Sabres GM Jason Botterill is on a roll with the trade for Skinner

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-3-2018


Perhaps we should start calling him Jason “Buttah-rill” because the second year Buffalo Sabres GM has been on a roll lately. After a season where no taco bar or door hinge was safe from Botterill’s overt frustration with the way his team played, a little bit of luck and some good timing is helping him transform the last place Sabres team into a young up-and-coming team

And he’s done so in remarkable fashion.

The transformation of the Sabres might be highlighted by April 28, the day Buffalo won the NHL Draft Lottery and the right to select defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, but around that date are a series of moves that showed some savvy on the part of Botterill.

In transitioning his team away from the previous regime, Botterill was able to land some high draft picks, including two first rounders (albeit conditional) when he shipped out two talented, but miscast players. Conversely, Botterill was able to bring in two talented players at a position of need without giving away the farm.

Evander Kane and Ryan O’Reilly, two players who were a big part of Buffalo's former young-vet group, were traded away in separate deals for two first round picks, a second, a fourth and two prospects. It’s not the greatest haul for two well regarded players, but considering that everyone in the league knew Kane was being traded and that O’Reilly carried a huge contract through 2022-23, most felt that Botterill got the most he could out of those situations, especially for a first-time GM.

 

However, those moves left some holes in the Sabres top-six, especially at left wing where Kane was the only viable top-six winger on the team. At an end-of-season presser where Botterill was projecting an anger not normally on display, he talked about the team and how they needed to approach the off season. "We understand where we're at right now," he told the press, "there's a disappointment [but] I don't want to hear about how disappointed they are, I want to hear about what's going to change, what is the action plan moving forward."

Botterill's action plan for his team was rather obvious as he needed to fill the gaping hole at left wing and he began by making a trade with his old team to land Conor Sheary. Sheary was an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Penguins who worked his way up the system to log big minutes in the top-six before falling off and being deemed expendable. Botterill sent a conditional fourth round pick (which could become a third should Sheary score 20 goals or 40 points) to the Pens for the quick, 5'8" 178 lb. winger and journeyman defenseman Matt Hunwick.

 

Upon acquiring Sheary, Botterill told the media, "We were looking to improve our even-strength scoring and we had to try to get a little bit in scoring from our wingers. He creates a lot of chances out there."

 

Even with that move, the Sabres still had a big hole on the left side and Botterill was able to fill that, at least for this year, when he landed Carolina Hurricanes left winger Jeff Skinner last night. Oddly enough, Pittsburgh was linked to the 26 yr. old winger prior to Buffalo landing him.

 

Skinner took the league by storm as an 18 yr. old with 31 goals and 63 points while on his way to the 2011 Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. He would put up two more 30-goal seasons including a career-high 37 goals two years ago. In eight seasons with the Hurricanes Skinner averaged over 25 goals and 47 points but is in the final year of 6yr./$34.35 million deal signed on August 8, 2012 and will be an unrestricted free agent at seasons end.

 

There's a lot going on in this trade beginning with a new owner and new GM in Carolina. As we well know in Buffalo, with a new owner comes a new or altered philosophy and the 'Canes are going through that right now. Owner Thomas Dundon and GM Don Waddell set the course to make some changes and they began by pulling off the blockbuster of the summer so far. At the 2018 NHL Draft he Hurricanes sent two of their high first round picks C, Elias Lindhom (2013, fifth-overall) and D, Noah Hanifin (2015, fifth) to the Calgary Flames for D, Dougie Hamilton, F, Michael Ferlund and d-prospect Adam Fox.

They then followed that up just over a month later by sending Skinner, a seventh-overall pick in 2010, to the Sabres for forward prospect Cliff Pu, a 2019 second round pick plus third and sixth round picks in 2020.

 

Although Skinner was a favorite of team and fans alike, his pending contract situation seemed to unnerve the 'Canes and he'd been rumored to be on the block for a while. But as days and weeks went by without any movement, Waddell and Botterill began discussions in earnest on Wednesday and the trade was announced yesterday.

 

“I think it came back to, that as an organization, we felt he was coming into the last year of his contract and probably there was a good chance he would leave as a free agent,” general manager Don Waddell told the local press Thursday in an interview (via The News&Observer out of Carolina.) “We said at the end of the year we were going to look at all our options. With Buffalo, we got a plethora of draft picks. We got a prospect we like."

 

For Carolina fans, it's a kick in the crotch as the return was underwhelming at best despite the market and Skinner's pending UFA status.

 

Other factors were involved in the decision to move Skinner (and the return, possibly, as well) which included three concussions in a span of four years, the last one in 2015 and some luck in the draft lottery which landed them stud winger Andrei Svechnikov at the June draft. Perhaps equally as bothersome was the fact that the Hurricanes didn't go anywhere the past eight years with a star like Skinner and presently have the longest playoff drought (nine years.)

 

Skinner's play seemed to level off after that robust rookie campaign and it was said that two different coaches had problems getting him to play a two-way game. Both Kirk Muller and Bill Peters limited his ice-time because of the lack of commitment to a two-way game. "Only rarely during the course of his career here did he get the true first-line minutes his offensive production appeared to deserve on paper, wrote Luck Decock of the Charlotte Observer today, "and his unquestioned scoring ability appeared to deserve on the ice. It was a constant battle between player and coach."

 

Decock lamented the fall of Skinner's status as a player that would drive the 'Canes into the future, to one who was on the block this year. " it’s hard to fathom how the ebullient optimism that surrounded his rookie year was whittled down to Thursday’s trade to the Buffalo Sabres for a trio of draft picks and a prospect," he wrote.

Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article215946110.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article215946110.html#storylink=cpy

 

Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article215946110.html#storylink=cpy

"Skinner once represented hope for the Hurricanes’ future," continued Decock. "He came to represent frustration with their past and present."

 

For the Sabres, it was a coup. Botterill had been in dire need of left wing help and he was able to land a top-six winger without giving up anything of supreme value. Sure there are question marks, including the concussion issues and his pending UFA status, but for this season we'll see a 25-30 goal scorer on the left of either Jack Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt which is pretty exciting.

 

Botterill was able to leverage advantageous situations while filling his gaping holes at left wing. Pittsburgh needed cap-space which opened the door to land Sheary and the market for Skinner, whom the Hurricanes seemed to desperately want moved, was thin at best. In all he gave up a good prospect, a second rounder, a conditional fourth and a sixth.

 

He's most definitely on a roll.

Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article215946110.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/latest-news/article215949295.html#storylink=cpy

Sabres preseason begins tonight vs. CAR. Lineup + storylines

Published by hockeybuzz, 9-18-2017


The Buffalo Sabres open up their preseason with a visit from the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. As with every preseason opener the ice will have a number of youngins that went through training camp and will get a taste of the NHL before being sent to their proper developmental leagues. A handful of vets will be on hand to work through the game and one can bet there will be a surprise player or two that will pique our interest.

This morning the Sabres held a intrasquad scrimmage featuring some four-on-four action, a little three-on-three and two shootouts. The shootout portion was interesting as each team had five pucks at center ice and when the whistle blew they sent a player towards the net. If the player scored he headed to the bench and the next player grabbed the another puck at center ice. If the player didn't score he had to retrieve the puck and bring it back to center ice before his teammate could take the next turn. It was fun to watch save for the center-ice camera which couldn't keep up even when the players were at opposite parts of their shootout.

Those playing in the scrimmage this morning will not be playing tonight and that included names like Jack Eichel, Evander Kane, Marco Scandella, Nathan Beaulieu, Jason Pominville and Victor Antipin. But there will be plenty of intrigue as the Sabres ice this lineup (from sabres.com):


28 Zemgus Girgensons - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 21 Kyle Okposo
67 Benoit Pouliot - 23 Sam Reinhart - 52 Stevie Moses
49 C.J. Smith - 51 Kyle Criscuolo - 95 Justin Bailey
25 Seth Griffith - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 59 Cliff Pu

45 Brendan Guhle - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
19 Jake McCabe - 27 Taylor Fedun
8 Casey Nelson - 38 Cody Goloubef

40 Robin Lehner
35 Linus Ullmark

New head coach Phil Housley talked to the gathered media today and said that 19 yr. old Cliff Pu "earned a game tonight due to a strong Prospects Challenge Tournament. Pu will be skating on a line with former London Knights winger Seth Griffith and according to Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com/sabres.com, the Knights open up their season on Friday so it looks like a one-and-done for him with Buffalo.

Also intriguing is Zemgus Girgensons on the top line with Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo. As has been mentioned before, there's a big hole on the left side after Evander Kane and Girgensons gets first crack at landing it. The former 15-goal scorer was moved down the lineup by former coach  Dan Bylsma but as was pointed out by Jon Vogl of The Buffalo News, "Botterill included him on the seven-forward protected list, then signed Girgensons to a two-year, $3.2 million contract in August."

And now Housley's giving him a whale of an opportunity on tonight's top line. "It's new coaches, new management, so I think it's fresh start for everyone," Girgensons said in HarborCenter. "You can't come in thinking that you have a spot. You have to prove it in the practice, off the ice, so I think it's good for everyone."

As we take a look at the defense, I'm sure there are Sabres fans drooling at the Rasmus Ristolainen/Brendan Guhle pairing, as this could be a glimpse into the future. Guhle has been having a extraordinary camp and is pressing hard for a spot with the Sabres on opening night. Both can get up ice and look to be ideal fits for the way Housley wants his team to play. Ristolainen is 22 yrs. old and Guhle is only 20.

Sam Reinhart is at center as Housley wants to get a good look at him in his natural position. If he move there for good, that opens up a huge opportunity on the right of Eichel and Kane. Pominville looks to get first crack at that during the preseason which means a third-line spot will be open. Free agent Stevie Moses and 2013 second-round draft pick Justin Bailey are looking to impress tonight while Hudson Fasching and Nicolas Baptiste skating tomorrow night.

Taylor Fedun, who had a very solid 27-game stint with Buffalo last season seems like exactly the type of strong skater and puck-mover Housley wants on his blueline and former second round pick Cody Goloubef is simply looking to land a job. The right-shot d-man attended training camp on a tryout as is the only player skating with the team who doesn't have a contract.

The game is radio only.

Prospects Challenge = Watch youngins, see Nico and, heckle Butcher?

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-8-2017


The third annual Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge kicks off today. The four day event features prospects and invitees from four teams that will compete in a round-robin format beginning this afternoon at HarborCenter in downtown Buffalo. At 3:30 p.m. the Boston Bruins take on the Pittsburgh Penguins and at 7 p.m. the Sabres take on the New Jersey Devils.

Tickets are $10.

Fans of the Blue and Gold will be able to watch the future of the Sabres with players like Brendan Guhle, Alexander Nylander and Cliff Pu face off against prospects from other teams in peer vs. peer competition. Although the object is to win, and there will be plenty of skill on display, Rochester head coach Chris Taylor, who will be behind the bench for Buffalo, is focused upon compete-level. "It doesn't matter their skill level. It doesn't matter anything else. Their compete is what we're looking for," he told the press. "Are they willing to go in front and take the goalie's eyes away? Are they willing to box out in front of the net? Are they willing to get pucks off the walls? How hard are they going to battle?"

Nylander is one to keep an eye on in that department. Drafted eight-overall in 2016, Nylander possesses all the skill to be an impact forward yet there were concerns about his full-game compete.  "We’d like to see more of a three-zone effort and commitment in the greasy areas," wrote Kyle Woodlief's RedLineReport. "He spends far too much time on the perimeter. Rarely initiates contact, and if he’s not scoring, he’s not helping. But he’s a gamebreaker; can be invisible for 57 minutes, then win the game."

We saw that last year in Rochester. Longtime Amerks broadcaster Don Stevens attributed some of those negatives to lack of pro-ready frame which, in-turn, affects his confidence. "He's so worried about not getting killed, sometimes he's not doing the things he needs to do and stays away from the physical contact."

Adding bulk was Nylander's homework and he passed with flying colors as he's visibly bigger and thicker and seems more ready for the pro game. "He looks a little bigger," said Taylor. "Everything about him, he looks confident in what he's doing and how he's handling himself. He just looks a little more mature."

As mentioned in yesterday's blog, there's a huge hole on the left side after Evander Kane and a strong camp by Nylander, beginning with the Prospects Challenge, may give him a shot at a top-six role.

Guhle is another one to keep an eye on. The 2015 second round pick (51st-overall) just completed his junior career and heads to the pros full time after playing 12 games for Rochester in two years and appearing in three games for the Sabres last season. The 6'1" 186 lb. d-man from Edmonton, Alberta has made an impression whenever he was given a professional opportunity.

It began in the preseason in 2015 when there were thoughts that he could make the team and finished in April, 2016 when he played in six games for Rochester registering four points (1+3) and an even plus/minus rating. This past December he played for Buffalo on emergency recall (zero points, +1) and once again finished the year with the Amerks playing in another six games with two points (1+1) and a minus-3 rating.

Another player to watch is center Pu, who will eventually head back to London to skate his (probable) final season with the Knights in the OHL. Pu had a banner season while leading the team in scoring last year with 35 goals and 51 assists in 63 games. The skilled two-way forward was used in a different role during the playoffs, according to Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com/sabres.com, when "the Knights' staff used him in a match-up capacity against the opposition's top line."

Absent from the Prospects Challenge are college players and those overseas which represents a huge chunk of Buffalo's prospect pool. The breakdown, according to Baker has 12 players playing in the NCAA this season and five playing in Sweden and Finland.

Prized forward prospect Casey Mittelstadt (2017, 8th-overall) begins his college career at the University of Minnesota. Mittelstadt dazzled at Buffalo's development camp in July and caught everyone's eye at the World Junior Summer Showcase later that month and into early August. Should he progress at the level of his skill and talent, Mittelstadt could be a one and done with the Golden Gophers and end up in the pros next season. Also missing from the tournament is center Rasmus Asplund, who's entering his third season on the senior circuit in Sweden. Baker sees Asplund playing a big role for Färjestad BK this season "with his eyes set on forcing his way on to Sweden's Olympic team."

The Prospects Challenge is a place for "older" players like Justin Bailey an Nicolas Baptiste as well as invitees. It's a chance to play against peers and see how one stacks up against them. And it's a good place to make an impression.


*****

The New Jersey Devils are first up for Buffalo and fans at HarborCenter tonight will get to see 2017 first-overall pick Nico Hischier don the Devil for the first time.

Hischier was said to have taken over the Devils development camp (which he should) and tonight will be his first opportunity to show his stuff in a game situation. It should be a treat watching the Swiss center who models his game after Pavel Datsyuk.

Also on the ice for the Devils will be defenseman Will Butcher. The Denver Pioneers defenseman spurned the Colorado Avalanche, the team that drafted him 123rd overall in 2013, opted for free agency and signed with the Devils after a number of teams, including the Sabres, went hard after him.

Some fans might be inclined to boo or heckle Butcher but regardless, those in attendance will see first-hand what he has to offer in a game setting against his peers.


*****


Jason Botterill will have the opportunity to watch his own charges competing for the first time at the Prospects Challenge. The first-time general manager spent years working his way up the front office ladder soaking up everything he could along the way. He helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win three Stanley Cups under two GM's and he'll be joining two of his former bosses, Ray Shero (NJD) and Jim Rutherford (PIT,) as an equal these next four days.

Shero put together a Penguins team that went to back-to-back Stanley Cups and came out victorious in 2009. Botterill was hired by Shero in 2007 as director of hockey administration with the salary cap being a prominent focus and was moved up to assistant general manager on May 22, 2009. When Shero was relieved of his duties in May, 2014, Botterill was named interim GM before the Penguins hired Rutherford, and at his press conference, he promoted Botterill up to associate general manager.

"I owe so much of my career and where I’m at right now to Jim [Rutherford] and Ray [Shero]," Botterill told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. “I hope Ray and Jim look at it as a situation where I’m under their tree. They’re the ones who created me. Now there’s an opportunity for me to run my own team.”

The Devils have been a part of the Prospects Challenge since it's inception three years ago while this will be Pittsburgh's first time and Botterill was the chief negotiator for the spot while he was still with the Penguins, according to Mackey. It was also pointed out that Botterill was the driving force in the preseason game between Buffalo and Pittsburgh at the Pegula Ice Arena on the campus of Penn State.

Rutherford, especially, played a key role in Botterill landing his first GM position. Prior to Rutherford taking over, Botterill was considered an up and comer and his former boss never stood in the way of his goal. In fact, Rutherford "kept pitching his top lieutenant," according to Mackey. “What I really like about what happened over the last couple of years is Jim has been very supportive of promoting me to other organizations," said Botterill. "When other job opportunities came about, I know he was behind the scenes. I always knew I had great support from Jim.”

Botterill also knew that the goal of running his own team wouldn't happen in Pittsburgh with Rutherford at the helm and he ended up in Buffalo. This weekend he'll have the opportunity to sit down with Shero and Rutherford as their peer while watching the youngins hit the ice. And like many of his players on the HarborCenter ice, Botterill will be seeing how he measures up against his equals.


*****

Buffalo's Prospects Challenge Roster:

Forwards

95 Bailey, Justin RW 6’3” 214   (2013, 52nd-overall)
13 Baptiste, Nicholas RW 6’1” 206   (2013, 69th)
65 Blackwell, Colin C 5’9” 190   Invitee
46 Cornel, Eric RW 6’2” 194   (2014, 44th)
70 Danforth, Justin C 5’9” 181   (2017 FA, Rochester)
24 Fasching, Hudson RW 6’2” 209   (2013, 118th, LAK)
83 Glotov, Vasily C 5’11” 158   (2016, 190th)
62 Hagel, Brandon LW 6’0” 160   (2016, 159th)
64 Karabacek, Vaclav RW 6’0” 196   (2014, 49th)
81 Kile, Alex LW 6’0” 194   (2017 FA, Rochester)
37 Malone, Sean C 6’0” 190  (2013, 159th)
85 Muzito-Bagenda, Daniel LW 6’1” 205   (2016 FA, Rochester, re-signed)
92 Nylander, Alexander LW 6’1” 180   (2016, 8th)
59 Pu, Cliff RW 6’2” 192   (2016, 69th)
49 Smith, C.J. LW 5’11” 185 (2017 FA, Buffalo)

Defense

76 Atwal, Arvin D 6’0” 200   (2016, Cincinnati, ECHL, re-signed)
79 Budik, Vojtech D 6’1” 189   (2016, 130th)
72 Florentino, Anthony D 6’0” 207  (2013, 143rd)
45 Guhle, Brendan D 6’1” 186   (2015, 51st)
54 Martin, Brycen D 6’2” 212   (2014, 74th)
73 Neill, Carl D 6’1” 200   Invitee
58 Osmanski, Austin D 6’3” 196   (2016, 189th)
53 Stephens, Devante D 6’1” 172   (2015, 122nd)

Goalies 

34 Johansson, Jonas G 6’4” 206   (2014, 61st)
50 McGrath, Jake G 6’1” 158   Invitee

Four Sabres prospects at 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 7-29-2017


The Buffalo Sabres have a solid presence in Plymouth, Michigan as four players will take their first steps at trying to make their 2018 World Junior teams. Casey Mittelstadt (USA,) Cliff Pu (CAN,) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (FIN) and Marcus Davidsson (SWE) begin play today in the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase held in Plymouth, Michigan. The event runs through August 5.

Yesterday all teams held practices with a split USA team scrimmaging each other and the tournament will begin today in earnest as USA White takes on Finland at 1 p.m. For a full schedule see below.

The first game has plenty of intrigue for Sabres fans as two 2017 draft picks go head to head to kick things off with Mittelstadt (USA White) taking on Luukkonen (FIN.) Mittelstadt was selected eight-overall after falling to the Sabres while Luukkonen was taken by Buffalo in the second round at No. 54. Both had an extremely good development camp in Buffalo earlier this month as Mittelstadt lead Team White to the French Connection 3-on-3 Championship while Luukkonen showed off an impressive skill-set even stopping a sneaky Mittelstadt from in tight very early in the tournament.

In the second game today Davidsson and Sweden will take on USA Team Blue at 4:10 p.m. Davidsson was also a second rounder (37th) in 2017. Davidsson didn't make the 2017 World Juniors but Kris Baker of Sabresprospects.com/Sabres.com said that after spending a year playing professional hockey against men, Davidsson will be "a shoe-in" to make Team Sweden in 2018.

Pu is the elder statesman of the bunch. The 2016 third round pick of Buffalo (69th) is 19 and will be entering his fourth year at London with the OHL's Knights. Baker points out that even though Pu had an outstanding year in London (35 goals and 51 assists in 63 games, the Canadian squad is loaded with talent up-front and he may not be a shoe-in for the Team Canada when the 2018 WJC hits Buffalo in late December. That said, a strong Summer Showcase will go a long way in convincing Hockey Canada that they need to find a place for him.

Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin heads a list of 2018 draft eligible players that includes, according to NHL.com's  "forwards Brady Tkachuk and Oliver Wahlstrom, and defenseman Quinton Hughes for the U.S., Sweden center Isac Lundestrom and Finland forward Jesse Ylonen."

Both the US and Canada will combine their split squads for the final games.

Below is the full schedule of events from USAHockey.com:

Saturday, July 29	Finland Practice	8:15-8:45 a.m.
	USA Blue Practice (Olympic Rink)	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Sweden Practice	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	USA White vs. Finland	1:00 p.m.
	USA Blue vs. Sweden	4:10 p.m
Sunday, July 30	Finland Practice	8:15-8:45 a.m.
	USA White Practice (Olympic Rink)	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Sweden Practice	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Canada Practice	10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m
	USA Blue vs. Finland	1:00 p.m.
	USA White vs. Sweden	4:10 p.m.
Monday, July 31	USA Blue Practice	9:30-10:30 a.m.
	USA White Practice	10:45-11:45 a.m.
	Canada Practice (Olympic Rink)	11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
	Finland Practice	12:00-1:15 p.m.
	Sweden Practice	1:30-2:45 p.m.
Tuesday, August 1	Canada Red Practice	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Canada White Practice	9:45-10:15 a.m.
	Finland Practice (Olympic Rink)	12:00-1:30 pm.
	Sweden Practice (Olympic Rink)	1:45-3:00 p.m.
	Canada Red vs. USA White	4:08 p.m.
	Canada White vs. USA Blue	7:18 p.m.
Wednesday, August 2	Finland Practice	8:15-8:45 a.m.
	USA Practice (Olympic Rink)	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Sweden Practice	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Canada Practice (Olympic Rink)	10:00-11:15 a.m.
	Canada vs. Finland	1:08 p.m.
	USA vs. Sweden	4:18 p.m.
Thursday, August 3	Canada Practice (Olympic Rink)	8:00-11:00 a.m.
	Finland Practice	10:00-11:15 a.m.
	Sweden Practice	11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
	Canada Practice	1:00-3:30 p.m.
Friday, August 4	USA Practice	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Finland Practice (Olympic Rink)	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Canada Practice	9:45-11:00 a.m.
	Sweden vs. Canada	1:08 p.m.
	Finland vs. USA	4:18 p.m.
Saturday, August 5	Sweden Practice	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	Finland Practice (Olympic Rink)	9:00-9:30 a.m.
	USA Practice	10:00-10:30 a.m.
	Canada Practice	10:45-11:45 a.m.
	Sweden vs. Finland	4:08 p.m.
	USA vs. Canada	7:18 p.m.

\

Rock 'em, sock'em quick pops for a Sunday

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 12-04-2016


--When Jack Eichel returned to the Buffalo Sabres lineup last week team speed went up measurably. Not just because he's one of the faster skaters in the league, but because the rest of the team found that latent gear that had been lost in all the poo-pooing over his injury. Although they still have some slugs on the team, they're playing at a much faster pace now that Jack's back...when motivated.

--"When motivated" are the operative words when it comes to the Sabres last game vs. the Boston Bruins. Buffalo had an opportunity to come within four points of the Bruins who sit third in the division. They were riding a two game winning streak and had scored nine goals in the process. They came out skating for the first five minutes, then lollygagged until they found themselves down 2-0 in the third period. That's not how playoff teams do it.

--Perhaps the Sabres couldn't handle the tight checking of Boston. No way are the B's as fast as the Sabres but they put the clamps down and forced Buffalo to work. Unforutunately for the Sabres, not many were up to the task. After fighting through a smothering Bruins defense the Sabres then had to get one by Tuukka Rask, one of the best goalies in the league. Buffalo needed dirty goals. They got one. Not good enough.

--Speaking of Pu, one Cliff Pu, Buffalo's third round pick (69th-overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft is off to a great start for the London Knights. The 18 yr. old right-handed center leads his team in scoring and is fifth in the Ontario Hockey League in points (42) and goals (18) in 24 games. Team Canada held it's nose to Pu for the upcoming World Junior Championships.

--John Grigg of Sportsnet.ca had Pu as Team Canada's biggest snub this year but as our good friend Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com/sabres.com points out, Pu is probably second on the snub list. Baker points to Sabres prospect and present Sabres defenseman Brendan Guhle as quite possibly the top Team Canada snub.

--Guhle had been lonesome and forlorn wallowing away in Prince Albert for a last place Raider team before he was traded to the B.C division-leading  Prince George Cougars. His good fortune continued when the Sabres recalled him from the Cougars due to an unlucky rash of injuries that have hit Buffalo's blueline. Guhle was quoted as saying that his coach approached him with the news by saying that he was traded to the Sabres. Guhle's response was that he didn't even know a recall like that was allowed.

--The 6'3" 194 lb. defenseman who skates like the wind hit the lineup in Buffalo yesterday afternoon for a 1 O'clock game less than 12 hours after touching down at Buffalo International Airport. And the kid looked good. Actually pretty impressive for a 19 yr. old playing in his first NHL game. Although not without flaws, his skating ability is top-notch and his feel for the game is exceptional which makes him a very intriguing prospect for the Sabres moving forward. Methinks landing in Buffalo for an NHL stint takes away the sting of not being picked for Team Canada.

--Guhle had a shot on goal his very first NHL shift and had an impressive rush up ice that surprised the entire Bruins team before being stopped by Rask who made a big league save on the youngin. Plays like that got him noticed in junior and made him the 51st overall pick in the 2016 Draft.

--And it's plays like that which makes Sabres fans drool over the prospect of him on the blueline. Injuries on Buffalo's defense means Guhle could very well be here for a few more games, maybe nine total but playing in a 10th would kick in the first year of his entry-level contract and the Sabres may not want to go there. I'm of the opinion that it's a good thing. Let him finish his junior career and next year plan on having as a part of the Sabres top-six on defense.

--The defense has held up fairly well with Zach Bogosian, Dmitry Kulikov and now Josh Gorges out with injuries. Two Rochester call-ups--Justin Falk and Taylor Fedun--have done yeoman's work filling in. Their two different players on the same pairing. The 6'5" 220 lb. Falk is intent upon making people pay the price for a play while Fedun is a smooth puck-mover who's on the second powerplay unit. They'd played together for the Amerks and so far for Buffalo they've combined for a plus-1 rating in eight games.

--Cody Franson was Guhle's d-partner yesterday and the rookie said that veteran was instrumental in making the jump more comfortable. Franson, who'll never be known for his skating, has been playing rather well lately, which is something the Sabres desperately need from a player considered to be the No. 3 defenseman for Buffalo right now. He'll need to continue that as the Sabres are facing some serious talent this upcoming week.

--Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers visit KeyBank Center on Tuesday for the second of two meetings between the two clubs. Buffalo smoked the Oil 6-2 on October 16. The Sabres were coming off of a drubbing by the Montreal Canadiens in the season opener and were starting a three-game western Canada swing in Edmonton. Ryan O'Reilly had two goals and two assists in the win while Kyle Okposo scored his first goal in the Blue and Gold.

--That matchup on Tuesday will mark McEichel II as McDavid and Eichel, the top two picks in the 2015 Draft, meet for only the second time. In their first meeting McDavid scored both Edmonton goals in a 2-1 Oilers victory with the second one coming in overtime. Both players have grown since then as McDavid's atop the NHL leaderboard in points (34) and assists (23) while Eichel was like a greyhound out of the gate in his return to the ice. In his first three games of the season after returning from injury, "Jack Flash" has two goals and two assists.

--Before that, however, the Sabres head to D.C. to take on the Washington Capitals. The Caps seem like a simmering volcano waiting to erupt right now. For a team with the firepower of Washington, something doesn't seem right when they have only one player in the top-10 in scoring categories. Alexander Ovechkin's 12 goals have him ranked tied for eighth in the league so far this season and one would think that it won't be too much longer before they crank up the scoring machine. Washington is ranked 18th in goals-for right now, an unusual and probably uncomfortable spot for a team that was second in the league last season.

--The Capitals are off to a solid start at 13-7-3 and are presently sitting tied for fourth in the Metropolitan Division, and in a four-way tie for sixth in the Eastern Conference.