Prediction time: opening night lineup

[nfreeman]

Grigorenko showed his skill and his vision tonight.

But he's still not ready.

But going back to the Q might be worse for him than part-time play up here.

 

If Tropp and Foligno are out long-term that might have made roster decisions easier.

It will make the team worse though. Both are looking good.

 

I too thought Griggy was noticeably improved over last year, albeit still not ready for prime time.

 

For that matter I likes what i saw out of Flynn and porter.

[That Aud Smell]

Based on Duff's write-up today and Hamilton's Twitter feed yesterday, I glean this re: #25: Rolston thinks Grigorenko has been "okay" in camp/preseason, that Grigorenko could still be sent back to juniors, and that he has an opportunity to make the roster.

 

That second piece bears real attention. Regier expressly stated (the link below is the best I can do) that Grigorenko would play [edit: the entirety of the year] with the big club this year. The fact that Rolston now has to walk that back does not inspire confidence, either in the player or the GM/coach.

 

http://blogs.buffalo...tournament.html

[spndnchz]

Based on Duff's write-up today and Hamilton's Twitter feed yesterday, I glean this re: #25: Rolston thinks Grigorenko has been "okay" in camp/preseason, that Grigorenko could still be sent back to juniors, and that he has an opportunity to make the roster.

 

That second piece bears real attention. Regier expressly stated (the link below is the best I can do) that Grigorenko would play with the big club this year. The fact that Rolston now has to walk that back does not inspire confidence, either in the player or the GM/coach.

 

http://blogs.buffalo...tournament.html

 

In an interview with Grigorenko last week he said something like "I am looking to make the hockey team"

[That Aud Smell]

In an interview with Grigorenko last week he said something like "I am looking to make the hockey team"

 

 

right. again, that is contrary to what regier went on record as saying earlier in the summer.

[spndnchz]

A few too many. Which six don't make it?

 

The following players were on the ice Monday afternoon:

Forwards: Luke Adam, Joel Armia, Tyler Ennis, Brian Flynn, Zemgus Girgensons, Mikhail Grigorenko, Cody Hodgson, Patrick Kaleta, Johan Larsson, Ville Leino, Steve Ott, Kevin Porter, John Scott, Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek.

 

Defensemen: Christian Ehrhoff, Jamie McBain, Tyler Myers, Mark Pysyk, Rasmus Ristolainen, Alexander Sulzer, Henrik Tallinder, Mike Weber, Nikita Zadorov.

 

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jhonas Enroth.

[Two or less]

A few too many. Which six don't make it?

 

The following players were on the ice Monday afternoon:

Forwards: Luke Adam, Joel Armia, Tyler Ennis, Brian Flynn, Zemgus Girgensons, Mikhail Grigorenko, Cody Hodgson, Patrick Kaleta, Johan Larsson, Ville Leino, Steve Ott, Kevin Porter, John Scott, Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek.

 

Defensemen: Christian Ehrhoff, Jamie McBain, Tyler Myers, Mark Pysyk, Rasmus Ristolainen, Alexander Sulzer, Henrik Tallinder, Mike Weber, Nikita Zadorov.

 

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jhonas Enroth.

 

Teams can carry up to 23 players. My guess is, Sabres will go with 23. Zadorov, Adam and Flynn remaining cuts.

[spndnchz]

Teams can carry up to 23 players. My guess is, Sabres will go with 23. Zadorov, Adam and Flynn remaining cuts.

 

Haha my first count was 29.LOL

[shrader]

I don't think Grigs deserves a spot on this team yet. It's a stupid rule that's in place because he really needs AHL rather than Qmjhl. But it's obvious he's not ready!

 

Without that stupid rule, all draft picks out of those CHL teams would immediately wind up in the AHL. Those teams lose all of their best players and the CHL quickly dies. Yep, stupid rule.

[Two or less]

Haha my first count was 29.LOL

 

Officially, i think we're at 28. McCormick and Tropp are hurt so can't be moved. I think McCormick goes to Rochester as soon as he's healthy and i dont think Tropp will be ok for a while after last night.

[That Aud Smell]

as for the d-corps, i think zadorov probably goes back to continue development (as noted above). the team has said they'd probably keep 8 (see link below) -- and with the combination of tallinder, sulzer, and mcbain on-hand, the coaches have that ability to healthy-scratch veterans with the expectation that they'll be ready to go when they're penciled in the lineup.

 

so the likely opening night d-pairings are what? (i apologize if i get this wrong -- i have no idea who's been paired with whom)

 

myers-ehrhoff

pysyk-weber

risto-tallinder

 

press box: mcbain, sulzer

https://twitter.com/BuffNewsVogl/status/382176156507598848

 

Teams can carry up to 23 players. My guess is, Sabres will go with 23. Zadorov, Adam and Flynn remaining cuts.

 

Man - that does make things rather easy, doesn't it? Paring 3 off that roster is fairly straightforward.

[shrader]

If we still were paired up with Portland, I would understand carrying 8 D. It makes little to no sense with Rochester back in the fold and their short commute. The only real issue is placing someone on waivers. Is it really all that risky to expose someone like Sulzer? He'd clear. I'm not sure on McBain as I haven't seen him yet this year. But still, is it really that big of a loss if someone did make a claim? In the heart of this youth movement, that would leave your first callups from Rochester as McNabb and Ruhwedel.

[That Aud Smell]

If we still were paired up with Portland, I would understand carrying 8 D. It makes little to no sense with Rochester back in the fold and their short commute. The only real issue is placing someone on waivers. Is it really all that risky to expose someone like Sulzer? He'd clear. I'm not sure on McBain as I haven't seen him yet this year. But still, is it really that big of a loss if someone did make a claim? In the heart of this youth movement, that would leave your first callups from Rochester as McNabb and Ruhwedel.

 

not sure what the logic might be. it may be that they like the idea of having veterans around to mentor the younger guys?

 

anyway, i looked up the shooting orientation of each of the 8 guys who're likely to stick and saw that it break down as follows:

 

myers R - ehrhoff L

pysyk R - weber L

risto R - tallinder L

 

mcbain R - sulzer L

 

given rolston's strong preference to have a shoots-right guy on the right side, and vice-versa, i think that, other than maybe swapping weber for tallinder, that'll be the pairings.

 

i also note that zadorov is a leftie, so he would project to pair with risto.

[Two or less]

If we still were paired up with Portland, I would understand carrying 8 D. It makes little to no sense with Rochester back in the fold and their short commute. The only real issue is placing someone on waivers. Is it really all that risky to expose someone like Sulzer? He'd clear. I'm not sure on McBain as I haven't seen him yet this year. But still, is it really that big of a loss if someone did make a claim? In the heart of this youth movement, that would leave your first callups from Rochester as McNabb and Ruhwedel.

 

I wouldnt send McBain down for the sake of rewarding good work. He's been a rock for the Sabres all pre-season and has earned himself a spot on the opening night roster. Now he needs to work for his minutes.

[nfreeman]

I wouldnt send McBain down for the sake of rewarding good work. He's been a rock for the Sabres all pre-season and has earned himself a spot on the opening night roster. Now he needs to work for his minutes.

 

No. "Rock" implies a steady, reliable defender. That ain't McBain.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if he got sent down because I think the Sabres wouldn't mind having someone else pick up his contract.

[Derrico]

No. "Rock" implies a steady, reliable defender. That ain't McBain.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if he got sent down because I think the Sabres wouldn't mind having someone else pick up his contract.

 

I'll admit that I only saw a period of the leaf/sabres game sat and two periods last night but I thought McBain looked surprisingly good. He looks to have great O awarness and could really help our terrible PP. Having said that I didn't watch enough and it's hard to see on tv how his D game was.

[LastPommerFan]

If we still were paired up with Portland, I would understand carrying 8 D. It makes little to no sense with Rochester back in the fold and their short commute. The only real issue is placing someone on waivers. Is it really all that risky to expose someone like Sulzer? He'd clear. I'm not sure on McBain as I haven't seen him yet this year. But still, is it really that big of a loss if someone did make a claim? In the heart of this youth movement, that would leave your first callups from Rochester as McNabb and Ruhwedel.

 

Based on what I saw Saturday, you could tape the winning powerball ticket to mcbain, then put him on waivers, and he'd still clear. Worst Sabre on the ice from my vantage point.

[Derrico]

Based on what I saw Saturday, you could tape the winning powerball ticket to mcbain, then put him on waivers, and he'd still clear. Worst Sabre on the ice from my vantage point.

 

Really? Didn't look that way on the parts of the game that I caught. I thought he looked surprisingly fast. Was it his positioning that was shoddy? Can you elaborate?

[LastPommerFan]

Really? Didn't look that way on the parts of the game that I caught. I thought he looked surprisingly fast. Was it his positioning that was shoddy? Can you elaborate?

 

It seemed like every time I saw a Sabres turnover or let down in the Neutral zone, I looked around and #4 was chasing. But this is from the 300 level on the far side from the defense, so take from it what you will.

[nfreeman]

It seemed like every time I saw a Sabres turnover or let down in the Neutral zone, I looked around and #4 was chasing. But this is from the 300 level on the far side from the defense, so take from it what you will.

 

Right on. Kinda like Montador -- i.e. reasonably good skater -- but even shakier decision-making.

[dudacek]

McBain was a contract The Canes were trying to dump and no one was particularly interested in.

I'm thinking cap concerns will result in a few big contracts being buried around the league and fewer veterans than you might think being claimed.

[That Aud Smell]

Montador ~ McBain.

 

Physically, they're about the same size, I think.

 

And, on paper, they play a similar game. (Well, Monty was a little more truculent, I trust.)

 

If McBain projected as a Montador type and were to play as a 5/6/7 guy, I'd take it. In a heartbeat.

[chileanseabass]

McBain is quick to jump into the rush and can move the puck quickly up the ice. He's also a defensive liability and doesn't play a physical game. If he's really contributing offensively (like he did his first two season with the Canes), you can learn to live with the defensive lapses. If he's not getting on the scoresheet, then he needs to be in the pressbox. I'm not opposed to keeping him as the #6 or #7 guy, who can help out on the 2nd PP unit when he's in the lineup.

[Derrico]

McBain was a contract The Canes were trying to dump and no one was particularly interested in.

I'm thinking cap concerns will result in a few big contracts being buried around the league and fewer veterans than you might think being claimed.

 

I thought I read somewhere he's making $735,000? If so, isn't the league min somewhere around $525,000. It's not like we're talking anywhere close to an albatross here.

[dudacek]

I'd be looking at Myers (who looks to be more himself) and Ehrhoff on the first unit, with Pysyk and Risto potentially helping out.

Hopefully we won't need McBain to fill this role.

 

[Derrico]

I'd be looking at Myers (who looks to be more himself) and Ehrhoff on the first unit, with Pysyk and Risto potentially helping out.

Hopefully we won't need McBain to fill this role.

 

Very true. At the end of the day, let's hope he's a 6-7 type Dman who can play a secondary roll and maybe help out the PP.