Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-29-2018
Finally.
That's the first word that came to mind when watching NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly flip over the 1 card which had the Buffalo Sabres logo on it. It's been decades since the Sabres have had the first overall pick in the NHL Draft and after some pretty ugly seasons leaving Buffalo as the bridesmaid for all the suffering, April 28th, 2018 was finally the date that broke the spell.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Sunday, April 29, 2018
It's NHL Draft Lottery Night, and Sabreland will be watching...again
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-28-2018
Being in the NHL Draft Lottery means your team fell short and were not one of 16 teams battling for the Stanley Cup. Being the team with the best odds to win the lottery means that your team has serious talent issues among other problems.
For the third time in five seasons, the Buffalo Sabres finished last in the league and will have the best odds of winning the draft lottery, which isn't saying too much as they'll have an 18.5% chance of the pingpong balls falling in line. In 2014 and 2015 those pingpong balls were off a bit and Buffalo ended up selecting second-overall both times. Under those rules the last place team could fall no further than second in the draft if they lost the lottery.
Because of 2014-15 season that saw two teams--the Sabres and Arizona Coyotes--blatantly bottom out in the hopes of finishing last place. The NHL changed the rules for the following draft and beyond so that the top three picks are up for grabs in the lottery, meaning the last place team could drop to as low as fourth overall should other teams jump over them. That happened last year as the Colorado Avalanche, far and away the worst team in the league, fell to fourth-overall after the pingpong balls settled.
This year, Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, whom many are comparing to Erik Karlsson for the impact he could have on a team, is the jewel at the top of the draft this year. He's followed by a tandem of wingers in Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina who are well regarded as impact players for the teams that miss out on Dahlin. After that there's a group of players including winger Brady Tkachuk along with defensemen Adam Boqvist and Quintin Hughes, who make up the next tier of prospects.
With Buffalo finishing in last place the odds are about 50/50 that they will end up with a top-three pick. The Ottawa Senators, who finished next to last have about a 39% chance of landing a top-three pick. Arizona, Montreal, Detroit, Vancouver, and the Chicago Blackhawks all have a 20% chance or better to win a lottery slot.
The randomness of the lottery makes it hard for any team to get overly excited about the potential outcome as it's nearly impossible to figure out who will end up with the top three picks. Unless, of course, you're a conspiracy theorist. In honor of said randomness, we're headed over to nhllotterysimulator.com to give the wheels one last spin before tonight:
1st--Montreal
2nd--Ottawa
3rd--Buffalo
All hail the Atlantic Division, the worst in the NHL this year, as they sweep the medals.
The NHL is playing around with revealing their lottery results as picks 15-4 will be revealed at 7:30 p.m. EST. Fans who's teams are still left will need to wait until the second intermission of the San Jose' Sharks-Vegas Golden Knights game to see if they win.
Being in the NHL Draft Lottery means your team fell short and were not one of 16 teams battling for the Stanley Cup. Being the team with the best odds to win the lottery means that your team has serious talent issues among other problems.
For the third time in five seasons, the Buffalo Sabres finished last in the league and will have the best odds of winning the draft lottery, which isn't saying too much as they'll have an 18.5% chance of the pingpong balls falling in line. In 2014 and 2015 those pingpong balls were off a bit and Buffalo ended up selecting second-overall both times. Under those rules the last place team could fall no further than second in the draft if they lost the lottery.
Because of 2014-15 season that saw two teams--the Sabres and Arizona Coyotes--blatantly bottom out in the hopes of finishing last place. The NHL changed the rules for the following draft and beyond so that the top three picks are up for grabs in the lottery, meaning the last place team could drop to as low as fourth overall should other teams jump over them. That happened last year as the Colorado Avalanche, far and away the worst team in the league, fell to fourth-overall after the pingpong balls settled.
This year, Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, whom many are comparing to Erik Karlsson for the impact he could have on a team, is the jewel at the top of the draft this year. He's followed by a tandem of wingers in Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina who are well regarded as impact players for the teams that miss out on Dahlin. After that there's a group of players including winger Brady Tkachuk along with defensemen Adam Boqvist and Quintin Hughes, who make up the next tier of prospects.
With Buffalo finishing in last place the odds are about 50/50 that they will end up with a top-three pick. The Ottawa Senators, who finished next to last have about a 39% chance of landing a top-three pick. Arizona, Montreal, Detroit, Vancouver, and the Chicago Blackhawks all have a 20% chance or better to win a lottery slot.
The randomness of the lottery makes it hard for any team to get overly excited about the potential outcome as it's nearly impossible to figure out who will end up with the top three picks. Unless, of course, you're a conspiracy theorist. In honor of said randomness, we're headed over to nhllotterysimulator.com to give the wheels one last spin before tonight:
1st--Montreal
2nd--Ottawa
3rd--Buffalo
All hail the Atlantic Division, the worst in the NHL this year, as they sweep the medals.
The NHL is playing around with revealing their lottery results as picks 15-4 will be revealed at 7:30 p.m. EST. Fans who's teams are still left will need to wait until the second intermission of the San Jose' Sharks-Vegas Golden Knights game to see if they win.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Impressions of, and questions concerning--C, Johan Larsson
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-27-2018
Center--Johan Larsson
DOB: July 25, 1992 (Age, 25)
Draft: 2010, 2nd round (56th overall) MIN
How acquired: Trade with MIN, April 3, 2013
Last contract signed: July 8, 2017, 2yr./$2.95 million
Final year of contract: 2018-19
2017-18 Stats: 80 games played | 4 goals | 13 assists | 17 points | -30 | 14:07 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 257 games | 26 goals | 39 assists | 65 points | -41 | 14:41
What we wrote preseason: The stout, 5'11" 200 lb. native of Sweden and captain of their 2012 World Junior gold medal squad (their first since 1981) was a third round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2010 and in 2015-26 completed his first full season in Buffalo chalking up a career high 10 goals and 17 points and that seemed to be his floor.
When he's on his game, Larsson has a very abrasive style of play that grates on the opposition to the point where they end up chasing him around instead of following the play. Injuries took away what was promising to be his best season ever (2016-17) and one could surmise that we still haven't seen Larsson's production peak yet. The third-line center position could be up for grabs this year dependent upon how Housley wants it constructed and in the years to come, Larsson will have a couple of players, most notably Rasmus Asplund and Cliff Pu, nipping at his heels for that spot.
That's not a bad thing for the Sabres as ideally Larsson would make for an excellent fourth-line center on a Cup-contending team. And if we see him in that spot, it will mean good things are happening for the forward group.
What we wrote mid-season: Has the second-worst plus/minus on the team at a minus-15 and averages fourth-line minutes. Larsson only has one goal this year, and it was an empty-netter. Like the rest of the team he's looked better as of late, but those first 25 games or so were brutal. With the Sabres returning to health, ice-time will go to those who produce and/or earn it and Larsson will need to up his play if he wants to be in the lineup. Center Jacob Josefson is nearing return from injury and will probably take over that No. 4 center's role meaning Larsson will either be bumped to the wing or bumped up into the press box.
Impressions on his play this year: For the most part, awful. Larsson was a minus-30, dead last on the team. Those around him at -34 (Kyle Okposo,) and minus-25 (Rasmus Ristolainen and Jack Eichel) were all on the ice for nearly all of the league-leading 22 empty net goals against and an NHL second worst 10 shorthanded goals against. With the emergence of Evan Rodrigues as a legit third-line center and the introduction of center Casey Mittelstadt into the lineup next season, Larsson will be dropping down the center depth chart. And with this past season being as rough as it was, he may drop down further than that as there could be a huge youth movement in Buffalo next season.
Questions moving forward: Was his poor season a product of the poor team he played on? With all the changes the team has gone through, does he even like playing in Buffalo anymore? Will Sean Malone be ready to make the jump to the NHL next season as a fourth-line center? Does Larsson have any trade value? Would the team waive him? How would he react to being waived? Is he a buyout candidate?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Center--Johan Larsson
DOB: July 25, 1992 (Age, 25)
Draft: 2010, 2nd round (56th overall) MIN
How acquired: Trade with MIN, April 3, 2013
Last contract signed: July 8, 2017, 2yr./$2.95 million
Final year of contract: 2018-19
2017-18 Stats: 80 games played | 4 goals | 13 assists | 17 points | -30 | 14:07 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 257 games | 26 goals | 39 assists | 65 points | -41 | 14:41
What we wrote preseason: The stout, 5'11" 200 lb. native of Sweden and captain of their 2012 World Junior gold medal squad (their first since 1981) was a third round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2010 and in 2015-26 completed his first full season in Buffalo chalking up a career high 10 goals and 17 points and that seemed to be his floor.
When he's on his game, Larsson has a very abrasive style of play that grates on the opposition to the point where they end up chasing him around instead of following the play. Injuries took away what was promising to be his best season ever (2016-17) and one could surmise that we still haven't seen Larsson's production peak yet. The third-line center position could be up for grabs this year dependent upon how Housley wants it constructed and in the years to come, Larsson will have a couple of players, most notably Rasmus Asplund and Cliff Pu, nipping at his heels for that spot.
That's not a bad thing for the Sabres as ideally Larsson would make for an excellent fourth-line center on a Cup-contending team. And if we see him in that spot, it will mean good things are happening for the forward group.
What we wrote mid-season: Has the second-worst plus/minus on the team at a minus-15 and averages fourth-line minutes. Larsson only has one goal this year, and it was an empty-netter. Like the rest of the team he's looked better as of late, but those first 25 games or so were brutal. With the Sabres returning to health, ice-time will go to those who produce and/or earn it and Larsson will need to up his play if he wants to be in the lineup. Center Jacob Josefson is nearing return from injury and will probably take over that No. 4 center's role meaning Larsson will either be bumped to the wing or bumped up into the press box.
Impressions on his play this year: For the most part, awful. Larsson was a minus-30, dead last on the team. Those around him at -34 (Kyle Okposo,) and minus-25 (Rasmus Ristolainen and Jack Eichel) were all on the ice for nearly all of the league-leading 22 empty net goals against and an NHL second worst 10 shorthanded goals against. With the emergence of Evan Rodrigues as a legit third-line center and the introduction of center Casey Mittelstadt into the lineup next season, Larsson will be dropping down the center depth chart. And with this past season being as rough as it was, he may drop down further than that as there could be a huge youth movement in Buffalo next season.
Questions moving forward: Was his poor season a product of the poor team he played on? With all the changes the team has gone through, does he even like playing in Buffalo anymore? Will Sean Malone be ready to make the jump to the NHL next season as a fourth-line center? Does Larsson have any trade value? Would the team waive him? How would he react to being waived? Is he a buyout candidate?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Botterill will again be forging ahead with little of his own homegrown talent
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-26-2018
There are more than a few fans and media types in Sabreland who are very high on d-prospect Brendan Guhle. And we all should be. The 2015 second round pick (51st-ovearll) has shown spurts of athleticism, skating and skill that look to be a great foundation for him moving forward in the NHL. Perhaps there's a little hope mixed in when looking at Guhle, as the Sabres prospect pool on defense is thin, but in his handful of games with the Sabres, there's a lot to like about the 20 yr. old first-year pro.
Although not on Guhle's level, winger Nicolas Baptiste is another prospect to look forward to next season. At 22 yrs. old Baptiste has three pro seasons under his belt and showed modest progress when called up to the Sabres over the course of the last two seasons. Baptiste is fast and has a good set of hands, elements which are coveted in the NHL.
Goalie Linus Ullmark has an opportunity waiting for him in Buffalo next season as Sabres GM Jason Botterill already designated the 24 yr. old Swede as one of his two goalies next season. After a solid season in the AHL Ullmark was named the Rochester Americans team MVP for the second consecutive season and lead the team into the playoffs. Unfortunately for him and the Amerks, they were swept out in three games with the goalie feeling a little shell-shocked.
Those are the homegrown draft picks from the previous regime that are in the system right now that look to be at least contributors to the Buffalo Sabres in the future.
Last night the Amerks were swept out of the Calder Cup playoffs in their first playoff appearance since 2014, when they were also swept out in three straight games. The numbers for the players above look like this:
Guhle--3 games played, 0 points, minus-6
Baptiste--3 games, 1 goal, minus-2
Ullmark--3 games, 0-3-0 record, 5.50 goals-against record, .800 save percentage
Those aren't very good numbers. Rochester allowed 18 goals with Ullmark being in net for all but two empty-netters, and they scored 10 goals with Baptiste and fellow 2013 draft pick Justin Bailey (2 goals) being the only homegrown prospects to light the lamp.
A visibly upset and shaken Ullmark faced the media after being eliminated last night and fielded questions. Right off the bat, Ullmark said flat out "I didn't make enough saves," and when one reporter mentioned a number of general situations where the goals allowed weren't his fault while asking him how frustrating that was he said, "there's nothing I can say that can change it now."
What it may have come down to is how the team, save for the veterans, may not have been prepared on an individual basis for the intensity of the playoffs. "It's a very different game," said Ullmark, "compared to the regular season. It's a lot tougher, a lot more physical, a lot more fights out there. Every battle matters. When you play in the regular season, you can take days off, this isn't like that."
Winger Alexander Nylander was selected eighth overall by the Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. At the time he was drafted no one doubted his skill level, which was the best on the board when Buffalo was selecting, maybe the best in the entire draft. But the knock on him was that he disappeared in games. Nylander played in all three games for the Amerks, had zero points, a minus-1 rating and according to reports from the game, didn't play very much in the first two periods of a must-win game.
No one from the organization will say it, but those reporting say he was nowhere to be found. Which is why he was on the fourth line...of an AHL team...in a must-win game. At only 20 yrs. of age, it's still too early to give up on him, but his performance over the past two seasons, which includes being injured early in this season, have been pretty rough.
When we're talking about the rough and tumble of the playoffs, it's not too surprising that two big bodies like Baptiste and Bailey could get something done in an environment like that. Bailey has been ramping up his game all season while also spending 12 games in Buffalo scoring three goals and adding one assist. He left the game yesterday with what looked like a shoulder injury.
Botterill has his hands full if he wants to achieve the level of success he was accustomed to in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. The "Baby Penguins" of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton have not missed the playoffs since 2001-02. Granted, they've made it to the Calder Cup Finals only twice in that span, but the parent club has won three Stanley Cups with those coming up through the ranks contributing to those successes.
That's what Botterill wants to build in the Sabres organization. He knew he had a tough road to hoe and a long way to go, but it might be more difficult than he thought as the previous regimes didn't leave him a lot to work with. Ullmark is slated for the big club next season and Guhle will probably be there as well. Bailey and Baptiste are at the end of their waiver-exempt status so their time in Rochester is probably over. And despite what he says about making the Sabres next season, Nylander needs to get dirty and pay his dues before moving up to the big club.
There will be another wave of players coming into the system next year featuring draft picks from previous regimes and that's what Botterill will need to work with. Along with any free agents he picks up and or players he may trade for along the way. Players from his draft class in 2017 won't be hitting Western New York for at least another year or two so once again he and Amerks GM Randy Sexton will need to forge ahead.
They achieved their stated goal of making the playoffs this season. That should be the minimum goal in Rochester moving forward as the team is still transitioning away from the previous regimes.
There are more than a few fans and media types in Sabreland who are very high on d-prospect Brendan Guhle. And we all should be. The 2015 second round pick (51st-ovearll) has shown spurts of athleticism, skating and skill that look to be a great foundation for him moving forward in the NHL. Perhaps there's a little hope mixed in when looking at Guhle, as the Sabres prospect pool on defense is thin, but in his handful of games with the Sabres, there's a lot to like about the 20 yr. old first-year pro.
Although not on Guhle's level, winger Nicolas Baptiste is another prospect to look forward to next season. At 22 yrs. old Baptiste has three pro seasons under his belt and showed modest progress when called up to the Sabres over the course of the last two seasons. Baptiste is fast and has a good set of hands, elements which are coveted in the NHL.
Goalie Linus Ullmark has an opportunity waiting for him in Buffalo next season as Sabres GM Jason Botterill already designated the 24 yr. old Swede as one of his two goalies next season. After a solid season in the AHL Ullmark was named the Rochester Americans team MVP for the second consecutive season and lead the team into the playoffs. Unfortunately for him and the Amerks, they were swept out in three games with the goalie feeling a little shell-shocked.
Those are the homegrown draft picks from the previous regime that are in the system right now that look to be at least contributors to the Buffalo Sabres in the future.
Last night the Amerks were swept out of the Calder Cup playoffs in their first playoff appearance since 2014, when they were also swept out in three straight games. The numbers for the players above look like this:
Guhle--3 games played, 0 points, minus-6
Baptiste--3 games, 1 goal, minus-2
Ullmark--3 games, 0-3-0 record, 5.50 goals-against record, .800 save percentage
Those aren't very good numbers. Rochester allowed 18 goals with Ullmark being in net for all but two empty-netters, and they scored 10 goals with Baptiste and fellow 2013 draft pick Justin Bailey (2 goals) being the only homegrown prospects to light the lamp.
A visibly upset and shaken Ullmark faced the media after being eliminated last night and fielded questions. Right off the bat, Ullmark said flat out "I didn't make enough saves," and when one reporter mentioned a number of general situations where the goals allowed weren't his fault while asking him how frustrating that was he said, "there's nothing I can say that can change it now."
What it may have come down to is how the team, save for the veterans, may not have been prepared on an individual basis for the intensity of the playoffs. "It's a very different game," said Ullmark, "compared to the regular season. It's a lot tougher, a lot more physical, a lot more fights out there. Every battle matters. When you play in the regular season, you can take days off, this isn't like that."
Winger Alexander Nylander was selected eighth overall by the Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. At the time he was drafted no one doubted his skill level, which was the best on the board when Buffalo was selecting, maybe the best in the entire draft. But the knock on him was that he disappeared in games. Nylander played in all three games for the Amerks, had zero points, a minus-1 rating and according to reports from the game, didn't play very much in the first two periods of a must-win game.
No one from the organization will say it, but those reporting say he was nowhere to be found. Which is why he was on the fourth line...of an AHL team...in a must-win game. At only 20 yrs. of age, it's still too early to give up on him, but his performance over the past two seasons, which includes being injured early in this season, have been pretty rough.
When we're talking about the rough and tumble of the playoffs, it's not too surprising that two big bodies like Baptiste and Bailey could get something done in an environment like that. Bailey has been ramping up his game all season while also spending 12 games in Buffalo scoring three goals and adding one assist. He left the game yesterday with what looked like a shoulder injury.
Botterill has his hands full if he wants to achieve the level of success he was accustomed to in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. The "Baby Penguins" of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton have not missed the playoffs since 2001-02. Granted, they've made it to the Calder Cup Finals only twice in that span, but the parent club has won three Stanley Cups with those coming up through the ranks contributing to those successes.
That's what Botterill wants to build in the Sabres organization. He knew he had a tough road to hoe and a long way to go, but it might be more difficult than he thought as the previous regimes didn't leave him a lot to work with. Ullmark is slated for the big club next season and Guhle will probably be there as well. Bailey and Baptiste are at the end of their waiver-exempt status so their time in Rochester is probably over. And despite what he says about making the Sabres next season, Nylander needs to get dirty and pay his dues before moving up to the big club.
There will be another wave of players coming into the system next year featuring draft picks from previous regimes and that's what Botterill will need to work with. Along with any free agents he picks up and or players he may trade for along the way. Players from his draft class in 2017 won't be hitting Western New York for at least another year or two so once again he and Amerks GM Randy Sexton will need to forge ahead.
They achieved their stated goal of making the playoffs this season. That should be the minimum goal in Rochester moving forward as the team is still transitioning away from the previous regimes.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Impressions of, and questions concerning--F, Benoit Pouliot
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-25-2018
Forward--Benoit Pouliot
DOB: September 29, 1986 (Age, 31)
Draft: 2005, 1st round (4th overall) MIN
How acquired: FA
Last contract signed: July 1, 2017, 1yr./$1.150 million
Final year of contract: 2017-18
2017-18 Stats: 74 games played | 13 goals | 6 assists | 19 points | -8 | 13:41
Buffalo Career Stats: 74 games | 13 goals | 6 assists | 19 points | -8 | 13:41
What we wrote preseason: The Buffalo Sabres have a huge hole at left wing in the top-six right now as it's a bit of a mess [and they] didn't do much to fill the hole at left wing this off season.
Since being selected fourth-overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2005 NHL Draft, Pouliot has had stops in Montreal, Boston, Tampa Bay, in NY with the Rangers and Edmonton where he was bought out after the third year of a 5yr./$20 million contract.
Necessity was a big part of the signing in Buffalo and Pouliot did come in on a reasonable one-year deal with Sabres GM Jason Botterill saying, "If you look at Benoit's history, in situations where he's had a difficult season he's been able to bounce back strong. That's what we're looking for from him coming into Buffalo here."
Going into the 2016-17 season, new coach Phil Housley doesn't have a lot to work with on the left side. Training camp will sort a lot of this out but it wouldn't be too surprising to see Pouliot get a good shot at landing a spot in the top-six.
What we wrote mid-season: Basically there's been the good Pouliot, which is more reflective of a player picked in the first round (although it's nowhere near No. 4-overall good) and there's the Edmonton, bad version of Pouliot, the one that caused him to get bought out by the Oilers. Pouliot has size, some jump to his step and he can skate very well for a player that's 6'3" 200 lbs. and Housley has moved Pouliot up and down the wing. Lately he's been on Eichel's left side and it hasn't amounted to much but it is good to say that his eight goals in 33 games this season equals the number he posted in 65 games for the Oilers all last season.
Impressions on his play this year: Extend the above mid-season analysis through the rest of the season with more bad than good. With the start the Sabres had this season, there was little chance Pouliot could hit reasonable numbers and as a complimentary player, there wasn't very much to compliment in October and November. His stints on top-six lines with Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly produced little and later in the seasons, if he wasn't in the bottom six he was up in the press box. Some team might get a decent season from him as he's got skills and can skate very well for a big guy, but it won't be in Buffalo.
Questions moving forward: Where will his next stop be?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Forward--Benoit Pouliot
DOB: September 29, 1986 (Age, 31)
Draft: 2005, 1st round (4th overall) MIN
How acquired: FA
Last contract signed: July 1, 2017, 1yr./$1.150 million
Final year of contract: 2017-18
2017-18 Stats: 74 games played | 13 goals | 6 assists | 19 points | -8 | 13:41
Buffalo Career Stats: 74 games | 13 goals | 6 assists | 19 points | -8 | 13:41
What we wrote preseason: The Buffalo Sabres have a huge hole at left wing in the top-six right now as it's a bit of a mess [and they] didn't do much to fill the hole at left wing this off season.
Since being selected fourth-overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2005 NHL Draft, Pouliot has had stops in Montreal, Boston, Tampa Bay, in NY with the Rangers and Edmonton where he was bought out after the third year of a 5yr./$20 million contract.
Necessity was a big part of the signing in Buffalo and Pouliot did come in on a reasonable one-year deal with Sabres GM Jason Botterill saying, "If you look at Benoit's history, in situations where he's had a difficult season he's been able to bounce back strong. That's what we're looking for from him coming into Buffalo here."
Going into the 2016-17 season, new coach Phil Housley doesn't have a lot to work with on the left side. Training camp will sort a lot of this out but it wouldn't be too surprising to see Pouliot get a good shot at landing a spot in the top-six.
What we wrote mid-season: Basically there's been the good Pouliot, which is more reflective of a player picked in the first round (although it's nowhere near No. 4-overall good) and there's the Edmonton, bad version of Pouliot, the one that caused him to get bought out by the Oilers. Pouliot has size, some jump to his step and he can skate very well for a player that's 6'3" 200 lbs. and Housley has moved Pouliot up and down the wing. Lately he's been on Eichel's left side and it hasn't amounted to much but it is good to say that his eight goals in 33 games this season equals the number he posted in 65 games for the Oilers all last season.
Impressions on his play this year: Extend the above mid-season analysis through the rest of the season with more bad than good. With the start the Sabres had this season, there was little chance Pouliot could hit reasonable numbers and as a complimentary player, there wasn't very much to compliment in October and November. His stints on top-six lines with Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly produced little and later in the seasons, if he wasn't in the bottom six he was up in the press box. Some team might get a decent season from him as he's got skills and can skate very well for a big guy, but it won't be in Buffalo.
Questions moving forward: Where will his next stop be?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Impressions of, and questions concerning--D, Marco Scandella
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-24-2018
Defensman--Marco Scandella
DOB: February 23, 1990 (age (28)
Draft: 2008, 2nd round (25th overall) MIN
How acquired: Trade with Minnesota, June 30, 2017
Last contract signed: November 29, 2014, 5yr./$20 million
Final year of contract: 2019-20
2017-18- Stats: 82 games played | 5 goals | 17 assists | 22 points | -15 | 23:19 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 82 games | 5 goals | 17 assists | 22 points | -15 | 23:19 ATOI
What we wrote preseason: Said GM Jason Botterill of trading for Marco Scandella (via Jourdan LaBarber of Sabres.com.) "It was a priority for us to try to find another guy that can play some heavy minutes. We think [he] did a little bit of that in Minnesota, but he was certainly surrounded by some good defensemen and I think now playing a bigger role here (in Buffalo,) he's ready to take the next step in his career."
Head coach Phil Housley, who had seen plenty of Scandella while an assistant with the Nashville Predators, called him a "terrific player" and a "fierce competitor" and that the 27 yr. old was "a key element" the team added. "It'll be interesting to see how much his offensive numbers really increase," he continued. "Whether he gets the assists or not, he's going to start our transition game out of our own end and in the neutral zone and then with his size and his compete down low, his reach, we really think he's going to be able to log a lot of minutes on our PK and be able to play against other teams' top two lines."
Although he had a rough regular season, Scandella turned it on in the playoffs averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice-time in the five-game series vs. the St. Louis Blues. That number was second only to top defenseman Ryan Suter.
What we wrote mid-season: Botterill acquired Scandella in a trade with the Minnesota Wild this past off season saying that he believed the big, 6'3" 208 lb. defenseman could transition from second-pairing in Minnesota to top-pairing in Buffalo. He's in that role now and although he's had his good moments, that top-pairing designation looks to be a stretch. Speed is a problem for him, not so much his own, which is pretty good for a man his size, but the speed of the game playing against top players. In an ideal world he'd be on the second pair in Buffalo, but as we've seen, it's been anything but ideal with the club this year. The 28 yr. old Scandella is under contract until 2019-20 with a reasonable $4 million cap-hit.
Impressions on his play this year: To say it was a struggle for the team and Scandella would be an understatement. We all know the numbers and the general feel in Buffalo while watching this club might have been worse. Scandella, however, seemed to pick things up later in the season and at one point in February found himself paired with an up-and-coming Casey Nelson as a d-partner. The six-game stint yielding 3-2-1 stretch for the Sabres. We know what the eight-year veteran has to offer, and we're pretty sure right now that ideally he's a top-notch second-pairing d-man who can log big minutes in all situations.
Questions moving forward: What pick do the Sabres end up with in the upcoming draft? If they miss out on defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, are the Sabres forging ahead with a Rasmus Ristolainen-Scandella top-pairing? Will the Sabres re-sign Nelson? Will the 28 yr. old Scandella become more of a vocal leader than he was both on and off the ice?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Defensman--Marco Scandella
DOB: February 23, 1990 (age (28)
Draft: 2008, 2nd round (25th overall) MIN
How acquired: Trade with Minnesota, June 30, 2017
Last contract signed: November 29, 2014, 5yr./$20 million
Final year of contract: 2019-20
2017-18- Stats: 82 games played | 5 goals | 17 assists | 22 points | -15 | 23:19 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 82 games | 5 goals | 17 assists | 22 points | -15 | 23:19 ATOI
What we wrote preseason: Said GM Jason Botterill of trading for Marco Scandella (via Jourdan LaBarber of Sabres.com.) "It was a priority for us to try to find another guy that can play some heavy minutes. We think [he] did a little bit of that in Minnesota, but he was certainly surrounded by some good defensemen and I think now playing a bigger role here (in Buffalo,) he's ready to take the next step in his career."
Head coach Phil Housley, who had seen plenty of Scandella while an assistant with the Nashville Predators, called him a "terrific player" and a "fierce competitor" and that the 27 yr. old was "a key element" the team added. "It'll be interesting to see how much his offensive numbers really increase," he continued. "Whether he gets the assists or not, he's going to start our transition game out of our own end and in the neutral zone and then with his size and his compete down low, his reach, we really think he's going to be able to log a lot of minutes on our PK and be able to play against other teams' top two lines."
Although he had a rough regular season, Scandella turned it on in the playoffs averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice-time in the five-game series vs. the St. Louis Blues. That number was second only to top defenseman Ryan Suter.
What we wrote mid-season: Botterill acquired Scandella in a trade with the Minnesota Wild this past off season saying that he believed the big, 6'3" 208 lb. defenseman could transition from second-pairing in Minnesota to top-pairing in Buffalo. He's in that role now and although he's had his good moments, that top-pairing designation looks to be a stretch. Speed is a problem for him, not so much his own, which is pretty good for a man his size, but the speed of the game playing against top players. In an ideal world he'd be on the second pair in Buffalo, but as we've seen, it's been anything but ideal with the club this year. The 28 yr. old Scandella is under contract until 2019-20 with a reasonable $4 million cap-hit.
Impressions on his play this year: To say it was a struggle for the team and Scandella would be an understatement. We all know the numbers and the general feel in Buffalo while watching this club might have been worse. Scandella, however, seemed to pick things up later in the season and at one point in February found himself paired with an up-and-coming Casey Nelson as a d-partner. The six-game stint yielding 3-2-1 stretch for the Sabres. We know what the eight-year veteran has to offer, and we're pretty sure right now that ideally he's a top-notch second-pairing d-man who can log big minutes in all situations.
Questions moving forward: What pick do the Sabres end up with in the upcoming draft? If they miss out on defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, are the Sabres forging ahead with a Rasmus Ristolainen-Scandella top-pairing? Will the Sabres re-sign Nelson? Will the 28 yr. old Scandella become more of a vocal leader than he was both on and off the ice?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Impressions of, and questions concerning--F, Evan Rodrigues
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-23-2018
Forward--Evan Rodrigues
DOB: July 28, 1993 (Age, 24)
Draft: Undrafted
How acquired: Signed by Buffalo April 22, 2015
Last contract signed: July 27, 2017, 2yr./$1.3 million
Final year of contract: 2018-19
2017-18- Stats: 48 games played | 7 goals | 18 assists | 25 points | -10 | 13:56 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 80 games | 12 goals | 21 assists | 33 points | -15 | 13:30 ATOI
Forward--Evan Rodrigues
DOB: July 28, 1993 (Age, 24)
Draft: Undrafted
How acquired: Signed by Buffalo April 22, 2015
Last contract signed: July 27, 2017, 2yr./$1.3 million
Final year of contract: 2018-19
2017-18- Stats: 48 games played | 7 goals | 18 assists | 25 points | -10 | 13:56 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 80 games | 12 goals | 21 assists | 33 points | -15 | 13:30 ATOI
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