If Florida could turn a guy thoroughly and soundly beaten for a spot by Clague and Bryson into a valuable player…why don’t they have the best D core of all time already?
Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.
Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.
Fitzgerald is 25. I don’t see him blossoming into something more than a bottom pair D.Defensemen take time to fully develop, sometimes until they're in mid to late 20s.
Last year, we had 12th ranked GA/G.
We're 12th this year in 5 on 5 GA IIRC so it's not elite, but it's pretty good for patchwork.
We've never drafted high end defensemen outside Ekblad and Bouwmeester
This offseason Zito will have tons of cap room to retool the defense, especially if he moves Reinhart + dead buyout money + UFAs walking etc coming off the books.
The downfall is it doesn't seem to be a great UFA defense group in elite quality but more volume of really good #3s and 4's/2nd pair guys.
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Matthew Tkachuk's second cousin once removed. Rebuilding the team in his image
Fitzgerald is 25. I don’t see him blossoming into something more than a bottom pair D.
expected him to get claimed simply because he’s a RD a yr after his ELC.
some GMs do this simply because the needEd someone short term and don’t want to risk a waiver eligible player on their AHL team having to re-clear waivers
Surprised me he got claimed…no.Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.
Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.
With respect, I would say third pair guys. Though Muhura has surprised and may have potential as a two-way defenseman.Defensemen take time to fully develop, sometimes until they're in mid to late 20s.
Last year, we had 12th ranked GA/G.
We're 12th this year in 5 on 5 GA IIRC so it's not elite, but it's pretty good for patchwork.
We've never drafted high end defensemen outside Ekblad and Bouwmeester
This offseason Zito will have tons of cap room to retool the defense, especially if he moves Reinhart + dead buyout money + UFAs walking etc coming off the books.
The downfall is it doesn't seem to be a great UFA defense group in elite quality but more volume of really good #3s and 4's/2nd pair guys.
View attachment 633727
Weegar never fully took off for us until a few years ago and he's nearly 30.
Forsling is turning 27, he was an afterthought in CAR and VAN.
Not saying this happens all the time but Florida has a knack for taking other teams depth players and pumping up their stats/roles.
Hoffman
Marchment
Montour
Reinhart
Bennett
To name a few of recent past.
It could also be a nothing move, time will tell of course.
There is absolutely no doubt that the best Fitzgerald will ever be is a mediocre 3rd pair starter. Most likely to remain an NHL/AHL tweener. Wished Buffalo kept him for Rochester, but don't waste time thinking about any better result.Weegar never fully took off for us until a few years ago and he's nearly 30.
Forsling is turning 27, he was an afterthought in CAR and VAN.
Not saying this happens all the time but Florida has a knack for taking other teams depth players and pumping up their stats/roles.
Hoffman
Marchment
Montour
Reinhart
Bennett
To name a few of recent past.
It could also be a nothing move, time will tell of course.
Spoken like a man who has not watched much Casey Fitzgerald hockey since he's turned pro.Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.
Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.
Or 1C, depending on which year you're talking aboutReinhart wasn't a depth piece in Buffalo, he was their first line RW, but okay.
Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.
Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.
Good luck to him. He looked like he could have been a decent 7th D, but the Sabres have borderline AHL defenders in abundance. The org did like him and probably were hoping he'd clear and maybe miscalculated, or perhaps they wanted to give him a shot with another org. He's certainly been a good soldier.
More of a roster casuality than anything else. Sabres are juggling 3 healthy goalies and needed the spot.