Preseason ended for the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday with a 3-2 shootout win against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. Yesterday the team had a very early practice so they could be at New Era Field in Orchard Park, NY to watch the Buffalo Bills take on the New England Patriots (which turned out to be a defensive struggle with the Pats coming out on top 16-10.)
Today the powers that be are huddled in Sabres offices trying to figure out who should stay and who should go. Yes, we know Sabreland, if it was up to the most vociferous of the fan base Kyle Okposo and Rasmus Ristolainen would have been traded by now, Vladimir Sobotka bought out, Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson and Scott Wilson all waived with Marco Scandella given a one-way ticket to anywhere in the world and every one of those fans willing to drive him to the airport.
Ain't gonna happen.
Risto is here as are Larsson and Girgensons. Sobotka won't be bought out and because of injuries to the blueline, Scandella looks to be in the top-six, especially after scoring the first Sabres goal in Buffalo's comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the win over Pittsburgh.
By our count there are four forwards battling for one spot in the starting ranks up front plus one or two reserve roles, dependent upon the injury status of Conor Shear and how new head coach Ralph Krueger wants his reserve list to look like. Curtis Lazar, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Asplund and Remi Elie are all in a battle to make the team and of those four, odds are very long that Elie will make it.
So, amongst the three remaining forwards, who should stay or go?
Lazar--Had a very strong camp in a defensive role although he could only muster one assist and was a minus-2 overall. Lazar has the speed and skating the team is looking for as well as skills, which is why he was taken 17th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. Although he's not waiver's exempt, he could be snuck through on waivers and recalled at any time, which includes opening night.
Thompson--The big guy (6'6") added 15 lbs. to his frame and is still in reset mode as he was sent to Rochester last season after being ineffective for the better part of 65 games played for Buffalo in 2018-19. Thompson has an elite-level shot which he releases when he can find open space and he's had a solid camp with two goals and a minus-1 rating. He's waiver's exempt
Asplund--At 21 yrs. old, Asplund is the youngest of the four battling for a spot on the roster and in knowing how Buffalo GM Jason Botterill likes his players to mature at the lower levels, Asplund is a prime candidate to head to Rochester in a key, two-way role for one more year of seasoning. Asplund had one assist and was a minus-one this preseason.
An injury to defenseman Brandon Montour combined with off season hip surgeries for Zach Bogosian and Lawrence Pilut has opened up a spot on the Sabres blueline. Rasmus Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen, Colin Miller and Jake McCabe are locks for the top-six and it would seem as if Scandella will be in as well. That leaves one spot in the lineup and at least one spot as a reserve. If Krueger opts to keep only one reserve forward, all of the following are safe, but the bet here is that one of the three are on the outs.
John Gilmour--Of all the potential roster players left, Gilmour seems to fit best what the Sabres want to do and he had a very, very strong camp with a highlight reel goal, a pair of assists and plus-one rating. Buffalo could try to slip Gilmour through waivers, but his speed and breakout passes might prove to be too enticing for another club to pass up.
Henri Jokiharju--Sure, Jokiharju played 38 NHL games for the Chicago Blackhawks and although he did so as a teenager, he looked like he belonged, at least when fired head coach Joel Quenneville was behind the bench. The difference between him staying or going might very well be his waivers-exempt status. Jokiharju had a good preseason overall and scored a goal but had a minus-four rating and never had a positive rating in any of his five games played.
Casey Nelson--Every team needs steady reserves who can move in and out of the lineup and respect the role they're playing. Nelson is that type of player. He could be sent to Rochester and play a significant role there but the Amerks have an overflowing d-corps with some youngins like Will Borgen, Jacob Bryson and Casey Fitzgerald in need of the experience.
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