Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--The reserves

Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com

The Buffalo Sabres entered camp this year with 60 players on their training camp roster. In just over two weeks and with seven preseason games they’ve whittled the roster down to 29 players after Jason Akeson was assigned to Rochester yesterday. A couple more moves will need to be made to get down to the final 23-man roster by 5pm Tuesday.

 

Four players presently on the roster—F, Cody McCormick, D, Zach Bogosian and Bobby Sanguinetti and G, Linus Ullmark--are all injured and will miss the start of the season with two being of the longer-term variety. McCormick has not been cleared due to a blood clot issue while Ullmark underwent double hip surgery in April and is slated to return to the ice some time next month. Sanguinetti hasn't been on the ice since the first day of training camp and Bogosian was listed as week-to-week late last week. Head coach Dan Bylsma said that "[Bogosian] is working out and doing off ice workouts and progressing well. We don't have a time table for him to return to get on the skates."

 

Of the two move the Sabres need to make, the easiest one will be waiving veteran center Cal O'Reilly. The older brother of Buffalo center Ryan O'Reilly, Cal played for the Utica Comets (VAN) of the AHL last year was brought in to fortify the Amerks roster for this season.

 

That leaves the reserve forward spot for another veteran, David Legwand.

 

 

Some notes in B-flat as the Sabres fall to end the preseason

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The Buffalo Sabres fell just short of staging a third period come back last night. Even though they scored four goals in just over 13 minutes of the third period, it was not a good tune-up for the regular season. Fact is, they were an abysmal, turnover machine last night. The team, in general, also lacked intensity while goaltending did nothing to bail the team out. By the time they snapped out of it the Sabres were down 5-0 with less than half the game played.

But before the Peace Bridge gets overcrowded with Sabres fans or there's a run on pitchforks, torches and lighter fluid, it's best to keep in mind that this team is in the midst of a major transition and there will be growing pains, especially to begin the season. There were eight players on the ice last night (including goaltender Robin Lehner) who weren't with the team last year and three others who spent only a handful of games on the big club last season. In addition to that, the Sabres are employing an up-tempo system that's a far cry from what they were doing last year.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--The fourth line

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The cool thing about the Buffalo Sabres adding top-six forwards in Evander Kane, Ryan O’Reilly and Jack Eichel is that not only does it immediately legitimize the Sabres top two lines, but it also pushes the other forwards down to a level more in line with their individual capabilities. And the depth Buffalo is beginning to develop is especially evident on the fourth line.

In the past few years the Sabres lacked true top-line talent and in turn were really thin at the lower levels of the depth chart to the point where the last two seasons, especially the last one, Buffalo relied upon borderline NHL’ers to play fourth-line minutes. Last night's 6-1 shellacking at the hands of the Minnesota Wild was a microcosm of the last two seasons.

While the Buffalo Sabres were dressing a lineup that featured as many as 10 players ticketed for Rochester of the AHL, the Wild were gearing up for the regular season and dressed most of their opening night roster in their final preseason game. "It was two teams at two different levels," said head coach Dan Bylsma after the game.

This huge discrepancy in talent trickled down to the Amerks as well. They opened up their preseason by getting walloped by the Binghamton Senators 8-2. The baby Sens had a team that was also fortified by having a parent club playing most of their opening night roster.

Tonight's home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets will be the Sabres last of the preseason and what hits the ice will constitute much of their opening night roster, injuries not withstanding.

Which brings us to the fourth line.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--G, Chad Johnson

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If the parade of goalies through Buffalo over the past two years wasn't record-breaking, it has to be pretty close. In the 2013-14 season the Sabres dressed an NHL-record 10 goalies for games including goalie coach Arturs Irbe and HARBORCENTER employee Ryan Vinz. Last year five goalies would make an appearance in net--Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth, who were both traded, Anders Lindback, who took on post trade deadline starting duties, plus prospects Andrey Makarov and Nathan Lieuwen.

The well-travelled Chad Johnson, who was acquired from the NY Islanders (along with a 2016 3rd round pick) for Neuvirth at the trade deadline, would have made it six, but he took a shot to the ankle prior to his scheduled March 6th start at Ottawa against the Senators. The "lower-body injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Johnson's all that's left of the 16 men in the crease for the Sabres over the last two grueling seasons (save for Vinz,) and he entered training camp as back-up to No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner who was acquired at the draft from Ottawa for the 21st overall pick. Lehner was sidelined in February after suffering a concussion in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes and, like Johnson, hadn't seen action until this preseason.

Lehner got the start (and the 4-0 shutout) last game vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs and with only two preseason games left on the schedule, Johnson will get the start tonight in Minnesota against the Wild.

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick...

heading up ice with the puck on his stick...

shorthanded...

again.

Goal.

Speed is speed, whether it's preseason or not and when Sabres rookie phenom Jack Eichel jumps on a puck it's 1st gear to overdrive. Last night Eichel took a chip pass from Nic Deslauriers, blazed through the neutral zone and with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Connor Brown in hot pursuit, yet still two strides behind, he proceeded to snap a quick wrister past goalie Jonathan Bernier.

Said Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma of the play."D-Lo (Deslauriers) makes a great positional play by being there in the slot and intercepting the pass. In about a half a second it was clear it was going to be a breakaway. [Eichel] took off and beat the guy (Brown) almost by the blue line and had three-quarters of the rink for a breakaway. It turns into another [short handed goal] for us."

3 games in 4 nights begins tonight vs. Leafs at F'N Center

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The trimming of the roster will continue over the course of the next week as the Buffalo Sabres ready themselves for their season opener on October 8th. The Ottawa Senators visit the First Niagara Center next Thursday in one of the most anticipated season openers for Buffalo in a long time.

With the roster makeover in full swing as GM Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma now lead the journey up from the bottom of the league. With only three games remaining in the preseason, many are fighting for NHL roster spots and it's especially tight up-front as only two or three bottom-six spots might be available.

Defense is a bit different as injuries have crept into the equation meaning that a player like 18 yr. old Brendan Guhle (2015, 51st overall,) who would normally be headed back to junior sometime within the next week, may get an extended look in the regular season. Two d-men trying to make enough of an impression to stick with the Sabres--Jake McCabe and Chad Ruhwedel--are suffering from injuries that will probably sideline them for the rest of the preseason. That would make two years in a row that McCabe went down in the preseason. Last year upon his return he was sent to Rochester and it's likely that both he and Ruhwedel will be headed there once healthy.

Goaltending is pretty much a lock. Barring injury, Robin Lehner should start vs. his old team on October 8th with Chad Johnson as back-up.

The Amerks opened up their camp yesterday and saw an influx of players. Loaned to Rochester were forwards Justin Bailey (2013, 52nd) and Nicolas Baptiste (2013, 69th.) As expected both were sent to Rochester to begin their professional careers in probable top-six roles. They were joined by Jean Dupuy (2014, FA,) William Carrier (2015, 57th, STL,) Daniel Catenacci (2011, 77th,) Justin Kea (2012, 73rd) and Jack Nevins (2013, FA, MTL) to fill out the forward ranks. Jerry D'Amigo (2009, 158th, CLB) and Phil Varone (2009, 147th, SJS) both passed through waivers and will be joining the club up-front as well. Forward Matt Garbowsky (2015, FA) and defenseman Matt Prapavessis (2015, FA) were released from their respective PTO's with Buffalo and joined Rochester on their AHL contracts.

Goaltender Andrey Makarov was also loaned to Rochester and looks to be the starter in net for the Amerks this season.

Rochester opened training camp yesterday with 23 players including recently signed defensemen Colby Robak (2008, 46th, FLA) and Spiro Goulakos.

Robak was with the Amerks when they were affiliated with the Florida Panthers while the Sabres were in Portland, ME and has bounced around over the last three seasons with stops that included stints in the NHL (FLA, ANA) and the AHL (San Antoino and Norfolk.) The 6'3", 207 lb. Robak told Amerks broadcaster Don Stevens of his return to Rochester, "It's good to be back. [Walking through those doors] took me back a few years. The start of my pro career was here and I had a good time. It's a great city, the fans are great and the organization's great."

Goulakos was an invitee to Sabres camp, was released from his PTO last Thursday and was signed by Rochester on Sunday. The Montreal native came from Colgate University where he was captain the his last two years in college.

Filling out the roster for yesterday's skate were forwards, Cason Hohmann, Chris Langkow, Mike Seidel, Garrett Klotz,  Allan McPherson (re-signed 2015,) Scott Jacklin and William Kessel. Also skating were defenseman Josh Chapman and Zach Tokinen as well as goaltender, CJ Motte. See Amerks.com's Warren Kosel's day one notes here.

It will be the last hurrah for some to the players slated to play in tonight's matchup vs. the Maple Leafs. Forwards Evan Rodrigues (2015, FA) and Cal O'Reilly will be on a line tonight while Jason Akeson (2015, FA) and Tim Schaller (2013, FA) are expected to go on Thursday. Of the four, Schaller looks to be the only one with a legitimate shot at making the Sabres roster opening night, but even that's slim as Buffalo's loaded with players up front.

The Amerks are waiting for the defense to sort itself out in Buffalo, but injuries have clouded things. As mentioned, both McCabe and Ruhwedel are shelved and both are expected to be in Buffalo while veteran Bobby Sanguinetti (2006, 21st, NYR) has an upper body injury.

There's good news for the Sabres defense-corps, however, as Rasmus Ristolainen is slated to make his preseason debut. Bylsma's looking to limit his top-pairing d-man to around 18-20 minutes. He said Ristolainen's injury didn't prevent him from skating and that he's now ready for some live action hitting.

In goal for the Sabres tonight is Robin Lehner who should be in the entire game.

The game is at 7:00pm and will be televised inside of 716 at HARBORCENTER.

From WGR's Paul Hamilton, tonight's expected forward lines:

Evander Kane, Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Ennis
Matt Moulson, Jack  Eichel, Brian Gionta
Evan Rodrigues,  Cal O'Reilly, Sam Reinhart
Marcus Foligno, David Legwand, Nic Deslauriers

Ristolainen is expected to be joined on defense by Carlo Colaiacovo, Brendan Guhle, Cody Franson, Matt Donovan and Mike Weber.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Mike Weber

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The top-five defensemen headed into the 2015-16 are pretty much a lock. Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen, Zach Bogosian, Josh Gorges, Cody Franson and Mark Pysyk have all made their mark for the team in one way or another and all that's left to figure out is, who the No. 6 d-man will be.

In the mix is 32 yr. old, defensive defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo whom GM Tim Murray signed for depth. Edmond, OK native and puck-mover Matt Donovan was up with the NY Islanders last season but only played in 12 games and was signed by the Sabres after the Islanders opted not to qualify him. Buffalo rookie Jake McCabe is the fans choice but he still needs to iron out some inconsistencies in his two-way game and Rochester is as good a place as any to do that. Puck-mover Chad Ruhwedel who's shown a nice scoring touch in Rochester has yet to turn heads in Buffalo.

Eighteen year old Brendan Guhle, a 2015 second round pick (51st overall) has piqued the interest of many with his advanced skating, athleticism and acute hockey sense but, why rush the kid? Another year at Prince Albert (WHL) with the Raiders playing top minutes is a logical step. Of note: Murray has already signed him to his entry-level deal.

And then there's 27 yr. old Mike Weber. The Pittsburgh, PA native, who will be entering his eighth season with the club, is the longest-tenured Sabre.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Mark Pysyk

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Of all the players mired in the muck that was the Buffalo Sabres last two seasons, defenseman Mark Pysyk was the one who got crapped on the most. But with that over and fading into memory, it's time for him to take his place in the Sabres top-six defense corps.

When it comes to Pysyk and how he'd been approaching his time in Rochester despite having more to offer than half the d-men that have paraded through Buffalo the last two years, I keep hearing the words of long-time Amerks broadcaster, Don Stevens. Said Stevens of Pysyk, "He's just glad to be playing the game of hockey, which is the kind of player you want. He wants to be playing. I think he's smart enough to know that he has a long career ahead of him and that he can settle in for the long haul."

The "long-haul" begins this season. Finally.

It's safe to say that almost every Sabres fan thought Pysyk would be in the lineup last season, but he was a caught up in a crude game that included numbers, waivers, a preseason injury and an organizational focus on the long-term. In addition there was drama surrounding 19 yr. old defenseman Nikita Zadorov that included a tug of war between the Zadorov camp, the Canadian Hockey League and the KHL which would also affect Pysyk's status with the club.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Brian Gionta

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Buffalo Sabres RW, Brian Gionta is a veteran of 13 NHL seasons. The former 3rd round pick (82nd overall,) who was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 1998, won a Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2003, just his second season in the NHL. He also captained the most storied franchise in the league--the Montreal Canadiens--to a birth in the eastern conference finals the season before he came to Buffalo as a free agent in 2014. Gionta has the distinction of being the only full-fledged American-born team captain in the Canadiens 106-year history.

Gionta headlined a trio that included Matt Moulson and Josh Gorges coming to Buffalo that off season making the Sabres of the 2014 off season. With Buffalo intent upon fully bottoming out most had thought that the Sabres would have very little opportunity to land players of significance. But GM Tim Murray pulled a bit of a coup landing what turned out to be his three captains for the 2014-15 season. Although many had visions of the team improving greatly with those additions, the team once again sank to the bottom of the league. And for a player like Gionta who had known plenty of success throughout his NHL career, it was tough.

"Last year was one of the most frustrating years if not the most frustrating year of my professional career," said Gionta at training camp last week. "It was hard to get through." But being the true professional that he is, he spent the season controlling what he could control, his play. "At the same time you find things to grow off of and you find ways to improve yourself. You take that experience from last year and try to make it what it is."

"When teams are winning, things are easy," Gionta said to long-time Rochester Americans broadcaster Don Stevens while speaking at a youth camp this summer. "But when you're losing, you have to try and find answers and solutions and stay positive. You lose all the time, you don't want that feeling to set in and become the new normal. So that was the hardest thing, showing up at the rink and being positive each day and finding something to draw on to help the situation.''

Ottawa downs Sabres. Game notes plus other quick shots.

Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com


The Buffalo Sabres are 1-1 in the preseason thus far after last night's 5-2 loss at the hands of the Ottawa Senators. Although Buffalo dominated in the shot department with 42 shots on goal compared to Ottawa's 26, they had trouble finding the back of the net. Senators goalie Matt O'Connor, a former teammate of Jack Eichel with the Boston University Terriers last season, was particularly stout in net for Ottawa as he stopped all 18 shots he faced including five on an early power play for the Sabres. The 6'6" netminder outdueled his counterpart across the ice as Buffalo goalie, and former Senator, Robin Lehner stopped only 16 of the 19 shots he faced (.843 save %.)

The Sabres were done-in by three Ottawa goals in 3:26 span during the second period. The line of Jason Akeson, David Legwand and Evan Rodrigues, along with 18 yr. old defenseman Brendan Guhle, were victimized for two of the three goals.

Tonights lineup vs. the Ottawa Senators for preseason game No. 2

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The Buffalo Sabres will be at home tonight for their second preseason game. Only one member of the squad that downed the Minnesota Wild on Monday will be in the lineup--D, Brendan Guhle. Here was the line up for that game:

Matt Moulson, Jack Eichel, Zemgus Girgensons
Marcus Foligno, Johan Larsson, Nic Deslauriers
William Carrier, Phil Varone, Justin Bailey
Jean Dupuy, Matt Ellis, Vaclav Karabacek

Mike Weber, Cody Franson
Brendan Guhle, Mark Pysyk
Jake McCabe, Brady Austin

Chad Johnson
Nathan Lieuwen


Tonight's lineup (via WGR's Paul Hamilton):

Evander Kane, Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Ennis
Jamie McGinn, Sam Reinhart, Brian Gionta
Jerry D'Amigo, Eric Cornel, Nicholas Baptiste
Evan Rodrigues,  David Legwand, Jason Akeson

Guhle, Josh Gorges,
Carlo Colaiacovo, Chad Ruhwedel
Jerome Leduc, Matt Donovan

Former Ottawa Senator Robin Lehner puts on the Blue and Gold for the first time to face his former team while Andrey Makarov backs him up in net.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--LW, Matt Moulson

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Nearly two years ago, on October 27, 2013 the Buffalo Sabres acquired LW Matt Moulson from the NY Islanders in the Thomas Vanek trade Also coming to Buffalo was what turned out to be a 2015 first round pick (No. 21 sent to Ottawa in the Robin Lehner trade on draft day) and a 2015 second round pick (Brendan Guhle, 51st-overall.) That was the last trade former GM Darcy Regier made before he was fired on November 13th.

Moulson was coming off a lockout-shortened season where he scored 15 goals in 47 games. In his three seasons prior he hit the 30-goal mark each season averaging nearly 32 goals while developing a strong chemistry with former first overall pick John Tavares (2009.) Ironically, Tavares was at Moulson's house when the unexpected trade went down.

It was a curious move by Isles GM Garth Snow as he traded a productive fan favorite in  Moulson for the star-power of Vanek. Expectations were that Vanek would explode with a bona fide #1 center for years to come. Once it was clear that Vanek wouldn't sign long-term, Snow shipped him off to Montreal at the 2015 trade deadline after just 47 games with the club (17 goals.)

As expected, Moulson was also traded at the deadline. He and Cody McCormick went to the playoff-bound Minnesota Wild for Torrey Mitchell, a 2014 second-round pick (No. 39 from Winnipeg, traded to Washington for No. 44, Eric Cornel, and No. 74, Brycen Martin) and a 2016 second rounder which was sent to the Montreal Canadiens for D, Josh Gorges.

After a short stint with the Wild and an equally short playoff-run, Moulson signed a 5yr./$25M contract with the Sabres on July 1, 2014.

I think it's pretty safe for Jack Eichel to don the No. 15

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Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel has said that he'll continue to wear No. 41 until he officially makes the roster and only at that time will he switch to his permanent No. 15. It's a noble gesture from a character kid who's unassuming nature can traced to his roots when his father Bob engrained in him that everything's earned and nothing's guaranteed. But after last night's opening preseason game at Minnesota it would be safe to assume that he'll on the roster.

With the Sabres down 2-1 in the third period RW, Zemgus Girgensons got the puck off the wall and fed Eichel creating a two-on-one. The 18 yr. old center found his other linemate, LW, Matt Moulson in the paint and the 31 yr. old veteran promptly deposited the puck in the net to tie the score. Of note:  on the ice for the Wild at the time was a group of top-end veterans for Minnesota--Mikael Grandlund, Jason Pominville, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon.

Moulson's at his best when he's workin' the paint, it was something that he admitted he'd gotten away from last year. But with linemates Eichel and Girgensons he certainly knows what to do. "With [Eichel] and Zemgus out there, I think the biggest thing is just get [to the net] and the puck's gonna get there at some point."

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--C, Sam Reinhart

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The consensus at the 2014 NHL Draft is that it was a three-horse race for No. 1 overall between defenseman Aaron Ekblad and centers Samson Reinhart and Samuel Bennett. Ekblad went to the team that won the draft lottery that year, the Florida Panthers, Reinhart was taken by the Buffalo Sabres who finished last in the league and Bennett ended up going fourth-overall to the Calgary Flames after the Edmonton Oilers opted to pursue center Leon Draisatl with the third-overall pick.

Selecting Reinhart with the second-overall pick was a no-brainer according to Sabres GM Tim Murray. "He was the first player on our list," said Murray at the draft. "He was [first] on our list at our organizational meeting in May. We've tweaked those lists a couple of times, but we didn't tweak [number] one."

What the Sabres and the rest of the scouting community saw in Reinhart, was neatly summarized by Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com. "He can slow it down and speed it up, and his ability to see open passing lanes is a skill that cannot be taught. Reinhart is also a highly proficient finisher who finds space down low to pop off quality wrist shots and bang home second chances. [His] knack for knowing where everyone is at all times could plug into any team’s future plans as a legitimate top line center prospect."

TSN's Craig Button was even more succinct saying "Reinhart beats up opponents with his mind."

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Cody Franson

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Let's get right to the point when it comes to new Buffalo Sabres defenseman, Cody Franson, he's really not interested in playing the left side on defense. He said so himself on Hockey Hotline, "I don't play the left side," he told the Hotline's Kevin Sylvester and Andrew Peters, "I actually struggle over there." 

Which makes it strange that Sabres GM Tim Murray would sign the veteran unrestricted free agent, and it’s a little bit stranger that he would do so for more than a one-year contract.

For all intents and purposes, Murray is finished with the forward ranks this off season, unless something comes along that blows him away. In a matter of six months he added forwards Evander Kane and Ryan O'Reilly through trades and drafted center Jack Eichel with the second-overall pick in June. Add those three to some of the players already on the team and it's a pretty strong, albeit young, nucleus with plenty of upside.

Unfortunately, in the process of bolstering the forwards Murray had to trade away defensemen. When Tyler Myers and Nikita Zadorov were traded in the Kane and O'Reilly trades, respectively, the depth chart flipped and by the time the 2015 Draft was in the books, Murray was in the market for a veteran defenseman, “I probably need a veteran UFA defenseman or I have to trade for one,” he said post-draft. “I’ve been talking to teams about a left-shot D.”

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Josh Gorges

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Defenseman Josh Gorges was one of three veteran players brought to Buffalo by Sabres GM Tim Murray at the beginning of free agency July 1, 2014. The trio of Gorges, Brian Gionta and Matt Moulson were headed to a team that had just finished in last place and the prospects for the upcoming season didn't look much brighter. Sure enough, the Sabres finished in last place once again.

Unlike Gionta and Moulson who signed free agent contracts with the Sabres, Gorges was traded for. Murray sent a 2016 second round pick (received from Minnesota in the 2014 trade of Moulson to the Wild) to the Montreal Canadiens for Gorges. It was a trade that surprised many, especially up in Toronto where backlash was fast and furious. The Maple Leafs had a trade offer on the table, but Gorges had a limited no-trade clause which included the Toronto as one of 15 teams he would not go to. Buffalo was originally on that list but Gorges reconsidered and the trade to the Sabres went through.

Boy did that ruffle some feathers at "the center of the hockey universe."

"[Gorges] made that decision of supposedly sound mind, or so we are informed," wrote Steve Simmons of the Toronto Star. "He selected living in Buffalo and playing for quite possibly the worst team in the NHL over living in Toronto and playing in the so-called centre of the hockey universe.

"He chose the armpit of America over one of the world’s great cities, current traffic and politics aside."

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Jamie McGinn

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In case y'all missed it (or forgot,) Buffalo Sabres forward Jamie McGinn was a part of the franchise-altering events that took place on draft-day, 2015. With Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly and Robin Lehner grabbing all of the headlines that day, McGinn (as well as David Legwand) were kind of lost in the shuffle, but it looks as if he'll play a significant role on the team at least for this season.

The depth-chart on the right side is missing one viable top-six candidate. Up-top at right wing is Tyler Ennis, who's just entering his prime. Ennis has had consistent production despite being moved around and in spite of the fact that the last two seasons he was on an historically bad Buffalo Sabres team. Behind him is a plethora of players more suited to a top-nine role but, because of a hole on the right side, might stretch into a top-six role.

Captain Brian Gionta, a natural right winger, could be slotted in here, but there's a better role for him and it's one of the reasons McGinn might be a better fit on a line featuring Eichel and Zemgus Girgensons.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--C, Jack Eichel

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In case you haven't heard of him, Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel was the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and as of right now is more famous due forever being linked to 2015 first-overall draft pick, Connor McDavid, via one word--McEichel.

While Oilers fans ditched the "Eichel" part and promptly crowned Connor "McJesus" in Edmonton, Eichel strapped on his work boots, packed his lunch pail and headed to Buffalo to get settled in as a big piece of the future of the Buffalo Sabres. That's not to say that McDavid doesn't have a work ethic or is the type that will believe in the whole "McSavior" aura, as it's more of a perception thing from the outside world, but they're in very different situations. Both McDavid and Eichel are extremely talented hockey players who work hard at their craft, and although they're both considered franchise players, neck-in-neck in most pundits assessment, they come at if from different directions.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--G, Robin Lehner

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Buffalo Sarbes GM Tim Murray ws hellbent and intent upon fixing a goaltending situation that had been in a constant state of flux since he came to the Sabres. During the 2013-14 season Buffalo suited up an NHL-record nine goalies because of trades and injuries.  Ryan Miller, Jhonas Enroth, Ryan Vinz (a HARBORCENTER employee,) Jaroslav Halak, Michal Neuvirth, assistant coach Arturs Irbe, Connor Knapp, Matt Hackett, and Andrey Makarov all donned the Blue and Gold that year.

Last season was better although they still had five goalies play in at least one game for the team:  Enroth and Neuvirth started a combined 62 games for the Sabres before both were traded. Anders Lindback, who came over from Dallas in the Enroth trade started 15 games while Makarov (one game) and Hackett (four games) hit the NHL ice to round things out. The also had Chad "No, I'm not Ocho Cinco" Johnson, who was acquired in the Neuvirth to NY Islanders traded deadline deal. At the time of the deal Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal called Johnson "a nightmare" on Long Island writing that the duo of Lindback and Johnson was "laughably bad" and that they "should give the team the push it needs to finish dead last."

Oddly enough, the only one left standing (other than Yinz who’s still with the Sabres, but got a wiki page out of his 15 minutes of fame) is Johnson who will be back up to Robin Lehner this season.

Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Zach Bogosian

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With the third pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, the Atlanta Thrashers selected 6'2" 200 lb. defenseman Zach Bogosian who was coming off of an impressive second season playing for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. Bogosian easily trumped his previous production and went on to lead the team in scoring during the 2007-08 season with 11 goals and 61 points. His 50 assists were 15th in the league and second amongst defensemen (Ryan Wilson, Sarnia Sting, 64.)

The Massena, NY native opted to pursue the Canadian Hockey League instead of going the college route after he had graduated from Cushing Academy in Massachusetts. While at Cushing he was a teammate of Ryan Bourque, son of Boston Bruins Hall of Famer, Ray Bourque, who was also a voluntary assistant for the team. “It was a great situation for me,” Bogosian said at the draft. “I got to see not only what he did on the ice three to four days a week, but watching him off the ice and seeing how he dealt with people was a good learning experience for me.”

What wasn't a great situation for Bogosian was heading to Atlanta to play for the Thrashers after his second Peterborough season.