Post by knightlax27 - Sabres GM on Aug 14, 2014 20:52:03 GMT
No I am not quitting, but I am looking to liven up this forum... This is particularly in reference to upcoming players who we think might be able to crack our rosters out of camp either this season or the following. Sort of our own making the leap segment that i see on PHT.
For the Buffalo Sabres, we are hopeful Canadian forward Sam Reinhart can start day one. There is no doubt that this player should be a cornerstone for this franchise for years to come. Hopefully he is rated high enough to slot into a top 6 role. We are eager to see the #2 overall pick in this past years draft contribute to the success of this organization. We dont even want to think about sending him back to the Western Hockey League.
Projected NHL role/statistics: Top 6 Forward for the Sabres in 2015: 20 goals 35 assists 55 points.
In addition to SR23, another highly touted first rounder, Russian forward Mikhail Grigorenko, taken 12th overall in the 2012 draft, could be ready to join the NHL ranks. Griggy saw limited action in the NHL last season before being sent back to juniors as his skill level still wasn't quite there yet. (in his drafted year, 2012-13, he played in 25 games registering 5 points before being sent to juniors.) In his 18 games in 2013-14 he only tallied 3 points. Interesting enough he was too good for juniors as his talents were displayed again in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League putting up 39 (15-24) points in 23 games for the Quebec Remparts. Due to the CHL rules in place, Mikhail was not eligible for the AHL so he had to wait until his season in the Q finished before he could make his AHL debut. He will be given every chance to play this season provided he is good enough but a full season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans might be more beneficial for his development.
Projected NHL role/statistics: First line AHL Forward for the Americans with injury call up NHL ice time in 2015: 3 goals 7 assists 10 points. Likely NHL Forward in 2016
Mark Pysyk, has been a solid player in the AHL for the past 2 seasons for the Americans. The former 2010 2nd round blueliner appeared in more than a half of the Sabres games last season. While his insertion into the line up was injury related, he did show that the game was not too much to handle. In 44 games he registered 7 points (1-6). His goal should be to crack the 3rd pairing for Buffalo and improve on his point totals this season.
Projected NHL role/statistics: Top 6 NHL Dman in 2015: 5 goals 15 assists 20 points.
Other notables:
Joel Armia taken 16th overall in 2011 draft made his AHL debut last year and averaged .5 points a game 7-20-27 in 54 games. Once the Calder Cup playoffs started, he elevated his game to being a point per game player going 3-3-6 in 5 games before they were bounced in the first round. This Finnish Forward could be similar to Grigorenko where he only sees time in the NHL due to injury.
Projected NHL role/statistics: First line AHL Forward for the Americans in 2015. Possible NHL Forward in 2016.
Nikita Zadorov, taken 16th overall in the 2013 draft, had a strong season for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Should continue his development in the OHL, then make his AHL debut in 2015
Projected NHL role/statistics:
OHL Dman in 2015. AHL Dman in 2016
After appearing in 7 games and registered 1 point at the NHL level out of the University of Wisconsin, Jake McCabe, should be looking at some considerable ice time in the AHL with the Americans. In the event of injury he very well could be the first player called up. Taken in the 2nd round in 2012, the former Badger is a gritty stay at home defender who can drop the gloves when needed. As an added bonus, this man child has already made a name for himself in the Bruins lineup. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3tthBrsbEg
Projected NHL role/statistics: AHL Top 2 defender in 2015. Possible NHL Dman in 2016.
In goal the Sabres should have their goalies set in 2015 with Enroth and Nuevirth however both goalies were injured in 2014 that resulted in Matt Hackett getting called up. Hackett was one of the pieces that came over from the Minnesota Wild as part of the Jason Pomminville trade. In his limited action of 8 games last season he posted 3.10 GAA and .908 SV%. While his AHL numbers from last season, 3.07 GAA and .898 SV% in 33 games, were very pedestrian, he should improve on those numbers or could give his role away to one of the other promising young talents in net for the Americans; Nathan Lieuwen
or Andrey Makarov.
Projected NHL role/statistics: AHL goalie splitting reps till an incumbent is noticed in 2015. Unlikely 2016 NHL appearance.
For the Buffalo Sabres, we are hopeful Canadian forward Sam Reinhart can start day one. There is no doubt that this player should be a cornerstone for this franchise for years to come. Hopefully he is rated high enough to slot into a top 6 role. We are eager to see the #2 overall pick in this past years draft contribute to the success of this organization. We dont even want to think about sending him back to the Western Hockey League.
Projected NHL role/statistics: Top 6 Forward for the Sabres in 2015: 20 goals 35 assists 55 points.
In addition to SR23, another highly touted first rounder, Russian forward Mikhail Grigorenko, taken 12th overall in the 2012 draft, could be ready to join the NHL ranks. Griggy saw limited action in the NHL last season before being sent back to juniors as his skill level still wasn't quite there yet. (in his drafted year, 2012-13, he played in 25 games registering 5 points before being sent to juniors.) In his 18 games in 2013-14 he only tallied 3 points. Interesting enough he was too good for juniors as his talents were displayed again in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League putting up 39 (15-24) points in 23 games for the Quebec Remparts. Due to the CHL rules in place, Mikhail was not eligible for the AHL so he had to wait until his season in the Q finished before he could make his AHL debut. He will be given every chance to play this season provided he is good enough but a full season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans might be more beneficial for his development.
Projected NHL role/statistics: First line AHL Forward for the Americans with injury call up NHL ice time in 2015: 3 goals 7 assists 10 points. Likely NHL Forward in 2016
Mark Pysyk, has been a solid player in the AHL for the past 2 seasons for the Americans. The former 2010 2nd round blueliner appeared in more than a half of the Sabres games last season. While his insertion into the line up was injury related, he did show that the game was not too much to handle. In 44 games he registered 7 points (1-6). His goal should be to crack the 3rd pairing for Buffalo and improve on his point totals this season.
Projected NHL role/statistics: Top 6 NHL Dman in 2015: 5 goals 15 assists 20 points.
Other notables:
Joel Armia taken 16th overall in 2011 draft made his AHL debut last year and averaged .5 points a game 7-20-27 in 54 games. Once the Calder Cup playoffs started, he elevated his game to being a point per game player going 3-3-6 in 5 games before they were bounced in the first round. This Finnish Forward could be similar to Grigorenko where he only sees time in the NHL due to injury.
Projected NHL role/statistics: First line AHL Forward for the Americans in 2015. Possible NHL Forward in 2016.
Nikita Zadorov, taken 16th overall in the 2013 draft, had a strong season for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Should continue his development in the OHL, then make his AHL debut in 2015
Projected NHL role/statistics:
OHL Dman in 2015. AHL Dman in 2016
After appearing in 7 games and registered 1 point at the NHL level out of the University of Wisconsin, Jake McCabe, should be looking at some considerable ice time in the AHL with the Americans. In the event of injury he very well could be the first player called up. Taken in the 2nd round in 2012, the former Badger is a gritty stay at home defender who can drop the gloves when needed. As an added bonus, this man child has already made a name for himself in the Bruins lineup. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3tthBrsbEg
Projected NHL role/statistics: AHL Top 2 defender in 2015. Possible NHL Dman in 2016.
In goal the Sabres should have their goalies set in 2015 with Enroth and Nuevirth however both goalies were injured in 2014 that resulted in Matt Hackett getting called up. Hackett was one of the pieces that came over from the Minnesota Wild as part of the Jason Pomminville trade. In his limited action of 8 games last season he posted 3.10 GAA and .908 SV%. While his AHL numbers from last season, 3.07 GAA and .898 SV% in 33 games, were very pedestrian, he should improve on those numbers or could give his role away to one of the other promising young talents in net for the Americans; Nathan Lieuwen
or Andrey Makarov.
Projected NHL role/statistics: AHL goalie splitting reps till an incumbent is noticed in 2015. Unlikely 2016 NHL appearance.