Roster Speculation part XXII

[dino200022]

Is there any chance that Evan Rodrigues cracks the opening day lineup...I know he did not have the best numbers in the A kast year but I feel he might get a look or will he stay buried in Rochester?

 

[haseoke39]

Well, that last sentence is debatable. I don't value him remotely.

You should. 45 point wingers don't grow on trees.

 

[Ness]

Is there any chance that Evan Rodrigues cracks the opening day lineup...I know he did not have the best numbers in the A kast year but I feel he might get a look or will he stay buried in Rochester?

There isn't really any room for him in the lineup. The LW depth the Sabres have for their top 12:

Kane
Ennis
Foligno
(Maybe) Vesey
Deslauriers

Plus they have ROR and Girgensons who can also play LW, depending on what Bylsma decides to do with them.

Anything is possible though, so who knows. But doubtful.

Edit: Forgot Moulson...wonder why.

 

[Man of Principles]

You should. 45 point wingers don't grow on trees.

They're the easiest to replace. The deep center spine is what I value most.

I hold out hope that Ennis can be the same winger he was before his concussion. I don't know, though. All I do know is that I'm personally not upset if he's traded.

 

[Ness]

They're the easiest to replace. The deep center spine is what I value most.

I hold out hope that Ennis can be the same winger he was before his concussion. I don't know, though. All I do know is that I'm personally not upset if he's traded.

I've always like Ennis better at LW throughout his whole career. He has had success at center in spurts (Foligno/Ennis/Stafford, and most of the 2015 tank season), but he gets into Afinogenov mode too often and tries to do too much at times.

 

[Samsonite23]

You should. 45 point wingers don't grow on trees.

If they're with a very good center they do.

 

[Man of Principles]

I've always like Ennis better at LW throughout his whole career. He has had success at center in spurts (Foligno/Ennis/Stafford, and most of the 2015 tank season), but he gets into Afinogenov mode too often and tries to do too much at times.

That's my one gripe about him, is that he gets too "dancey" and tries to do too much. The razzle dazzle gets old when it results in a turnover or nothing positive. He has pretty incredible individual skill. If he stays around I hope he doesn't become Xavier LaFlamme (too scared of being hit to play an effective gane). I always liked that he didn't avoid contact despite his slight lack of size. I don't wanna think those days are over.

 

[haseoke39]

If they're with a very good center they do.

We had 0 wingers score 45 points last year. Ennis from the year prior would've been third on this team in scoring.

 

[DJN21]

If they're with a very good center they do.

Yep. His days at center are numbered and his ability to create on his own has been somewhat limited outside of the occasional highlight real goal. He could short term prove to be a valuable 50 point winger...but again at that point I'd seek to trade him and his salary away easily. He offers nothing special defensively and is one more big hit away from an ltir hinderance. I'm really pulling for a huge year though...

 

[Icicle]

Connolly pretty much destroyed my hopes of players ever recovering from concussions as good hockey players. They just lose it. I'm more hopeful to see Rodriguez play than him. Not that I wouldn't give him a chance, but let's be fair.

 

[Dingo44]

Well, that last sentence is debatable. I don't value him remotely.

I guess you won't be trading for him then.

 

[Shmuffalo]

Connolly pretty much destroyed my hopes of players ever recovering from concussions as good hockey players. They just lose it. I'm more hopeful to see Rodriguez play than him. Not that I wouldn't give him a chance, but let's be fair.

Connolly was a special case. He had 2, if not 3, severe diagnosed concussions. Now we're at a time where concussion protocol is at an all time high. I think Ennis will come back as a 45-55 point player.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Connolly was a special case. He had 2, if not 3, severe diagnosed concussions. Now we're at a time where concussion protocol is at an all time high. I think Ennis will come back as a 45-55 point player.

Tyler Ennis wasn't that good prior to the injury when he was being hand fed minutes.

 

[TehDoak]

You should. 45 point wingers don't grow on trees.

54 forwards scored between 40-50 points this year.

That means every team has nearly 2 of them.

What dooms a team is overpaying secondary forwards and not locking up the core pieces. Look at the Sabres post Briere/Drury

For a bit more modern look, see the Columbus Blue Jackets. A team near the cap....with one top line forward to show for it.

I'm still not a huge fan of the Opokso signing, think that it will cause some serious cap related issues further down the line, especially with the fact that its "buyout proof"

 

[Wisent42]

The nothing happening on the re-signing Risto and Girgs front is really starting to get to me. I know there's no rush, but I just want it done so I can relax and start longing for October.

 

[Jim Bob]

The nothing happening on the re-signing Risto and Girgs front is really starting to get to me. I know there's no rush, but I just want it done so I can relax and start longing for October.

League-wide there are around 40 or so unsigned RFAs.

And there are a ton of big names on the list.

Calgary has Monahan and Gaudreau waiting on new deals, for example.

You have guys like Barrie, Trouba, Lindholm, and Dumba on D that need to sign.

And then you have Kucherov, Hoffman, and Nichushkin up front.

 

[Wisent42]

League-wide there are around 40 or so unsigned RFAs.

And there are a ton of big names on the list.

Calgary has Monahan and Gaudreau waiting on new deals, for example.

You have guys like Barrie, Trouba, Lindholm, and Dumba on D that need to sign.

And then you have Kucherov, Hoffman, and Nichushkin up front.

That makes me feel a little better, but still - I just want it done!

 

[Reddawg]

It does seem like the big-deal RFA's are signing a lot later than usual this year. I'm used to losing all offer-sheet hope by July 15th but it's almost August and there's still an All-Star team worth of unsigned talent out there. It would be a hell of a display of dominoes if one team got an offer sheet signed and then the scales tip out of control.

 

[Jim Bob]

It does seem like the big-deal RFA's are signing a lot later than usual this year. I'm used to losing all offer-sheet hope by July 15th but it's almost August and there's still an All-Star team worth of unsigned talent out there. It would be a hell of a display of dominoes if one team got an offer sheet signed and then the scales tip out of control.

OSs rarely happened in the past. Add in the cap not really growing and I think they are even less likely at this point.

 

[Reddawg]

OSs rarely happened in the past. Add in the cap not really growing and I think they are even less likely at this point.

Probably, but that's no reason for me to stop dreaming about Lindholm and Gaudreau raising their first Cup in Sabres blue and gold next summer.

 

[Jim Bob]

Probably, but that's no reason for me to stop dreaming about Lindholm and Gaudreau raising their first Cup in Sabres blue and gold next summer.

Even in the theoretical world where Murray used an OS to get another team's RFA, it would be an either/or situation with those two.

Each would cost the same picks.

 

[Reddawg]

Even in the theoretical world where Murray used an OS to get another team's RFA, it would be an either/or situation with those two.

Each would cost the same picks.

My humorous fantasy has clearly been wasted on you.

 

[Jim Bob]

My humorous fantasy has clearly been wasted on you.

Sorry, I prefer legally possible daydreams.

 

[haseoke39]

No room for an offersheet now.

 

[Reddawg]

Sorry, I prefer legally possible daydreams.

No, see, you're forgetting the fantasy part where both Treliving and NonTMGMBM have ideological issues with offer sheets and decide not to match offers for players that clearly want to play elsewhere, therefore we get Gaudreau for level three compensation (2nd rounder) and get Lindholm for level four compensation (1st and 3rd rounder).

And the heavens rain down upon us all as we rejoice and bask in the glory that is Sabres Hockey for years to come. I think we should get someone from the fanbase on the task of breaking fax machines and downing internet connections in Calgary and Anaheim for the next little while so we can get this done.