If season starts, what does this team look like?

[tsujimoto74]

The source for the Grigs report was the Remparts play by play man. Things change though...

...The same one who said Grigo wasn't getting an invite to Russia's WJC camp? Seems legit.

 

[Jacob582]

If there's a season, I don't think it's going to be pretty for the Sabres. I'm concerned by our lack of anything resembling a defensive, shutdown center. I don't think our defense is all that good as currently constructed. I think we'd be a forward injury away from disaster, as I don't like our depth up there. A part of me hopes that if there's a season, we move Leo and Regehr for some draft assets and get a good pick.

I think a lot revolves around where Miller's head is at.

 

[Jacob582]

I can confirm that I read that post too. I think it was from the guy who gives us constant updates about Grigs.

Also every team has a Brennan or a Weber, don't care if they're waived and get picked up, neither will be anything special in the NHL.

Injuries last year showed you need a lot of organization depth on D.
You don't give these assets away for free if you can help it.

 

[Jacob582]

Yes, that's what was reported.
I forget if it was in a news article or just on the radio during a game though, so I don't have a source.

Well, if the lockout ended I'd guess that his AHL contract would be nullified, as he has an NHL contract.
Rather than the Sabres waiving him prior to the lockout, they just signed him to an AHL SPC instead (same with a few others, like Mancari IIRC).

Without knowing how they'd handle things in a new CBA, I'd assume that he'd likely have to clear waivers then if they were going to assign him to Rochester since he wasn't waived prior to the lockout (not sure if players that have already cleared would have to be waived again) and he's waiver eligible.

RE: Brennan. Bolded above is all correct.

Players who have already cleared waivers (Porter, Tarnasky) do not have to clear waivers again.

 

[Jacob582]

how do u think a trade deadline would work in a shortened season?

40 days prior to end of season.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Why isn't Ott penciled in as a center? He is pretty darn good at the dot.

Kaleta-Ott-Foligno

Would be a handful for any team.

Can't wait for the first Boston-Buffalo meeting.

 

[Zip15]

I think a lot revolves around where Miller's head is at.

Miller will always be important to this team, but I think this season will be his toughest task yet--if there is any season. If nothing else, it'll be easier for Miller to follow Roy and Connolly out the door as The Guy We Blame This Failure On (Of Many Repeated Failures). Like the other two, as a fan, I'll kinda be happy when he moves on--too much angst around his presence in Buffalo.

Why isn't Ott penciled in as a center? He is pretty darn good at the dot.

Kaleta-Ott-Foligno

Would be a handful for any team.

Can't wait for the first Boston-Buffalo meeting.

The story seems to be that Ott is good at faceoffs and will take faceoffs, but play on the wing thereafter, with another player--possibly Leino--taking the center's duties after the faceoff.
_________________________

I want one of two things to happen. The first is that I'd like to see Grigorenko centering Vanek on a line that gets a ton of offensive-zone starts; I'd accept a Leino-Grigs-Vanek line, followed by FES, New LW-Hodgson-Pommers, Gerbe-Ott-Kaleta. The second is, if they're going to keep Ott-Leino together, I'd like them to sign a 4th line-type center, such as Dom Moore. Either way, I'd like to see them add a forward after the lockout.

 

[Jacob582]

Miller will always be important to this team, but I think this season will be his toughest task yet--if there is any season. If nothing else, it'll be easier for Miller to follow Roy and Connolly out the door as The Guy We Blame This Failure On (Of Many Repeated Failures). Like the other two, as a fan, I'll kinda be happy when he moves on--too much angst around his presence in Buffalo.

The story seems to be that Ott is good at faceoffs and will take faceoffs, but play on the wing thereafter, with another player--possibly Leino--taking the center's duties after the faceoff.
_________________________

I want one of two things to happen. The first is that I'd like to see Grigorenko centering Vanek on a line that gets a ton of offensive-zone starts; I'd accept a Leino-Grigs-Vanek line, followed by FES, New LW-Hodgson-Pommers, Gerbe-Ott-Kaleta. The second is, if they're going to keep Ott-Leino together, I'd like them to sign a 4th line-type center, such as Dom Moore. Either way, I'd like to see them add a forward after the lockout.

Fully agree with bolded above.

Regarding the 4th line center:
- Do you think Kevin Porter would be a good candidate?
- I think they might pick up an extra forward if the right one is available through waivers.

I would like them to add another forward after the lockout too (especially losing depth at that position - Tropp)

What they need as a 3rd line defensive forward is a healthy Hecht.

 

[Zip15]

Fully agree with bolded above.

Regarding the 4th line center:
- Do you think Kevin Porter would be a good candidate?
- I think they might pick up an extra forward if the right one is available through waivers.

I would like them to add another forward after the lockout too (especially losing depth at that position - Tropp)

What they need as a 3rd line defensive forward is a healthy Hecht.

Avs fans were not high on Porter, so I have some doubts about him. Hecht may be an option for that LW in my post above, opposite Hodgson-Poms. That line would have some two-way ability, but it's tough to count on Jochen with the recent concussion issues.

 

[Duddy]

Injuries last year showed you need a lot of organization depth on D.
You don't give these assets away for free if you can help it.

They're no assets, they're barely depth players in the NHL.

No team is picking either one up, because both are a waste of space on an NHL roster. Brennan is a one trick pony, on the same level as MAG and Weber is at best a #6 on any depth chart around the league.

Why would any team pick them up and gift them a spot on their roster?

Myers, Sekera, Ehrhoff, Sulzer, Regehr, Leopold, McNabb, Pardy, Scott etc..

And if worse comes to worse, you have guys like Crawford or Schiestel or Biega down in Rochester, but if you're that deep into injury trouble you're ****ed anyway.

 

[Moskau]

If there's a season, I don't think it's going to be pretty for the Sabres. I'm concerned by our lack of anything resembling a defensive, shutdown center. I don't think our defense is all that good as currently constructed. I think we'd be a forward injury away from disaster, as I don't like our depth up there. A part of me hopes that if there's a season, we move Leo and Regehr for some draft assets and get a good pick.

I thought about making this same post before bed last night. It's kind of something that didn't get discussed too much because of the lockout but we were all anticipating there had to be another move or two before the season started. Now that it didn't happen... this is a poorly constructed group for forwards if the team was looking to win this year. Which I'm not convinced they were. There's just way too much emphasis on F-E-S having the same kind of impact they did last year for 30+ games. No true defensive specialist down the middle on the 3rd line let alone any line. We may have a lot of locker room leaders on defense but we still don't have a guy who will be a leader on the ice back there.

I don't think this is a lottery team but at least 8 teams are better on paper from our conference. It comes down to what Ruff can do.

 

[sba]

It comes down to what Ruff can do.

Play all the kids, write this year off. That's what SHOULD be done.

Either way, the lockout is giving us another year and another built-in excuse to keep Ruff's overrated ass behind the bench.

 

[Jacob582]

The line up as it stands has the capability of making the playoffs. It will depend on many factors including where Miller's head is at and injuries.

I think you will see the younger teams do well. A short season is going to be a sprint. Most of the top scorers in 94-95 were young (23 or so), whereas the year before more were veterans.

 

[Jacob582]

They're no assets, they're barely depth players in the NHL.

No team is picking either one up, because both are a waste of space on an NHL roster. Brennan is a one trick pony, on the same level as MAG and Weber is at best a #6 on any depth chart around the league.

Why would any team pick them up and gift them a spot on their roster?

Myers, Sekera, Ehrhoff, Sulzer, Regehr, Leopold, McNabb, Pardy, Scott etc..

And if worse comes to worse, you have guys like Crawford or Schiestel or Biega down in Rochester, but if you're that deep into injury trouble you're ****ed anyway.

I agree that Brennan is a one trick pony, and if he doesn't improve his D he won't have a good NHL career. But there is at least one team out there that needs his one trick this year and he would not clear waivers.

If Weber is at best 6th on somebody's depth chart then surely someone would claim him and have him on their roster in their top 7.

After 2006 playoffs and last year's injuries, Regier is obsessed with his depth of D. I don't think Weber is going anywhere.

 

[Zip15]

I agree that Brennan is a one trick pony, and if you doesn't improve his D he won't have a good NHL career. But there is at least one team out there that needs his one trick this year and he would not clear waivers.

If Weber is at best 6th on somebody's depth chart then surely someone would claim him and have him on their roster in their top 7.

After 2006 playoffs and last year's injuries, Regier is obsessed with his depth of D. I don't think Weber is going anywhere.

Any team who claims him effectively must decide that they're keeping him on their NHL roster for the entire year, because the second they try to slip him back to the AHL, the Sabres will re-claim him. A similar thing happened last year with the Coyotes and Brett MacLean.

Weber would more likely be claimed, IMO. He's better in his own end, can play a regular shift against decent competition, plays with some grit, and blocks shots.

 

[haseoke39]

Hopefully split between Rochester and Europe while they bring in new players.

 

[Jacob582]

Any team who claims him effectively must decide that they're keeping him on their NHL roster for the entire year, because the second they try to slip him back to the AHL, the Sabres will re-claim him. A similar thing happened last year with the Coyotes and Brett MacLean.

Weber would more likely be claimed, IMO. He's better in his own end, can play a regular shift against decent competition, plays with some grit, and blocks shots.

RE: Brennan

I could see a team claiming him if they need a 7th D and PP specialist depth.

The money and cap hit of $550,000 sure isn't a liability.

(the Islanders gave Boyes a million dollars to play of their PP for god's sake)

 

[5 Minute Major]

They will look very, very mediocre. That's about it. They will need a couple of years with this cast.

 

[rabi]

how do u think a trade deadline would work in a shortened season?

In 1995(last time 48 games were played), trade deadline day was April 7th..

Season ran from January 20th to May 3rd