Forward--Scott Wilson
DOB: April 24, 1992 (age, 27)
Draft: PIT, 2011 seventh round (209th overall)
How acquired: Trade w/DET, December 4, 2017
Last contract signed: July 1, 2018, 2yr./$2.1 million
Final year of contract: 2019-20
2018-19 Stats: 15 games | 0 goals | 3 assists | -8 | 11:27 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 64 games | 6 goals | 11 assists | -25 | 12:22 ATOI
What we wrote preseason: [Sabres GM Jason] Botterill had been with Pittsburgh when they selected Wilson in 2011 out of the Junior-A Georgetown Raiders, and watched him turn into a point/game player at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2015-16, his second AHL season. Wilson got the call to Pittsburgh that year and responded with five goals and an assist in 24 games. He played three games for the Pens in the playoffs and got his name on the Stanley Cup. The following year he played in 78 regular season games for the Pens and 20 in the playoffs and had his name etched on the Cup again.
Botterill said of Wilson when acquiring him, "Scott is a hard-working, young player that will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice."
Wilson signed a two-year contract extension with the Sabres and is yet another player that can move up and down the lineup. He's in Buffalo for a reason and one would have to believe he'll be in the starting lineup come October 4.
Botterill said of Wilson when acquiring him, "Scott is a hard-working, young player that will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice."
Wilson signed a two-year contract extension with the Sabres and is yet another player that can move up and down the lineup. He's in Buffalo for a reason and one would have to believe he'll be in the starting lineup come October 4.
What we wrote mid-season: Suffered a broken ankle and has been out all season. He's skating with the team and is expected to return after the first of the year.
Impressions on his play this year: Wilson is of that interchangeable collection of fourth line/reserve players that constituted a problem for the Sabres last season. Having one of Wilson, Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson, or Vladimir Sobotka is about right, having two would be stretching it and having three or more equals a team destined for a lower place finish.
Wilson suffered that ankle injury in camp and didn't hit the ice until the latter part of February when the team's fate had pretty much been sealed. No one thought that having him in the lineup would move the needle and it didn't as the Sabres fall continued. As a fourth-liner Wilson provides energy and his effectiveness is directly related to overall team success. When he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins he was a minus-2 in 106 regular season games while in Buffalo he's a -25 in only 64 games.
If the Sabres ever make it to the playoffs with him on the roster he may provide some valuable playoff insight to this group as he has his name on the Cup twice. However, the Sabres may be hard pressed to make the playoffs this season and Wilson might be prime trade-bait come trade deadline as a team is always looking for good, cheap depth forwards for a playoff run. The Sabres might even recoup the 2019 fifth round pick they sent to Detroit for Wilson.
Questions moving forward: What role will Ralph Krueger see for him? Can he put in a full season for Buffalo? Would teams be interested in him right now at his $1million cap-hit?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
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