I would image that a move or two would be coming, Leopold seems like an obvious move that should be made at some point. I think that roster looks very bleak (one of the worst in the east) but realize that we are in a transition year and have good thing coming. Really going to need Miller and guys like Myers, Hodgson and Ennis to have good years if the playoffs are a goal. I only put Grigorenko on there because I have no idea what is going to happen, I have always prefered to keep a guy in junior if you can.
Lockout is Over.....2013 Preseason Talk!
- Thread starter TehDoak
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I would image that a move or two would be coming, Leopold seems like an obvious move that should be made at some point. I think that roster looks very bleak (one of the worst in the east) but realize that we are in a transition year and have good thing coming. Really going to need Miller and guys like Myers, Hodgson and Ennis to have good years if the playoffs are a goal. I only put Grigorenko on there because I have no idea what is going to happen, I have always prefered to keep a guy in junior if you can.
I2ealm
Registered User
Well, we won't have Grigs with us, he's staying in Quebec. Hopefully Girgensons makes up for it. I hope Vanek performs this season as well as Pom staying healthy like last season.
Disagree.
I'm not a huge fan of burning the first year of his ELC on just a 48 game season.
The condensed schedule is probably going to lead to some intense hockey right from the get-go, not going to be the best for any rookie trying to break in.
Sabres probably aren't going anywhere this year, no reason to force it.
Usually can't harm a guy by leaving him in juniors for one extra season.
sabresfan129103
1-4-6-14
I just don't understand what the rush is. He's on a great team in Quebec, he just had a very good WJC. Let him finish out the season there and he can play in the NHL next season.
Hockeyfan6781
Registered User
EC09
Cleveland Sports Fan
Rhett4
Buffalo Selects Jack
Luckily depth on the blue line isn't an issue this year. I could see the Sabres moving Regehr at the trade deadline since he's going to be a UFA...unless of course he's playing well and they have a serious shot at the playoffs. Either way, I doubt we see any more of him in Buffalo after this year. Regehr was a good idea on paper, and Regier always seemed to want him. Too bad he couldn't have landed him 3 or 4 years ago when he seemed to be in his prime.
Rhett4
Buffalo Selects Jack
So how long until Pegula gathers all the players in the room and starts with, "Just to let you know...I didn't support this lockout." I see him being eager to put the bitterness with the players aside first, before turning to the fans. I'm confident he will do right by everyone. As for the league as a whole...I have my doubts.
A little bit worried, keep him on 3rd pairing duties though:
Sekera-Myers
Erhoff-Sulzer
Regehr-Leopold
Weber
sba
....
Grigs should be here and be playing. If he's not I really don't care too much to watch the rest of this Ruff-coached crap.
Tra La La
Registered User
I don't know if they would look at Grigorenko different then Girgensons as far as burning a year on his ELC. And IMO Grigorenko is much further along then Girgensons developmentally.
joshjull
Registered User
The flip side is he's had a long time to rest. Which hopefully means his fresh and ready to roll.
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Lockout's officially over nowGrigorenko's got to absolutely shine in camp or I'd send him back to juniors. Like others have said, why burn a full year of his ELC for half a season? I think it would be stupid to do so unless he's totally NHL ready.
That being said, I would love to see it happen.
joshjull
Registered User
sba
....
I subscribe to the "let him figure it out this year so he's ready next year" theory. Him putting up 2 PPG in the Q is redundant to his development at this point
joshjull
Registered User
NotABadPeriod
ForFriendshipDikembe
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Girgensons actually isn't burning a year off the ELC IIRC. To do that he needs to play in the NHL, playing in the AHL doesn't count due to his age--he'll slide to next year.
Grigorenko's got to absolutely shine in camp or I'd send him back to juniors. Like others have said, why burn a full year of his ELC for half a season? I think it would be stupid to do so unless he's totally NHL ready.
That being said, I would love to see it happen.
I'm torn on the Grigorenko debate, but I'm leaning towards keeping him on the roster this year. Obviously, it's not ideal to burn a year of the ELC during a season without much in the way of expectations, but that worry is somewhat mitigated by the fact we have Pegula now. There's no longer a need to incessantly obsess over cost-saving measures like there was during the Golisano/Quinn days. Pegula will take care of it. Also, giving him 40+ games this year gets him up to speed and the development curve becomes less steep going into next year when, presumably, the team can retool and has playoff hopes. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that this roster doesn't really interest me all that much, but Grigs' presence would provide more entertainment for me.
Ideally, I'd like to see this as our Opening Night lineup:
Leino-Grigorenko-Vanek
Give them a huge amount of offensive-zone starts. I'm talking 60%+. Obviously, there's some defensive disasters waiting to happen there, but that line would be very good on the cycle and would have a lot of zone time, as well. Even as a rook, I think Grigs could put Vanek in some good spots to score.
Foligno-Ennis-Stafford
I think you have to see if they can replicate their late-season success.
Acquired LW-Hodgson-Pominville
Your two-way line that probably leads the team in ES minutes.
Gerbe-Ott-Kaleta
The line that gets a huge amount of defensive-zone starts. I think you just have to stick Ott at center and see what you have. That line can play good competition. It'll also annoying the **** out of the opponent, as well
Extras: Scott, Ellis/McCormick
I send one of Cody/Ellis to Rochester to provide another vet to that roster; you could actually send both there if they keep eight defensemen on the roster due to fear that Brennan won't clear waivers and/or they keep Pardy in Buffalo.
I don't think that's a great roster, by any means, but I think it's doing your best to make chicken salad out of...you know.
And neck beards to cover up the double-chins while players play themselves back into shape.
Watching Grigorenko would make this season bearable but I don't want to hinder his development so I'm torn.
I think we might surprise some people if we get some chemistry.
I think we might surprise some people if we get some chemistry.
sba
....
That's how I see it, I think the shortened season could really help the vets stay fresh.
I really like the idea of having Ott on the LW with Hodgson and Vanek. Hodgson and Vanek showed some chemistry last year and it would be nice to keep that pairing together. Ott is not a natural C and he's said that himself, so I like him on the wing with these two guys, he could take the draws since that's not Hodgson's strongest area then shift over to the wing. He can also handle some of the dirty work for those two and let them do their thing.
Obviously you keep FES together, that leaves:
Leino-Grigorenko-Pominville
Gerbe-McCormick-Kaleta
Not crazy about either of the lines but I really, really like the top two. Also, if Grigorenko doesn't stick, I'm not sure who centers that 3rd line.
Obviously you keep FES together, that leaves:
Leino-Grigorenko-Pominville
Gerbe-McCormick-Kaleta
Not crazy about either of the lines but I really, really like the top two. Also, if Grigorenko doesn't stick, I'm not sure who centers that 3rd line.
