonn. Leopold scored 11 goals from the blue line last year and could help to shore up a power play unit that scored no goals in the playoffs against the Bruins. Morrisonn, a very solid and physical player, comes over from the Washington Capitals and will add toughness and size (6’4”, 217) to the backend.
Captain Craig Rivet is fully healthy for the first time in his Sabres career after having offseason shoulder surgery, so his game should improve over last year. His physical play is key to the Sabres’ success, and along with Steve Montador will add grit to the defense corps.
The sixth defense spot seems to be up for grabs between Andrej Sekera, Chris Butler, and Mike Weber. Both Sekera and Butler ended up in Lindy Ruff’s doghouse at the end of last season, but it was Sekera that played in the playoffs over Butler. Weber has impressed in training camp and the preseason, and in practice, Ruff has him paired with Craig Rivet, a sign that Weber will hold the job going into the opener. All three defensemen have to clear waivers to go to the minors, which is the main reason why the Sabres are keeping eight defensemen on the roster.
Goaltenders
Patrick Lalime
Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller is a virtual lock to get 35-40 wins this year as one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL. His workload will be less than last year without having to play in the Olympics, but keeping Miller fresh will be a key element into making a deep playoff run.
Patrick Lalime returns for another year as Ryan Miller’s backup to spill the net-minder for tough stretches. The Sabres have 22 instances of back-to-back games, the most in the NHL, so it is certainly feasible Lalime will see more playing time than he has in the past two seasons.
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Last year’s division champions are looking for a repeat performance this season. The roster is somewhat retooled, and by bringing back the key pieces, they seem ready for the challenge.
The Buffalo Sabres open their season with a challenge right away, facing the Ottawa Senators this Friday. Are they ready to bust through the force field that the Senators have seemingly put around themselves since the 2005-06 season?
It’s possible, and not only do the Sabres have to get through the Senators (playing six games, might I add), they must also get through the rest of their 76 games against the other 28 teams in the NHL, as well.
Offseason Losses: D Toni Lydman (Anaheim Ducks), D Henrik Tallinder (New Jersey Devils), F Adam Mair (Free Agency), F Tim Kennedy (Bought Out), F Raffi Torres (Vancouver Canucks)
Offseason Gains: F Rob Niedermayer (New Jersey Devils), D Shaone Morrisonn (Washington Capitals), D Jordan Leopold (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Last Season: The Buffalo Sabres were not the likely pick to win the division last year, but that’s just what they did. Behind the stellar play of Ryan Miller and a fairly underrated defense, the Sabres were able to win games late, something they weren’t able to do in two seasons prior to that. The team seemingly learned how to win. They never lost a game in the regular season leading after two periods of play, something they weren’t able to carry into the playoffs against the Bruins.
Forwards: The Sabres bring back their usual faces, adding veterans (Rob Niedermayer) and rookies (Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe) alike. The Sabres are continuously adding more toughness to their team through the additions of Niedermayer and Cody McCormick to go along with the already tough Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta, and Mike Grier.
They’re also looking for more scoring from the rookies in Gerbe and Ennis. Ennis brings a ton of skill to the Sabres’ top six, if he cracks the top six at least. For right now, Ennis and Gerbe will likely end up on the third line due to stellar preseason performances by Drew Stafford and Derek Roy. Jochen Hecht may find himself the odd man out to move down should the top six fail to generate any chemistry, with Tyler Ennis comfortably stepping into the fold. Ennis was the Sabres leading scorer in the playoffs last year, playing on the top two lines and the power play.
Adam Mair should not be missed too badly, as Cody McCormick could add more of, but not much of, a scoring presence on the fourth line. Thomas Vanek will need to shake off a bad season and play like the 40-goal scorer he is. Jason Pominville is a liability in the beginning parts of the season, but seems to find his game closer to the end of it all.
Defense: The Sabres suffered two defensive losses this summer with the departures of Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman. However, Darcy Regier filled the vacancies with equally, possibly better, talented players.
Jordan Leopold may give the Sabres a powerplay quarterback they’ve been searching for since Brian Campbell left. Shaone Morrisonn gives the Sabres a shutdown defenseman they’ve been lacking since Jay McKee departed in 2006. Tyler Myers hopes to avoid a sophomore slump after a stellar rookie season in which he won the Calder Trophy. Mike Weber could finally step up and upgrade the Sabres defense that has seen Andrej Sekera and Chris Butler alternating the past season due to neither player wanting to beat out the other for a roster spot. The defense will be carrying eight players this season.
Goaltending: Not much to explain here. Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller returns with his partner in crime, Patrick Lalime. You know what to expect with Lalime: a guy who looks like he plays about once a month. While I don’t agree with the resigning of Lalime, Ryan Miller and the rest of the locker room love the guy. I say if Miller wants him around, keep him around.
Still, it would be nice to see Jhonas Enroth get some time up with the big club to see what the 2006 second rounder has in terms of skill. His positioning needs some work, but he could just be another goalie that the Sabres seemingly have no trouble finding.
Depth Chart: Here’s what the lines should shape up to be on opening night:
Line 1: Vanek-Roy-Stafford
Line 2: Hecht-Connolly-Pominville
Line 3: Ennis-Niedermayer-GrierLine 4: Kaleta-Gaustad-McCormick
Pair 1: Morrisonn-Myers
Pair 2: Leopold-Montador
Pair 3: Rivet-Butler
Goalies: Ryan Miller, Patrick Lalime
Extras: Nathan Gerbe, Mike Weber, Andrej Sekera
Ridiculously Early 2010-11 Final Standing: 1st in the Northeast, 3rd in the East
Possible Candidates for End-Of-Season Trophies: G Ryan Miller (Vezina), F Tyler Ennis (Calder), D Tyler Myers (Norris), F Jason Pominville (Lady Byng)
Captaincy Watch: Don’t be shocked if Craig Rivet loses his captaincy midseason due to his imminent departure at the end of next season. Rivet is a great locker room guy, but with the shift of captaincy going to players who lead by example (i.e. Johnathan Toews, Sidney Crosby), Rivet might not be the best fit for that mold.
Possible candidates are Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, or Tyler Myers. However, Myers is the most unlikely. A wildcard could be Paul Gaustad.
Summary: There’s no reason this team can’t repeat for the division. All the key pieces are back, and they’ve even brought in more veterans like Niedermayer to go along with guys like Mike Grier and Craig Rivet to steer these young guys in the right direction.
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Another highly anticipated NHL season is just a couple of days away, and once again, the Buffalo Sabres are not favored to win the division. The Sabres haven’t changed too much from last year. A few players came and left, but for the most part, they are relatively the same.
Many experts have already submitted their predictions for the 2010-2011 season, and many have favored Boston, or even Ottawa to win the Northeast Division.
Puckmeplease.com even has Buffalo finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference. That’s good enough for fourth in the division. You’re telling me that the Sabres have become that much worse since winning the division last season?
My first question would be, “Why aren’t the Sabres a playoff team this year? What makes them that much worse from last season?” As I pondered whether or not the other teams in the division, such as Boston and Ottawa, have improved that much, there was nothing significant enough for me to believe the Sabres can’t win it again.
The Bruins may have improved, especially with the addition of Nathan Horton. But now Marc Savard has post concussion syndrome, which could have a heavy impact on his career. Regardless of when he returns, one hit is all it will take for him to be done with the NHL.
You could say the same for Tim Connolly, who played 73 games last year, the most since the 2002-2003 season.
Boston also has Tyler Seguin, who could make an immediate impact on the club. They also have Tuukka Rask, but he still needs to prove that he can be consistent. His 45 games played last year are not enough to determine whether or not he is an elite goaltender.
The Bruins may have some upside with these young stars and additions. Plus, they still have Zdeno Chara, who always makes his presence known on the ice.
Nathan Horton will make his debut with the Bruins this season
If you want to use the argument that the Bruins can excel based on a strong goalie, a solid defenseman, and a young top-line forward, you can do the same for Buffalo.
The Sabres have Ryan Miller coming off of a career year. They have Tyler Myers coming off an outstanding rookie season. But Buffalo also has Tyler Ennis, who proved that he could play in the NHL at the end of last season.
The Sabres have similar key factors and will be looking for revenge after getting knocked out by the Bruins during the postseason.
Buffalo added experience, grit, and leadership by bringing in guys like Shaone Morrisonn, Rob Niedermayer, and Jordan Leopold. They may not be huge moves, but I believe they are the right moves and they will all be able to contribute and fit in nicely with the team.
With what we have seen from Drew Stafford in the preseason (5 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 27 SOG), it is obvious that he has done something to try and improve his game. With that in mind and this being a contract year, I don’t think it is too much to expect 20-30 goals out of him.
I believe that everything can click for the Sabres this year. I think they have everything in place, with the exception of a power-play quarterback, but they can get by without it.
With Thomas Vanek looking to rebound from a poor season, and Ennis contributing on offense, I can see the Sabres scoring more goals than last year.
Ryan Miller may still have to carry a heavy workload, but he is certainly capable of that.
The one problem that I see with the goaltending is that the Sabres play 22 sets of back-to-back games this year, which is the most in the NHL.
Last year, the Sabres played 18 back-to-back sets. In the second game of those sets, Buffalo won just four, and gained 13 points out of a possible 36.
When Miller is not in net, the entire team plays differently. No offense to Patrick Lalime or Jhonas Enroth, but the team goes into safe mode when one of them is in net.
The team knows that Miller is not back there to back them up, so they will make the safe plays rather than go all out and try to score. Many of the Sabres players also know that if they make a mistake that results in a goal, Lindy Ruff is going to get them in the locker room.
At least with Miller in net, the team doesn’t have to worry about the defensive aspect of the game. They take many more chances and, as a result, will be more effective on offense. Once they do this, the defense can feed off the offense, and vice versa.
I believe that the Sabres clearly are poised for a deep playoff run this year. I think they have an all-around solid team that wants to win this year. They want to get back to the playoffs.
Lindy Ruff and Ryan Miller have already stated that their goal this year is the Stanley Cup. While that may be the goal every year, this year seems to be different. There’s just something about it. Everything is falling into place and the best part of it all: the Sabres are underdogs.
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It was all fun and games last night at the HSBC Arena in downtown Buffalo, as the Sabres sliced and diced a young Philadelphia Flyers squad to the tune of a 9-3 victory. The game was Buffalo’s last of the preseason and improved their record to 4-2.
Now it’s time to get back to work. Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff have some tough decisions to make on who straps up for the Blue and Gold and who gets sent down to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. The Sabres can have no more than 23 players on the final roster.
Players such as Miller, Myers, Roy, Pominville, Vanek, Kaleta, and Gaustad are safe from the blade of course, but there are a number of guys on the bubble. Young guns Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe have made a serious case to why they should make the opening night roster. So let’s get started!
As part of a continuing series, writer Benjamin Benya will be previewing all 30 NHL teams over the next two weeks in preparation for the 2010-2011 regular season.
Up next, the Buffalo Sabres.
Key Additions: D Jordan Leopold, C Rob Niedermayer, D Shaone Morrisonn, RW Tim Conboy.
Key Subtractions: D Henrik Tallinder, D Toni Lydman, LW Raffi Torrez, C Tim Kennedy.
The Buffalo Sabres once again proved that you can play with incredible heart and ferocity and win games in the NHL despite not having a single “superstar” in the ranks. Sure, Buffalo has had scorers step up at the right time, but last year, they created an all-new superstar thanks, in part, to the Winter Olympics.
A disappointing first round exit for the Sabres after winning the Northeast Division likely didn’t sit well with goalie Ryan Miller or head coach Lindy Ruff. So it was back to the drawing board in the offseason, making moves that would more or less keep the core of the team intact for another hopeful run.
Offensively, the Sabres have an impressive retention rate for nearly all their homegrown forwards. We are over a year removed from the dominant trio of Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, and Thomas Vanek providing all of the Buffalo scoring. Youth and experience has now made it a more collaborative effort.
This is not to say, of course, that these three aren’t as dynamic as ever. Thomas Vanek’s 28 goals last year were a far cry from previous 40-goal outings in which he really came on strong towards the end of the year. Vanek’s explosive potential and ability, including numerous three and four goal games over the past few years are perfect examples of what he can do.
Pominville and Roy, meanwhile, have both consistently produced in the 60-70 point range for the past two seasons and have a wonderful chemistry with one another. Pominville in particular should be noted for his all-around clean play, as he rarely finds the penalty box despite being gritty enough to fight for the rebound.
Buffalo’s ace-in-the-hole, however, is Tim Connolly, who the Sabres fought to keep for an extended period. Connolly is everything you can love about a top line center: he’s quick to the puck, has a great passing presence, and has decent size to screen a goalie. He hit career highs last year in both assists and points and looks to be adding more of a scoring touch as he ages.
Several other Buffalo players are lining the depth chart with breakout potential. Patrick Kaleta, Drew Stafford, Paul Gaustad, Tyler Ennis, and even the pint-sized Nathan Gerbe have shown that they could go off at any minute and provide the team with that little extra fire power.
Incorporate 33-year-old Jochen Hecht, coming off a decent 20-goal campaign, and Buffalo’s offense is as potent as it was when they had Chris Drury and Daniel Briere.
If defense wins championships, the Sabres must realize where their biggest weakness is. Once again this offseason, Buffalo watched as players who made the biggest impact for the team departed for larger salaries and contracts. In the past five years, the Sabres have cycled out D-men like Brian Campbell, Jaroslav Spacek, Dmitri Kalinin, and most recently, Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman, in an attempt to build another new foundation.
That foundation is, at the core, led by second year giant Tyler Myers. Last year’s Calder Trophy winner was everything you could want in a two-way defensemen. He scored goals and bruised bodies all while standing at 6’8” in a menacing Buffalo jersey. Myers still has a lot to learn at the NHL level, but to say he’s miles ahead of the curve would be a fair assessment.
Buffalo captain Craig Rivet will return for perhaps his last season this year as well. Rivet, 36, has seen his production decrease and his penalty minutes increase over the past three years, yet he’s still a valuable asset to the team due to his willingness to take the body and adjust to in-game situations. With an expiring contract and age factors setting in, Rivet may be up for one last hurrah.
The Sabres also brought in defensemen Shaone Morrisonn and Jordan Leopold to fill in the gaps left by Tallinder and Lydman. Morrisonn is a tough, stay-at-home type who is used to playing in a high-powered offensive unit from his days in Washington. Leopold, on the other hand, is a chronic underachiever that, if he can ever find his niche, has a huge upside.
As we said earlier, however, this team relies most heavily on the superstar play of goaltender Ryan Miller. Miller’s impact on the hockey world is still being felt after a stellar showing at the 2010 Winter Olympics, but his heroics in Buffalo were key in getting the Sabres back to the playoffs.
Miller is just about at the peak of his career, posting highs for wins (41), goals against average (2.22), and save percentage (.929, a ridiculously high figure) last season. While equaling those totals is indeed an arduous task, Miller plays best when he’s under immense pressure to perform.
Rookie Watch
Forward Tyler Ennis made a quick impact late in the NHL season this past year. Ennis has a more subtle approach than lumbering forwards who come before him. Considering he’ll be playing for a Buffalo team built on speed and skill, his game is contouring to the complete package.
Outlook
The Sabres defense could take some time to mesh and if another scoring star doesn’t emerge, points will easily slip away. But Buffalo’s strength, and Ryan Miller in net, indicates that they’re due for another postseason rendezvous.
Second in the Northeast, Seventh in the Eastern Conference.
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Zack Kassian walked into Buffalo Sabres training camp without an entry-level contract. The Sabres broke off negotiations with their first-round pick (13th Overall) in 2009 after his arrest in Windsor, Ontario for a bar fight in celebration after he helped the Windsor Spitfires win the Memorial Cup championship in the OHL.
That was after he was suspended for 20 games after a dirty hit to the head of Barrie Colts’ forward Matt Kennedy in his first game with the Spitfires.
At the start of Sabres’ rookie camp, Kassian said that he has put the incidents behind him and that he was ready to focus solely on playing hockey. This mentality has helped him grab the attention of the coaches and the front office as he has resumed negotiations with the Sabres on a contract.
During the early stages of camp, Kassian has not disappointed.
In the first scrimmage of camp, Kassian nailed Tyler Myers early, shocking the crowd in attendance who applauded appreciatively. Later in the shootout portion of the scrimmage, Kassian undressed Patrick Lalime and put the puck top shelf on the backhand.
In the second scrimmage the day after, he scored again, snapping a 2-2 tie with a quick shot that beat Jhonas Enroth.
His performance in those two games was enough to warrant Kassian playing time in the Sabres’ upcoming exhibition games. Most junior players in NHL training camps are sent back to their teams before the preseason games, but Kassian is going to stick around.
Often compared to the Boston Bruins’ Milan Lucic, Kassian is a bruising forward (6’3”, 226) who is not afraid to fight, hit, and mix it up with the toughest players at any level of hockey.
Chris Edwards of NHL Central Scouting prior to the 2009 NHL Entry Draft said that “there were overage guys in the [OHL] who would not take him on.” On top of that, Kassian has slick hands and can score a bunch of goals.
In his OHL career split between the Peterborough Petes and the Windsor Spitfires, he has amassed 115 points in 157 games, 45 of those points goals. He also has 291 penalty minutes during that span.
In 2008-2009, he scored 63 points in 61 games with the Petes along with 136 penalty minutes, all career highs.
It is no secret that Kassian has made a very positive impression on Lindy Ruff and the coaching staff so far in camp. Good showings in the upcoming preseason games will put pressure on Darcy Regier and the front office to resume negotiations with Kassian and his agent on an entry-level contract, and will also force forwards such as Nathan Gerbe, Cody McCormick, and Drew Stafford to step up their games.
He brings a very unique element to a Sabres team, which is often criticized for being pushed around too often by tougher teams, especially in the playoffs.
Kassian has the ability to play in all types of roles, from a grinder on the fourth line, to a top line power forward.
Playing on a line with Tyler Ennis and Rob Niedermayer in the Sabres’ first preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kassian made a pretty pass to Ennis on a two-on-one for a goal. He also had a couple big hits: one on Christian Hanson early in the first period and another on Jesse Blacker that led directly to a goal by Rob Niedermayer.
Kassian’s versatility along with his style of play is a rare breed in the NHL, and the Sabres should give this very gifted forward a shot to be in the lineup October 8 against the Ottawa Senators.
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There has been some movement on the Sabres roster this offseason. It includes the addition of veteran presence Rob Niedermayer, and defensemen Jordan Leopold and Shaone Morrisonn. Some spots on the Sabres are up for grabs for younger players.
Listed below are the players virtually set in stone to be on the roster by the season opener against Ottawa on October 8, barring further player movement on free agency and the trade front.
Forwards (11)
Tim Connolly
Tyler Ennis
Paul Gaustad
Mike Grier
Jochen Hecht
Patrick Kaleta
Rob Niedermayer
Jason Pominville
Derek Roy
Drew Stafford
Thomas Vanek
Defensemen (5)
Jordan Leopold
Steve Montador
Shaone Morrisonn
Tyler Myers
Craig Rivet
Goaltenders (2)
Ryan Miller
Patrick Lalime
During the Sabres jersey unveiling, there were hints as to who holds a spot with the 2010-2011 Buffalo Sabres. In addition to the players mentioned above, Matt Ellis, Cody McCormick, Nathan Gerbe, Andrej Sekera, and Chris Butler were introduced with the rest of the team. At least to start, this is most likely the make-up of the team.
All told, it appears two forward and two defense spots are up for grabs. One starting spot is available for both positions. Here is an overview of who has a shot to make the lineup and who needs to make a big push in camp to hold a starting spot (alphabetical order).
Forwards
Luke Adam
Adam can be the dark horse candidate to make the roster with a bigger frame at 6’2” 203, and a scoring touch with 49 goals and 90 points in 56 games in the QMJHL. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract this spring, and don’t be surprised if you see Adam for at least a few games this season in a Sabres sweater.
Matt Ellis
Re-signed by the Sabres because of his unmatched work ethic, Ellis has been a reliable addition to the fourth line for the past couple seasons. Ellis however, will be challenged by rookies Gerbe and Mancari for a roster spot and the sheer numbers at forward for the Sabres could mean Ellis will be a veteran presence in Portland.
Nathan Gerbe
Out of all the young guns in camp, Gerbe has the best shot to make the starting lineup. His play in the playoff series against Boston with 1 goal and 2 points in two games, along with his natural goal-scoring ability, should translate into a starting roster spot. His lack of size is his only drawback, but he plays big in important games and is one of the fastest and most talented players in the Sabres’ system.
Mark Mancari
This camp may be Mancari’s last chance to finally come up to the big club full-time. With a big body (6’3” 225) and scoring ability (74 points in 74 games last season in the AHL), there is a good chance Mancari can at least grab the 13th forward spot.
He needs to use his body to his advantage on a consistent basis as he has done in the AHL to set himself apart from the likes of McCormick who does not have a real scoring touch. With a one-year deal signed this summer, and this being his sixth training camp, this may be his last shot.
Cody McCormick
Another big man at 6’3” could see playing time on the fourth line and could grab the last forward spot. Challenging Zdeno Chara in Game 5 of the series against the Bruins could only help his chances of claiming a roster spot.
Mark Parrish
The 33-year old Parrish is at Sabres training camp on a tryout basis to try to revive his career. The six-time 20 goal scorer has to have a great camp to have any shot of holding off Gerbe and the other young forwards for a spot with the Sabres. At the very least, Parrish could serve as forward depth in Portland.
Defensemen
Chris Butler
Butler had a down year this past season although his offensive production was up from his rookie year (21 points in 59 games compared to 6 points in 47 games his rookie season). His plus/minus plummeted from a plus-11 to a minus-15 and defense matters first to Lindy Ruff. Butler needs to regain his form before another defensemen vaults him on the depth chart.
Marc-Andre Gragnani
“Powerplay quarterback” could be the title given to Gragnani who has anchored the powerplay in the minors very effectively with 146 points in 220 games, along with 15 powerplay goals. His offensive prowess may vault Gragnani into the starting lineup based solely upon the Sabres powerplay difficulties. However, it has become more difficult for Gragnani to start as he will miss four to six weeks with a grade-two knee sprain.
Andrej Sekera
Sekera ended up in coach Lindy Ruff’s doghouse along with Chris Butler at the end of last season but did play in all six playoff games while Butler did not after rotating with his teammate to end the year. With the Sabres searching for a powerplay quarterback in their system, Sekera needs to find his offensive game he had in juniors to firmly entrench himself in the top six defense corps.
Mike Weber
With a one-year contract and a multitude of defensemen in the Sabres system, Weber needs to make a push in camp. This past year in the AHL, Weber was a plus-18 while racking up 153 penalty minutes. The Sabres could really use his physical presence in the lineup. Weber has stated that he has no plans to play in the AHL this year and that may mean a tough decision for the coaches come the end of camp.
Outlook
I believe that Weber will claim the last starting defenseman spot. As for the seventh defenseman, it is pretty much a toss-up between Butler and Sekera, a battle in which I believe Sekera will eventually win because he is more versatile and can also play forward. All of the defenseman I mentioned will have to go through waivers before playing in Portland, so the Sabres could potentially lose some of these players. Lindy Ruff announced to the media that the Sabres will start the season with eight defensemen.
In terms of forward, Gerbe is far and away the best in terms of skill set, and he scores goals. Drew Stafford should be careful with some talented forwards in camp such as Adam and Zack Kassian, who is currently without a contract.
Kassian has showed his toughness in the first scrimmage by nailing Tyler Myers in the corner who went down hard, and then following that by scoring a beautiful shootout goal after the scrimmage, beating Patrick Lalime cleanly on the backhand.
McCormick should finish ahead of Ellis on the depth chart as he brings more size, but he will get a run for his money from Mark Mancari.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
Who are the top 20 Buffalo Sabres of all time?
Obviously, there are going to be disagreements, but this is who I believe should be on the list at this point.
There were difficult decisions on who to leave off of the list and how to rank them in order. Feel free to share your thoughts and comments.
Thank you and enjoy!
This is Part Two of a two-part series dealing with Darcy Regier’s player acquisitions over his tenure as the Buffalo Sabres’ General Manager.
This article is a list of Darcy Regier’s worst player acquisitions during his tenure as the Buffalo Sabres’ General Manager. Late-round draft picks are excluded from this “worst list” for obvious reasons, as many of them are long-shots to make the NHL in the first place.
