Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-2-2019
The Mood
How many "next year's" are there in the annals of Buffalo sports history? For fans of both the Sabres and Bills there have been way too many, especially this century, but for Jason Botterill, this will be his third season as Buffalo's general manager and as their 2019-20 roster might indicate, he seems to have more of a focus on next year than the upcoming season. Botterill has four forwards, four defensemen and one goalie on the books for 2020-21 and an additional of seven players under their control leaving seven openings to be filled with around $34 million in cap space.
Which is great....for next year.
Showing posts with label 2019-20 season preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2019-20 season preview. Show all posts
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--Reserves and Contenders
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-24-2019
Today we fill out a potential final 2019-2020 opening night roster with three more players. As we've gone through this process, more than a few of the names presented here have drawn the ire of many Sabres fans, yet they more than likely will be there on opening night. Names like Kyle Okposo, Johan Larsson, Zemgus Girgensons and Marco Scandella represent bad times in Sabreland however for various reasons they'll probably be there come October 3.
While many have clamored for an influx of youth and vitality, as well as speed and skill, it would seem as if Buffalo GM Jason Botterill will be sticking with the tried and true (at least to start the season) with regards to the lower lines and pairings. Fact is, although there's some talent waiting in the wings, Botterill is a firm believer in developing that talent. He seems willing bring players up full time only if their ready, which is why some youngins will end up in their proper developmental leagues while the Sabres under new head coach Ralph Kreuger trudge their way through yet another season of transition.
With that in mind, the first name we trot out for a reserve spot on the Sabres roster won't make a lot of fans happy, but is logical in the sense that he'll be in a reserve/fourth-line role:
Today we fill out a potential final 2019-2020 opening night roster with three more players. As we've gone through this process, more than a few of the names presented here have drawn the ire of many Sabres fans, yet they more than likely will be there on opening night. Names like Kyle Okposo, Johan Larsson, Zemgus Girgensons and Marco Scandella represent bad times in Sabreland however for various reasons they'll probably be there come October 3.
While many have clamored for an influx of youth and vitality, as well as speed and skill, it would seem as if Buffalo GM Jason Botterill will be sticking with the tried and true (at least to start the season) with regards to the lower lines and pairings. Fact is, although there's some talent waiting in the wings, Botterill is a firm believer in developing that talent. He seems willing bring players up full time only if their ready, which is why some youngins will end up in their proper developmental leagues while the Sabres under new head coach Ralph Kreuger trudge their way through yet another season of transition.
With that in mind, the first name we trot out for a reserve spot on the Sabres roster won't make a lot of fans happy, but is logical in the sense that he'll be in a reserve/fourth-line role:
Monday, September 16, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--The Fourth Line
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-15-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
There will be a lot of competition for a role on Buffalo's fourth line as the additions of top-nine forwards Marcus Johansson and Jimmy Vesey push players down the depth chart to where they should be in the first place. Sabres general manager Jason Botterill and new head coach Ralph Krueger have a group of veteran fourth-line players that are interchangeable battling for three spots on the line and they'll be joined by a former goal-scorer who's struggled in that department, some young bucks trying to make a name for themselves and a couple of AHL scorers trying to crack an NHL lineup.
One thing we probably won't see this season are young skilled players/scorers, like first round pick Dylan Cozens or Tage Thompson, skating in a fourth-line role as players will sink or swim with the skills, and within the roles they were drafted for.
Which is a good thing.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
There will be a lot of competition for a role on Buffalo's fourth line as the additions of top-nine forwards Marcus Johansson and Jimmy Vesey push players down the depth chart to where they should be in the first place. Sabres general manager Jason Botterill and new head coach Ralph Krueger have a group of veteran fourth-line players that are interchangeable battling for three spots on the line and they'll be joined by a former goal-scorer who's struggled in that department, some young bucks trying to make a name for themselves and a couple of AHL scorers trying to crack an NHL lineup.
One thing we probably won't see this season are young skilled players/scorers, like first round pick Dylan Cozens or Tage Thompson, skating in a fourth-line role as players will sink or swim with the skills, and within the roles they were drafted for.
Which is a good thing.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--G, Linus Ullmark
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-14-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
G--Linus Ullmark
26 yrs. old
6'4" 213 lbs.
2012, sixth round (163rd overall)
Career stats: 63 games played | 24-27-7 record | 2.87 GAA | .910 Sv% | 2 shutouts
Sabres backup goalie Linus Ullmark had a rude awakening last season, although you'd never have known it as the player with the twitter handle, "Icebear Dude," is always chill even in the face of the disaster like the one that unfolded during the second half of the season for the team and himself. Ullmark takes it as it comes and maintains his calm demeanor opting for a general philosophy that involves inevitability and acceptance rather than fits of emotion. Just how far this takes the 26 yr. old netminder in the National Hockey League remains to be seen, but goaltenders are a quirky bunch so...whatever works.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
G--Linus Ullmark
26 yrs. old
6'4" 213 lbs.
2012, sixth round (163rd overall)
Career stats: 63 games played | 24-27-7 record | 2.87 GAA | .910 Sv% | 2 shutouts
Sabres backup goalie Linus Ullmark had a rude awakening last season, although you'd never have known it as the player with the twitter handle, "Icebear Dude," is always chill even in the face of the disaster like the one that unfolded during the second half of the season for the team and himself. Ullmark takes it as it comes and maintains his calm demeanor opting for a general philosophy that involves inevitability and acceptance rather than fits of emotion. Just how far this takes the 26 yr. old netminder in the National Hockey League remains to be seen, but goaltenders are a quirky bunch so...whatever works.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--RHD, Colin Miller
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-12-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RHD, Colin Miller
26 yrs. old
6'1" 196 lbs.
2012, 5th-round pick (151st-overall, LAK)
Career Stats: 250 games | 22 goals | 77 assists | 99 points | -4
Where Colin Miller ultimately ends up in the lineup for the Buffalo Sabres is dependent upon a number of things, including the status of fellow right-handed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. With plenty roster decisions up in the air right now, Miller should get the opportunity to skate next to top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin at training camp, which begins today, before eventually settling into his role on the Sabres.
Miller started last season on the top-pairing in Vegas while Golden Knights d-anchor Nate Schmidt served his 20-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policies. He struggled next to Schmidt's top-pairing partner, Brayden McNabb, while playing against the league's best (0 goals, 6 assists, minus-4 rating) during that time and fell down the depth chart and back into his usual third-pairing role when Schmidt returned. Although Dahlin and McNabb are totally different players in style and caliber, it would be tough to see Miller in a top-pairing role as his offensive-minded game and struggles defensively against the league's best players may not translate well. However, new head coach Ralph Krueger is looking for chemistry up and down the lineup and if it works, he'll go with it.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RHD, Colin Miller
26 yrs. old
6'1" 196 lbs.
2012, 5th-round pick (151st-overall, LAK)
Career Stats: 250 games | 22 goals | 77 assists | 99 points | -4
Where Colin Miller ultimately ends up in the lineup for the Buffalo Sabres is dependent upon a number of things, including the status of fellow right-handed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. With plenty roster decisions up in the air right now, Miller should get the opportunity to skate next to top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin at training camp, which begins today, before eventually settling into his role on the Sabres.
Miller started last season on the top-pairing in Vegas while Golden Knights d-anchor Nate Schmidt served his 20-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policies. He struggled next to Schmidt's top-pairing partner, Brayden McNabb, while playing against the league's best (0 goals, 6 assists, minus-4 rating) during that time and fell down the depth chart and back into his usual third-pairing role when Schmidt returned. Although Dahlin and McNabb are totally different players in style and caliber, it would be tough to see Miller in a top-pairing role as his offensive-minded game and struggles defensively against the league's best players may not translate well. However, new head coach Ralph Krueger is looking for chemistry up and down the lineup and if it works, he'll go with it.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--LHD, Marco Scandella
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-11-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LHD--Marco Scandella
29 yrs. old
6'3" 210 lbs.
2008, 2nd round (55th-overall, MIN)
Career Stats: 518 games | 38 goals | 86 assists | 124 points | -38
One can almost feel the angst and anger emanating from Sabreland with the placing of left-handed defenseman Marco Scandella in this slot on the third pairing. Hell, there's a large contingent that are upset just seeing his name in print as part of the Buffalo Sabres and will just rail on him ad infinitum and another group that will bust out charts and colorful graphics to back their opinion that he shouldn't be on the team. Maybe any team.
Make no mistake, Scandella had a rough 2018-19 season. Everything from an offensive or possession standpoint went south last season for the former second-round pick and he, like other defensemen on the Sabres, looked as if he was just plain lost much of the time. Some of that might be traced back to coaching where former head coach Phil Housley produced a train wreck on defense. As he was trying to bring his Nashville system to a Buffalo team that had nowhere near the high-end personnel the Predators had, the only full-time Sabre last season to rise above the malaise on the blueline was Rasmus Dahlin who, as a first-overall pick with a franchise label attached to him, has the talent to rise above almost anything. Even as an 18-yr. old.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LHD--Marco Scandella
29 yrs. old
6'3" 210 lbs.
2008, 2nd round (55th-overall, MIN)
Career Stats: 518 games | 38 goals | 86 assists | 124 points | -38
One can almost feel the angst and anger emanating from Sabreland with the placing of left-handed defenseman Marco Scandella in this slot on the third pairing. Hell, there's a large contingent that are upset just seeing his name in print as part of the Buffalo Sabres and will just rail on him ad infinitum and another group that will bust out charts and colorful graphics to back their opinion that he shouldn't be on the team. Maybe any team.
Make no mistake, Scandella had a rough 2018-19 season. Everything from an offensive or possession standpoint went south last season for the former second-round pick and he, like other defensemen on the Sabres, looked as if he was just plain lost much of the time. Some of that might be traced back to coaching where former head coach Phil Housley produced a train wreck on defense. As he was trying to bring his Nashville system to a Buffalo team that had nowhere near the high-end personnel the Predators had, the only full-time Sabre last season to rise above the malaise on the blueline was Rasmus Dahlin who, as a first-overall pick with a franchise label attached to him, has the talent to rise above almost anything. Even as an 18-yr. old.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Conor Sheary
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-9-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RW--Conor Sheary
27 yrs. old
5'8" 176 lbs.
Undrafted free agent, 2015
Career Stats: 262 games | 62 goals | 65 assists | 127 points | +7
Forward Conor Sheary was a tribute to the development process in a very successful Pittsburgh Penguins organization, of which Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill played a big part. The undrafted college free agent out of UMASS (Amherst) was signed by the Pens in July, 2015 while Botterill was making his way up the managerial ranks and it would prove to be a pretty shrewd signing. Sheary would make his mark with the Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins for a season and a half (27 goals and 81 points in 90 games) before getting the call to Pittsburgh for 44 games during the 2015-16 season. The following year he blew up for 53 points (23+30) in 61 games in a season where the Pens would go on to win the first of two consecutive Stanley Cups. However, his production fell off in 2017-18 and he would be traded to the Buffalo Sabres that off season.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RW--Conor Sheary
27 yrs. old
5'8" 176 lbs.
Undrafted free agent, 2015
Career Stats: 262 games | 62 goals | 65 assists | 127 points | +7
Forward Conor Sheary was a tribute to the development process in a very successful Pittsburgh Penguins organization, of which Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill played a big part. The undrafted college free agent out of UMASS (Amherst) was signed by the Pens in July, 2015 while Botterill was making his way up the managerial ranks and it would prove to be a pretty shrewd signing. Sheary would make his mark with the Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins for a season and a half (27 goals and 81 points in 90 games) before getting the call to Pittsburgh for 44 games during the 2015-16 season. The following year he blew up for 53 points (23+30) in 61 games in a season where the Pens would go on to win the first of two consecutive Stanley Cups. However, his production fell off in 2017-18 and he would be traded to the Buffalo Sabres that off season.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--LW, Victor Olofsson
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-5-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LW--Victor Olofsson
24 yrs. old
5'11" 181 lbs.
2014, 7th round (181st-overall)
Career Stats: 6 games | 2 goals | 2 assists | 4 points | +1
In a way, winger Victor Olofsson is a key player for the Sabres organization moving forward. Having a former seventh-round pick make an impact at the NHL level would prove to be a big step for Buffalo and makes it a tad easier to fill in other holes in the lineup without overspending for talent in free agency.
There's no question that any big strides players like 19 yr. old Rasmus Dahlin, and 21 yr. old Casey Mittelstadt this season will be directly proportional to any success Buffalo might have in 2019-20 and we can fit Olofsson, a 24 yr. old rookie, right into that narrative as well.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LW--Victor Olofsson
24 yrs. old
5'11" 181 lbs.
2014, 7th round (181st-overall)
Career Stats: 6 games | 2 goals | 2 assists | 4 points | +1
In a way, winger Victor Olofsson is a key player for the Sabres organization moving forward. Having a former seventh-round pick make an impact at the NHL level would prove to be a big step for Buffalo and makes it a tad easier to fill in other holes in the lineup without overspending for talent in free agency.
There's no question that any big strides players like 19 yr. old Rasmus Dahlin, and 21 yr. old Casey Mittelstadt this season will be directly proportional to any success Buffalo might have in 2019-20 and we can fit Olofsson, a 24 yr. old rookie, right into that narrative as well.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--C, Evan Rodrigues
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-4-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
C--Evan Rodrigues
26 yrs. old
5'10" 176 lbs.
Undrafted free agent, 2015
Career Stats: 154 games | 21 goals | 41 assists | 62 points | -22
Forward Evan Rodrigues, who rode shotgun on Jack Eichel's line at Boston University in 2015, has carved himself out a pretty good professional hockey career thus far. Many, if not most, believed that riding Eichel's coattails got him a pro contract with the Buffalo Sabres but so far he's proved them wrong. Step by step Rodrigues made his way up the ranks and now finds himself a legit NHL player, which is a feather in the cap of both player and team in terms of development.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
C--Evan Rodrigues
26 yrs. old
5'10" 176 lbs.
Undrafted free agent, 2015
Career Stats: 154 games | 21 goals | 41 assists | 62 points | -22
Forward Evan Rodrigues, who rode shotgun on Jack Eichel's line at Boston University in 2015, has carved himself out a pretty good professional hockey career thus far. Many, if not most, believed that riding Eichel's coattails got him a pro contract with the Buffalo Sabres but so far he's proved them wrong. Step by step Rodrigues made his way up the ranks and now finds himself a legit NHL player, which is a feather in the cap of both player and team in terms of development.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--RHD, Rasmus Ristolainen
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-3-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RHD--Rasmus Ristolainen
24 yrs. old
6'4" 215 lbs.
2013, 8th-overall
Career Stats: 424 games | 36 goals | 158 assists | 194 points | -143
Rasmus Ristolainen is easily the most polarizing on-ice player to skate for the Buffalo Sabres since goalie Ryan Miller. The 24 yr. old defenseman has been the workhorse for a team that has been historically bad not only in the National Hockey League, but throughout all of the four major North American Sports. With futility oozing into every crevice of Sabreland, Buffalo's league-long, eight-year playoff drought, which includes three last place finishes, brings the blame-game to unprecedented levels and seems to have touched every player at some level or another. Jack Eichel isn't Connor McDavid. Sam Reinhart stinks and was drafted too high. Ryan O'Reilly is over-rated. Robin Lehner was a flake. Evander Kane wasn't very good on the ice and even worse off it. Zemgus Girgensons should be shipped to Siberia, Jeff Skinner is one-dimensional and now severely overpaid, etc, etc., etc.
And so it goes.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RHD--Rasmus Ristolainen
24 yrs. old
6'4" 215 lbs.
2013, 8th-overall
Career Stats: 424 games | 36 goals | 158 assists | 194 points | -143
Rasmus Ristolainen is easily the most polarizing on-ice player to skate for the Buffalo Sabres since goalie Ryan Miller. The 24 yr. old defenseman has been the workhorse for a team that has been historically bad not only in the National Hockey League, but throughout all of the four major North American Sports. With futility oozing into every crevice of Sabreland, Buffalo's league-long, eight-year playoff drought, which includes three last place finishes, brings the blame-game to unprecedented levels and seems to have touched every player at some level or another. Jack Eichel isn't Connor McDavid. Sam Reinhart stinks and was drafted too high. Ryan O'Reilly is over-rated. Robin Lehner was a flake. Evander Kane wasn't very good on the ice and even worse off it. Zemgus Girgensons should be shipped to Siberia, Jeff Skinner is one-dimensional and now severely overpaid, etc, etc., etc.
And so it goes.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--LHD, Jack McCabe
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-1-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LHD--Jake McCabe
25 yrs. old
6'1" 206 lbs.
2012, 44th-overall
Career stats: 274 games | 14 goals | 47 assists | 61 points | -19
When you look at Jake McCabe's stat-line above, there's one stat that stands out: his minus-19 plus/minus rating. Although the question of why a negative rating stands out seems rather dubious for a player, one only need to look at the Buffalo Sabres as a whole and on an individual basis since McCabe's first full season in 2015-16. It was the year that Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, two second-overall picks, would join a group of players led by a trio of young vets that were to bring the Sabres out of the depths of their tank years on a march to the playoffs and hopefully to the status of Stanley Cup contender.
Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. In those four years Buffalo compiled a 126-157-45 record and those 297 total points ranked them dead last in the league. Their 817 goals-for was third-worst in the league as was their 992 goals-against, good for a minus-175 goal-differential and with a negative number like that, it affected every player on the team, especially those who skated big minutes.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LHD--Jake McCabe
25 yrs. old
6'1" 206 lbs.
2012, 44th-overall
Career stats: 274 games | 14 goals | 47 assists | 61 points | -19
When you look at Jake McCabe's stat-line above, there's one stat that stands out: his minus-19 plus/minus rating. Although the question of why a negative rating stands out seems rather dubious for a player, one only need to look at the Buffalo Sabres as a whole and on an individual basis since McCabe's first full season in 2015-16. It was the year that Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, two second-overall picks, would join a group of players led by a trio of young vets that were to bring the Sabres out of the depths of their tank years on a march to the playoffs and hopefully to the status of Stanley Cup contender.
Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. In those four years Buffalo compiled a 126-157-45 record and those 297 total points ranked them dead last in the league. Their 817 goals-for was third-worst in the league as was their 992 goals-against, good for a minus-175 goal-differential and with a negative number like that, it affected every player on the team, especially those who skated big minutes.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Marcus Johansson
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-31-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RW--Marcus Johansson
28 yrs. old
6'1" 205 lbs.
2009, 24th-overall, NSH
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RW--Marcus Johansson
28 yrs. old
6'1" 205 lbs.
2009, 24th-overall, NSH
Career stats: 588 games | 120 goals | 214 assists | 334 points | -5
Landing Marcus Johansson was a bit of a coup for the Buffalo Sabres as he brings tons of experience, including 94 games of playoff experience. But even more important for Sabres general manager Jason Botterill was getting Johansson on a short, two-year deal at a reasonable $4.5 million cap hit. Johansson was an unrestricted free agent and was coming off of an excellent playoff run with the Boston Bruins who came just short of winning the Stanley Cup.
Johansson's play was lauded after slow start with the B's who acquired him from the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline. "a bit of an incomplete at the end of the regular season turned into a great postseason performance," wrote Adam Denhard for SB Nations, Stanley Cup of Chowder. "Johansson more than earned his keep on the Bruins long post season run [and although] 11 points in 22 post season games might not sound like a torrential outpouring of points, his patience and vision with the puck made for lots of free space around him as he seemed to draw an extra defender's attention when driving play."
What's that worth financially to a team looking to sign him? Apparently what Buffalo got him for. What's it worth to the Sabres? Plenty.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--LW, Jimmy Vesey
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-30-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LW--Jimmy Vesey
26 yrs. old
6'3" 199 lbs.
2012, third round (66th, NSH)
Career stats: 240 games | 50 goals | 40 assists | 90 points | -37
The Buffalo Sabres ultimately traded two third round picks for Jimmy Vesey. The first time they did it was on June 20, 2016 when then general manger Tim Murray sent a third rounder to the Nashville Predators for exclusive negotiating rights. However, the Harvard graduate and 2016 Hobey Baker winner was steadfast in his wish to test the free agent market and the Preds gladly took a third-rounder for him.
Murray, who was loaded with picks and prospects at the time, thought it a calculated gamble to trade the pick for Vesey and felt that the Sabres could convince him to sign in Buffalo. It didn't work out that way as Vesey signed a two-year deal with the NY Rangers in August after he became a free agent. The forward would go on to sign another two-year deal with the Rangers in July 2018 and on July 1, 2019 they traded their pending unrestricted free agent to the Sabres for a 2020 third round pick.
So Jimmy Vesey cost the Sabres two third round picks and what will they be getting from him as a player?
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LW--Jimmy Vesey
26 yrs. old
6'3" 199 lbs.
2012, third round (66th, NSH)
Career stats: 240 games | 50 goals | 40 assists | 90 points | -37
The Buffalo Sabres ultimately traded two third round picks for Jimmy Vesey. The first time they did it was on June 20, 2016 when then general manger Tim Murray sent a third rounder to the Nashville Predators for exclusive negotiating rights. However, the Harvard graduate and 2016 Hobey Baker winner was steadfast in his wish to test the free agent market and the Preds gladly took a third-rounder for him.
Murray, who was loaded with picks and prospects at the time, thought it a calculated gamble to trade the pick for Vesey and felt that the Sabres could convince him to sign in Buffalo. It didn't work out that way as Vesey signed a two-year deal with the NY Rangers in August after he became a free agent. The forward would go on to sign another two-year deal with the Rangers in July 2018 and on July 1, 2019 they traded their pending unrestricted free agent to the Sabres for a 2020 third round pick.
So Jimmy Vesey cost the Sabres two third round picks and what will they be getting from him as a player?
Friday, August 30, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--C, Casey Mittelstadt
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-29-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
C--Casey Mittelstadt
20 yrs. old
6'1" 202 lbs.
2017, eighth-overall
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
C--Casey Mittelstadt
20 yrs. old
6'1" 202 lbs.
2017, eighth-overall
Career stats: 80 games | 13 goal |17 assists | 25 points | -18
Last year during our roster build, we quoted The Athletic's Scott Wheeler who made Sabres rookie center Casey Mittlestadt one of his 10 Gifted prospects to watch heading into the 2018-19 campaign. Wheeler wrote of the 19 yr. old Mittelstadt, who'd just turned pro after one year of college, "[he's] already extremely talented yet super, super raw."
Mittelstadt had battled hard at the University of Minnesota as the Gophers only real threat (outside of maybe sophomore, Rem Pitlick) and finished his lone season with a rather average 30 points (11+19) in 34 games. He hit the NHL and had an impressive six-game debut with a goal and four assists. The trade of No. 2 center Ryan O'Reilly created an opening behind Jack Eichel and only Mittelstadt and veteran Patrik Berglund seemed to be in the running for that opening. Berglund would end up being the choice for the Sabres with the rookie starting out on the third line.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--G, Carter Hutton
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-28-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
G--Carter Hutton
33 yrs. old
6'0" 198 lbs.
Undrafted FA (PHI)
Career stats: 188 games | 81-64-22 record | 2.58 GAA | .913 Sv% | 11 shutouts
The Buffalo Sabres organization knew quite a bit about goalie Carter Hutton when they signed him to a 3yr./$8.250 million free agent deal last July. Jerry Forton, director of college scouting, former goalie coach Andrew Allen and former head coach Phil Housley all had a first hand look at Hutton from his time at UMASS-Lowell (Forton) to the Chicago Blackhawks (Allen) to the Nashville Predators (Housley.) All could vouch for the character he brought to the dressing room and his performance on the ice, which was in a backup role at the NHL level.
However, what none of them knew, including Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, was how he would perform as first-time starter for a Buffalo team that was coming off of it's third last place finish in five years and had the NHL's third-worst goals-against average (3.39) in 2017-18.
"There was a real comfort level with him," Botterill told the gathered media at the time of the signing. "He was a guy our scouts had focused in on, our analytics department certainly liked him a lot, and then you get the character check. It allowed us to have a lot of confidence in making the decision to bring Carter into our group."
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
G--Carter Hutton
33 yrs. old
6'0" 198 lbs.
Undrafted FA (PHI)
Career stats: 188 games | 81-64-22 record | 2.58 GAA | .913 Sv% | 11 shutouts
The Buffalo Sabres organization knew quite a bit about goalie Carter Hutton when they signed him to a 3yr./$8.250 million free agent deal last July. Jerry Forton, director of college scouting, former goalie coach Andrew Allen and former head coach Phil Housley all had a first hand look at Hutton from his time at UMASS-Lowell (Forton) to the Chicago Blackhawks (Allen) to the Nashville Predators (Housley.) All could vouch for the character he brought to the dressing room and his performance on the ice, which was in a backup role at the NHL level.
However, what none of them knew, including Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, was how he would perform as first-time starter for a Buffalo team that was coming off of it's third last place finish in five years and had the NHL's third-worst goals-against average (3.39) in 2017-18.
"There was a real comfort level with him," Botterill told the gathered media at the time of the signing. "He was a guy our scouts had focused in on, our analytics department certainly liked him a lot, and then you get the character check. It allowed us to have a lot of confidence in making the decision to bring Carter into our group."
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--RHD, Brandon Montour
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-27-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RHD--Brandon Montour
25 yrs. old
6'0" 193 lbs.
2014, 55th-overall (ANA)
Career Stats: 189 games | 19 goals | 54 assists | 73 points | +7
If Buffalo GM Jason Botterill were able to pull off the trade for Anaheim Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour a month or two earlier, perhaps things may have gone a bit differently for the Sabres last season. Then again, with the way the team hit the skids while plummeting to the lower portions of the league, adding Montour in late December or January may not have made much of a difference.
Many, this writer included, really liked what Botterill was able to do in bolstering his defense corps with the trade for Montour. The second-year GM gave up a d-prospect in Brendan Guhle who at one time showed great promise but whose development curve had taken a turn for the worse over the prior nine months. The very athletic Guhle who'd shown offensive promise still has all the physical tools to be an NHL regular on the blueline, and contribute meaningfully, but something happened in the 2018 AHL playoffs that rattled him and Botterill felt that he was expendable. Especially when it comes to the immediate help that Montour brings.
In addition to Guhle, Botterill surrendered a 2019 first round pick that ended up being the 29th-overall pick thanks to the Western Conference Finals run the San Jose Sharks went on and the wild success of the Stanley Cup winning St. Louis Blues. With the 29th overall pick Anaheim selected LW, Brayden Tracey. Two picks later the Sabres selected defenseman Ryan Johnson with the Blues pick.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RHD--Brandon Montour
25 yrs. old
6'0" 193 lbs.
2014, 55th-overall (ANA)
Career Stats: 189 games | 19 goals | 54 assists | 73 points | +7
If Buffalo GM Jason Botterill were able to pull off the trade for Anaheim Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour a month or two earlier, perhaps things may have gone a bit differently for the Sabres last season. Then again, with the way the team hit the skids while plummeting to the lower portions of the league, adding Montour in late December or January may not have made much of a difference.
Many, this writer included, really liked what Botterill was able to do in bolstering his defense corps with the trade for Montour. The second-year GM gave up a d-prospect in Brendan Guhle who at one time showed great promise but whose development curve had taken a turn for the worse over the prior nine months. The very athletic Guhle who'd shown offensive promise still has all the physical tools to be an NHL regular on the blueline, and contribute meaningfully, but something happened in the 2018 AHL playoffs that rattled him and Botterill felt that he was expendable. Especially when it comes to the immediate help that Montour brings.
In addition to Guhle, Botterill surrendered a 2019 first round pick that ended up being the 29th-overall pick thanks to the Western Conference Finals run the San Jose Sharks went on and the wild success of the Stanley Cup winning St. Louis Blues. With the 29th overall pick Anaheim selected LW, Brayden Tracey. Two picks later the Sabres selected defenseman Ryan Johnson with the Blues pick.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--LD, Rasmus Dahlin
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-26-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LHD--Rasmus Dahlin
19 yrs. old
6'3" 190 lbs.
Career Stats: 82 games | 9 goals | 35 assists | 44 points | -13
Picture yourself as an 18 yr. old defenseman from across the pond coming to the National Hockey League with a team that just finished last in the league. For some of us older folk it might be a little more difficult to take oneself back to run around in the shoes of an 18 yr. old, but for most being a teenager transitioning to adulthood was difficult enough. Rasmus Dahlin did just that last season. The first-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft came to North America after playing two pro seasons in his native Sweden and jumped right into the fire of the NHL.
Dahlin was touted as a franchise defensemen with some using the word 'generational' and calling him the best d-prospect since Denis Potvin. As we got a glimpse of him during Buffalo's Prospect Challenge and deep into training camp, we began to see first-hand why he was touted as such. With fluid skating and the poise of a veteran, Dahlin made all those projections come to life and left most in awe of his potential.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LHD--Rasmus Dahlin
19 yrs. old
6'3" 190 lbs.
2018 first-overall
Career Stats: 82 games | 9 goals | 35 assists | 44 points | -13
Picture yourself as an 18 yr. old defenseman from across the pond coming to the National Hockey League with a team that just finished last in the league. For some of us older folk it might be a little more difficult to take oneself back to run around in the shoes of an 18 yr. old, but for most being a teenager transitioning to adulthood was difficult enough. Rasmus Dahlin did just that last season. The first-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft came to North America after playing two pro seasons in his native Sweden and jumped right into the fire of the NHL.
Dahlin was touted as a franchise defensemen with some using the word 'generational' and calling him the best d-prospect since Denis Potvin. As we got a glimpse of him during Buffalo's Prospect Challenge and deep into training camp, we began to see first-hand why he was touted as such. With fluid skating and the poise of a veteran, Dahlin made all those projections come to life and left most in awe of his potential.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Sam Reinhart
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-25-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RW--Sam Reinhart
23 yrs. old
6'1" 192 lbs.
2014, 2nd-overall
Career Stats: 331 games | 87 goals | 118 assists | 205 points | -54
Sam Reinhart was the first official player of the tank-era to be drafted by the Buffalo Sabres. The 2014 second-overall pick was selected out of the WHL as a center but through the years has found his way to a home on the wing and that's where he looks to be this year despite the Sabres lacking a more veteran-type, No. 2 pivot heading into the 2019-20 campaign.
Reinhart enjoyed a breakout season last year with 22 goals and 43 assists and unlike fellow second-overall pick Jack Eichel, who also enjoyed an increase in production of around 30%, the Vancouver, BC native may be close to settling in on an annual production rate. Having said that, being on a line with Eichel, who still has enough upside to approach triple-digits, and 40-goal scorer Jeff Skinner, as well as being on the No. 1 powerplay unit with those two makes for a very intriguing case that Reinhart could hit a point/game in any given season.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
RW--Sam Reinhart
23 yrs. old
6'1" 192 lbs.
2014, 2nd-overall
Career Stats: 331 games | 87 goals | 118 assists | 205 points | -54
Sam Reinhart was the first official player of the tank-era to be drafted by the Buffalo Sabres. The 2014 second-overall pick was selected out of the WHL as a center but through the years has found his way to a home on the wing and that's where he looks to be this year despite the Sabres lacking a more veteran-type, No. 2 pivot heading into the 2019-20 campaign.
Reinhart enjoyed a breakout season last year with 22 goals and 43 assists and unlike fellow second-overall pick Jack Eichel, who also enjoyed an increase in production of around 30%, the Vancouver, BC native may be close to settling in on an annual production rate. Having said that, being on a line with Eichel, who still has enough upside to approach triple-digits, and 40-goal scorer Jeff Skinner, as well as being on the No. 1 powerplay unit with those two makes for a very intriguing case that Reinhart could hit a point/game in any given season.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--LW, Jeff Skinner
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-24-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LW--Jeff Skinner
27 yrs. old
5'11" 187 lbs.
2010, seventh-overall (CAR)
Career stats: 661 games | 244 goals | 198 assists | 442 points | -96
"The book on Jeff Skinner is that he likes the puck on his stick, has the speed, wicked maneuverability and stickwork to get into prime scoring areas and, obviously, has the skill-level to finish."
That's what we wrote last year prior to the Markham, Ontario native's first season with the Buffalo Sabres. And that's what we got.
Sabres fans had an opportunity to see Skinner first-hand on a regular basis in 2018-19 and what he was able to do in the first half of the season was eye-opening as we watched him cut tight circles while finding his way to open ice before depositing the puck. The thought of Buffalo actually landing a player of his caliber for what amounted to very little in a trade made Sabreland giggle. Skinner was everything he was touted to be and the chemistry between him and center Jack Eichel was unmistakable.
During Buffalo's 10-game-winning streak in November Eichel dished and Skinner finished to the tune of 10 goals for the new Sabre. He would finish with 28 goals through 41 games in the first half of last season which put him on a pace to become Buffalo's first 50-goal scorer since 1992-93.
It didn't happen.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LW--Jeff Skinner
27 yrs. old
5'11" 187 lbs.
2010, seventh-overall (CAR)
Career stats: 661 games | 244 goals | 198 assists | 442 points | -96
"The book on Jeff Skinner is that he likes the puck on his stick, has the speed, wicked maneuverability and stickwork to get into prime scoring areas and, obviously, has the skill-level to finish."
That's what we wrote last year prior to the Markham, Ontario native's first season with the Buffalo Sabres. And that's what we got.
Sabres fans had an opportunity to see Skinner first-hand on a regular basis in 2018-19 and what he was able to do in the first half of the season was eye-opening as we watched him cut tight circles while finding his way to open ice before depositing the puck. The thought of Buffalo actually landing a player of his caliber for what amounted to very little in a trade made Sabreland giggle. Skinner was everything he was touted to be and the chemistry between him and center Jack Eichel was unmistakable.
During Buffalo's 10-game-winning streak in November Eichel dished and Skinner finished to the tune of 10 goals for the new Sabre. He would finish with 28 goals through 41 games in the first half of last season which put him on a pace to become Buffalo's first 50-goal scorer since 1992-93.
It didn't happen.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--C, Jack Eichel
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-23-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
C--Jack Eichel
6'2" 200 lbs.
22 yrs. old
2015, 2nd-overall
Career Stats: 286 games | 101 goals | 158 assists | 259 points | -65
Not long after being hired by the Buffalo Sabres as their new head coach, Ralph Krueger jumped on a plane to Slovakia, host of the 2019 IIHF World Hockey Championships. Krueger flew over 4,000 miles to see and talk with two principle players of the Sabres who were competing in the tournament--Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.
"It was a real natural conversation. We were both pleased at the end," Kruger told TSN's Darren Dreger back in May of his conversation with Eichel. "We could feel the common purpose that drives me here to the job and Jack to his daily job with the Sabres."
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
C--Jack Eichel
6'2" 200 lbs.
22 yrs. old
2015, 2nd-overall
Career Stats: 286 games | 101 goals | 158 assists | 259 points | -65
Not long after being hired by the Buffalo Sabres as their new head coach, Ralph Krueger jumped on a plane to Slovakia, host of the 2019 IIHF World Hockey Championships. Krueger flew over 4,000 miles to see and talk with two principle players of the Sabres who were competing in the tournament--Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.
"It was a real natural conversation. We were both pleased at the end," Kruger told TSN's Darren Dreger back in May of his conversation with Eichel. "We could feel the common purpose that drives me here to the job and Jack to his daily job with the Sabres."
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