Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-5-2017
Ryan O'Reilly
26 yrs. old
6'1" 210 lbs.
2009, 2nd round (33rd-overall, COL)
Acquired in a trade with Colorado, June 26, 2015
Career stats: 570 games | 131 goals | 230 assists | 351 points | -30
Those who watched O'Reilly's rise in Colorado to a top-six center found themselves enamored with his size, skill and two-way game. Although it had been only a handful of years since the Sabres had someone like that by the name of Chris Drury, it seemed like an eternity. And when Murray pulled off the deal to acquire him from the Avalanche, in concert with the drafting of Jack Eichel in 2015, visions of a Drury/Daniel Briere one-two punch down the middle had Sabres fans pretty excited.
And we're still excited.
Murray sent a huge package to the Avalanche in the deal for O'Reilly (and forward Jamie McGinn,) but he also received a player in O'Reilly that was just entering his prime and was considered one of the best two-way forwards in the game. Murray quickly signed O'Reilly to a seven-year contract extension that summer and once Eichel is signed long-term, the Sabres top-two center spots are locked in for years to come.
That was the idea. Although a hefty price was paid in both cases, O'Reilly with players, picks and prospects, and the fan base going through two years of "suffering" for the opportunity to draft Eichel second-overall, as we head into the 2017-18 season that duo will lead the team up-front.
O'Reilly's time in Buffalo got off to an inauspicious start when a July 2015 early morning incident at a Tim Horton's in Lucan, Ontario lead to charges against him. On the ice for that 2015-16 season, however, Sabres fans got to witness firsthand O'Reilly's game. He lead the team in scoring with 60 points (21+39) in 71 games and was on the ice in every situation while leading all Buffalo forwards in ice time. He had the fourth most faceoffs in the league and the third best faceoff percentage for those with 1700 draws or more. His after practice sessions became legendary, as they especially helped rookie Sam Reinhart adapt his skills to the pro game, and he was also named an NHL All-Star.
The only drawback to that first Sabres season was a 24-game goal drought that lasted from January 10 thru March 28. Even though he was goal-less, O'Reilly was still good for 18 assists during that span.
Last season he had no such drought and overall we saw a similar Ryan O'Reilly as he finished with 55 points (20+35) in 72 games while bringing his plus/minus down from a minus-16 to a minus-1, which was a team-best amongst regulars. Like the prior season, O'Reilly did miss over 10 games in 2016-17 but that was due to back spasms, which began with the World Cup of Hockey in September, and was due to an emergency appendectomy performed on Christmas Eve. With no World Cup and no appendix, hopefully we can see an 80-game season from him.
O'Reilly is the complete package who's all-around game will continue to see him garner the most minutes amongst the forward group. In 2015-16 he helped anchor the league's ninth-best penalty kill for Buffalo and last year he was a fixture for the Sabres on the league's top powerplay. Although he's not Eichel when it comes to a franchise-changing skill-level, O'Reilly has shown plenty of his own skill and when paired with his determination, we see the results as shown here:
(Thank you, Samboke)
He's the type of two-way player you want and need, one that can be relied upon no matter what the score or what the situation. Former coach Dan Bylsma relied so heavily upon O'Reilly last season to the point where he wore him down and neither the player or the team benefitted greatly from that. O'Reilly's best season came in 2013-14 with the Avalanche when he scored 64 points (28+36) in 80 games while skating an average of 19:49/game which was by far the most amongst Colorado's forwards. It would seem as if that could be the ideal for him.
Buffalo has a new coach in Phil Housley and new systems moving forward and if he can place some faith in other players, O'Reilly's load will be slightly diminished, his ice-time managed better and it should lead to better results, barring injury.
The only questions heading into the 2016-17 season is whether or not O'Reilly will take over the captaincy and what his reaction might be should Eichel wear the 'C'. Odds are that in either case we'll still see O'Reilly playing his 200' game, we'll still be near the top in scoring at the end of the season, and he'll still be running those post-practice sessions for those who wish to join him.
That's why Murray traded for him and that's why the Sabres are lucky to have him.
Building the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
/ C, Ryan O'Reilly /
D, Marco Scandella / D, Rasmus Ristolainen
G, Robin Lehner
Showing posts with label 2016-17 season preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2016-17 season preview. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Buffalo Sabres 2016-17 Season Preview
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-12-2016
Pundits and hockey "experts" from around the league pretty much have a consensus opinion concerning the Buffalo Sabres this upcoming season--the Sabres will be better, but aren't quite there yet. Most are still placing the Sabres at the bottom of the division, conference or league with TSN's Scott Cullen yesterday putting them at 28th in their power rankings to start the season. Cullen says expectations are high and that the Sabres did add to a "promising forward group." However, he believes the defense is suspect and "needs to improve," while that questionable defense will put pressure on an unproven starting goalie "who has shown flashes of talent" but has never played more than 36 games in a season.
Sabres fans stand on the precipice of the Buffalo's 2016-17 NHL season with negativity still prevailing despite the club making huge strides last season to the tune of a 50% year-over-year points increase and definitive, yet limited, upgrades to the roster this past off season. Yet, regardless of the pundits, analytics and definitive Canadian homerism labeling Buffalo as a doormat to the league, fans in Sabreland will have a lot to look forward to this year. After two seasons in the tank and another one of major adjustments, the grubby little street urchin is poised to rise further in the standings. Just how far the Sabres rise--as in a playoff berth or not--is to be determined.
Pundits and hockey "experts" from around the league pretty much have a consensus opinion concerning the Buffalo Sabres this upcoming season--the Sabres will be better, but aren't quite there yet. Most are still placing the Sabres at the bottom of the division, conference or league with TSN's Scott Cullen yesterday putting them at 28th in their power rankings to start the season. Cullen says expectations are high and that the Sabres did add to a "promising forward group." However, he believes the defense is suspect and "needs to improve," while that questionable defense will put pressure on an unproven starting goalie "who has shown flashes of talent" but has never played more than 36 games in a season.
Sabres fans stand on the precipice of the Buffalo's 2016-17 NHL season with negativity still prevailing despite the club making huge strides last season to the tune of a 50% year-over-year points increase and definitive, yet limited, upgrades to the roster this past off season. Yet, regardless of the pundits, analytics and definitive Canadian homerism labeling Buffalo as a doormat to the league, fans in Sabreland will have a lot to look forward to this year. After two seasons in the tank and another one of major adjustments, the grubby little street urchin is poised to rise further in the standings. Just how far the Sabres rise--as in a playoff berth or not--is to be determined.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Some 2016-17 NHL predictions for the Buffalo Sabres
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-10-2016
The 2016-17 NHL season begins this week with the Buffalo Sabres kicking things off on Thursday by welcoming the Montreal Canadians to the newly christened KeyBank Center. Some have broken out their crystal balls while other have got their hard-drive humming while delving deeply into advanced stats in an effort to predict the unpredictable.
It's a fun game to play and here are a few experts and pundits having their say on the upcoming Buffalo Sabres season.
We'll start out the predictions parade with some analytics.
A first crack at predicting the 2016-17 NHL standings, Travis Yost, TSN
The analytics guru formerly of hockeybuzz starts out his "First crack at predicting the 2016-17 standings" by stating "The beauty of hockey, like many sports, is that the equation for how we define success is reasonably simple: We care about wins. The way to earn wins is by scoring more goals than the other team. Because of that, much of the focus on hockey analytics – regardless of complexity – is spent examining the things that drive goal differentials."
Yost uses a number of criteria to get and the base of his predictions which centers around goal differential as a better indicator of overall talent than wins and losses and comes up with a formula using 10 years of advanced stats to back his prediction. And the Sabres, according to his goal-differential data, will finish....
*drum roll*
15th in the Eastern Conference behind Toronto, Columbus and Ottawa and ahead of only one team, the New Jersey Devils.
...
THN's 2016-17 NHL season preview: Buffalo Sabres,The Hockey News', Dominik Luszczyszyn
According to Luszczyszyn, Buffalo's top defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen, is actually hurting the team, a concept he bases totally on analytics from the prior three seasons. Here's some of what he wrote:
"The team’s number one D-man is Rasmus Ristolainen and while many are optimistic about his progress due to his point totals last seasons, his underlying numbers were atrocious. That’s been the case for his entire NHL career so far. Think about how bad Buffalo has been the past few years; they’re even worse with Ristolainen on the ice.
"Many believe that after last season’s big jump the Buffalo Sabres are ready to take the next step toward contention. This model disagrees. According to Game Score, the Sabres are poised to be the league’s worst team."
Luszczszyn is a little kinder to Buffalo as opposed to Game Scores contention that they are "poised to be the league's worst team" and predicts the Sabres will finish sixth in the Atlantic Division.
...
Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy, 9-16-2016 http://sports.yahoo.com/news/puck-daddys-2016-17-nhl-preview-buffalo-sabres-152920065.html
After delving into what he calls Buffalo's "impressive tank" of 2014-15 and, of course, touching upon the off ice problems of both Ryan O'Reilly and Evander Kane, Wyshynski directs his attention to the up-coming season. He feels they did get better in the off season (Kyle Okposo and Dmitry Kulikov,) say's it will be "fascinating to see how much higher Ristolainen's ceiling is," says it's Robin Lehner's crease to lose," and comes right out and says the Sabres want to move Kane.
Generally Wyshynski likes the direction the Buffalo is headed and concludes:
"As much as we’re dying to see Jack Eichel play meaningful games and Tim Murray’s master plan show results, we just don’t think the Sabres are there yet. Although one can never be sure of anything in the wishy-washy Eastern Conference. OK, we can be sure that Cody Hodgson is enjoying cashing those buyout checks. But that’s it."
...
Eric Engels, Sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/buffalo-sabres-2016-17-nhl-season-preview/
Engels likes rookie Hudson Fasching, calling him "a power forward, who has an efficient skating stride and a knack for scoring big goals" and believes that rookie forward Justin Bailey will get an "extended look," both of which are excellent propositions for the team. He states that goaltending will be a key to their success while also stating, "if this team can’t muster a considerable increase from the 201 goals they managed last season, it doesn’t have a chance of making the post-season."
...
hockeybuzz.com: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/HockeyBuzz-Hotstove/Hotstove-Predicting-The-Atlantic-Division-Standings/187/79620
Todd Cordell, 8th in Atlantic-- Buffalo - "I think they have too much dead weight up front (Matt Moulson, Brian Gionta, etc.), I don't think their blue line is good enough and I'm not sold on Robin Lehner. He misses a lot of time with injuries and their backup, Anders Nilsson, has posted a below league average save percentage every year in the league." Of note, Cordell also predicted Toronto would finish third in the Atlantic Division
Peter Tessier, Buffalo, 8th in the Atlantic--"Man it must be tough being a Sabres fan and it likely won't be that much fun being a Bruins fan (7th in division) either."
...
Kevin Allen, USA Today points projection: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2016/10/04/nhl-2016-17-season-point-record-projections/91383592/
78 points, 7th in the division, 12th in the conference, "The Sabres are not quite where they need to be to qualify for the playoffs. They are headed in the right direction."
Of note, the Sabres finished with 81 points last season.
...
Joe McDonald, ESPN Season Preview, Buffalo Sabres: http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/17721004/2016-17-nhl-season-preview-buffalo-sabres
McDonald points to the additions of Okposo and Kulikov then delves into the unknowns: Will Jack Eichel have a sophomore jinx? (probably not, he states); Will Robin Lehner stay healthy and can he have a breakout season?; What's Evander Kane's status after an off season featuring criminal charges being filed against him?
Not too much more save for some props to Eichel, Sam Reinhart, O'Reilly and Okposo leading the offensive charge and in the end here's what McDonald writes: "The Sabres will contend for a playoff spot for the majority of the season but will fall just short in the end. Seventh in the Atlantic."
...
Ryan Wilson, Penguins Blogger, hockeybuzz.com, Atlantic Division predictions: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Ryan-Wilson/Atlantic-Division-Preview/177/79712
Wilson has the Sabres finishing at the bottom of the division behind Ottawa (7th) and Toronto 6th. He writes, "Buffalo did the right thing in gutting their team and tanking for McEichel, but the hardest part was always going to be building this team back up again. They have a nice core of forwards with Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly, Sam Reinhart, Evander Kane, and Kyle Okposo. Depth is where a lot of the work with this team remains."
He calls the defense "the real weakness on the team," then states about Buffalo's top defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen, "is neither as good as Sabres fans think nor as bad as some of the analytics folks think. He is talented, but he has literally no help," then suggests the team trade a player like Tyler Ennis for Cam Fowler.
Wilson brings up goaltending question marks and the first-rounder the Sabres gave up for Robin Lehner and concludes that "The Sabres are getting better, it just isn't good enough yet."
The 2016-17 NHL season begins this week with the Buffalo Sabres kicking things off on Thursday by welcoming the Montreal Canadians to the newly christened KeyBank Center. Some have broken out their crystal balls while other have got their hard-drive humming while delving deeply into advanced stats in an effort to predict the unpredictable.
It's a fun game to play and here are a few experts and pundits having their say on the upcoming Buffalo Sabres season.
We'll start out the predictions parade with some analytics.
A first crack at predicting the 2016-17 NHL standings, Travis Yost, TSN
The analytics guru formerly of hockeybuzz starts out his "First crack at predicting the 2016-17 standings" by stating "The beauty of hockey, like many sports, is that the equation for how we define success is reasonably simple: We care about wins. The way to earn wins is by scoring more goals than the other team. Because of that, much of the focus on hockey analytics – regardless of complexity – is spent examining the things that drive goal differentials."
Yost uses a number of criteria to get and the base of his predictions which centers around goal differential as a better indicator of overall talent than wins and losses and comes up with a formula using 10 years of advanced stats to back his prediction. And the Sabres, according to his goal-differential data, will finish....
*drum roll*
15th in the Eastern Conference behind Toronto, Columbus and Ottawa and ahead of only one team, the New Jersey Devils.
...
THN's 2016-17 NHL season preview: Buffalo Sabres,The Hockey News', Dominik Luszczyszyn
According to Luszczyszyn, Buffalo's top defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen, is actually hurting the team, a concept he bases totally on analytics from the prior three seasons. Here's some of what he wrote:
"The team’s number one D-man is Rasmus Ristolainen and while many are optimistic about his progress due to his point totals last seasons, his underlying numbers were atrocious. That’s been the case for his entire NHL career so far. Think about how bad Buffalo has been the past few years; they’re even worse with Ristolainen on the ice.
"Many believe that after last season’s big jump the Buffalo Sabres are ready to take the next step toward contention. This model disagrees. According to Game Score, the Sabres are poised to be the league’s worst team."
Luszczszyn is a little kinder to Buffalo as opposed to Game Scores contention that they are "poised to be the league's worst team" and predicts the Sabres will finish sixth in the Atlantic Division.
...
Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy, 9-16-2016 http://sports.yahoo.com/news/puck-daddys-2016-17-nhl-preview-buffalo-sabres-152920065.html
After delving into what he calls Buffalo's "impressive tank" of 2014-15 and, of course, touching upon the off ice problems of both Ryan O'Reilly and Evander Kane, Wyshynski directs his attention to the up-coming season. He feels they did get better in the off season (Kyle Okposo and Dmitry Kulikov,) say's it will be "fascinating to see how much higher Ristolainen's ceiling is," says it's Robin Lehner's crease to lose," and comes right out and says the Sabres want to move Kane.
Generally Wyshynski likes the direction the Buffalo is headed and concludes:
"As much as we’re dying to see Jack Eichel play meaningful games and Tim Murray’s master plan show results, we just don’t think the Sabres are there yet. Although one can never be sure of anything in the wishy-washy Eastern Conference. OK, we can be sure that Cody Hodgson is enjoying cashing those buyout checks. But that’s it."
...
Eric Engels, Sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/buffalo-sabres-2016-17-nhl-season-preview/
Engels likes rookie Hudson Fasching, calling him "a power forward, who has an efficient skating stride and a knack for scoring big goals" and believes that rookie forward Justin Bailey will get an "extended look," both of which are excellent propositions for the team. He states that goaltending will be a key to their success while also stating, "if this team can’t muster a considerable increase from the 201 goals they managed last season, it doesn’t have a chance of making the post-season."
...
hockeybuzz.com: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/HockeyBuzz-Hotstove/Hotstove-Predicting-The-Atlantic-Division-Standings/187/79620
Todd Cordell, 8th in Atlantic-- Buffalo - "I think they have too much dead weight up front (Matt Moulson, Brian Gionta, etc.), I don't think their blue line is good enough and I'm not sold on Robin Lehner. He misses a lot of time with injuries and their backup, Anders Nilsson, has posted a below league average save percentage every year in the league." Of note, Cordell also predicted Toronto would finish third in the Atlantic Division
Peter Tessier, Buffalo, 8th in the Atlantic--"Man it must be tough being a Sabres fan and it likely won't be that much fun being a Bruins fan (7th in division) either."
...
Kevin Allen, USA Today points projection: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2016/10/04/nhl-2016-17-season-point-record-projections/91383592/
78 points, 7th in the division, 12th in the conference, "The Sabres are not quite where they need to be to qualify for the playoffs. They are headed in the right direction."
Of note, the Sabres finished with 81 points last season.
...
Joe McDonald, ESPN Season Preview, Buffalo Sabres: http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/17721004/2016-17-nhl-season-preview-buffalo-sabres
McDonald points to the additions of Okposo and Kulikov then delves into the unknowns: Will Jack Eichel have a sophomore jinx? (probably not, he states); Will Robin Lehner stay healthy and can he have a breakout season?; What's Evander Kane's status after an off season featuring criminal charges being filed against him?
Not too much more save for some props to Eichel, Sam Reinhart, O'Reilly and Okposo leading the offensive charge and in the end here's what McDonald writes: "The Sabres will contend for a playoff spot for the majority of the season but will fall just short in the end. Seventh in the Atlantic."
...
Ryan Wilson, Penguins Blogger, hockeybuzz.com, Atlantic Division predictions: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Ryan-Wilson/Atlantic-Division-Preview/177/79712
Wilson has the Sabres finishing at the bottom of the division behind Ottawa (7th) and Toronto 6th. He writes, "Buffalo did the right thing in gutting their team and tanking for McEichel, but the hardest part was always going to be building this team back up again. They have a nice core of forwards with Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly, Sam Reinhart, Evander Kane, and Kyle Okposo. Depth is where a lot of the work with this team remains."
He calls the defense "the real weakness on the team," then states about Buffalo's top defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen, "is neither as good as Sabres fans think nor as bad as some of the analytics folks think. He is talented, but he has literally no help," then suggests the team trade a player like Tyler Ennis for Cam Fowler.
Wilson brings up goaltending question marks and the first-rounder the Sabres gave up for Robin Lehner and concludes that "The Sabres are getting better, it just isn't good enough yet."
Monday, October 10, 2016
Plenty of positives as the Sabres close out the preseason with a win
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-08-16
The Buffalo Sabres travelled to Ottawa last night missing two top-six forwards and half of their starting defense corps with Ryan O'Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Zach Bogosian and Dmitry Kulikov nursing injuries and top defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen, still unsigned.
While the Sabres may have been looking to simply hold the fort in their preseason finale' the Senators eyed a different approach. "I think we consider this the first game of 83 on the season," said Sens forward Mike Hoffman. "We've got the whole squad going tonight and I'm sure they have the same thing. Everyone wants to get the good habits going for when the first regular season game starts. We're taking this game like it's a real game."
Perhaps not every Ottawa player was on the same page as a depleted Buffalo squad handed them a 4-2 defeat. The Sabres scored once in the first period and twice in the second to take a 3-0 lead then proceeded to hold on the rest of the way. Buffalo got goals from Sam Reinhart, Marcus Foligno, Derek Grant and Evander Kane with Reinhart and Kane each adding an assist.
The Buffalo Sabres travelled to Ottawa last night missing two top-six forwards and half of their starting defense corps with Ryan O'Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Zach Bogosian and Dmitry Kulikov nursing injuries and top defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen, still unsigned.
While the Sabres may have been looking to simply hold the fort in their preseason finale' the Senators eyed a different approach. "I think we consider this the first game of 83 on the season," said Sens forward Mike Hoffman. "We've got the whole squad going tonight and I'm sure they have the same thing. Everyone wants to get the good habits going for when the first regular season game starts. We're taking this game like it's a real game."
Perhaps not every Ottawa player was on the same page as a depleted Buffalo squad handed them a 4-2 defeat. The Sabres scored once in the first period and twice in the second to take a 3-0 lead then proceeded to hold on the rest of the way. Buffalo got goals from Sam Reinhart, Marcus Foligno, Derek Grant and Evander Kane with Reinhart and Kane each adding an assist.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Notes before Buffalo's final preseason game at Ottawa
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-07-2016
Thanks to the World Cup of Hockey the NHL regular season has been pushed back about a week as the NHL reignited international competition. Whereas last year the league was starting the season on this date, today is the beginning of the final weekend of preseason action before the regular season commences on Wednesday, October 11th.
The Buffalo Sabres finish up their seven-game preseason schedule tonight with a trip to Ottawa to face the rival Senators. Ottawa cut it's roster to 25 players so the team on the ice tonight is pretty much the team we'll be seeing to start the season. Buffalo, on the other hand, is anything but that. Heading into the 7 p.m. matchup tonight the Sabres will be without the services of C, Ryan O'Reilly, RW, Kyle Okposo and defensemen Zach Bogosian and Dmitry Kulikov who are all nursing various injuries. Buffalo's top defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen, is still without a contract and despite skating with the team, is not allowed to play in any games for the club.
The loss of five players for tonight's game means that the team will be giving an extended look to roster hopefuls. The projected lines for tonight, via the Sabres' Jourdon LaBarber, are:
Evander Kane-Jack Eichel-Sam Reinhart
Alexander Nylander-Zemgus Girgensons-Hudson Fasching
Tyler Ennis-Johan Larsson-Marcus Foligno
Nicolas Deslauriers-Derek Grant-Brian Gionta
On defense:
Brendan Guhle-Jake McCabe
Josh Gorges-Casey Nelson
Justin Falk-Cody Franson
In goal will be Robin Lehner who will be tuning up for next week's opener vs. the Montreal Canadians on October 13th.
Some have said the preseason is too long, but for players like Nelson and Grant, and extended look coupled with a strong performance could be the difference between them making the team or being sent to Rochester.
As has been chronicled throughout the preseason, Grant has been mentioned favorably by head coach Dan Bylsma after nearly every game he's played in. The 6'3" 202 lb. center has had an impact in the top-six and has played equally as well in the bottom-six. Even with the return of O'Reilly and Okposo, Grant has done enough to stick with the club when all's said and done and he has the added dimension of having a vet like Gionta on his line to make him better.
On the back-end, Nelson has been his usual calm, cool and collected self this preseason and it's earned him his fourth game in a row. Although he's a tad undersized, Nelson was able to hold his own in the NHL during his seven-game stint last season and looked the part of at least of an eventual top-six defenseman.
Unlike the NFL where teams rest or limit their starters to avoid injury, the final preseason NHL game is usually a tune-up for the regular season. For the Sabres heading into tonight that won't be the case because of the injuries to five significant players. However, one line that will probably start the year together is Kane/Eichel/Reinhart. Bylsma usually likes to pair forwards then add a third on a line and last season the Eichel/Reinhart duo worked plenty of magic. Kane adds a physical north/south dimension to that line and on paper it seems like a good fit.
As for the other three lines, without O'Reilly and Okposo as well as with question marks surrounding Ennis recovering from his injury and with Matt Moulson and Girgensons looking to come back from poor seasons, let's just say they're works in progress.
So, hang in their, Sabres fans, the season is right around the corner.
Thanks to the World Cup of Hockey the NHL regular season has been pushed back about a week as the NHL reignited international competition. Whereas last year the league was starting the season on this date, today is the beginning of the final weekend of preseason action before the regular season commences on Wednesday, October 11th.
The Buffalo Sabres finish up their seven-game preseason schedule tonight with a trip to Ottawa to face the rival Senators. Ottawa cut it's roster to 25 players so the team on the ice tonight is pretty much the team we'll be seeing to start the season. Buffalo, on the other hand, is anything but that. Heading into the 7 p.m. matchup tonight the Sabres will be without the services of C, Ryan O'Reilly, RW, Kyle Okposo and defensemen Zach Bogosian and Dmitry Kulikov who are all nursing various injuries. Buffalo's top defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen, is still without a contract and despite skating with the team, is not allowed to play in any games for the club.
The loss of five players for tonight's game means that the team will be giving an extended look to roster hopefuls. The projected lines for tonight, via the Sabres' Jourdon LaBarber, are:
Evander Kane-Jack Eichel-Sam Reinhart
Alexander Nylander-Zemgus Girgensons-Hudson Fasching
Tyler Ennis-Johan Larsson-Marcus Foligno
Nicolas Deslauriers-Derek Grant-Brian Gionta
On defense:
Brendan Guhle-Jake McCabe
Josh Gorges-Casey Nelson
Justin Falk-Cody Franson
In goal will be Robin Lehner who will be tuning up for next week's opener vs. the Montreal Canadians on October 13th.
Some have said the preseason is too long, but for players like Nelson and Grant, and extended look coupled with a strong performance could be the difference between them making the team or being sent to Rochester.
As has been chronicled throughout the preseason, Grant has been mentioned favorably by head coach Dan Bylsma after nearly every game he's played in. The 6'3" 202 lb. center has had an impact in the top-six and has played equally as well in the bottom-six. Even with the return of O'Reilly and Okposo, Grant has done enough to stick with the club when all's said and done and he has the added dimension of having a vet like Gionta on his line to make him better.
On the back-end, Nelson has been his usual calm, cool and collected self this preseason and it's earned him his fourth game in a row. Although he's a tad undersized, Nelson was able to hold his own in the NHL during his seven-game stint last season and looked the part of at least of an eventual top-six defenseman.
Unlike the NFL where teams rest or limit their starters to avoid injury, the final preseason NHL game is usually a tune-up for the regular season. For the Sabres heading into tonight that won't be the case because of the injuries to five significant players. However, one line that will probably start the year together is Kane/Eichel/Reinhart. Bylsma usually likes to pair forwards then add a third on a line and last season the Eichel/Reinhart duo worked plenty of magic. Kane adds a physical north/south dimension to that line and on paper it seems like a good fit.
As for the other three lines, without O'Reilly and Okposo as well as with question marks surrounding Ennis recovering from his injury and with Matt Moulson and Girgensons looking to come back from poor seasons, let's just say they're works in progress.
So, hang in their, Sabres fans, the season is right around the corner.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--The Seventh D-man
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-05-2016
The Buffalo Sabres top-six on defense is set in stone barring injury or a continued impasse in the Rasmus Ristolainen contract negotiations. On the former we know anything can happen and with the latter, Ristolainen asked for permission to skate with the team during the negotiations and GM Tim Murray obliged. Although it has nothing to do with the talks, it was a good-faith show by Risto.
For the Sabres heading into the season, the pickins are mighty slim when it comes to the 7th and, probably, 8th defenseman on the team. The hope for a depth d-man in most cases is for them simply to hold their own at the NHL-level and Buffalo does have at least one, Justin Falk, with ample NHL experience.
Falk came over after a year in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization where he helped their AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, capture the Calder Cup. A left-handed, defensive-defenseman, Falk was drafted 110th-overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild and prior to his time in Columbus Falk spent all but one season in the Wild organization. He played in 228 games for their AHL affiliates while appearing in 121 games for Minnesota. In June 2013 he was traded to the NY Rangers.
After his stint with the Rangers, Falk signed with Minnesota as a free agent. He failed to make the big club and after a partial season with the Wild his trade request was granted and he was shipped to Columbus at the 2015 traded deadline. Falk got 24 games with the Blue Jackets last season before clearing waivers then anchoring the Monsters defense on their road to the Calder Cup.
The soon to be 28 yr. old Falk is fully aware as to how his career is and probably will be. In an interview with Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Falk, who's on a two-way contract with the Sabres simply stated, "I tend to go back and forth a lot (between the NHL and AHL.)"
As of now it doesn't look as if that will be the case. With 171 NHL games Falk has the most experience outside of Tyson Strachan who was signed to an AHL contract. Other players like 19 yr. old Brendan Guhle may be too wet behind the ears to earn a roster spot this year while 24 yr. old rookie Casey Nelson might need a year of seasoning in Rochester before being able handle the rigors of the NHL. Either of those two would need to make the team in a top-six role for Falk to be pushed down to the minors and as of now, it doesn't look like that will happen.
Many thought Murray would be going outside the organization to add depth to the blueline but it hasn't happened yet. He may have a free agent like Carlo Colaiacovo, who was with the club as a reserve last season, in mind or he might just be waiting to jump on a cap-casualty after NHL teams cut their rosters to 23. In either case the 8th defenseman, if they choose to carry one like they did last season, is still up in the air.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons/ RW, Justin Bailey
LW, Marcus Foligno / C, Johan Larsson / RW, Brian Gionta
Nicolas Deslauriers, Derek Grant
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ D, Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
D, Cody Franson / D, Josh Gorges
Justin Falk
G, Robin Lehner
G, Anders Nilsson
The Buffalo Sabres top-six on defense is set in stone barring injury or a continued impasse in the Rasmus Ristolainen contract negotiations. On the former we know anything can happen and with the latter, Ristolainen asked for permission to skate with the team during the negotiations and GM Tim Murray obliged. Although it has nothing to do with the talks, it was a good-faith show by Risto.
For the Sabres heading into the season, the pickins are mighty slim when it comes to the 7th and, probably, 8th defenseman on the team. The hope for a depth d-man in most cases is for them simply to hold their own at the NHL-level and Buffalo does have at least one, Justin Falk, with ample NHL experience.
Falk came over after a year in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization where he helped their AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, capture the Calder Cup. A left-handed, defensive-defenseman, Falk was drafted 110th-overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild and prior to his time in Columbus Falk spent all but one season in the Wild organization. He played in 228 games for their AHL affiliates while appearing in 121 games for Minnesota. In June 2013 he was traded to the NY Rangers.
After his stint with the Rangers, Falk signed with Minnesota as a free agent. He failed to make the big club and after a partial season with the Wild his trade request was granted and he was shipped to Columbus at the 2015 traded deadline. Falk got 24 games with the Blue Jackets last season before clearing waivers then anchoring the Monsters defense on their road to the Calder Cup.
The soon to be 28 yr. old Falk is fully aware as to how his career is and probably will be. In an interview with Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Falk, who's on a two-way contract with the Sabres simply stated, "I tend to go back and forth a lot (between the NHL and AHL.)"
As of now it doesn't look as if that will be the case. With 171 NHL games Falk has the most experience outside of Tyson Strachan who was signed to an AHL contract. Other players like 19 yr. old Brendan Guhle may be too wet behind the ears to earn a roster spot this year while 24 yr. old rookie Casey Nelson might need a year of seasoning in Rochester before being able handle the rigors of the NHL. Either of those two would need to make the team in a top-six role for Falk to be pushed down to the minors and as of now, it doesn't look like that will happen.
Many thought Murray would be going outside the organization to add depth to the blueline but it hasn't happened yet. He may have a free agent like Carlo Colaiacovo, who was with the club as a reserve last season, in mind or he might just be waiting to jump on a cap-casualty after NHL teams cut their rosters to 23. In either case the 8th defenseman, if they choose to carry one like they did last season, is still up in the air.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons/ RW, Justin Bailey
LW, Marcus Foligno / C, Johan Larsson / RW, Brian Gionta
Nicolas Deslauriers, Derek Grant
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ D, Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
D, Cody Franson / D, Josh Gorges
Justin Falk
G, Robin Lehner
G, Anders Nilsson
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Buffalo on tap for Hockeyville. Welcome back, Jack. Five recalled from Rochester
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-04-2016
Kraft Hockeyville is a very cool idea where small communities with a feverish passion for the sport of hockey compete to land a preseason game plus $150,000 in rink upgrades to accommodate the event. Hockeyville's roots are in Canada, of course, and it began as reality TV for the CBC. The first one was in 2006 featuring the Montreal Canadians facing off against the Ottawa Senators at Colchester Legion Colesium just outside of Salmon River, Nova Scotia, the community that won the inaugural season.
Since then the event has swelled in popularity. Kraft jumped in in 2008 and in 2015 Kraft Hockeyville USA was introduce in the States. This year the event features the Buffalo Sabres vs. the Carolina Hurricanes at Lakeview Arena in Marquette, Michigan who's estimated 2015 population is just over 21,000.
Good for them, and good for the Sabres as they'll be on the NBCSN tonight to kick off a three-game road-trip to end their preseason. After tonight's matchup the Sabres head south to face the 'Canes again tomorrow night then they finish off the preseason with a game in Ottawa against the rival Senators.
Kraft Hockeyville is a very cool idea where small communities with a feverish passion for the sport of hockey compete to land a preseason game plus $150,000 in rink upgrades to accommodate the event. Hockeyville's roots are in Canada, of course, and it began as reality TV for the CBC. The first one was in 2006 featuring the Montreal Canadians facing off against the Ottawa Senators at Colchester Legion Colesium just outside of Salmon River, Nova Scotia, the community that won the inaugural season.
Since then the event has swelled in popularity. Kraft jumped in in 2008 and in 2015 Kraft Hockeyville USA was introduce in the States. This year the event features the Buffalo Sabres vs. the Carolina Hurricanes at Lakeview Arena in Marquette, Michigan who's estimated 2015 population is just over 21,000.
Good for them, and good for the Sabres as they'll be on the NBCSN tonight to kick off a three-game road-trip to end their preseason. After tonight's matchup the Sabres head south to face the 'Canes again tomorrow night then they finish off the preseason with a game in Ottawa against the rival Senators.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--G, Anders Nilsson
The Buffalo Sabres continued to chug through their preseason schedule with a trip to St. Catherines, Ontario last night. Buffalo and the Toronto Maple Leafs took a scoreless tie to the shootout where Matt Moulson scored the only goal in the fourth round to give the Sabres the shootout win.
The key word for the Sabres is scoreless and the goalie responsible for it was Anders Nilsson as he stopped all 23 shots in 65 minutes of play then stopped four more during the shootout. "He was rock solid," said head coach Dan Bylsma to the gathered media post-game. "It gives you a real comfortable feeling when you see a guy in net backstop your team."
Nilsson has made a pretty strong impression thus far. He played 30 minutes of shutout hockey over the course of two games during intrasquad scrimmages then stopped 26 of 27 shots in 40 minutes of ice time vs. the Minnesota Wild in Buffalo's preseason opener. Add it all up and he's off to a pretty good start for his fourth NHL team in six seasons.
Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray acquired Nilsson from the St. Louis Blues as a backup to starter Robin Lehner after a free agent deal went south. Pittsburgh Penguins backup Jeff Zatkoff had agreed to a deal with Buffalo before changing his mind and headed to Los Angeles leaving Murray holding the bag. Murray immediately turned his attention to Nilsson and the deal with St. Louis for his rights was consummated.
The overriding theme emanating from Sabreland at the time was that Murray panicked and paid too much both in the fifth-round pick he sent to the Blues as well as the one-year/$1M contract he doled out. Nilsson had played in a total of 52 NHL games for three teams compiling a 19-22-4 record with a composite 3.09 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. Not exactly sterling by any stretch of the imagination, even for a back up.
One thing Nilsson had going for him, other than Zatkoff putting the Sabres in a pinch, is that he has the size Murray covets in his goalies. Nilsson, like Lehner, is 6'5" and he chimes in at 225 lbs.
What he's been unable to do thus far in his career is create a large presence in net to match is size and it will be up to Sabres goalie coach Andrew Allen to help create that. Allen is in his second season with the Sabres and last season under his tutelage, backup goalie Chad Johnson had some of the best numbers of his career (including a career-high 22 wins.)
Nilsson has paid his dues in the league and even went to the KHL to get playing time against better competition. After finishing up his entry-level deal with the team that drafted him, the NY Islanders, Nilsson packed his bags and went to the KHL where he made the All-Star team and came back to the NHL with a ton of confidence. "I felt I needed an environment change to continue my development," he said via Amy Mortiz of the Buffalo News. "I felt it was the right way to go for me. My goal before going to Russia was to come back to North America and that was always in the back of my head and I was fortunate to do that."
During his time in Russia his rights were traded twice--from the Islanders to the Chicago Blackhawks to the Edmonton Oilers, the team he played for upon his return to North America. After a robust start to his career in Edmonton, Nilsson slumped and was sent to St. Louis. He appeared in three games for the Blues to finish last season before Buffalo acquired his rights.
No matter where he plays, however, it always comes back to size, something Bylsma talked about from the get-go. "It's tough to look at him and not see the size of him net," he said of Nilsson after that first scrimmage. "To play big, to play that big, and certainly he did in the scrimmage today, that’s got to be the strength of his game. He’s such a big body to be square and be in front of the shots. The expectation is that he stops the puck and he showed today he can do that."
Nilsson is continuing to do that so far this preseason and he's done so as the level of competition is getting better. As the preseason wears on, prospects will be sent back to their respective developmental leagues and the NHL'ers will start gearing up for the regular season. Hopefully for the Sabres Nilsson will be able to continue to progress as the competition gets stiffer. One thing that will help him is the Sabres defensive system that was on display last night against Toronto.
"The guys in front of me have played two very good games," said Nilsson last night. "They didn’t give up a lot of scoring chances or a lot of shots. It was more a team shutout and a team win." Save, of course, for the shootout where Nilsson stood alone.
Opportunity is knocking for Nilsson as he tries to solidify his role in Buffalo. Bylsma believes that the 26 yr. old is making his opportunity count. "He wants to prove he can be in the net and be a capable goaltender when he gets the opportunity,” said Bylsma last night. “He’s had two opportunities to this point, and he’s been really good in both of them."
That's a good sign for the Sabres and let's hope it continues.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons/ RW, Justin Bailey
LW, Marcus Foligno / C, Johan Larsson / RW, Brian Gionta
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
D, Cody Franson / D, Josh Gorges
G, Robin Lehner
G, Anders Nilsson
The key word for the Sabres is scoreless and the goalie responsible for it was Anders Nilsson as he stopped all 23 shots in 65 minutes of play then stopped four more during the shootout. "He was rock solid," said head coach Dan Bylsma to the gathered media post-game. "It gives you a real comfortable feeling when you see a guy in net backstop your team."
Nilsson has made a pretty strong impression thus far. He played 30 minutes of shutout hockey over the course of two games during intrasquad scrimmages then stopped 26 of 27 shots in 40 minutes of ice time vs. the Minnesota Wild in Buffalo's preseason opener. Add it all up and he's off to a pretty good start for his fourth NHL team in six seasons.
Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray acquired Nilsson from the St. Louis Blues as a backup to starter Robin Lehner after a free agent deal went south. Pittsburgh Penguins backup Jeff Zatkoff had agreed to a deal with Buffalo before changing his mind and headed to Los Angeles leaving Murray holding the bag. Murray immediately turned his attention to Nilsson and the deal with St. Louis for his rights was consummated.
The overriding theme emanating from Sabreland at the time was that Murray panicked and paid too much both in the fifth-round pick he sent to the Blues as well as the one-year/$1M contract he doled out. Nilsson had played in a total of 52 NHL games for three teams compiling a 19-22-4 record with a composite 3.09 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. Not exactly sterling by any stretch of the imagination, even for a back up.
One thing Nilsson had going for him, other than Zatkoff putting the Sabres in a pinch, is that he has the size Murray covets in his goalies. Nilsson, like Lehner, is 6'5" and he chimes in at 225 lbs.
What he's been unable to do thus far in his career is create a large presence in net to match is size and it will be up to Sabres goalie coach Andrew Allen to help create that. Allen is in his second season with the Sabres and last season under his tutelage, backup goalie Chad Johnson had some of the best numbers of his career (including a career-high 22 wins.)
Nilsson has paid his dues in the league and even went to the KHL to get playing time against better competition. After finishing up his entry-level deal with the team that drafted him, the NY Islanders, Nilsson packed his bags and went to the KHL where he made the All-Star team and came back to the NHL with a ton of confidence. "I felt I needed an environment change to continue my development," he said via Amy Mortiz of the Buffalo News. "I felt it was the right way to go for me. My goal before going to Russia was to come back to North America and that was always in the back of my head and I was fortunate to do that."
During his time in Russia his rights were traded twice--from the Islanders to the Chicago Blackhawks to the Edmonton Oilers, the team he played for upon his return to North America. After a robust start to his career in Edmonton, Nilsson slumped and was sent to St. Louis. He appeared in three games for the Blues to finish last season before Buffalo acquired his rights.
No matter where he plays, however, it always comes back to size, something Bylsma talked about from the get-go. "It's tough to look at him and not see the size of him net," he said of Nilsson after that first scrimmage. "To play big, to play that big, and certainly he did in the scrimmage today, that’s got to be the strength of his game. He’s such a big body to be square and be in front of the shots. The expectation is that he stops the puck and he showed today he can do that."
Nilsson is continuing to do that so far this preseason and he's done so as the level of competition is getting better. As the preseason wears on, prospects will be sent back to their respective developmental leagues and the NHL'ers will start gearing up for the regular season. Hopefully for the Sabres Nilsson will be able to continue to progress as the competition gets stiffer. One thing that will help him is the Sabres defensive system that was on display last night against Toronto.
"The guys in front of me have played two very good games," said Nilsson last night. "They didn’t give up a lot of scoring chances or a lot of shots. It was more a team shutout and a team win." Save, of course, for the shootout where Nilsson stood alone.
Opportunity is knocking for Nilsson as he tries to solidify his role in Buffalo. Bylsma believes that the 26 yr. old is making his opportunity count. "He wants to prove he can be in the net and be a capable goaltender when he gets the opportunity,” said Bylsma last night. “He’s had two opportunities to this point, and he’s been really good in both of them."
That's a good sign for the Sabres and let's hope it continues.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons/ RW, Justin Bailey
LW, Marcus Foligno / C, Johan Larsson / RW, Brian Gionta
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
D, Cody Franson / D, Josh Gorges
G, Robin Lehner
G, Anders Nilsson
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Cody Franson
Last off season Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray was looking to
bolster his defense with a top-four, left-handed d-man who could possibly play
alongside Rasmus Ristolainen, a 20 yr. old right-handed shot who had just
finished his first full season with the club and looked as if he had all the
markings of a top-pairing defenseman. The free agent pool was mighty slim that summer and in September of 2015, Murray ended up signing veteran Cody Franson to a two-year, $6.65M contract.
It was a curious move on many fronts. Most notably that it was a two-year free agent deal but also in that Murray ended up with a right-hand shot who had said he was neither comfortable playing with, nor wanted to play on, the left side of the defense. After signing with the Sabres Franson couldn't have been more blunt about that as he talked with Kevin Sylvester and Andrew Peters on Sabres Hockey Hotline. "I don't play the left side," he told the hosts, "I actually struggle over there."
That he did.
After having some banner years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Franson was traded back to the franchise that drafted him in the third-round of the 2005 NHL Draft, the Nashville Predators. Things had changed immensely on defense in Nashville since his first go-round with the Preds as they now boasted a deep blueline featuring an entrenched right side of the corps. Franson found himself on his off hand and in a reduced role which had him going from over 21 minutes per game in Toronto to under 16 minutes in Nashville.
Predators GM David Poile made the trade for Franson to add blueline depth as well as add his powerplay acumen which Franson displayed to the tune of four goals and 15 assists in 55 games for the Maple Leafs. None of it came to fruition in his short 23-game regular season stint and Franson's slow demise in Nashville ended with him being a healthy scratch in their final playoff game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
In Buffalo, Murray was intent upon adding a veteran presence to a very young Sabres blueline heading into last season and he was also looking for a player who could contribute significantly to an abysmal 2014-15 powerplay. Enter Franson.
The 28 yr. old got a break when the Sabres entered the season minus Zach Bogosian, a right-handed shot who ended up anchoring the second-pairing with left-handed rookie Jake McCabe last season. In the absence of Bogosian, Franson got his opportunity and was averaging about 20 min/gm, complete with ample powerplay time, through the first 14 games but he was unable to make an impact offensively. He had zero goals and five assists (three on the powerplay) and soon his minutes decreased with the return of Bogosian to the lineup. Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma gradually pared Franson's minutes to the point where he was averaging slightly more ice-time than he had with Nashville. Franson suffered what was originally diagnosed as a concussion in a February 19, 2016 game at Columbus and his season was done.
For the year Franson played in 59 games for Buffalo scoring four goals (one on the powerplay) and adding 13 assists (seven on the powerplay) while logging the second-most PPTOI amongst Sabres defensemen. With those stats, this is a big training camp for Franson as he heads into the final year of his contract.
Franson faces challenges on a couple levels as he not only needed to recover from his injury, but he also needs to make a strong impression and so far he's got the attention of head coach Dan Bylsma. “He needed to have a good summer,” said Bylsma to the gathered media last week. “He needed to get cleared, get fresh and then have a good summer working out. He came back with a little bit different body composition. He’s a little leaner. He’s moving better as a result of the summer he had, and it’s just got to translate to his play on the ice.”
The injury he suffered was eventually diagnosed as a vestibular disorder, as mentioned by Jon Vogl of the Buffalo News. Vogl wrote that it involves the parts of the inner ear and brain that control balance and eye movements and that Franson needed to wear special goggles and work with specialists all summer (for a link to the piece click here.)
Regardless of the injury, Franson has a long, hard hill to climb in Buffalo as he's buried on the depth-chart on the third pairing. The defense he joined last season is a year older and although he'll probably get another shot at manning the point on the second powerplay unit, Franson will need to do something with that opportunity. Last year he played a rather passive game which seemed to be his nature but one would have thought that he'd ratchet things up a bit when his ice-time was on the line. Or that maybe he'd have went in with the attitude that he would do whatever it took, most notably playing on his off hand, instead of coming off as privileged when he said "I don't play the left side."
It reminded this blogger too much of the dismantled core who's country-club approach had those in Sabreland wading through years of mediocrity. Franson, like some of the players from that era, doesn't seem to have the temperament nor the drive to make an impact with this new group of Sabres. Nor does it seem like he has the skating to keep up with Bylsma's up-tempo system. That said, he can still play defense and is able to make some pretty good passes on the powerplay so a third-pairing, powerplay specialist seems to be in the cards for him. He's a bit pricey for that role, but for now it will suffice.
For now.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons / RW, Justin Bailey
LW, Marcus Foligno / C, Johan Larsson / RW, Brian Gionta
D, Rasmus Ristolainen / Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian / D, Jake McCabe
D, Cody Franson
G, Robin Lehner
.
It was a curious move on many fronts. Most notably that it was a two-year free agent deal but also in that Murray ended up with a right-hand shot who had said he was neither comfortable playing with, nor wanted to play on, the left side of the defense. After signing with the Sabres Franson couldn't have been more blunt about that as he talked with Kevin Sylvester and Andrew Peters on Sabres Hockey Hotline. "I don't play the left side," he told the hosts, "I actually struggle over there."
That he did.
After having some banner years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Franson was traded back to the franchise that drafted him in the third-round of the 2005 NHL Draft, the Nashville Predators. Things had changed immensely on defense in Nashville since his first go-round with the Preds as they now boasted a deep blueline featuring an entrenched right side of the corps. Franson found himself on his off hand and in a reduced role which had him going from over 21 minutes per game in Toronto to under 16 minutes in Nashville.
Predators GM David Poile made the trade for Franson to add blueline depth as well as add his powerplay acumen which Franson displayed to the tune of four goals and 15 assists in 55 games for the Maple Leafs. None of it came to fruition in his short 23-game regular season stint and Franson's slow demise in Nashville ended with him being a healthy scratch in their final playoff game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
In Buffalo, Murray was intent upon adding a veteran presence to a very young Sabres blueline heading into last season and he was also looking for a player who could contribute significantly to an abysmal 2014-15 powerplay. Enter Franson.
The 28 yr. old got a break when the Sabres entered the season minus Zach Bogosian, a right-handed shot who ended up anchoring the second-pairing with left-handed rookie Jake McCabe last season. In the absence of Bogosian, Franson got his opportunity and was averaging about 20 min/gm, complete with ample powerplay time, through the first 14 games but he was unable to make an impact offensively. He had zero goals and five assists (three on the powerplay) and soon his minutes decreased with the return of Bogosian to the lineup. Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma gradually pared Franson's minutes to the point where he was averaging slightly more ice-time than he had with Nashville. Franson suffered what was originally diagnosed as a concussion in a February 19, 2016 game at Columbus and his season was done.
For the year Franson played in 59 games for Buffalo scoring four goals (one on the powerplay) and adding 13 assists (seven on the powerplay) while logging the second-most PPTOI amongst Sabres defensemen. With those stats, this is a big training camp for Franson as he heads into the final year of his contract.
Franson faces challenges on a couple levels as he not only needed to recover from his injury, but he also needs to make a strong impression and so far he's got the attention of head coach Dan Bylsma. “He needed to have a good summer,” said Bylsma to the gathered media last week. “He needed to get cleared, get fresh and then have a good summer working out. He came back with a little bit different body composition. He’s a little leaner. He’s moving better as a result of the summer he had, and it’s just got to translate to his play on the ice.”
The injury he suffered was eventually diagnosed as a vestibular disorder, as mentioned by Jon Vogl of the Buffalo News. Vogl wrote that it involves the parts of the inner ear and brain that control balance and eye movements and that Franson needed to wear special goggles and work with specialists all summer (for a link to the piece click here.)
Regardless of the injury, Franson has a long, hard hill to climb in Buffalo as he's buried on the depth-chart on the third pairing. The defense he joined last season is a year older and although he'll probably get another shot at manning the point on the second powerplay unit, Franson will need to do something with that opportunity. Last year he played a rather passive game which seemed to be his nature but one would have thought that he'd ratchet things up a bit when his ice-time was on the line. Or that maybe he'd have went in with the attitude that he would do whatever it took, most notably playing on his off hand, instead of coming off as privileged when he said "I don't play the left side."
It reminded this blogger too much of the dismantled core who's country-club approach had those in Sabreland wading through years of mediocrity. Franson, like some of the players from that era, doesn't seem to have the temperament nor the drive to make an impact with this new group of Sabres. Nor does it seem like he has the skating to keep up with Bylsma's up-tempo system. That said, he can still play defense and is able to make some pretty good passes on the powerplay so a third-pairing, powerplay specialist seems to be in the cards for him. He's a bit pricey for that role, but for now it will suffice.
For now.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons / RW, Justin Bailey
LW, Marcus Foligno / C, Johan Larsson / RW, Brian Gionta
D, Rasmus Ristolainen / Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian / D, Jake McCabe
D, Cody Franson
G, Robin Lehner
.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Brian Gionta
As of this moment, Brian Gionta is the captain of the Buffalo Sabres. The 14 yr. veteran with a Stanley Cup to his resume' was signed by the Sabres as a free agent in 2014 to help guide this team through the dire straights of a bottoming out period. Gionta had spent five seasons in Montreal, wht last four as captain of the Canadiens and although he wasn't the first American-born player to hold that distinction, he's the only American-born player to wear the lone 'C' for the legendary Habitants.
While the Canadiens were coming off a an Eastern Conference Finals appearance with Gionta as their captain, the Sabres were hitting the off season in 2014 with a purged roster that netted them second-overall pick, Sam Reinhart. With all the salary GM Tim Murray unloaded that season there were questions as to whether the team would even make it to the salary cap floor. Murray was the voice of reason in the matter saying that it's rather easy to add salary, but he didn't want to add just any salary, he wanted quality players to help stabilize the club during a tough period of transition.
Here's how Murray put it after landing Gionta and defensemen Josh Gorges, among others, for his last place team back in July, 2014: "We've got a lot of character now. We have leadership now. That's important to me when you're adding young players every year. There's a short term and a long term. The long-term is that your young players get better. Your young players become pros. They're not just good players, they're good NHL players, and I think that this group of people that we've added today can help in that regard."
At the heart of that group was Gionta who was signed to a three-year, $12.75M free agent contract.
While the Canadiens were coming off a an Eastern Conference Finals appearance with Gionta as their captain, the Sabres were hitting the off season in 2014 with a purged roster that netted them second-overall pick, Sam Reinhart. With all the salary GM Tim Murray unloaded that season there were questions as to whether the team would even make it to the salary cap floor. Murray was the voice of reason in the matter saying that it's rather easy to add salary, but he didn't want to add just any salary, he wanted quality players to help stabilize the club during a tough period of transition.
Here's how Murray put it after landing Gionta and defensemen Josh Gorges, among others, for his last place team back in July, 2014: "We've got a lot of character now. We have leadership now. That's important to me when you're adding young players every year. There's a short term and a long term. The long-term is that your young players get better. Your young players become pros. They're not just good players, they're good NHL players, and I think that this group of people that we've added today can help in that regard."
At the heart of that group was Gionta who was signed to a three-year, $12.75M free agent contract.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--LW, Marcus Foligno
It's been bantered about in the Buffalo media that Sabres left winger Marcus Foligno could possibly play a scoring role while also seeing some time on the top line. No doubt his powerful debut back in March, 2012 of six goals and seven assists in 14 games made a strong, lingering impression but placing him in that role on a more talented Buffalo club might be a bit of a stretch at this point in time.
There's not a fan in Sabreland who wouldn't want a 6'3" 226 lb. powerforward in a role like that yet it's hard to see the 25 yr. old with too much more upside than the 10 goals and 13 assists from last season. Foligno averaged 13:11 of ice-time with the Sabres last year with very little coming in the form of special teams and unless head coach Dan Bylsma adds to the :34 seconds per game of penalty kill ice-time, that number will probably stay the same at best.
Although the Sabres are thin with natural wingers they do have one bona fide top-six/top-line left-winger in Evander Kane and any number of centers who can and/or already have slid over to the left side. That includes Tyler Ennis who looks to be headed that way this year after missing much of last season because of injuries and Zemgus Girgensons who played most of last season in a top-six, left wing role. Buffalo also needs to squeeze what they can out of a former top-six winger in Matt Moulson who was signed to a $5M, top-six contract but found himself near the bottom of the depth chart nearly all of last season. And the club also has a very talented, natural winger in 18 yr. old Alexander Nylander who they drafted 8th-overall this past June.
Those are the hurdles Foligno is facing if he wants to jump into a scoring role.
Fact is the Sabres will be counting on him to play on a checking line this season and he could very do so on the fourth line while staying with his linemates from late last season--C, Johan Larsson and 37 yr. old RW, Brian Gionta. That line gained traction in late February and was the most consistent line for Bylsma the rest of the way.
Foligno is a big body on the ice and he's thrown in around quite often during his short career but the one thing he hasn't been able to do consistently is use his frame to put himself in a position for a scoring opportunity. It's something he's been working on and he got things moving in the right direction late last year. After a practice session in late March, Foligno told the gathered media that he believes he's figured it out. “I just feel a lot more comfortable out there,” he said at the time. “I’m using my size, playing smarter with moving my feet out there, trying to protect pucks as much as I can. With the confidence up now, I think I’m just trying to hold on to pucks and do things myself down low."
When Foligno came on like a hurricane in his first 14 games many had visions of Cam Neely dancing in their heads but it didn't take Foligno long to make them disappear. The following season he put up a respectable yet inconsistent 18 points (5g + 13a) in a lockout shortened 47 games then hit the sheet for 15 goals and 24 assists in 131 games over the course of the next two seasons. In the meantime his plus/minus rating went from plus-6 in 2011-12 to minus-4, to minus-17 before he pulled it back up to minus-5 two years ago. Last season he was one of only two Sabres players, Girgensons being the other, to be in the positive as he finished the year with a plus-4.
“He’s been much more consistent in playing a big power-forward game, playing a checking game, being a physical guy,” Bylsma said that same afternoon. “That’s what I think has been the best thing about him has been the consistency to it. It’s not just a once-in-a-while type of attributes to his game."
Foligno's immediate success gave way to struggles but looks to have rediscovered the player the Sabres saw when they drafted him in the fourth round in 2009 (104th-overall.) Good on him. He looks to be carving out a nice, bottom-six, defensive role on the Sabres team and it would seem as if he wants to be in Buffalo beyond the one-year extension he just signed. Although fourth line might be a bit below his talent-level right now, if he can relish his role and become a consistent force, having a defensively sound bottom-six winger that can get you 10 goals and 20-25 points bodes well for the Sabres moving forward. It's just hard to see him in a scoring role for Buffalo.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons/ RW, Justin Bailey
LW, Marcus Foligno / C, Johan Larsson
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
G, Robin Lehner
There's not a fan in Sabreland who wouldn't want a 6'3" 226 lb. powerforward in a role like that yet it's hard to see the 25 yr. old with too much more upside than the 10 goals and 13 assists from last season. Foligno averaged 13:11 of ice-time with the Sabres last year with very little coming in the form of special teams and unless head coach Dan Bylsma adds to the :34 seconds per game of penalty kill ice-time, that number will probably stay the same at best.
Although the Sabres are thin with natural wingers they do have one bona fide top-six/top-line left-winger in Evander Kane and any number of centers who can and/or already have slid over to the left side. That includes Tyler Ennis who looks to be headed that way this year after missing much of last season because of injuries and Zemgus Girgensons who played most of last season in a top-six, left wing role. Buffalo also needs to squeeze what they can out of a former top-six winger in Matt Moulson who was signed to a $5M, top-six contract but found himself near the bottom of the depth chart nearly all of last season. And the club also has a very talented, natural winger in 18 yr. old Alexander Nylander who they drafted 8th-overall this past June.
Those are the hurdles Foligno is facing if he wants to jump into a scoring role.
Fact is the Sabres will be counting on him to play on a checking line this season and he could very do so on the fourth line while staying with his linemates from late last season--C, Johan Larsson and 37 yr. old RW, Brian Gionta. That line gained traction in late February and was the most consistent line for Bylsma the rest of the way.
Foligno is a big body on the ice and he's thrown in around quite often during his short career but the one thing he hasn't been able to do consistently is use his frame to put himself in a position for a scoring opportunity. It's something he's been working on and he got things moving in the right direction late last year. After a practice session in late March, Foligno told the gathered media that he believes he's figured it out. “I just feel a lot more comfortable out there,” he said at the time. “I’m using my size, playing smarter with moving my feet out there, trying to protect pucks as much as I can. With the confidence up now, I think I’m just trying to hold on to pucks and do things myself down low."
When Foligno came on like a hurricane in his first 14 games many had visions of Cam Neely dancing in their heads but it didn't take Foligno long to make them disappear. The following season he put up a respectable yet inconsistent 18 points (5g + 13a) in a lockout shortened 47 games then hit the sheet for 15 goals and 24 assists in 131 games over the course of the next two seasons. In the meantime his plus/minus rating went from plus-6 in 2011-12 to minus-4, to minus-17 before he pulled it back up to minus-5 two years ago. Last season he was one of only two Sabres players, Girgensons being the other, to be in the positive as he finished the year with a plus-4.
“He’s been much more consistent in playing a big power-forward game, playing a checking game, being a physical guy,” Bylsma said that same afternoon. “That’s what I think has been the best thing about him has been the consistency to it. It’s not just a once-in-a-while type of attributes to his game."
Foligno's immediate success gave way to struggles but looks to have rediscovered the player the Sabres saw when they drafted him in the fourth round in 2009 (104th-overall.) Good on him. He looks to be carving out a nice, bottom-six, defensive role on the Sabres team and it would seem as if he wants to be in Buffalo beyond the one-year extension he just signed. Although fourth line might be a bit below his talent-level right now, if he can relish his role and become a consistent force, having a defensively sound bottom-six winger that can get you 10 goals and 20-25 points bodes well for the Sabres moving forward. It's just hard to see him in a scoring role for Buffalo.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons/ RW, Justin Bailey
LW, Marcus Foligno / C, Johan Larsson
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
G, Robin Lehner
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--C, Johan Larsson
Buffalo Sabres two-way forward Johan Larsson was having a rough go of it in the scoring department through the first half of the season. He went scoreless in his first seven games and was without a goal through his first 27. Through 47 games his stat-line read 1 goal, 4 assists and a minus-9 rating.
Although he was doing plenty right during that time, nothing seemed to be working for Larsson as he trudged through a pretty difficult time. However in the latter half of the season he would gain some traction then put together a late season flourish after a move by head coach Dan Bylsma that would have him centering a line of Marcus Foligno and Brian Gionta in February.
Bylsma had been doing a lot of juggling for much of the season trying to find chemistry as well as overcome various injuries that hampered his lineup from pretty much the get-go. It was a period of adjustment for a number of players as well as for himself, but when Bylsma but that trio together for a game at Ottawa, they did enough things well that he kept them together. One game later No. 1 center Ryan O'Reilly went down with a lower body injury at Columbus the next game and Larsson found himself in a shutdown role against the leagues top centers.
Although he was doing plenty right during that time, nothing seemed to be working for Larsson as he trudged through a pretty difficult time. However in the latter half of the season he would gain some traction then put together a late season flourish after a move by head coach Dan Bylsma that would have him centering a line of Marcus Foligno and Brian Gionta in February.
Bylsma had been doing a lot of juggling for much of the season trying to find chemistry as well as overcome various injuries that hampered his lineup from pretty much the get-go. It was a period of adjustment for a number of players as well as for himself, but when Bylsma but that trio together for a game at Ottawa, they did enough things well that he kept them together. One game later No. 1 center Ryan O'Reilly went down with a lower body injury at Columbus the next game and Larsson found himself in a shutdown role against the leagues top centers.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Justin Bailey
The safe bet here at third line right wing would be the Buffalo Sabres with 36 yr. old Brian Gionta who served as the team's captain last season and was instrumental in helping center Johan Larsson and winger Marcus Foligno gain traction. But the youth movement is on in Buffalo and there's room for another youngin to start making his mark with the big club.
Enter Justin Bailey.
Bailey is a burgeoning 6'4" 206 lb. powerfoward who has been methodically making his way to the NHL ever since he was drafted by the Sabres with the 52nd pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. That pick, along with a fifth rounder that netted Buffalo defenseman Anthony Florentino, was acquired when the Sabres sent d-man Jordan Leopold to the St. Louis Blues at the 2013 trade deadline.
Back in June we evaluated the top three Sabres prospects at each position and Bailey was on top. Here's what we wrote:
"Level-by-level Bailey has grasped the nuances of the position as well as the game and has made impressive strides. In junior he went from 36 points (17+19) in 57 games his draft year to 43 points (25+18) in 54 games the following year to 69 points (34+35) in 57 games for Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie his last year of junior. Bailey started slow in his first professional season for the Rochester Americans last year but finished with 15 goals and 18 assists in his last 30 games."
What should get Sabres fans excited about the prospect of Bailey manning the right side in a top-nine role is that not only does he have the size, but he has speed something long-time Amerks broadcaster Don Stevens pointed at when I talked to him last spring. "I think [Justin Bailey] fits the mold of the up-and-coming player more than any other player I saw [in Rochester]," longtime Amerks broadcaster Don Stevens told me in April, "and that mold is speed. I think that's where the game is."
Sure enough, there was plenty of speed on display in the Stanley Cup Finals with the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks going at it.
Bailey's bedrock of size and speed has given him a presence at every level he's played thus far and those traits were on display last season during an eight-game stint with the Sabres. Although he didn't hit the scoresheet during those games, he still left an impression as he did everything but score. It was a performance that put him right on the cusp of playing in the NHL.
Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com/sabres.com has Bailey ranked as his No. 2 overall Sabres prospect behind only defenseman Brendan Guhle. In his April rankings Baker wrote of Bailey and how he fits into GM Tim Murray's team building around athletes, "performance and pedigree may very well make him the poster child for what's being branded as a new Murray-minded movement."
Baker notes Bailey's spikes in production over the last two seasons, and simply states that "it's all about patience and reps from here as Bailey builds off an impressive second half of his first AHL campaign."
Bailey could very well end up in Rochester again to start this season and in no way would that be a bad thing. If he continues to progress as he has thus far by mid-season he should be getting a long look from Buffalo. Yet somehow I get the impression that Bailey is looking at this training camp, which begins next week, as a supreme opportunity to stick with the Sabres. And I get the feeling he'll take advantage of it.
The charge of the youngins, Wave-2, is about to commence with Bailey and possibly Guhle at the fore. Whether it takes place this year or next is about the only thing to be determined.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons / RW, Justin Bailey
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
G, Robin Lehner
Enter Justin Bailey.
Bailey is a burgeoning 6'4" 206 lb. powerfoward who has been methodically making his way to the NHL ever since he was drafted by the Sabres with the 52nd pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. That pick, along with a fifth rounder that netted Buffalo defenseman Anthony Florentino, was acquired when the Sabres sent d-man Jordan Leopold to the St. Louis Blues at the 2013 trade deadline.
Back in June we evaluated the top three Sabres prospects at each position and Bailey was on top. Here's what we wrote:
"Level-by-level Bailey has grasped the nuances of the position as well as the game and has made impressive strides. In junior he went from 36 points (17+19) in 57 games his draft year to 43 points (25+18) in 54 games the following year to 69 points (34+35) in 57 games for Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie his last year of junior. Bailey started slow in his first professional season for the Rochester Americans last year but finished with 15 goals and 18 assists in his last 30 games."
What should get Sabres fans excited about the prospect of Bailey manning the right side in a top-nine role is that not only does he have the size, but he has speed something long-time Amerks broadcaster Don Stevens pointed at when I talked to him last spring. "I think [Justin Bailey] fits the mold of the up-and-coming player more than any other player I saw [in Rochester]," longtime Amerks broadcaster Don Stevens told me in April, "and that mold is speed. I think that's where the game is."
Sure enough, there was plenty of speed on display in the Stanley Cup Finals with the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks going at it.
Bailey's bedrock of size and speed has given him a presence at every level he's played thus far and those traits were on display last season during an eight-game stint with the Sabres. Although he didn't hit the scoresheet during those games, he still left an impression as he did everything but score. It was a performance that put him right on the cusp of playing in the NHL.
Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com/sabres.com has Bailey ranked as his No. 2 overall Sabres prospect behind only defenseman Brendan Guhle. In his April rankings Baker wrote of Bailey and how he fits into GM Tim Murray's team building around athletes, "performance and pedigree may very well make him the poster child for what's being branded as a new Murray-minded movement."
Baker notes Bailey's spikes in production over the last two seasons, and simply states that "it's all about patience and reps from here as Bailey builds off an impressive second half of his first AHL campaign."
Bailey could very well end up in Rochester again to start this season and in no way would that be a bad thing. If he continues to progress as he has thus far by mid-season he should be getting a long look from Buffalo. Yet somehow I get the impression that Bailey is looking at this training camp, which begins next week, as a supreme opportunity to stick with the Sabres. And I get the feeling he'll take advantage of it.
The charge of the youngins, Wave-2, is about to commence with Bailey and possibly Guhle at the fore. Whether it takes place this year or next is about the only thing to be determined.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons / RW, Justin Bailey
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
G, Robin Lehner
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--LW, Matt Moulson
Matt Moulson, by the numbers.
Contract:
--$5M cap-hit
--3 yrs. remaining
2015-16 Stats:
--8 goals (10th on Sabres)
--13 assists (T-8th)
--21 points (10th)
--minus-5 rating (T-7th)
--ATOI, 11:54 (12th amongst forwards)
--PPTOI, 1:58 (8th)
--PP Goals, 2 (T-5th amongst forwards)
--PP Assists, 5 (T- 3rd)
--PP Points, 7 (5th)
--81 games played
--1 healthy scratch (Dec. 30)
What we wrote at season's end: "Moulson finished 10th on the team in scoring and had the fourth highest cap-hit. Not a good combination. And he did find himself in the press box as a healthy scratch after going 24 games without a goal. That dubious streak would continue for another 20 games despite head coach Dan Bylsma giving him ample powerplay time and numerous opportunities playing in the top-six. But nothing worked, and early season predictions of solid production soon gave way to questions of, what happened?"
Moulson is a good guy. To my knowledge there's not a player or coach who's ever publically said otherwise. He mentored John Tavares on Long Island when the two played for the NY Islanders. When Moulson was traded to the Buffalo Sabres Tavares said, "I don't think Matt's ever gotten the credit he's deserved for the success I've had. Words can't really describe how much he was there for me." And in Buffalo Moulson and his family also opened up their home to rookie Jack Eichel last year to help him make the transition to the NHL. The 18 yr. had a standout season for the Sabres.
Which is all well and good. But at the price and term he was signed for, the team needs him to be more than just a billet father.
Moulson managed three 30-goals seasons on those Islander teams with Tavares and he even managed to place second on the Sabres in scoring during the first year of a 5 yr./$25M contract he signed on July 1, 2014. With the influx of talent including Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly and Evander Kane, it was expected that Moulson would follow up with a similar, if not better, 13-goal, 41-point 2014-15 campaign.
It was not to be and it put the Sabres in a quandary. Fortunately for Moulson he had three years remaining on his contract which was a bit to long for Buffalo to buy out. For Buffalo, however, they may end up carrying the hefty contract if an underperformer in what could very well his final year with the club.
Training camp should give us a good indication of how Moulson intends to approach the upcoming season as he was called out by his GM back in March. Tim Murray talked of Moulson's less than stellar training regimen to the gathered media. “I see a player that maybe has neglected some things in the last couple years," he said, "as far as how workouts are changing, how we as an organization are changing with our young players and even our players on the team." Which was about as close to saying "you're out of shape" as you can get.
Head coach Dan Bylsma has the team playing an up-tempo style which would leave Moulson in the dust on the top two lines even if he were in great shape to begin with but on the third line the chances of having success might be better. If he can re-establish a net-front presence and regain his sniping ability from in close, he might be able to get back into that 15 goal range. Which are a lot of 'if's' for a player making $5M/year.
That said, often times we Sabres fans forget why Murray brought in three vets--Moulson, Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges--back in July, 2014. We forget where the team was as well as where they were headed. The Sabres had traded away nearly every vet worth his salt in the season prior, including Moulson, and were about to finish the job by trading whatever was left at the 2015 trade deadline. They needed veteran players who could actually play the game. They needed players who wanted to play in Buffalo. And they needed players who would basically take a bullet for the team during they're plunge into the abyss.
Moulson, Gionta and Gorges were by no means superstars, but they were legitimate NHL players who had a decent amount of success playing in the upper-half of their rosters and they opted to play in Buffalo. Their role on the Sabres was to make it through the 2014-15 season and come out the other end to contribute to, and provide veteran leadership for, one of the youngest teams in the league.
The five year deal Moulson signed meant that he was expected to do at least that, if not more, on an extended basis but even though it hasn't worked out, he has a shot at redemption this season. There's probably not a fan in Buffalo who won't root for him on a personal level as most want to see a good guy like him succeed. But then again, how many times have we seen that sports is a business and if he can't get it together on the ice, Moulson will probably be playing somewhere else next season.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
G, Robin Lehner
Contract:
--$5M cap-hit
--3 yrs. remaining
2015-16 Stats:
--8 goals (10th on Sabres)
--13 assists (T-8th)
--21 points (10th)
--minus-5 rating (T-7th)
--ATOI, 11:54 (12th amongst forwards)
--PPTOI, 1:58 (8th)
--PP Goals, 2 (T-5th amongst forwards)
--PP Assists, 5 (T- 3rd)
--PP Points, 7 (5th)
--81 games played
--1 healthy scratch (Dec. 30)
What we wrote at season's end: "Moulson finished 10th on the team in scoring and had the fourth highest cap-hit. Not a good combination. And he did find himself in the press box as a healthy scratch after going 24 games without a goal. That dubious streak would continue for another 20 games despite head coach Dan Bylsma giving him ample powerplay time and numerous opportunities playing in the top-six. But nothing worked, and early season predictions of solid production soon gave way to questions of, what happened?"
Moulson is a good guy. To my knowledge there's not a player or coach who's ever publically said otherwise. He mentored John Tavares on Long Island when the two played for the NY Islanders. When Moulson was traded to the Buffalo Sabres Tavares said, "I don't think Matt's ever gotten the credit he's deserved for the success I've had. Words can't really describe how much he was there for me." And in Buffalo Moulson and his family also opened up their home to rookie Jack Eichel last year to help him make the transition to the NHL. The 18 yr. had a standout season for the Sabres.
Which is all well and good. But at the price and term he was signed for, the team needs him to be more than just a billet father.
Moulson managed three 30-goals seasons on those Islander teams with Tavares and he even managed to place second on the Sabres in scoring during the first year of a 5 yr./$25M contract he signed on July 1, 2014. With the influx of talent including Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly and Evander Kane, it was expected that Moulson would follow up with a similar, if not better, 13-goal, 41-point 2014-15 campaign.
It was not to be and it put the Sabres in a quandary. Fortunately for Moulson he had three years remaining on his contract which was a bit to long for Buffalo to buy out. For Buffalo, however, they may end up carrying the hefty contract if an underperformer in what could very well his final year with the club.
Training camp should give us a good indication of how Moulson intends to approach the upcoming season as he was called out by his GM back in March. Tim Murray talked of Moulson's less than stellar training regimen to the gathered media. “I see a player that maybe has neglected some things in the last couple years," he said, "as far as how workouts are changing, how we as an organization are changing with our young players and even our players on the team." Which was about as close to saying "you're out of shape" as you can get.
Head coach Dan Bylsma has the team playing an up-tempo style which would leave Moulson in the dust on the top two lines even if he were in great shape to begin with but on the third line the chances of having success might be better. If he can re-establish a net-front presence and regain his sniping ability from in close, he might be able to get back into that 15 goal range. Which are a lot of 'if's' for a player making $5M/year.
That said, often times we Sabres fans forget why Murray brought in three vets--Moulson, Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges--back in July, 2014. We forget where the team was as well as where they were headed. The Sabres had traded away nearly every vet worth his salt in the season prior, including Moulson, and were about to finish the job by trading whatever was left at the 2015 trade deadline. They needed veteran players who could actually play the game. They needed players who wanted to play in Buffalo. And they needed players who would basically take a bullet for the team during they're plunge into the abyss.
Moulson, Gionta and Gorges were by no means superstars, but they were legitimate NHL players who had a decent amount of success playing in the upper-half of their rosters and they opted to play in Buffalo. Their role on the Sabres was to make it through the 2014-15 season and come out the other end to contribute to, and provide veteran leadership for, one of the youngest teams in the league.
The five year deal Moulson signed meant that he was expected to do at least that, if not more, on an extended basis but even though it hasn't worked out, he has a shot at redemption this season. There's probably not a fan in Buffalo who won't root for him on a personal level as most want to see a good guy like him succeed. But then again, how many times have we seen that sports is a business and if he can't get it together on the ice, Moulson will probably be playing somewhere else next season.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Matt Moulson / C, Zemgus Girgensons
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian/ D, Jake McCabe
G, Robin Lehner
Monday, September 19, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Jake McCabe
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe had about as solid a year as a 22 yr. old rookie d-man could have in the NHL. Sure there were some trouble spots along the way but on a team with a minus-21 goal differential, McCabe leading the team with a plus-6 rating and being one of only two players to be above even in plus/minus (70+ games) is a pretty solid accomplishment.
When defenseman Zach Bogosian returned from injury 17 games into the 2015-16 season, he and McCabe were the team's mainstays on the second pairing for most of the remaining season. Head coach Dan Bylsma called them a "formidable pair" after a game in December and then said, "We've counted on [Rasmus] Ristolainen and Gorges to play hard minutes against some good players, but now we have a second pair in McCabe and Bogosian that can do a good job against just about anybody."
Gorges acquitted himself quite well for the Sabres last season as while playing above his talent-level and one could easily put him next to Bogosian this season. That may very well happen, but there's a pretty solid match with McCabe and Bogosian as the two play a very similar style of defense. They both hit and block shots but their also both quite mobile with Bylsma saying of the duo, "[They are] two good skating defensemen, two guys who can use that skating ability to defend but also add to the offense."
McCabe averaged 19:07 minutes of ice-time per game, good for fourth amongst Sabres defenseman and he logged an average of 1:24 minutes/game on the penalty kill which was also fourth amongst Sabres d-men. His 114 hits was third as was his 109 blocked shots. With Bylsma using McCabe in more of a defensive mode, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin native only saw a fraction of ice-time on the powerplay.
Having said that, McCabe may still have more to give in an offensive capacity.
Although he focused upon defense last season, McCabe still managed 14 points on four goals and 10 assists while his 6.5 shooting percentage was best amongst Sabres defensemen. He has two things working in his favor from an offensive perspective that may increase those numbers--a penchant for getting his shot through from the point and a smart, sensible pinch to the open area on the weak side in the offensive zone.
Here are the questions we had for him at the end of last season: "How much more offense can he add? As smart as he is on the point, and with a shot that gets through, will he have an opportunity to get some powerplay time? Are we scratching the surface of the amount of playing time he can handle? Is a top-pairing role aside Rasmus Ristolainen in his future? Or will he settle into being an extremely capable No. 3/4?"
McCabe has a simple, honest approach to the game and a pretty long list of accomplishments, both individual and team, plus a maturity beyond his years. He has a blue collar work-ethic and approaches the game in a methodical, yet intense manner while also showing the propensity to bounce back quickly from a mistake. Former Rochester Americans coach Chadd Cassidy, who coached McCabe for a full season in Rochester, called him "genuine" and an "extremely honest, team-first player" while stating rather simply stating that McCabe "has earned everything he's gotten."
That pretty much sums up why he will probably be next to Bogosian on the Sabres second-pairing this year.
He's earned it.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ D, Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian / D, Jake McCabe
G, Robin Lehner
When defenseman Zach Bogosian returned from injury 17 games into the 2015-16 season, he and McCabe were the team's mainstays on the second pairing for most of the remaining season. Head coach Dan Bylsma called them a "formidable pair" after a game in December and then said, "We've counted on [Rasmus] Ristolainen and Gorges to play hard minutes against some good players, but now we have a second pair in McCabe and Bogosian that can do a good job against just about anybody."
Gorges acquitted himself quite well for the Sabres last season as while playing above his talent-level and one could easily put him next to Bogosian this season. That may very well happen, but there's a pretty solid match with McCabe and Bogosian as the two play a very similar style of defense. They both hit and block shots but their also both quite mobile with Bylsma saying of the duo, "[They are] two good skating defensemen, two guys who can use that skating ability to defend but also add to the offense."
McCabe averaged 19:07 minutes of ice-time per game, good for fourth amongst Sabres defenseman and he logged an average of 1:24 minutes/game on the penalty kill which was also fourth amongst Sabres d-men. His 114 hits was third as was his 109 blocked shots. With Bylsma using McCabe in more of a defensive mode, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin native only saw a fraction of ice-time on the powerplay.
Having said that, McCabe may still have more to give in an offensive capacity.
Although he focused upon defense last season, McCabe still managed 14 points on four goals and 10 assists while his 6.5 shooting percentage was best amongst Sabres defensemen. He has two things working in his favor from an offensive perspective that may increase those numbers--a penchant for getting his shot through from the point and a smart, sensible pinch to the open area on the weak side in the offensive zone.
Here are the questions we had for him at the end of last season: "How much more offense can he add? As smart as he is on the point, and with a shot that gets through, will he have an opportunity to get some powerplay time? Are we scratching the surface of the amount of playing time he can handle? Is a top-pairing role aside Rasmus Ristolainen in his future? Or will he settle into being an extremely capable No. 3/4?"
McCabe has a simple, honest approach to the game and a pretty long list of accomplishments, both individual and team, plus a maturity beyond his years. He has a blue collar work-ethic and approaches the game in a methodical, yet intense manner while also showing the propensity to bounce back quickly from a mistake. Former Rochester Americans coach Chadd Cassidy, who coached McCabe for a full season in Rochester, called him "genuine" and an "extremely honest, team-first player" while stating rather simply stating that McCabe "has earned everything he's gotten."
That pretty much sums up why he will probably be next to Bogosian on the Sabres second-pairing this year.
He's earned it.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Ryan O'Reilly / RW, Kyle Okposo
LW, Tyler Ennis / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
D, Rasmus Ristolainen/ D, Dmitry Kulikov
D, Zach Bogosian / D, Jake McCabe
G, Robin Lehner
Friday, September 16, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Zach Bogosian
After seven years and well over 400 NHL games, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian is pretty much where he should be at this point in his career--a young-vet on the second pairing on an up and coming team showing the youngins the way. The 26 yr. old Massena, NY native who came from the Winnipeg Jets in the Evander Kane/Tyler Myers trade was second on the Sabres in overall time on ice (22:20) and second even-strength (19:28.) Bogosian was also on the second unit penalty kill and also logged plenty of time on the second-unit powerplay.
When we built the roster last season here's what we had to say about him, "at the very least we're looking at a second-pairing, physical defenseman with Robyn Regehr-like traits who is a smooth skater, strong puck mover and one can put some points on the board. At best he looks to be a No. 2/3 who can really be a veteran anchor for a strong group of young defensemen the Sabres will be integrating into the lineup over the course of the next three or four years."
That latter portion was especially true when it came to his defense-partner for most of the season, 22 yr. old Jake McCabe. Later in the season with the team gaining traction the duo put together a nice month of March. Buffalo went 7-4-4, their best of the season (and best since 2013, according to Sabres PR) with the Bogosian/McCabe pairing adding strong contributions. They had combined +7 rating on the month while Bogosian had his strongest month as a Sabre with scoring three goals and adding six assists.
Those are the types of offensive numbers that are often associated with, and expected of, a top pick in the draft but unfortunately for Bogosian those types of numbers have largely eluded him since his rookie season with the Atlanta Thrashers when he scored nine goals and added 10 assists in 47 games.
When we built the roster last season here's what we had to say about him, "at the very least we're looking at a second-pairing, physical defenseman with Robyn Regehr-like traits who is a smooth skater, strong puck mover and one can put some points on the board. At best he looks to be a No. 2/3 who can really be a veteran anchor for a strong group of young defensemen the Sabres will be integrating into the lineup over the course of the next three or four years."
That latter portion was especially true when it came to his defense-partner for most of the season, 22 yr. old Jake McCabe. Later in the season with the team gaining traction the duo put together a nice month of March. Buffalo went 7-4-4, their best of the season (and best since 2013, according to Sabres PR) with the Bogosian/McCabe pairing adding strong contributions. They had combined +7 rating on the month while Bogosian had his strongest month as a Sabre with scoring three goals and adding six assists.
Those are the types of offensive numbers that are often associated with, and expected of, a top pick in the draft but unfortunately for Bogosian those types of numbers have largely eluded him since his rookie season with the Atlanta Thrashers when he scored nine goals and added 10 assists in 47 games.
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Sam Reinhart
After spending most of the summer trying to figure out where forward Sam Reinhart might fit into the Sabres roster under new head coach Dan Bylsma, or even if he would at one point, in building the roster for that season I placed him centering the third line. Here's what I wrote:
"Over the course of the last year Reinhart has shown the ability to dominate while playing against his peers, something that bodes well for the future. Near-term, however, he'll need to prove that he can adapt and produce at the NHL-level and a good start for him this season is playing on the third line at a position he's accustomed to--center.
"Rochester is always an option should he have trouble adapting, but that "fighting weight" of 190, his improved skating, a familiarity with how the pro game is played and his off the charts hockey sense should keep him in the NHL for the rest of his career."
Not only did Reinhart stick with the team, he ended up second on the team in goals with 23 and third in points with 42 while playing out of position on the right side. What's even more peculiar about those stats is that Reinhart was touted as more of a set-up man coming out of junior. In a tribute to his hockey sense Reinhart was able to make the transition to the right side while his hard work, as well as some keen insight from Bylsma, helped him overcomes some early season struggles.
"Over the course of the last year Reinhart has shown the ability to dominate while playing against his peers, something that bodes well for the future. Near-term, however, he'll need to prove that he can adapt and produce at the NHL-level and a good start for him this season is playing on the third line at a position he's accustomed to--center.
"Rochester is always an option should he have trouble adapting, but that "fighting weight" of 190, his improved skating, a familiarity with how the pro game is played and his off the charts hockey sense should keep him in the NHL for the rest of his career."
Not only did Reinhart stick with the team, he ended up second on the team in goals with 23 and third in points with 42 while playing out of position on the right side. What's even more peculiar about those stats is that Reinhart was touted as more of a set-up man coming out of junior. In a tribute to his hockey sense Reinhart was able to make the transition to the right side while his hard work, as well as some keen insight from Bylsma, helped him overcomes some early season struggles.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--LW, Tyler Ennis
Buffalo Sabres forward Tyler Ennis is the longest-tenured Sabres player on the roster. The 2008 first round pick (26rd-overall) came to Buffalo via a draft pick acquired when Brian "Soupy" Campbell was traded to the San Jose' Sharks at the 2008 trade deadline and since that time Ennis has witnessed almost a complete turnover of the hockey operations at the foot of Washington St. He and Marcus Foligno have witnessed an ownership change, are on their third team president, second GM and fourth head coach.
Through it all the 5'9" 160 lb. Ennis has remained remarkably consistent. From his first full season in 2010-11 to the 2014-15 season, he was able to hit the 20-goal mark three times and was on pace for another one (15 goals in 48) games in 2011-12 before being sidelined by an ankle injury. In his three full seasons he's averaged about 20 goals and 22 assists with the key word being 'full.'
Ennis missed all but 23 games last season because of two concussions suffered in six-week span late in 2015. He first got dinged by 6'4" 215 lb. St. Louis defenseman Robert Bortuzzo then was steam-rolled by a 6'3" 239 lb. Alexander Ovechkin. Ennis totaled only 23 games played for the team last season.
Injuries or not, Ennis was having a pretty rough go of it last year, the first one under new head coach Dan Bylsma. He was on a 14-game goal-drought at the time of the Ovechkin hit and he didn't get much love from his GM, Tim Murray either. Murray said at the time, via a Bill Hoppe piece, "Maybe the time away makes him a better player. Maybe it makes him a harder worker."
Ouch.
Through it all the 5'9" 160 lb. Ennis has remained remarkably consistent. From his first full season in 2010-11 to the 2014-15 season, he was able to hit the 20-goal mark three times and was on pace for another one (15 goals in 48) games in 2011-12 before being sidelined by an ankle injury. In his three full seasons he's averaged about 20 goals and 22 assists with the key word being 'full.'
Ennis missed all but 23 games last season because of two concussions suffered in six-week span late in 2015. He first got dinged by 6'4" 215 lb. St. Louis defenseman Robert Bortuzzo then was steam-rolled by a 6'3" 239 lb. Alexander Ovechkin. Ennis totaled only 23 games played for the team last season.
Injuries or not, Ennis was having a pretty rough go of it last year, the first one under new head coach Dan Bylsma. He was on a 14-game goal-drought at the time of the Ovechkin hit and he didn't get much love from his GM, Tim Murray either. Murray said at the time, via a Bill Hoppe piece, "Maybe the time away makes him a better player. Maybe it makes him a harder worker."
Ouch.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--C, Jack Eichel
This will probably be the last time you'll see Jack Eichel listed as a No. 2 center in this blog. The 19 yr. old finished his rookie season with a team-leading 24 goals and a total of 56 points becoming the first Sabres rookie to lead the team in goals in nearly 30 years and the youngest Sabres rookie to hit the 50-point mark in 33 years. And by far he lead the team in electrifying moments.
Eichel is an extremely talented, yet very young player, who sends a rush of anticipation throughout the crowd every time he's on the ice. We haven't see a player like that in Buffalo since Gilbert Perreault was flying up ice with The French Connection. Although Eichel's skating isn't as graceful and fluid as Perreault's was, the speed he generates in a few strides is remarkable as he often leaves his opponents in the dust.
"Jack Flash" is all that in a well-sculpted 6'2" 201 lb. NHL frame and his ability to hit overdrive is stunning. Yet the cool part about Eichel is that he also has the brains to keep up with his speed plus the skills to finish whether a through a wicked, deceptive snap-shot or a smoove, effortless backhand going five-hole.
Eichel is an extremely talented, yet very young player, who sends a rush of anticipation throughout the crowd every time he's on the ice. We haven't see a player like that in Buffalo since Gilbert Perreault was flying up ice with The French Connection. Although Eichel's skating isn't as graceful and fluid as Perreault's was, the speed he generates in a few strides is remarkable as he often leaves his opponents in the dust.
"Jack Flash" is all that in a well-sculpted 6'2" 201 lb. NHL frame and his ability to hit overdrive is stunning. Yet the cool part about Eichel is that he also has the brains to keep up with his speed plus the skills to finish whether a through a wicked, deceptive snap-shot or a smoove, effortless backhand going five-hole.
Monday, September 12, 2016
Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--G, Robin Lehner
No one will ever accuse Buffalo Sabres goalie Robin Lehner of being complacent. His on-ice competitiveness is often found in a menacing, steel-eye stare-down that makes him look as if he'll bite your head off. And if there's any doubt that he sees himself not only as the team's No. 1 goalie but also a teammate, look no further than an incident in Columbus when defenseman Zach Bogosian was recklessly checked into the boards.
The Jackets' Boone Jenner was the culprit as he put a hook on Bogosian and slammed him into the boards. Lehner didn't take too kindly to it and as players on the ice began forming a scrum around his fallen teammate, Lehner cut off Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson who seemed intent upon joining the fray. The two began a spirited shoving match and the 6'5" 240 lb. Lehner dropped the gloves ready to go at it. Johnson wisely declined and instead tried to make his way into the scrum while officials moved Lehner back towards his crease.
Lehner called the Jenner hit on Bogosian "disgusting" saying post-game, "to see a teammate go down like that...at the end of the day I just didn't want [Johnson] to jump into the pile. It's a team game out there." Head coach Dan Bylsma said of the incident in the Sabres 4-0 win, "It’s the first time I had a goalie get four penalty minutes and the shutout. He may be the most engaged goalie I’ve ever been able to coach. He was certainly engaged tonight.”
Intensity is all well and good and it's something that was severely lacking during "The Core" years, but a goalie's job is to stop pucks and Lehner's numbers will tell you that he did so on a regular basis. When healthy.
The Jackets' Boone Jenner was the culprit as he put a hook on Bogosian and slammed him into the boards. Lehner didn't take too kindly to it and as players on the ice began forming a scrum around his fallen teammate, Lehner cut off Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson who seemed intent upon joining the fray. The two began a spirited shoving match and the 6'5" 240 lb. Lehner dropped the gloves ready to go at it. Johnson wisely declined and instead tried to make his way into the scrum while officials moved Lehner back towards his crease.
Lehner called the Jenner hit on Bogosian "disgusting" saying post-game, "to see a teammate go down like that...at the end of the day I just didn't want [Johnson] to jump into the pile. It's a team game out there." Head coach Dan Bylsma said of the incident in the Sabres 4-0 win, "It’s the first time I had a goalie get four penalty minutes and the shutout. He may be the most engaged goalie I’ve ever been able to coach. He was certainly engaged tonight.”
Intensity is all well and good and it's something that was severely lacking during "The Core" years, but a goalie's job is to stop pucks and Lehner's numbers will tell you that he did so on a regular basis. When healthy.
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