Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-13-2019
It seems like a classic wash-rinse-repeat September day as on-ice sessions begin for the Buffalo Sabres. Five years ago it was Stanley Cup-winning head coach Dan Bylsma taking over for Ted Nolan, who coached the Sabres through most of their 2013-15 tank seasons. Bylsma was relieved of his duties two years later and in came rookie head coach Phil Housley, who's top-notch work with the Nashville Predators defense as an assistant turned him into a top head coach candidate.
The tenures of Bylsma and Housley both lasted two years, both ended up with underachieving clubs and prior to their dismissal, both had lost the locker room. They finished 23rd, 26th, 31st (a first for the league with the inclusion on the expansion Vegas Golden Knights) and 27th, respectively, and combined for a 126-157-454 post-tank record, which was last in the league during that period. It was a dismal showing, especially for a team and fanbase where the promised "suffering" of 2013-15 came to fruition but wasn't followed by any modicum of success save for maybe the 2015-16 season.
So out went an aloof head coach in Bylsma and a rookie coach in Housley who was in way over his head and in comes Krueger.
Showing posts with label 2019 Training Camp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2019 Training Camp. Show all posts
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Onward to training camp as the 2019 Sabres Prospects Challenge ends
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-10-2019
It was a good weekend for the Buffalo Sabres prospects, even though it would be hard to characterize some of them as "prospects" as their ages push that term to it's very limits. Players like winger 24 yr. old Victor Olofsson stood out and was clearly head and shoulders above the other skaters out there. As he should have been. Olofsson looks as if he's ready for a top-nine role in Buffalo this year after playing nearly four full seasons in the Swedish Elite League before hitting North America last season and leading the Rochester Americans in scoring.
Others on the near-term radar include center Rasmus Asplund, who had a great September last year and looked even better this year, and defenseman Will Borgen, who has become quite the presence on the ice after only one full pro season. It will be tough for either of them to crack the Sabres lineup for 2019-20 but their development has them on pace to be there in a full-time role next season. Forward Andre Oglevie and defenseman Brandon Hickey look like they'll be carrying some heavy weight in Rochester while defensemen Jacob Bryson and Casey Fitzgerald look primed to compete for bigger minutes with the Amerks in their first pro seasons.
It was a good weekend for the Buffalo Sabres prospects, even though it would be hard to characterize some of them as "prospects" as their ages push that term to it's very limits. Players like winger 24 yr. old Victor Olofsson stood out and was clearly head and shoulders above the other skaters out there. As he should have been. Olofsson looks as if he's ready for a top-nine role in Buffalo this year after playing nearly four full seasons in the Swedish Elite League before hitting North America last season and leading the Rochester Americans in scoring.
Others on the near-term radar include center Rasmus Asplund, who had a great September last year and looked even better this year, and defenseman Will Borgen, who has become quite the presence on the ice after only one full pro season. It will be tough for either of them to crack the Sabres lineup for 2019-20 but their development has them on pace to be there in a full-time role next season. Forward Andre Oglevie and defenseman Brandon Hickey look like they'll be carrying some heavy weight in Rochester while defensemen Jacob Bryson and Casey Fitzgerald look primed to compete for bigger minutes with the Amerks in their first pro seasons.
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