Sabres Center "Depth"

[inkman]

I'm going to channel my inner angry Eleven and pontificate for a moment. If this team goes into this season with Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis as their top two centers, they will be royally ######. Ennis will not keep up last season's frantic crescendo and Hodgson is a complete unknown. He could be Chris Drury, he could be Derek Plante. Unless Hodgson explodes onto the scene and Ennis turns into the next Dino Ciccarelli, all the while Grigorenko turns into Malkin and Girginsons turns into Brindamour, the Sabres are going to be in big trouble. Barring any more moves, this lineup won't scare anyone:

 

Vanek-Hodgson-Leino

Foligno-Ennis-Stafford

Pominville-Ott-Kaleta

Scott-McCormick-Gerbe

 

If the two rooks are players it gets a little better:

 

Vanek-Grigorenko-Pominville

Foligno-Ennis-Stafford

Leino-Girgonsons-Ott

Kaleta-McCormick-Gerbe

 

I'm prepared for a long season.

[dudacek]

There's no reason to believe either will be worse than the 40 or 50 points they have already demonstrated they can score.

We need to know if they can be better; they are high picks at an age where they need to be given given more responsibility to see if they can handle it.

Derek Plante-like performances from one or both are likely, but I'd rather give them a shot than have them skating behind Derek Roy or a Derek Roy type.

If you can bring in a Getzlaf, I'm all for it. Otherwise I'll take my chances.

[thesportsbuff]

What happens to Hodgson in scenario 2?

[inkman]

What happens to Hodgson in scenario 2?

I was assuming he'd be injured. :P

[nfreeman]

Unfortunately, top-2 centers are hard to find -- probably the hardest position to fill in the NHL. I don't think any have changed hands this summer other than Jordan Staal. DR made a play for him and was unsuccessful, just like every other GM in the NHL who didn't already have Jordan's brother.

 

There are a few knowledgeable posters here averring that Griggy is going to make the team this fall. If so, there's your 3rd center.

 

And if DR can land Doaner...even the most jaded among us will be pretty psyched to see:

 

Hodgson-Vanek-Doan

Ennis-Foligno-Stafford

Ott-Leino-Pommer

McCormick-Kaleta-Gerbe

[inkman]

Doan would make me feel better.

[Happy Days]

I doubt Scott makes the team. Tropp is way more likely.

[carpandean]

Hodgson-Vanek-Doan

Ennis-Foligno-Stafford

Ott-Leino-Pommer

McCormick-Kaleta-Gerbe

 

OK, but only if you move Hodgson, Ennis and McCormick to the center of their lines. :nana:

 

(You can leave the third line alone, as Leino would likely play center, as he finished strongly doing last season, with Ott taking draws.)

 

I doubt Scott makes the team. Tropp is way more likely.

 

Scott will be the 23rd roster player. He'll start in games that they need his skill set for.

[tom webster]

I have said this in another thread. As Free has said, their are a number of teams looking for a second line center if not a number one. They are becoming as rare as 3/4 linebackers in the NFL.

Look at the centers that played in the final 4. LA is obviously stacked but the other three teams don't exactly have Gretzky. Lemieux and Crosby.

[Stoner]

I like our team.

[inkman]

I doubt Scott makes the team. Tropp is way more likely.

I want Tropper here as much as anyone (minus him maybe) but not at the expense of Scott. Gerbe on the other hand...not to mention Ellis & Leino.

[Lanny]

I doubt Scott makes the team. Tropp is way more likely.

As a 13th forward I think Scott makes more sense

[darksabre]

I like our team.

 

:o

[Hoss]

I am a firm believer that Hodgson is going to have a big time year. I just see this kid being a big time center for a long time. He'll be a top six guy.

 

We have A LOT of talented youth at the position, but that's not quite depth. Still, I want us to stand pat up the middle and see what we already have (unless of course you have a shot at a CLEAR cut number one like Thornton etc..).

 

Also, Ott isn't a center. He is comfortable at either spot, but he's best suited as a winger who takes the big faceoffs.

[Weave]

Assuming no new roster additions I see our centers on game 1 probably look like;

 

Hodgson, Ennis, Grigorenko, McCormick. If McC doesn't do well at center ice I expect Matt Ellis will be back up and filling that void.

 

Personally, I am OK with that top 3 ASSUMING Grigorenko represents as a rookie fairly well. If he flops it could get ugly.

[SwampD]

No Adam, huh?

 

I think he might be a wild card.

[Two or less]

No Adam, huh?

 

I think he might be a wild card.

 

Just wondering, but what makes you think that? He was brutal last season besides a hot start, which was mostly credited to playing with Vanek and Pominville. He was even brutal and soft in Rochester.

 

Me personally, I think we've seen the last of Luke Adam in a Sabres jersey.

[billsrcursed]

No Adam, huh?

 

I think he might be a wild card.

 

Maybe at wing, but I doubt he'll see Center again at the NHL level.

[RazielSabre]

I'm going to channel my inner angry Eleven and pontificate for a moment. If this team goes into this season with Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis as their top two centers, they will be royally ######. Ennis will not keep up last season's frantic crescendo and Hodgson is a complete unknown. He could be Chris Drury, he could be Derek Plante. Unless Hodgson explodes onto the scene and Ennis turns into the next Dino Ciccarelli, all the while Grigorenko turns into Malkin and Girginsons turns into Brindamour, the Sabres are going to be in big trouble. Barring any more moves, this lineup won't scare anyone:

 

Vanek-Hodgson-Leino

Foligno-Ennis-Stafford

Pominville-Ott-Kaleta

Scott-McCormick-Gerbe

 

If the two rooks are players it gets a little better:

 

Vanek-Grigorenko-Pominville

Foligno-Ennis-Stafford

Leino-Girgonsons-Ott

Kaleta-McCormick-Gerbe

 

I'm prepared for a long season.

 

So your happy for Grigs to be top line C but Hodgson scares you? You realise that makes about as much sense as installing a solar panel in a cave, right?

 

I'm happy to try them, trade for a proven C if all fails. I want to see what happens when the season starts with the roster we have no, no point in assuming the worst until we know what we got.

 

Maybe at wing, but I doubt he'll see Center again at the NHL level.

 

Adam I think really benefitted from the Seals stuff, hopefully he rebounds.

 

Assuming no new roster additions I see our centers on game 1 probably look like;

 

Hodgson, Ennis, Grigorenko, McCormick. If McC doesn't do well at center ice I expect Matt Ellis will be back up and filling that void.

 

Personally, I am OK with that top 3 ASSUMING Grigorenko represents as a rookie fairly well. If he flops it could get ugly.

 

Sorry to be picky but that does class as a roster addition, there's no evidence to suggest he'll be on the Sabres on day one, seeing as we haven't signed him yet. :)

[bills_fan_in_raleigh]

I like our team.

Ok someone hacked ur I'd or wearing some very rose colored glasses. But maybe lindy can work some magic

[LastPommerFan]

I'm going to channel my inner angry Eleven and pontificate for a moment. If this team goes into this season with Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis as their top two centers, they will be royally ######. Ennis will not keep up last season's frantic crescendo and Hodgson is a complete unknown. He could be Chris Drury, he could be Derek Plante. Unless Hodgson explodes onto the scene and Ennis turns into the next Dino Ciccarelli, all the while Grigorenko turns into Malkin and Girginsons turns into Brindamour, the Sabres are going to be in big trouble. Barring any more moves, this lineup won't scare anyone:

 

Vanek-Hodgson-Leino

Foligno-Ennis-Stafford

Pominville-Ott-Kaleta

Scott-McCormick-Gerbe

 

If the two rooks are players it gets a little better:

 

Vanek-Grigorenko-Pominville

Foligno-Ennis-Stafford

Leino-Girgonsons-Ott

Kaleta-McCormick-Gerbe

 

I'm prepared for a long season.

 

So unless we end up with the next Ciccarelli, Malkin, and Brindamour, and Hodgson maxes out his potential, we are in big trouble? Are we playing against the Eastern Conference All-stars every other night? I think your angry eleven is angrier than eleven's angry eleven.

[TrueBlueGED]

Even if Hodgson and Ennis turn out to be nothing more than "adequate" centers, I think the back end is good enough to carry the team to a low-seeded playoff spot. Look at it this way, before last season started, did anybody think the trio of Elias, Zajac and Henrique would be a group to carry a team to a Cup appearance? Even if you look at the final four, the only one with a legit 1-2 punch was LA. Looking at the final eight, only LA and Philly had the prototype lineup down the middle.

 

It's a young man's game and top centers don't get traded. Particularly if Doan (or another RW in a trade) is added, I think we have the defense and wingers to protect youth down the middle.

[Stoner]

Ok someone hacked ur I'd or wearing some very rose colored glasses. But maybe lindy can work some magic

ink had channeled Angry Eleven. I was channeling Contented Darcy.

[bills_fan_in_raleigh]

ink had channeled Angry Eleven. I was channeling Contented Darcy.

welcome back PA we all hope for the best for our sabres!! Hoping maybe Lindy will figure out how to get this bunch of guys motivated and moving.

[Taro T]

I like our team.

If that was posted on 7/17/14, it's probably a popular sentiment. Today, well, if ALL the stars align right then ..., nah I can't even see winning a division (much less a conference or a league) under that scenario with today's roster.