Impressions of, and questions concerning--F, Daniel O'Regan

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 6-6-2019

Daniel O'Regan--Forward

DOB:  January 30, 1994 (age, 25)

Draft:  2012 fifth round (138th-overall,) SJS

How acquired:  February 26, 2018 trade with San Jose 

Last contract signed:  July 14, 2018, one-year/two-way, $874,125 base salary

Final year of contract: 2019

2018-19 Stats:  1 game | 0 goals | 0 assists | 0 points | even | 11:56 ATOI

Career NHL Stats: 25 games | 1 goal | 4 assists | 5 points | -4 |  10:14 ATOI

What we wrote preseason:  N/A

What we wrote mid-season:  N/A

Impressions on his play this year:  There's not too much to say about O'Regan's one-game call-up for Buffalo as he did nothing worth noting. The 5'10" 180 lb. forward came over in the Evander Kane trade to the San Jose Sharks and has ties to Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel and forward Evan Rodrigues as fellow BU Terriers alum. That trio of Eichel, Rodrigues and O'Regan combined for 182 points in 2014-15 and led the Terriers to the NCAA championship game.

O'Regan has played well in Rochester since the trade with 26 goals and 37 assists in 88 games for the Amerks so it wouldn't be a bad idea for the Sabres organization to keep him in the fold in that role. O'Regan is Group-6 free agent meaning he's a player at least 25 yrs. old who has completed three or more professional seasons and played in less than 80 NHL games. He's free to sign with any team.

Questions moving forward:  Would he be interested in another one-year/two-way contract? Would the Sabres be interested in that?

Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.

Impressions of, and questions concerning--D, Will Borgen

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 6-4-2019

Will Borgen--Defenseman

DOB:  December 19, 1996 (age, 22)

Draft:  2015 fourth round (90th-overall)

How acquired:  Drafted by Buffalo

Last contract signed:  March 25, 2018;  3yr./$2.775 million ELC ($650,000 base salary)
Final year of contract: 2020-21

2018-19 Stats:  4 games | 0 goals | 0 assists | 0 points | -5 | 16:33 ATOI

Buffalo Career Stats:  4 games | 0 goals | 0 assists | 0 points | -5 | 16:33 ATOI

What we wrote preseason:  N/A

What we wrote mid-season:  N/A

Impressions on his play this year:  Borgen's name is often mentioned as a possible replacement for Rasmus Ristolainen should the latter be traded. Having a 22 yr. old step right into an NHL lineup in a top-six role is reaching a bit, especially with a defense that struggled mightily last season. If this were a team like the Nashville Predators with an established defense within an established system, the probability for success on the part of both Borgen and the team would increase greatly.

However, was we and former head coach Phil Housley found out, the Sabres are not the Predators.

There's a lot to like about Borgen. At 6'3" 196 lbs. he's got great size and a frame that can be bulked up. Borgen plays a physical game but he can also add offense, skates well and is in constant motion on the ice. The fourth-rounder really made strides in college and was a force in Rochester this season logging big minutes for a rookie.

What Borgen needs most the next year or two is experience and exposure to high-pressure situations and full-time top-pairing duties, which is something he probably won't find in Buffalo. What he also needs whenever he's ready to make the jump is to have an NHL situation where the coach and the players know what their doing, which was something that didn't happen last season. Rochester will offer the minutes and the stability for further growth and development next season and unless a combination of things happen, that's where Borgen will probably start the season. And that's a good thing.

Questions moving forward:  Can he add a little more bulk to his frame and offense to his game? What does the future hold for Ristolainen? How long will Zach Bogosian's recovery be and will he be ready to suite up in October? What kind of camp will Borgen have? How far along is he on the development curve? How will Ralph Krueger's system affect both Buffalo and Rochester?

Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.

Impressions of, and questions concerning--LW, Remi Elie

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 6-3-2019

Remi Elie--Left Wing

DOB:  April 16, 1995 (age, 24)

Draft:  2013 second round (40th-overall,) DAL

How acquired:  Claimed off of waivers October 2, 2019

Last contract signed:  July 3, 2018;  1yr./$735,000 

Final year of contract: 2018-19 (RFA, w/arbitration rights)

2018-19 Stats:  16 games | 0 goals | 1 assists | 1 points | -3 | 10:21 ATOI

Career Stats:  106 games | 7 goals | 15 assists | 22 points | +7 |  11:11 ATOI

What we wrote preseason:  N/A

What we wrote mid-season:  Picked up off of waivers from the Dallas Stars, Elie has pretty much been a last resort depth forward allowing the Sabres to keep developing their prospects in Rochester, at least for the first half of the season. Elie's a grinder with some good speed who's pretty good on the puck. At present he's the only Buffalo forward without a goal although he's only played in 10 games thus far.

Impressions on his play this year:  There was nothing Elie did on the ice that would warrant a 16 game stint. Yes, like was mentioned mid-season, he was a place holder while the injured recovered and he helped keep the youngins in Rochester, much to the dismay of many in Sabreland who wanted the likes of C.J. Smith and Victor Olofsson up with the big club.

There's really no doubt that Smith, Olofsson, and Alexander Nylander would have produced more, as evidenced by what they were able to do later in the year when they got the call, and the Sabres could have used some scoring especially post-winning streak. Elie was in the lineup when the streak ended in Tampa and played five games in December. Buffalo went 1-3-1 in those games scoring a total of eight goals.

After being sent to Rochester in February, Elie provided a strong presence for the Amerks with 14 points (8+6) in 25 games but he couldn't help them in the playoffs as they were swept out in the first round.

Questions moving forward:  Are the Sabres interested in re-signing him? Would he go for a two-way contract after being on a one-way last season?

Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.

Impressions of, and questions concerning--D, Matt Hunwick

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 6-2-2019

Matt Hunwick--Defenseman

DOB:  May 21, 1995 (age, 34)

Draft:  2004, seventh round (224th-overall,) BOS

How acquired:  Trade with Pittsburgh, June 27, 2018

Last contract signed:  July 1, 2017;  3yr./$6.75 million

Final year of contract: 2019-20

2018-19 Stats:  14 games | 0 goals | 2 assists | 2 points | -7 |15:41 ATOI

Career Stats:  535 games | 25 goals | 94 assists | 119 points | -19 | 18:15 ATOI

What we wrote preseason:  Acquired from the Penguins along with Sheary, Hunwick suffered a neck injury in camp that have some thinking that it might be career threatening for the 33 yr. old.

What we wrote mid-season:  For a while there we weren't sure how long it would take for Hunwick to recover from a neck injury suffered this off season. Hunwick was acquired by Buffalo on June 27th (along with forward Conor Sheary) from the Pittsburgh Penguins for experienced depth on defense but the injury delayed his Sabres debut until December 16, a full 36 games into the season. At age 33 his time is slowly fading and we're not really sure what the team has in store for him at this point other than a depth role on a defense that's getting stronger as the year progresses.

Impressions on his play this year:  The 34 yr. old Hunwick looked his age in the few games he played for Buffalo. Then again by the time he got into the lineup on a more consistent basis, Buffalo's defense disintegrated and the team was already looking to the off season so that didn't help much. At 34 yrs. old, if the neck injury he suffered wasn't enough for him to consider retirement, his deteriorating game might push him there.

Hunwick came over from Pittsburgh along with LW, Conor Sheary in a trade that sent a conditional fourth-rounder to the Penguins--if Sheary scored 20 goals or hit 40 points, which he did not, or if Hunwick was traded before the 2019 NHL Draft, that 2019 4th would turn into a 2019 3rd. It looks as if the Sabres will retain their third-rounder this year.

How Hunwick fits moving forward is to be determined, but the left-handed defenseman may end up sticking around as the Sabres may be a little light on the blueline to start next season. Zach Bogosian underwent hip surgery and could be in the lineup when the season starts and Lawrence Pilut had shoulder surgery last month with an expected recovery time of 5-6 months. Those two injuries could open a roster spot for him early in the year.

Questions moving forward:  Will he be around in October? How much does he have left in the tank? 

Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.

Impressions of, and questions concerning--LW, C.J. Smith

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 5-29-2019

C.J. Smith--Left Wing

DOB:  December 1, 1994 (age, 25)

Draft:  Undrafted college FA

How acquired:  Signed by Buffalo out of UMASS-Lowell (3-30-2017)

Last contract signed:  July 16, 2018, 1yr. $874,125

Final year of contract: 2018-19

2018-19 Stats:  11 games | 2 goals | 0 assists | 2 points | even | 10:39 ATOI

Buffalo Career Stats:  13 games | 2 goals | 1 assists | -1 | 10:47 ATOI

What we wrote preseason:  N/A

What we wrote mid-season:  N/A

Impressions on his play this year:  C.J. Smith did most of his work in the AHL with the Rochester Americans this season and built upon the foundation he laid out two years ago. In his second season with the Amerks, Smith was second on the team in goals (28,) assists (30) and points (58) while also leading the team with a +26 rating and it should also be pointed out that only six of his goals came on the powerplay. In 119 AHL games Smith has 102 points (45+57) and is a plus 30.

Smith was incredibly consistent in an all-situations role for Rochester last season and of all the prospects on the Amerks, he was the one that stood out with his speed, quickness and overall sense for the game. In his 62 games last seasons he never went more than two games without a point. The 5'11" 181 lb. Smith got the call from Buffalo last season and never really looked out of place. Although his ice-time was limited he did manage to score a couple goals on a team that was out of whack. 

It would seem as if Smith has all the qualities general manager Jason Botterill likes in a player and to their credit, the Sabres have not rushed his development. In the end Buffalo could have themselves a versatile player on a low-dollar contract that would be beneficial to the club in a number of ways.

Questions moving forward:  Will Smith slot into a bottom-six role in Buffalo? How much quality penalty kill time can they get out of him? Can he continue his development at the NHL-level? What might that development look like? Has he shown enough promise to land a two-year deal? 

Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.

Impressions of, and questions concerning--F, Scott Wilson

Forward--Scott Wilson 

DOB:  April 24, 1992 (age, 27)

Draft:  PIT, 2011 seventh round (209th overall)

How acquired:  Trade w/DET, December 4, 2017

Last contract signed:  July 1, 2018, 2yr./$2.1 million

Final year of contract: 2019-20

2018-19 Stats:  15 games | 0 goals | 3 assists | -8 | 11:27 ATOI

Buffalo Career Stats:  64 games | 6 goals | 11 assists | -25 | 12:22 ATOI

What we wrote preseason: [Sabres GM Jason] Botterill had been with Pittsburgh when they selected Wilson in 2011 out of the Junior-A Georgetown Raiders, and watched him turn into a point/game player at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2015-16, his second AHL season. Wilson got the call to Pittsburgh that year and responded with five goals and an assist in 24 games. He played three games for the Pens in the playoffs and got his name on the Stanley Cup. The following year he played in 78 regular season games for the Pens and 20 in the playoffs and had his name etched on the Cup again.

Botterill said of Wilson when acquiring him, "Scott is a hard-working, young player that will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice."

Wilson signed a two-year contract extension with the Sabres and is yet another player that can move up and down the lineup. He's in Buffalo for a reason and one would have to believe he'll be in the starting lineup come October 4.

What we wrote mid-season:  Suffered a broken ankle and has been out all season. He's skating with the team and is expected to return after the first of the year. 

Impressions on his play this year:  Wilson is of that interchangeable collection of fourth line/reserve players that constituted a problem for the Sabres last season. Having one of Wilson, Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson, or Vladimir Sobotka is about right, having two would be stretching it and having three or more equals a team destined for a lower place finish. 

Wilson suffered that ankle injury in camp and didn't hit the ice until the latter part of February when the team's fate had pretty much been sealed. No one thought that having him in the lineup would move the needle and it didn't as the Sabres fall continued. As a fourth-liner Wilson provides energy and his effectiveness is directly related to overall team success. When he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins he was a minus-2 in 106 regular season games while in Buffalo he's a -25 in only 64 games.

If the Sabres ever make it to the playoffs with him on the roster he may provide some valuable playoff insight to this group as he has his name on the Cup twice. However, the Sabres may be hard pressed to make the playoffs this season and Wilson might be prime trade-bait come trade deadline as a team is always looking for good, cheap depth forwards for a playoff run. The Sabres might even recoup the 2019 fifth round pick they sent to Detroit for Wilson.

Questions moving forward:  What role will Ralph Krueger see for him? Can he put in a full season for Buffalo? Would teams be interested in him right now at his $1million cap-hit? 

Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.