D and S Sports: Buffalo Sabres

Showing posts with label Buffalo Sabres. Show all posts

Are the Sabres For Sale?

12/02/2010 | Posted by Devin

Apparently they are. Or at least The Hockey News is reporting that they are.

This can mean nothing but good things for the future of the franchise. Don't get me wrong, I think Tom Golisano is a good owner and I will forever appreciate what he did for the Sabres and the city of Buffalo when he purchased the team out of bankruptcy nearly a decade ago. Without him, hockey in Buffalo might not even be a current topic anymore and Sabres gear would be sold on a rack with Hartford Whalers t-shirts.

Terry Pegula: Buffalo's New Owner?

However, Golisano's time as the owner is probably up now. He is rarely seen at games and almost never involved in anything relating to the team, besides the consistent rumors every year or so that the team is being sold. Larry Quinn is essentially the guy we always see and he is a huge part of the problem for the Sabres. While it may be Golisano's money, Quinn is the guy who is watching over the budget and restricting Darcy Regier in terms of building a Cup contender. In turn, Regier can't build an effective roster and Lindy Ruff is left trying to win with limited options. It all rolls downhill with the Sabres and it starts at the top.

(I realize the report above hints that Quinn would remain at his position, but if Pegula is the sole owner and it's his money to spend, maybe Quinn won't be so awful at what he does. Of course, this is all wishful thinking because if Quinn doesn't own a part of the team, he has no real business working for them. He can go back to his real estate deals and leave us be.)

I'll be honest and tell you that I never heard of Terry Pegula before this report surfaced. But I can say without a doubt that everything I've read about the guy has been extremely positive. Actually, it has sounded like a dream come true. He's a hockey fan, he likes the Sabres, he grew up liking the 70s era Flyers (meaning he likes a bruising style of hockey), he is extremely rich, he has donated $88 million to fund Penn State's hockey program recently (meaning he is willing to invest money without an immediate return or a return at all), and his wife is from the Western New York area.

There is a part of me that feels guarded, mostly because good things like this don't happen to Buffalo franchises, whether it be the Sabres or the Bills. An owner with this kind of interest in this team and deep pockets can only mean one thing: the Sabres would be a serious Cup contender in the near future. While the Sabres do currently spend money, there is still a self-imposed budget in place because to Golisano, this is more of a financial investment to him. According to the linked report above, Golisano purchased the Sabres and with all the concessions added in, paid roughly $62 million for the team. If that is true, selling for $150 million or a figure close to that would have to signal a success on his part. In my eyes, we all win with this deal.

I don't think with a new owner that the Sabres would be wildly drunk with money and blow it foolishly though. With Darcy still working as the GM, he would be smart and make deals in the best interest of the team. As it stands right now, the Sabres are more than $4 million under the cap. That's a lot of money in regards to a NHL team. Among the players coming off the books this season are Tim Connolly and Craig Rivet. With those two alone, that adds up to $8 million dollars in cap space. Not counting anybody else, the Sabres would have a lot of money to use towards their own talent and future free agents. With an owner truly wanting to build a winner and not just looking to make decisions based on his wallet, it signals truly exciting times for Buffalo fans.

Labels: Buffalo Sabres, Terry Pegula, Tom Golisano

A Rough Start

10/20/2010 | Posted by Devin

Normally, I'd be writing this weekly as a recap of the week that was in Sabres hockey. Since I got a late start, we'll pretend the last week and a half has really only been one week. Honestly, it's felt like 10 years. I can't remember the last time the Sabres got off to such an awful start. They are completely frustrating to watch. But allow me to put on my homer glasses for a second as I tell you why they will eventually be okay.

Right now, nobody on the team is scoring besides Derek Roy. He has five goals in the first six games and I honestly can't remember the last time I've seen Roy play this way. Unlike Tim Connolly, it looks like Derek Roy took his playoff criticism to heart and working that much harder when he's on the ice. Obviously he isn't going to keep this pace up all year (and finish with 68 goals), but I would gladly take a 30 goal season from Roy. His career high is 32, so I don't think it's out of the question one bit.

And on that note, nobody else on this team can score to save their lives. Drew Stafford, Jordan Leopold, Tim Connolly, Paul Gaustad and Cody McCormick are the only other Sabres to have scored; which is a combined seven goals. So if you're keeping count at home, the score is the Buffalo Sabres 7, Derek Roy 5.

But on that note, that means the goals are going to eventually come. Ennis, Hecht, Pominville (when healthy), Connolly (?), Gerbe (?); they all have some sort of goal scoring ability. At some point the goals are going to come. I'm not being unrealistic in thinking that. I honestly feel like once a few more start to hit the net, the flood gates will break. I know, it's some real hard hitting analysis here. Just trust me on this. The Sabres didn't win their division on accident last year. They aren't going to finish 1-80-1 this season. They will figure things out and get going. Honestly, I'd rather him them slump in the beginning rather than the end.

Three Stars:

1. Derek Roy – Not much more I can say about Roy that I didn't say above. He's been on fire so far this

season and it's about time. I have no doubt that he'll hit a slump at some point, but hopefully this year it isn't prolonged. He seems to have a knack for the net this year, which is welcome surprise to start the season.

2. Ryan Miller – It almost seems crazy to list Miller as the second star when he's posted a 1-3-1 record to start the season, but that isn't entirely fault. There isn't much I can to defend Miller in the games against Chicago and New York. He allowed nine goals combined in the two. However, in the other three games he's allowed four goals total. This includes a season opening win at Ottawa and a 1-0 defeat to New Jersey in overtime. For anybody that faults Miller in that game, get real. In those three games, he's had a whopping total of three goals to support him. THREE GOALS. Buffalo scored that many against Chicago Saturday night, unfortunately Patrick Lalime was in net and he apparently needs at least five for the win.

For anybody new to the blog or anybody needing a refresher course; I figure I should get this out of the way now as a quick disclaimer. Ryan Miller is one of my all-time favorite Buffalo athletes. He was long before his Olympic fame. He was when I was forced to defend him against people who had nicknamed him Mr. Softie. We can pretty much expect Miller to make the weekly list of three stars each week when I write this, barring the news that he robbed one of Buffalo's homeless shelters or something of the sort. Just figured I'd mention it now.

3. Tyler Ennis – I mentioned this in my Sabres preview, but Ennis played the last 10 games of the regular season last year and finished with nine points. He then chipped in four more in six playoff games. Not quite a point per game player, but pretty close. Well so far this season he's kept that pace up, with four assists in six games. Eventually it would be nice to see him score some goals, but assists are just as good in my book. Last season only four players finished with 50 or more points: Roy, Connolly, Pominville and Vanek. With that in mind, getting 50 or more from Ennis would be fantastic. In fact, that's my benchmark for the rookie. I know it seems like a lot, but I've got a feeling about this kid.

Three Duds:

1. Thomas Vanek – I feel bad when I'm hard on Thomas Vanek, mostly because I do think he's a good player and has a great amount of skill. I think what his problem is and has been for years is that he tries too hard, presses himself and ends up blowing multiple opportunities. Then he sits on the bench, beats himself up about it and presses even more. It's a vicious cycle and has been going on since the Sabres handed him his mega-deal and unfortunately for Thomas, it's going to continue.

So far in six games, Vanek has 2 points and a -3 rating. To put it nicely, that is garbage. If people are wondering why the Sabres are struggling to start out the season, lots of fingers can be pointed at #26. When you're the highest paid player on the team, yes he makes more than Miller, he needs to deliver. I don't expect Ovechkin or Crosby type numbers from Vanek, but he should be a point per game player at the very least. Anything less is underperforming in relation to the amount of money he makes. It's sad but true.

2. Tim Connolly – By the time the playoffs ended last season, I pretty much wanted to drop the gloves and beat the living crap out of Tim Connolly. Nobody exemplified more what was wrong with the Sabres. But then I figured having the summer off would be a nice way of refreshing my mindset and I'd be able to give him a solid 10 games to prove himself to me again.

(Keep in mind I was all for his contract extension at the time, now I would cut my own hand off to get rid of him)

So let's flash forward to this season. We're six games in and I was sick of Connolly five games ago. He does nothing for me and even worse, he does even less for the Sabres. I don't want to totally put this on him because he used to be a dynamic player, but the concussion he sustained in Ottawa was his downfall. I know he's physically healthy, but he will never the same player he was. I highly doubt the Sabres can unload him on any other team (although the Rangers were somehow able to rid themselves of Scott Gomez and Ales Kotalik), so it looks like we're stuck with Connolly for the rest of this year at the very least. At that point I fully expect the Sabres to walk away from him and let him sign elsewhere.

3. Tyler Myers – Everyone in Buffalo dreaded the potential sophomore slump and it appears to be strangling our Calder Trophy winner right now. Through the first six games, Myers has one assist and a -6 rating. I won't beat him up too much because I think he's still a very good player and will be for a very long time. This is only natural for second year players of almost any professional sport. I just hope be breaks out of the slump soon or the Sabres are in trouble. If this means making him a healthy scratch for a night, so be it.

The Week Ahead:

At Atlanta (10/20), vs Ottawa (10/22), at New Jersey (10/23), at Philadelphia (10/26)

See ya next week, where hopefully the Sabres aren't occupying the basement in the Northeast.

Labels: Buffalo Sabres, Derek Roy, Ryan Miller, Thomas Vanek, Tim Connolly, Tyler Ennis, Tyler Myers

2010 Buffalo Sabres Season Preview

10/08/2010 | Posted by Scott Lunn

Editor's Note: This article was actually written by Devin Dombrowski, I'm simply posting it on his behalf.

Last season was an exciting one for Buffalo fans as the Sabres ended their two year playoff hiatus by winning the Northeast Division and eventually winning the Stanley Cup flopping in the first round to the sixth seeded Boston Bruins. This was due in large part to Ryan Miller and the best season of his career. To many Buffalo fans, Miller has always been that "really good" goalie that had trouble crossing over into the great category. Not only did he affirm himself as a top three goaltender in the NHL, he almost helped lead Team USA to a stunning gold medal victory in the Olympics. The big question this season will be whether or not he builds on that success or slips a little now that greatness will be expected of him.

Key Additions: Rob Niedermayer (F), Jordan Leopold (D), Shaone Morrisonn (D)

Key Losses: Toni Lydman (D), Henrik Tallinder (D), Tim Kennedy (F), Adam Mair (F)

As usual, it wasn't an exciting offseason for Buffalo (unless you count the death of the slug). On the surface, it would appear that losing Lydman and Tallinder will hurt the blue line quite a bit. But as you'll remember, I've never been overly impressed with either player. Last offseason I was hoping they would both get traded and the Sabres would get something in return for them. Naturally this didn't happen, but the Sabres essentially traded in these two guys for Leopold and Morrisonn during the summer. Are they an upgrade? Well, let's take a look.

2008-09	GP	Goals	Assists	+/-	Blocked Shots
T. Lydman	80	3	20	0	166
H. Tallinder	66	1	11	-2	81
J. Leopold	83	7	17	-15	100
S. Morrisonn	72	3	10	+4	98

2009-10
T. Lydman	67	4	16	+2	98
H. Tallinder	82	4	16	+13	95
J. Leopold	81	11	15	-2	138
S. Morrisonn	68	1	11	+8	104

Use those numbers and draw whatever conclusion you would like. But I have two last things to consider when evaluating these players. Toni Lydman is 32 years old and Henrik Tallinder is 31. Jordan Leopold is 30 years old and Shaone Morrisonn is 27. Also, Tallinder and Lydman were signed by their new teams for a total of $6,675,000 against the cap. Leopold and Morrisonn will count for a combined $5,075,000 against the cap. Sounds to me like a pretty solid deal.

But enough with the defensemen, let's talk about the forwards.

The only notable addition via free agency is Rob Niedermayer. He won't light up the score sheet for sure, but he provides some good veteran depth and leadership. I don't think it's a coincidence at all that the Sabres matured last season when Mike Grier came back for his second stint with the team. I think the Niedermayer signing is a similar one in that aspect. It's also worth noting that Niedermayer is now the only player on the Sabres current roster with his name on the Stanley Cup. That has to count for something, right?

Leaving the team is Adam Mair and Tim Kennedy. Mair was on the outside looking in when last season started and struggled for the bulk of the season. To his credit though, when the playoffs started, Mair was very noticeable on the ice. Unfortunately for him, Cody McCormick was called up during the playoffs and seemed to play just as well. With that, McCormick looks like he'll be a permanent Sabre this season and Mair was sent packing. I have nothing against Adam Mair and wouldn't have minded it if he came back, but I do like this move. McCormick is younger, might have a little more scoring in him and will definitely drop the gloves when necessary. We've already seen that much so far in the preseason.

Kennedy was the hometown boy that impressed many last season. He definitely had his rough spots during the season and was horrid at taking faceoffs, but overall it would've been worthwhile to bring him back. Kennedy was a RFA and there was little doubt that he'd be back this season. The Sabres offered him a little over $800,000 and a two way contract to remain with the team. Kennedy balked at that offer, mostly the two way part, because he didn't want to be held accountable for his play. If he were to slip up like he did last season, the Sabres would now have the option to send him down to Portland. So Kennedy took the team to arbitration and was rewarded with a $1 million/1 year deal. Because the amount was under a certain limit, the Sabres had no choice but to accept the offer. So the Sabres promptly bought out his contract and sent him packing. Recently, Kennedy has been waived by the Rangers. This means he'll either be playing in the AHL or be unemployed. One has to think that maybe he should've just shut up and taken the Sabres initial offer.

One of the biggest reasons that Kennedy was expendable to the Sabres was the emergence of Tyler Ennis and possibly Nathan Gerbe. Gerbe has had plenty of opportunities to impress the Sabres during numerous call-ups and could never really accomplish much. I'm absolutely in that crowd as I was just about sick of hearing about Gerbe and his "potential". To his credit though, Gerbe got increased playing time during the playoffs and started to impress me. If he can bring that type of game every night, he surely deserves a roster spot.

Ennis got his call-up later than Gerbe or Kennedy, but blew both out of the water when his style of play. In 10 regular season games, Ennis contributed nine points. Similarly, in six playoff games, Ennis chipped in four points. Granted it's a small amount of games, but Ennis has shown the ability to be a near point per game player and I'm all for that. Last time the Sabres thought they had one on the roster they signed him to a 2 year/4.5 million dollar deal.

It's no secret that by the end of last season, I was about as down as you could be on the "core" of the Sabres. But this is where selective memory comes into play. I've all summer to calm down and relax about them. I'm taking a homeristic view into the season that they have another season under their belts and will be more experience and ready to contribute. Just as a disclaimer though, this goes for about the first 10 games of the season. If it becomes more of the same (I'm sure it will) from Pominville, Connolly and the gang; I'll be all for trading them and getting fresh faces in Buffalo. I can only take so much ineptitude and I get the bulk of that from the Bills already.

Looking at the Northeast Division, Boston is really the only team I see as a legit threat to take the title away from Buffalo. Ottawa is getting older and signing Sergei Gonchar didn't exactly address that particular issue. I'm still not enamored by their goaltending situation, though I never really have been. Montreal will be a solid team, but I'm pretty sure trading Halak and keeping Carey Price was the textbook definition of a wrong move. Price has already been booed mercilessly after allowing four goals in the preseason opener. I see that ending well. The Leafs will be improved with J.S. Giguere in net, but well, they're still the Leafs.

And because of the reasons listed above (barring some major injury), I fully expect the Sabres to make a trip to the playoffs again. Realistically I see them as a 4-6 seed, but winning the division is definitely in play.

Labels: 2010 Preview, Buffalo Sabres, NHL

Playing GM: Part II

8/01/2010 | Posted by Devin

Since we're roughly a month into free agency for the NHL and camps will be opening up sooner than we think, I thought it would be fun to play GM again. I took my first stab when I ranked the upcoming free agent class and while none of it came to fruition, there is still plenty out there. Plus I figure with the more I write, I might actually get something right for once.

Thanks to Cap Geek and there new and improved cap calculator, it literally is amazing, I was able to have some fun with the roster and easily see the cap numbers.

So as it stands now, the Sabres have 13 forwards signed for the 10-11 season with another looming, Tim Kennedy. Kennedy just finished up his arbitration, as he was awarded $1 million for next season. Since the number is below a certain amount, the Sabres don't have the option of walking away from the number (not that I would expect them to anyways).

Kennedy was awarded a $1 million/1 year deal.

With that in mind, the Sabres have 14 forwards signed, which is a few too many seeing they still haven't upgraded much either. This leaves Buffalo with $6,689,643 in available cap space. As you can see, it's plenty of money to still be creative. Here are a couple of moves I'd highly consider if I were running the show.

My first step would be moving Tim Connolly and Drew Stafford for whatever they can get. I know this isn't the Sabres style but both contracts run out after this season and neither are worth keeping at this point, so why not get something in return? Neither player is completely useless and I'm sure some team would value those guys. My hope would be the Maple Leafs but I'm guessing that Brian Burke isn't biting on that one. Unfortunately I think Burke would want Derek Roy in a trade and he isn't someone I'm so quick to let go, although I could be talked into it.

In fact, if trading Roy and letting Stafford and Connolly walk after the season resulted in gaining a new top 6 forward and having the money to lock Tyler Myers up for the long haul, I'd gladly sign off on that deal, but that is another discussion for another day.

So for the sake of argument, let's pretend the Sabres could move Connolly and Stafford and acquire some guy with the last name of Kaberle. (I know…work with me on this)

This now leaves the Sabres with more cap space, $8.8 million to be exact, and clears up some of the roster jumble. Now we're down to 12 forwards and seven defensemen, which allows for Chris Butler and Andrej Sekera to compete for the 6^th d-man spot. Perfect. This also gives the Sabres their much coveted PP QB. Kaberle is a UFA after the season but so is Craig Rivet, and assuming he takes a rather large pay cut, it's safe to say this might be his last season in Buffalo.

We're missing one more thing. A top six forward. This is a risky proposition, but the Sabres have nothing to lose. They need to throw an offer sheet out to a restricted free agent. Specifically, they need to go after Bobby Ryan.

The Ducks have already offered Ryan a 5 year, 25 million dollar deal which has been turned down. If I were playing the part of GM, I'd be more than willing to offer a 5 year deal worth $30 million. At $6 million per season, it's a significant raise and might be just enough to have Anaheim take the draft picks in return. If it doesn't work and Anaheim matches, no harm no foul. Again, for the sake of argument, let's pretend that works and he comes to Buffalo.

This move would leave the Sabres with a nice $2.8 million dollar cap cushion for the season, which could give them some flexibility down the road for the trading deadline or even next season. It also adds a 30 goal scorer to the team in addition to Thomas Vanek.

Playoff disappointments aside, the Sabres accumulated 100 points and were division champs last season. They also survived the Olympics and Ryan Miller's added work load in the process. They won't have that distraction this year. They would be replacing Stafford and Connolly's production/disappearing act with a 30 goal scoring, 23 year old Olympic forward. They would also be adding one of the better PP defensemen in the league.

Yes please. Where do I sign up?

Labels: Bobby Ryan, Buffalo Sabres, Drew Stafford, Tim Connolly, Tomas Kaberle

Jordan Leopold Reaction

7/06/2010 | Posted by Devin

The news on July 1^st that the Sabres only signed Jordan Leopold was met with this type of reaction.

Sabres: "The Sabres have reached an agreement with Jordan Leopold"

Generic Fan A: "Who is that?"

Generic Fan B: "Some guy from Pittsburgh."

(Frantically Googling 'Jordan Leopold')

Generic Fan B: "He isn't a big name, I hate this."

Generic Fan A: "Wow, the Sabres are awful. How could they do this to me?"

Needless to say, it was an overreaction of epic proportions. Is Jordan Leopold the answer? Hardly. Is he a great signing? Not really. Was it that terrible? No, it wasn't.

Combine this with the overreaction to losing Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder and what you're left with is a massive headache. Just to review a few things, Lydman and Tallinder are easily replaceable. Neither was overwhelming during their time in Buffalo. In fact, before last season, most of the Sabres fan base wanted Tallinder run out of town. You can put me in that crowd. In fact, I wrote numerous times last offseason that I wanted the Sabres to dish off both contracts before they expire, even if it resulted in them getting a bag of pucks in return.

Flash forward to this season and all of a sudden losing both guys is a bad thing. Just for the sake of argument, here are the numbers for all three players for the past two seasons. Numbers don't tell the whole story, but they help paint a picture.

2009-10

	GP	Goals	Assists	Points	PP Points	+/-
Leopold	81	11	15	26	1	-2
Tallinder	82	4	16	20	0	+13
Lydman	67	4	16	20	0	+10

2008-09

	GP	Goals	Assists	Points	PP Points	+/-
Leopold	83*	7	17	24	1	-15
Tallinder	66	1	11	12	0	-2
Lydman	80	3	20	23	0	0

*Traded at deadline which accounts for one extra game played.

Leopold got identical money as Lydman got from Anaheim. +/- is the only real stat that Lydman was better than Leopold in. Otherwise, they are basically the same. The real difference between the two is that Leopold scores more goals. Just throwing this out there, but the Sabres could use some more goal scoring from their blue line.

As for Tallinder, where do we start? I already mentioned how nobody wanted him around but what changed this past season? Well for one, he had a major bounce back season that must have brain washed the fans' minds into thinking he was good again. So why did he have a bounce back season? Contract year? Paired up with Tyler Myers? You decide. I'm no expert (obviously), but watch New Jersey regret his contract roughly halfway through its tenure.

Again, I'm not getting on my soap box and backing this decision 100%. In fact for the sake of argument, here is what I wrote about him just before free agency started. But I also realize that it's only July 6^th and the Sabres don't lace up the skates for a number of weeks still.

In a solid and under the radar signing, the Sabres re-inked Cody McCormick to another one year deal. The big difference this season compared to last is that this year it's a one way deal, which would indicate that he'll be spending the entire season up with Buffalo as opposed to Portland.

I was extremely high on McCormick in my Sabres season preview, maybe even a little too high on him seeing that he didn't even make the roster. That being said, he was called up during the playoffs and played very well in the final three games. Apparently the Sabres front office agrees because it looks like he'll be replacing Adam Mair or Matt Ellis. Actually, both might not return with this move.

From what I know about McCormick, I'm pretty excited to see him in Buffalo all season long.

So what's the next move gonna be?

Labels: Buffalo Sabres, Cody McCormick, Free Agency, Jordan Leopold

2010 NHL Free Agency – Forwards

6/24/2010 | Posted by Devin

NHL Free Agency kicks off July 1^st, so I figure that now is a good time to review the upcoming UFA and RFA class. Unlike last season, I won't be ranking them in terms of overall worth, but instead the rankings will reflect their worth to the Sabres and how bad I'd like to see the particular player in blue and gold next season. Please remember, these rankings are completely biased.

Finally, we've made it to the forwards. This might be the biggest problem area for the Sabres this summer. Buffalo has put a ton of faith in their system and their guys, and so far it hasn't exactly worked out. Thomas Vanek has had his moments where he's been that guy, but other times where we all bash our head against the wall when we realize he is the highest paid player on the team. Jason Pominville is still living off his 15 minutes of fame for a big playoff goal he scored over four years ago. Derek Roy has been the leading scorer for the Sabres in the regular season but failed to show up in the playoffs. Tim Connolly opted not to play at all in the playoffs. I could go on and on, but you get the point. The Sabres need some more muscle up front and a true number one center.

If I had my choice, the Sabres trade Connolly and get a decent return. He has a $4.5 million dollar cap hit this season and then his contract expires. I'd like to see the Sabres get something from him because I think there is a 0.03% chance the Sabres bring him back after this season. I know other fans are quick to jump on the trade Derek Roy bandwagon, but I'm a little more hesitant on that one. Facts are facts. He has been the team's leading scorer for the past three seasons and he only makes $4 million per season. He is also locked up for the next three seasons. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

As if everyone needs this reminder again, but these rankings reflect my personal opinion on players the Sabres need and should go after, not overall UFA rankings like done in the past. That means no Ilya Kovalchuk in these rankings. Not happening, nor should it.

1. Patrick Marleau (SJ) – I would crack a bottle of champagne and celebrate the day if the Sabres signed Marleau. His point totals since the lockout have been 86, 78, 48, 71 and 83. He would instantly improve the Sabres goal scoring and be their best forward. Maybe he'd even show Pominville a thing or two about earning his contract.

(Ed. Note: After the writing this article, Marleau re-signed with San Jose for a massive $6.9 million per year.)

2. Tomas Plekanec (MTL) – There is a part of me that wonders if Plekanec is one of those guys who over-achieved during his contract year and will ultimately cash in and let down his next team but I'm willing to ignore those thoughts for the time being. This past season was definitely a bounce back season but he also chipped in 69 points in the 2007-08 season so maybe it's unfair to label him as a one hit wonder. Like I said in the defenseman rankings, another positive to signing Plekanec would be stealing him away from a division rival.

(Ed. Note: After writing this article, Montreal did in fact resign Plekanec to a 6 year deal.)

3. Alexander Frolov (LA) – Since the lockout, Frolov hasn't scored less than 50 points in any season. That would instantly put him in the top five for scoring on the team. Frolov's cap hit was $2.9 million but I'm guessing he'll be looking at about $4 million per season coming up. Judging on his numbers, he looks like a near identical image of Derek Roy, which probably isn't a heartwarming thought for most Sabres fans but I can live with it.

4. Ray Whitney (CAR) – Whitney isn't exactly young and won't exactly provide a ton of toughness, but there are other added benefits to signing him. I advocated for him at the trade deadline and nothing has changed, except the Sabres can now get him without giving up any players or draft picks. Because of his age (38), I'd be uncomfortable with anything more than a two year deal.

5. Lee Stempniak (PHX) - Stempniak flamed out in Toronto big time, but blew up after the trade deadline while in Phoenix. Stempniak grew up in the Buffalo area which automatically means he'd be a great Sabre. /sarcasm. But seriously, I think he showed his true potential in Phoenix. There are plenty of reasons why he struggled in Toronto. For one, putting it nicely, the Leafs weren't a very good team. Two, his game was examined under the strongest microscope with some of the toughest fans to please. When the pressure was off while playing in a non-hockey town, he lit it up. Granted he'd be going back into a big hockey city with large expectations, but I'd like to think he has his confidence back.

6. Manny Malhotra (SJ) –Malholtra falls into the bargain category. His cap hit was a miniscule $700,000 last season in San Jose. In return he scored 14 goals and 19 assists. That is essentially the same amount of money Adam Mair made while providing double the scoring. I will absolutely sign up for that. In fact, Mair has never even scored double digit goals during his seven seasons in Buffalo. His highest total is eight goals in the 2008-09 season. In a similar six year span, Malhotra scored nine goals one season and eclipsed double digit goals in the other five. This would be a very good under the radar signing for Buffalo if they went in that direction.

7. Matthew Lombardi (PHX) – Lombardi has a few aspects that stand out to me. He's only 28 years old and his cap hit was $1,816,667. To put that into perspective, that is a little more than what Mike Grier makes. It's less money than what Drew Stafford, Paul Gaustad and the majority of Sabres forwards bring home. With that in mind, Lombardi scored 19 goals last season and contributed another 34 assists. So no he isn't a top line 40 goal scorer, but for the cap hit and the production, he's a great bargain that would improve the team.

8. Bill Guerin (PIT) – Like Ray Whitney, Bill Guerin is a little too old for my taste, but I'd sign up for a one or two year deal. Guerin has the ability to chip in 20 goals but would also provide a great deal of toughness and leadership. Having someone like Guerin on the roster would help a great deal during the playoffs when the young guys are busy being invisible. All of that being said, Pittsburgh would be crazy to let him go. He's a perfect fit for them.

9. Matt Cullen (OTT) –Cullen would be a decent signing for the right price, mostly for the veteran presence and leadership. I can't stress this enough, the Sabres need more players that will take control of the locker room. There is a reason the Sabres wasted no time signing Mike Grier before letting him hit the open market. It was refreshing to see them recognize his importance and place a value on it.

10. Saku Koivu (ANA) –I'm lukewarm on the thought of Koivu in a Sabres uniform, but I needed a nice even list of 10 for this article so here he is. I'm all for adding another 50+ points to the Sabres group of forwards, but I wouldn't be crazy about him taking up three million or more against the cap. Now if you were to tell me that the Sabres were able to unload Drew Stafford and his $1.9 million cap hit and replace it with Koivu and a $3 million cap hit, I can easily live with that. Again, the Sabres need some more consistent scoring.

If I have one internet pet peeve, it's people playing GM on the internet with unrealistic scenarios that would only happen on Xbox. However, now that we've seen my rankings for goalies, d-men and forwards, allow me to play the role for a few minutes.

The Sabres currently have around $10 or $11 million in cap space for the upcoming season. They have 10 forwards, 5 defensemen and one goalie under contract.

Sign Martin Biron for $1.2 million. Sign Carlo Colaiacovo for $2 million. Trade for Tomas Kaberle, in the process trading Drew Stafford and whatever draft picks Brian Burke wants. Re-sign Patrick Kaleta and Tim Kennedy, each getting a minor raise. Sign Ray Whitney and Matthew Lombardi. Raise another division champion banner in HSBC.

Labels: Buffalo Sabres, Forwards, Free Agency

2010 NHL Free Agency – Defensemen

6/24/2010 | Posted by Devin

Since the lockout, Kaberle has contributed point totals of 67, 58, 53, 31 and 49. Factor in that his 31 points came in 57 games, and it's all the more impressive. Kaberle would instantly be the best scoring defenseman on the Sabres, along with Tyler Myers. The idea of Kaberle in Buffalo also excited me because he's a power play specialist and the power play for Buffalo is horrendous. Literally, it's to the point where I wish the Sabres could actually decline penalties and just play 5 on 5.

Buffalo is clearing right around 5.5 million with Tallinder and Lydman leaving and I'd be perfectly okay with them giving that money to Kaberle for roughly four years. Rumors I've read have said Buffalo would have to give up a couple of draft picks and possibly Drew Stafford to acquire Kaberle. For me, that just sweetens the deal. Maybe Stafford will pan out and become a very good player, but my patience has run out on him and the sooner he's gone, the better. If Buffalo traded for Kaberle and locked him up, they would head into the season with Kaberle, Rivet, Montador, Myers, Sekera and Butler. Call me crazy but I'm more than okay with that. Rivet will most likely miss the beginning of the season but the Sabres have two players in Mike Weber and Marc-Andre Gragnani that could easily fill in and even challenge Sekera and Butler for regular playing time.

There is always the chance that the Sabres don't get this deal done, so with that in mind, let's see who will be available on the open market. Keep in mind, this isn't an overall ranking, but a ranking on who I think would be a good fit for the Sabres. I'm also only ranking the top 10 players to keep this as short as possible. Salary, age and scoring are the three things I'm factoring in here. If there has been one thing lacking in the past few seasons, it's been consistent scoring from the defensemen.

1b. Anton Volchenkov (OTT) – Volchenkov doesn't fit the bill for a scoring defenseman like I highlighted above, but I'd still love to have him in Buffalo for a few reasons. Volchenkov is only 28 years old and has been one of the better defensemen for Ottawa over the past few seasons. He'll be looking for a large payday since he's arguably the top defenseman overall, so the odds of Buffalo making a play on him are pretty rare. Part of the allure in my eyes is not only would the Sabres be upgrading their blue line, they would be directly hurting a division rival in the process.

2. Carlo Colaiacovo (STL) – Colaiacovo isn't a household name for most hockey fans but he would be a very solid signing for Buffalo. His current salary was $1.4 million, so even with a raise; he would bring a modest cap hit at best. Combine that with his age (27) and his recent point production, and I'm all for this signing. After being drafted by Toronto and constantly being injured, he has been relatively healthy for the past two seasons playing in 73 and 67 games respectively. In those two seasons he chipped in 30 and 32 points, which would make him the second highest scoring defenseman in Buffalo.

3. Joe Corvo (WAS) – Corvo doesn't have the highest point totals, but I would definitely be on board with him signing in Buffalo. I'm guessing he'll be looking at a contract right around three million per season for about four years, and I could live with that. I think I've mentioned it at least 80 times in this article, but the Sabres power play is an absolute joke. Corvo isn't quite in the class of Kaberle or Gonchar, but he'd still help upgrade that particular aspect for the Sabres.

4.
Sergei Gonchar (PIT) – Gonchar's salary and age go directly against my rules for signing a defenseman in free agency. However, if it was a one or two year deal and he took a significant pay cut of two million or more, I could talk myself into that signing. Gonchar would be a veteran presence on the blue line (with Cup winning experience) and possibly someone who could breathe some life into the power play as well. Like Kaberle, Gonchar would immediately be the best offensive defenseman the Sabres would have. Tyler Myers led the Sabres last season with 48 points in 82 games. In only 62 games with Pittsburgh, Gonchar had 50 points.

5. Marc-Andre Bergeron (MTL) - Bergeron's point totals aren't anything to write home about, but his cap number is rather modest and he's only 29 years old, so I wouldn't mind this signing at all. In the past two seasons his point totals have been above 30, so if anything, he'd instantly be the second highest scoring defenseman on the team. The biggest concern I have about Bergeron is how much he's bounced around so far in his career. Since the lockout he's played for the Oilers, Islanders, Ducks, Wild and Canadiens. That's an awful lot of teams in such a short time span.

6. Dan Hamhuis (NAS) – Hamhuis would help upgrade the blue line for Buffalo, but not necessarily in the scoring department. His point totals since the lockout have been 38, 20, 27, 26 and 24. Combine that with is current salary (2.5 million) and the likelihood of a significant raise, and his odds of signing in Buffalo are pretty slim. The biggest thing I noticed about Hamhuis is his durability. In the past five seasons in Nashville, Hamhuis has missed a total of seven games.

(Ed. Note: Nashville has already traded Hamhuis' rights to Philadelphia, so unless they really screw up and don't sign him, he is already off the market.)

7. Paul Martin (NJD) – Martin's price tag is a bit much for my liking, but he'd be a solid signing nevertheless. Martin was hurt for the better part of last season but still managed to net 11 points in 22 regular season games. I'd have to defer to the experts on this, but I do wonder how much of his success is tied to the system in New Jersey

8. Jay McKee (PIT) – This is more of a nostalgic pick because to be honest, I really don't know how much McKee has left in the tank. He's only 32 which isn't terribly old, but he's blocked so many shots over the course of his career that he might as well be 40. With all that in mind, he still suited up for 62 games last season in Pittsburgh and among the games he missed, many were because he was the 7^th defenseman and ended up being a healthy scratch. His cap hit was only $800,000 which is a tremendous bargain considering what you're getting in return. If he would be willing to accept a similar amount of money with similar circumstances to come back home to Buffalo, I'd be more than fine with it.

9. Pavel Kubina (ATL) – At 33 and carrying a price tag of five million per season, Kubina would be a tough sell for me. Besides a veteran presence, Kubina really doesn't fit into any of the three categories I'd be looking for. However, if he took a minor pay cut and Buffalo signed him, I'd definitely be able to talk myself into it.

10. Jordan Leopold (PIT) – Leopold will be 30 heading into next season and looking at a cap hit around two million, so I wouldn't be too excited if the Sabres were to sign him. He's only eclipsed 30 points in a season once (in 2003-04) and didn't make a huge difference for Pittsburgh in their latest playoff run. There are obviously worse choices, but signing Leopold would most likely be a 'more of the same' type signing for Buffalo.

Labels: Buffalo Sabres, Defensemen, Free Agency

2010 NHL Free Agency - Goaltenders

6/22/2010 | Posted by Devin

When Biron left Philadelphia last summer, his main objective was to get a starting gig with any NHL team. Buffalo had actually approached him last summer about returning to the Sabres as Miller's backup, but Biron turned the offer down because like I said, he wanted to start. This year I think things will be a little different for Biron. He struggled big time to even find a job last summer and once he settled on Long Island, he got a whopping 29 starts total. Now based on the ideal situation of the Sabres backup playing around 22 games this season, wouldn't it make sense for Biron to return to Buffalo, get the same workload as last season, and be on a winning team? I think so.

Here is my biggest reason for wanting Biron back. He's played in Buffalo, he's comfortable in Buffalo, the Sabres team is comfortable with him, and he won't lose the confidence of the coaching staff. I highlighted this above but recent goalies have been quick to lose the confidence of Lindy. I'm assuming someone like Biron wouldn't fall into that category. Biron is also very familiar with the Sabres system and there would be a short learning curve. Biron made $1.4 million last season, which is a number the Sabres could easily fit into their budget.

2. Michael Leighton (PHI) – I'll admit it, I'm totally jumping on the Leighton bandwagon based on this past season. I realize he's been released and sent down to the minors by a handful of teams multiple times, so his recent string could've been blind luck. Then again, he played pretty good for the most part in the Cup and had the Flyers one goal and one game away from hoisting Lord Stanley. For those who weren't following the Flyers before the playoffs, Leighton was a big reason for their turnaround and played a huge part in getting them into the playoffs. During the regular season, Leighton posted a 16-5-2 record along with a 2.48 GAA and .918 save percentage. He then suffered an injury that opened the door for Brian Boucher to take over which is the reason most people were caught by surprise with Leighton came back in and did so well. It was very ironic that Boucher replaced Leighton because of injury and became a playoff hero until he suffered his own injury that allowed Leighton to step back in. Speaking of the playoffs, Leighton went 8-3 with a 2.46 GAA and .916 save percentage, along with three shutouts. Leighton did struggle at times during the Stanley Cup, but let's be honest here; the Sabres wouldn't need Leighton to fill that kind of role in Buffalo. If he backed up Miller and posted similar numbers to this past regular season, the Sabres would coast to another Northeast Division crown. Just for reference, Patrick Lalime won a combined nine games the past two seasons for Buffalo.

3. Antero Niittymaki (TB) – Niittymaki falls into the same category as Johan Hedberg (below), someone who would have to accept a lesser role in terms of playing time to suit up for the Sabres. The positives for Niittymaki are his numbers (2.87/.909) and the fact that he'll only be 30 when the season starts. In fact, his age is the reason I have him ranked as high as I do. He has played regularly in the NHL since the 2005-06 season so he has the experience necessary in case something happens to Miller along the way. Niittymaki had his fair share of rough games for Tampa Bay so the Sabres would have to take that into account, but again, he'd be filling a different role in Buffalo. I'd also like to think that his numbers would be more consistent playing for a team less dysfunctional than the Lightning.

4. Patrick Lalime (BUF) – It's been well documented that I've had a very on and off relationship with Lalime during his two year tenure in Buffalo. Fact is that when he gets decent goal support, he usually does well. The problem is that he usually doesn't get that goal support. I can only assume after watching the Sabres play that they sacrifice offensive chances to make sure they are helping out defensively, since they know they don't have Miller in between the pipes for that particular game. Regardless, the last two seasons in Buffalo could've been worse. Jocelyn Thibault anybody?

Lalime only played in 16 games last season, which just isn't enough, although it is close. Lalime is getting older and that worries me as well, but he is also familiar with Buffalo and seems to like it (and his teammates seem to really like him). I'm not advocating the re-signing of Lalime if the above players are still available, but if they are gone, I would have no issue with another season of Lalime.

5. Johan Hedberg (ATL) – Sabres fans are probably familiar with Hedberg because it's almost a guaranteed Sabres loss when facing the guy. Hedberg posted a 2.62 GAA and .915 save percentage last season for the woeful Thrashers, which speaks volumes about his ability. The biggest red flag for me personally is that he's 37 years old. Then again, if he's only playing for a season or two in Buffalo, that shouldn't be too much of an issue, as long as he can stay healthy. Hedberg hasn't played less than 30 games since the 2006-07 season so he would have to be willing to accept a much lesser role to play in Buffalo, but wouldn't winning factor into that decision? Or playing in front of a capacity crowd?

6. Andrew Raycroft (VAN) – I would be horribly unimpressed if the Sabres signed Raycroft, but he isn't the worst choice available. He only played 21 games last season in Vancouver which tells me he's already accepted his role as a backup and he did well in that role, going 9-5-1 as the starter and posting a 2.42 GAA and .911 save percentage. Raycroft also sat behind Roberto Luongo, so coming to Buffalo to sit behind Ryan Miller wouldn't be a drastic change at all for him.

If the Sabres were to sign anybody other than the six listed above, I have a feeling I'd have to really talk myself into it being a solid signing. The six goalies listed above all come at a reasonable price and all would fill the backup goaltender position fairly well. Although, there is one other option.

The Sabres could bring Jhonas Enroth up from Portland and allow him to take over the backup role. I don't see them doing this however because the Sabres have already stated that they want a "veteran" to fill the role of backup. That doesn't bode well for Enroth. He also only has one game of NHL experience so the Sabres would be taking a huge chance on letting him take over, not to mention they might stunt his growth as a hockey player by cutting his games by such a large amount.

With all that being said, I'd be okay with Enroth filling the role, or any of the six free agents listed above.

Let's see what the Sabres decide to do.

Labels: Buffalo Sabres, Free Agency, Goaltenders

Sabres Roster Grades: Forwards

5/18/2010 | Posted by Devin

If you missed the first half of this article focusing on the goaltenders and defensemen, check it out here.

Forwards

Jochen Hecht: B+

Hecht gets the highest honor among Sabres forwards because he showed the greatest improvement from the 2008-09 season. He went from 12 goals and 27 points to 21 goals and 42 points. His on ice presence also meant a great deal to the Sabres and this was most evident during the playoffs where he didn't suit up for any of the six games. This season evenly matched my expectations which would explain why I was so down on him last season. Judging by his career numbers, I'm guessing this is about the standard for Hecht and where the bar should be set in terms of next season.

Patrick Kaleta: B-

I really like Patrick Kaleta for several reasons.

Derek Roy: B-

Roy and Tim Connolly are the poster children for the Sabres season. The two top forwards in terms of scoring, the two biggest goats of the playoffs and the two biggest reasons why they are golfing right now. Roy doesn't have an injury to lean back on like Connolly does, but Roy also didn't play like a complete waste. The effort was there, but the scoring wasn't. Roy is a streaky player for sure, but he is one of the few consistent players among all forwards over an 82 game stretch. He has led the team in scoring for the past three seasons and I'm not sure that is something we can fully ignore. I'd also like to note that he makes four million per season, which is a modest cap hit when compared to the on-ice production that he gives. During the season I was all but advocating a trade of Roy, which I wouldn't be opposed to for the right player (R.J. Umberger). But in the overall scheme of things, I like Derek Roy. It would have to be a really good trade for me to be pleased. In contrast, the other players I'm currently down on could be traded for a bag of warm pucks and I'd be happy. See? Big difference.

Tim Connolly: B-

I have absolutely no idea how I'm grading Tim Connolly so high. Besides Drew Stafford, Connolly was one of the worst Sabres on the ice during the playoffs. By game six, watching him play was vomit inducing. It seemed to me like for every big goal or assist he had, it was making up for a boneheaded turnover that he had earlier in the game. The first memory that instantly jumps into my head was a game against Philadelphia where he turned it over and gift-wrapped a go ahead goal for the Flyers. People (including me) temporarily forget about that because Connolly netted the game winner in overtime so all was forgiven. However, when he doesn't score (like he did in the playoffs), those turnovers and sloppy plays are far less forgivable. His poor playoff performance could be because of the injury he suffered, but I can't say that for sure. All I know is that he has one year left on his contract and I'd be more than happy if Darcy found a team to take him off our hands. Yes, I'm still bitter. However, judging over the entire season his play was good for the most part so I can't let a six game stretch completely destroy his grade despite my anger.

Thomas Vanek: B-

Vanek no doubt struggled for most of the season and his numbers properly reflect that. I've always been one to think that his enormous contract has always affected his play to some degree. Vanek is one of those players who you can visibly see on TV as someone who presses really hard to try and score and then is extremely hard on himself when he doesn't. While I think it's good that he holds himself accountable, sometimes he needs to let it go so it doesn't affect the rest of his game. There is one thing that nobody can deny and it's that Vanek finished the season on an absolute tear and the first round series would've ended differently had Johnny Boychuk not taken a wicked two hand slash to Vanek forcing him to crash into the boards. Vanek scored five goals in the final two regular season games and continued in the playoffs with a goal in game one and game six, his only two full playoff games. There was a brief discussion in the Buffalo media about whether Vanek could be the next captain of the Sabres. Let me just say that they way he ended the season has allowed me to at least consider this possibility, though I'm not completely sold on it yet.

Tim Kennedy: C+

This was Kennedy's first full NHL season and I'd mark it as a success. There were some bumps in the road but I think that is to be expected for most young guys. Kennedy's biggest contributions seemed to happen later in the season when was he was put on a scoring line and allowed to make more plays. For the bulk of the season he was a third line guy which I'm sure hampered some of his offensive numbers. Two glaring things Kennedy needs to work on for next season are his awful faceoff skills and his overall toughness. The game winning goal scored by Boston where Mark Recchi tossed Kennedy to the side like a rag doll to take the puck is forever burnt into my brain.

Jason Pominville: C+

Pominville was third on the team in points during the regular season, but I just don't care. 62 points in 82 games sounds decent until you realize that he is making 5.3 million dollars per season and is signed through the 2013-14 season. This is the standard for Pominville and I doubt the Sabres will ever see him eclipse 70+ points during a season. He effectively parlayed one big playoff goal into two good seasons playing next to Danny Briere into a huge contract. He played the Sabres front office for suckers. Well done Jason. Pominville is the epitome of what is wrong with the Sabres. When the going gets tough, Jason gets going…out the door. Maybe I'm being too hard on Pommers but I can't even remember the last time he scored a "big" goal. If anyone can enlighten me, I'm all for it.

Paul Gaustad: C+

The scoring dropped off slightly for Gaustad this season, but his faceoff percentage allowed most of us to ignore that fact. I'd be fairly surprised if Gaustad weren't elected the next captain of the Sabres when Rivet gives up the C or is given his walking papers in 2011. He is part of the group that includes the three players below him where the scoring touch isn't there, but the effort and heart is. Unfortunately, scoring does a lot towards winning which is why I had to rank some of the others ahead of these guys. It's not necessarily fair, but neither is winning the division and being eliminated in the first round.

Mike Grier: C+

I was very happy when Buffalo brought Grier back last offseason and I'm just as happy that they already signed him for next season. Who says the Sabres aren't proactive with their free agents? He is definitely showing his age as there were times during the season where it looked like he was skating through molasses, but when it came to be playoff time, it was Grier that was lying down and taking a puck in the head for the good of the team. I love players that are willing to do that and I'm fully convinced that if 80% of the roster played with that kind of desperation, we'd be discussing their second round matchup right now. Alas, there is only one Mike Grier. At a 1.2 million dollar price tag, I would be very upset Darcy didn't do his best to bring him back.

Matt Ellis: C

I could probably write the same paragraph for Matt Ellis and copy/paste it below for Adam Mair. If it weren't for jersey numbers or faces, I probably wouldn't be able to tell these two guys apart. They finished with almost identical numbers across the board, except Ellis frequented the penalty box much less than Mair. I said it multiple times during the season when the team was struggling, but if Mair and Ellis had more offensive ability, that line would've been great. I couldn't tell you how many times they created scoring chances and odd-man rushes just by busting their ass, but it usually didn't result in much since they don't really have a scoring touch. Both are unrestricted right now so it will be interesting to see how the Sabres handle the idea of bringing them back or replacing them with younger guys of the same ability. I'm fine with either option really.

Adam Mair: C-

Early in the season Adam Mair was put on waivers and nobody in the NHL wanted him. Then due to injury, Mair was inserted into the roster and did his best to prove the Sabres wrong. For the longest time he didn't prove anything as he was basically a pylon on the ice that never contributed. However, about two-thirds of the way into the season Mair came around and started chipping in some goals and some pretty big fights. That momentum carried over into the playoffs where he was one of the more noticeable Sabres (which isn't saying much for the stars of the team). If there is one good thing I can say about Mair, it's that he definitely gives a crap when he steps on the ice. I just wish his attitude and work ethic transferred over to other guys on the roster. A lot of players would've packed it in after being placed on waivers but Mair eventually responded.

Drew Stafford: D-

Off the top of my head, Stafford had one good game this season. It was a mid-season game against Pittsburgh where he sparked a comeback while Buffalo was down 3-0. He scored on a penalty shot, and then added a second goal before Buffalo finally finished off the comeback and won the game 4-3. The most surprising thing about this game wasn't that Stafford actually contributed to a win, but that he was chosen to take the penalty shot after recently being a healthy scratch. This was Lindy Ruff's way of saying, "I just scratched you, now prove me wrong." Stafford did, and then promptly crawled back into his shell. I hate the fact this he is signed through the 2010-2011 season. There isn't one Sabres player that I dislike more right now than Drew Stafford. Go away.

Tyler Ennis: Incomplete

The first of four incompletes, Ennis only played in 10 regular season games for the Sabres and all six playoff games. Ennis had nine points in those 10 games, which is easily the best point per game average on the team, although who knows if he could keep up that pace over a full 82 games. Postseason hockey didn't seem to affect him as he had four points in six games which tied him for tops among the Sabres. In the early stages Ennis seemed to struggle quite a bit on the road compared to home games, but that seemed to factor out towards the end of the postseason. The Buffalo front office has already said that Ennis won't be guaranteed a roster spot once training camp kicks off and he will have to earn his spot, which is a move I love. Don't allow him to be comfortable with his position. Make him work harder and ensure that he earns it. Ennis has the potential to be a real game breaker for the Sabres. If he becomes a star for the Sabres, people might always remember the 2008 draft for Buffalo.

Nathan Gerbe: Incomplete

Gerbe only played in 10 games for the Sabres so is also being given an incomplete. I'd be shocked and disappointed if I weren't handing out grades to both him and Ennis next offseason. In those 10 games, Gerbe had two goals and three assists, which would give him an average of .5 points per game. Hypothetically speaking, that average stretched across an 82 game season would be 41 points and be good for sixth on the team for the forwards. I can live with that, especially if he gave the effort we've seen so far night in and night out. Sometimes it's not all about scoring, but it's about the effort, which is the main reason that Drew Stafford has become completely useless.

Raffi Torres: Incomplete

It would be easy to classify the trade at the deadline for Torres as a failure, but I'm not ready to go there. He definitely didn't bring much scoring over with him from Columbus, but I liked his game quite a bit during the playoffs until he became a healthy scratch midway through the series (a move that still confuses me). Still, 14 games is a small sampling and I believe it's even harder to judge those games when they were late in the season. Some players take a long time to adjust to a late season trade and Torres appeared to fit that description quite well. People tend to forget that Stu Barnes went 17 straight regular season games after his trade to Buffalo before finally scoring in the playoffs. Granted Barnes actually scored in the playoffs and Torres didn't, but Torres also didn't have much of a chance. Either way, Torres is definitely gone this offseason and rumors have pegged him to Toronto. I look forward to him scoring in bunches against Buffalo, since that is what most ex-Sabres tend to do. (See Satan, Miroslav)

Clarke MacArthur: Incomplete

MacArthur is the fourth and final incomplete from the Sabres forwards. He played in 60 games which is more than enough to earn him an actual grade, but because he finished the season in Atlanta I see no point in grading him. He started out the season on fire but quickly fell back to Earth and became an inconsistent scorer and a defensive liability while on the ice. By the time he was traded, I was relieved to see him go.

Labels: Buffalo Sabres, Roster Grades