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