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More roster discussion with the penultimate free agent in the organization: #59 Tim Schaller C (24-year-old RFA) Rochester 65/15/28/43/3/116 Buffalo 18/1/1/1/-5/2 If there was an award for the most under-the-radar prospect for the Sabres going in to last year, it would probably have gone to Tim Schaller. By the end of the year, if there was another award for most improved prospect, he would have been in the running for that as well. A New Hampshire-born undrafted college free agent, Schaller parlayed decent size and a reputation for responsible play into a professional contract, but his lack of skill made him an apparent longshot for an NHL career. Two years later, he’s certainly grown in stature. The rookie’s strong final month in Rochester caught the organization’s attention and he followed that up with a good camp last fall. Adding some surprising offensive numbers in his second AHL season to go with his continued attention to detail, he ended up being one the primary Rochester call-ups. While he certainly didn’t stand out in the NHL, he didn’t look out of place on the fourth line either. As an older prospect seeking a new contract, he is at a crossroads. He’s well down the team’s list of centre ice prospects, but even the most loaded teams need serviceable fourth liners. It’s not yet clear if he is just another warm body, or whether he can provide good service as an 11th-13th forward in the manner of a Cody McCormick. Links to the rest of the series: Anders Lindback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/ Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/ Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/ Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/ Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/ Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabres...e-dalpe-damigo/ Mikhail Grigorenko: http://forums.sabres...ail-grigorenko/ Tyson Strachan, Andre Benoit: http://forums.sabres...han-and-benoit/ Mark Pysyk: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23414-roster-review-3-mark-pysyk/

Player number nine in our player discussion series #25 Mikhail Grigorenko C (20-year-old RFA) Rochester 43/14/22/36/-5/27 Buffalo 25/3/3/6/-10/2 You all know the back story: big, talented centre slides to Buffalo in the draft, is sold as the second coming, gets handed a roster spot he doesn't deserve at 18, flops in two opportunities and bounces between multiple teams and leagues. What is easy to miss in all the hype and disappointment is that he had what would be a pretty promising season for most 20-year-old mid-first round picks. He scored at close to a 70-point pace as an AHL rookie and got a few looks with the big team, settling in on a decent-looking line with Foligno and Gionta down the stretch. In the NHL his offensive skills were only visible in spurts, perhaps because of the deliberate attention he was giving to his defensive responsibilities, perhaps because of uncertain chemistry with most of his linemates, perhaps because he lacked speed and power. No Sabre enters the season with more question marks. He probably could use another half-season in Rochester, but would have to clear waivers in order to do that. He might be ready for sheltered minutes as a top-nine centre, but is competing against the more highly touted Reinhart and Eichel for that role. Is it worth seeing if he can he play wing, or would that just be the latest example of his continued mishandling? Despite a reputation as a less-than hard worker, Grigorenko's issues last year seemed more to do with confidence than effort. He continues to rank highly on various prospect lists and clearly there is talent there. He is the biggest wild card in the Sabres' stable. Will the card be played here, leveraged in a trade or become a squandered opportunity? Links to the rest of the series: Anders Linback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/ Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/ Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/ Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/ Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/ Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23351-roster-review-varone-dalpe-damigo/

Next up, last season's leading scorer: #63 Tyler Ennis RW (four years left at $4.6 million per, age 25) Buffalo 78/20/26/46/-19/37 It was never thought of in those terms when it happened — probably not even by management — but Tyler Ennis may have been the first asset acquired in the tank. He was taken in the 2008 draft with the 26th pick, originally San Jose’s that came to Buffalo in the Brian Campbell trade. The pick was acquired as part of a new Sabre policy of auctioning off core UFAs rather than letting them walk without compensation. Undersized and thought by some to be a gamble when he was picked, Ennis has proved detractors wrong, scoring more NHL goals than all but two players selected in his draft year. He registered 20 goals and 49 points as a rookie. Since then, he has been remarkably consistent offensively, scoring at a similar points/game rate every season, even as he was being constantly shifted through all three forward positions. Despite similar numbers, last year was considered a bit of a breakthrough by some observers, as Ennis led the team in scoring. Part of that was an impression of consistently high effort, part of it was the sense he was winning more battles and turning over the puck less, part of it was the fact he was the only payer on the team capable of consistently creating offence. Heading into this season, he seems to found a permanent home as the team’s top RW. Surprisingly, circumstances have made him a veteran who will be counted on to be a leader. Fans are speculating whether his game can grow further as the team adds more talent to the top six. Links to the rest of the series: Anders Lindback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/ Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/ Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/ Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/ Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/ Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabres...e-dalpe-damigo/ Mikhail Grigorenko: http://forums.sabres...ail-grigorenko/ Tyson Strachan, Andre Benoit: http://forums.sabres...han-and-benoit/ Mark Pysyk: http://forums.sabres...w-3-mark-pysyk/ Tim Schaller: http://forums.sabres...9-tim-schaller/ Matt Ellis: http://forums.sabres...-37-matt-ellis/ Cody Hodgson: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23431-roster-review-19-cody-hodgson/

Next up in our player discussion series: #22 Johan Larsson F (22-year-old RFA) Rochester 43/15/23/38/+11/38 Buffalo 39/6/10/16/0/12 Larsson came to North America three years ago, considered just another promising European second-rounder. But in Sweden, he was very highly regarded. At 17, he scored 14 points in five games at World Under18s, leading Sweden to silver. At 18, he won rookie of the year in his first season in the Swedish Elite League, helping Brynas win the championship. And at 19, he captained the Swedes to the 2012 World Junior title. Larsson sparkled on the farm during his first two years with the Buffalo organization after being acquired in the Jason Pominville trade. Playing wing and centre, and in all situations, he was possibly the Amerks’ best all-around player this year and last. But in Buffalo it was a different story. In his first 54 Sabre games, he had just seven points, rarely getting ice time beyond the fourth line. He complained about lack of opportunity, earning a reprimand from coach Ted Nolan. Those quotes sparked internet speculation that he would head back to Europe in frustration this fall. After the trade deadline, Larsson finally got the opportunity he craved. He took advantage, registering 13 points and a +1 in the season’s last 17 games, where he played as the team’s number one centre, often matched against the opponents’ top lines. Has he cemented a role with the team? Is it at centre, or on the wing? Is he a good fourth-liner, a solid third-liner, or can he play in the top six? Will he be pushed aside to make room for Reinhart and Eichel? And how will that possibility affect his contract talks and his role with the team going forward?

Continuing the roster review with one of the summer's quieter acquisitions #17 David Legwand C (one year left left at $3 million per, age 34) Ottawa 80/9/18/27/1/32 Something that may be an eye-opener for those who have him pegged as nothing more than a salary dump: David Legwand would have finished fifth in scoring on the Sabres last year. Two years ago, his 51 points would have had him in first. He might be 34 and nearing the end, but he is still a former 2nd-overall pick who has played more than 1,000 NHL games. He played 14 years with Nashville Predators, most of them as a solid 2nd-liner. He peaked at 27 goals and 63 points in 2007, but maintained about a 50-point full-season pace since then before falling off statistically last year. Focusing on recent years, Legwand has shown he can take faceoffs, play a solid two-way game and contribute on special teams. Ottawa fans say he has lost a step and dropped down the lineup as the season progressed. He’s also said to be good in the room. Tim Murray indicated Ottawa insisted Legwand be part of the Lehner deal, but he has to have his fingers crossed he can be a positive influence on another pair of centres drafted 2nd overall. Links to the rest of the series:

Next up, the most expensive player in Sabre history #90 Ryan O’Reilly F (one season left at $6 million per, then 7 more at $7.5 million per, age 24) Colorado Avalanche 17/38/55/6/-5/12 Whatever your feelings are about O’Reilly – and everyone in the hockey world has them — he did accomplish something almost unheard of: he made the NHL immediately as an 18-year-old second-round draft pick. In the past four seasons O’Reilly has averaged nearly 60 points over 80 games. He doesn’t take penalties and he never gets hurt. Everyone agrees he is a fine hockey player. They divide on whether he is an elite two-way leader and complete player who can be plugged into a variety of roles and situations and excel, or a good but greedy second-line mercenary who puts his pocketbook ahead of his team and lacks the game-breaking offence to ever be considered a first-liner. The Sabres bet heavily on the former and the early returns weren’t good when he allegedly drove drunk into a Tim Horton’s within days of his acquisition. He arrives next month with a lot to prove, but definitely is a huge element in the anticipation for the coming season. Links to the rest of the series:

Up next in the roster review, a popular choice for future captain. #28 Zemgus Girgensons F (one year left at $900,000 per, age 21) Buffalo 61/15/15/30/-16/25 Circumstances and a rare competitive mindset conspired to see Zemgus Girgensons playing ahead of himself for three consecutive seasons: against men in the AHL at 18, as an NHL regular at 19 and as a top-six all-situations forward at 20. Entering every year a good argument could have been made that he wasn’t ready for the role he was given. Every year, he got better and eventually proved himself equal to the task. Not exactly hyped going into the 2012 draft, Girgensons is pushing his way to the forefront of his peers, ranking 6th in NHL games played and 5th in goals. Relentless compete and attention to detail are his calling cards, but his skating is also a weapon and he has shown a surprising aptitude for spectacular goals. Conversely, he has shown little to no creativity as a passer and playmaker and his power play production has been sketchy given the amount of ice time he’s been given in that role. Questions remain about his offensive ceiling. There is little doubt Girgensons finished last season as the most popular Sabre, or that he is a coach’s dream. What is unclear is just how good he is and how good he can be. A versatile, hard-to-play-against middle-six forward seems to be a given. But is potential there for a first-line physical force and playoff game changer? Should expectations be tempered by the fact he was one of the few positives in a nightmare season, a gem in a sea of mud? Or is it OK to project that his constant improvement and drive makes him a rare pearl and let expectations soar? Links to the rest of the series: