Buffalo Sabres State of the Union Address
Posted 6:06 PM ET | Comments 6
As the end of one of the worst seasons in the history of the Buffalo Sabres comes to a close, once again I start to wonder what the future holds. Like many other Buffalo fans I am optimistic in the offseason. It’s a chance to dream of a brighter future. One where the possibility of winning the Stanley Cup is attainable. After witnessing the struggles of this past year, as a fan I can only hope that better times are ahead. This is why I decided to write this blog. This is my State of the Union address for Sabres Nation. I’m not a scout or a GM, just a fan that loves his Sabres and remembers the frenzy that exists in Buffalo when the Sabres are competing.
With this in mind, I wanted to start a dialogue of: what pieces need to be moved; what prospects already in the system will flourish; what draft picks should/will be made; and what potential free agents the Sabres should sign. I believe, if the Sabres make the right moves going forward they are still at least 2-3 years away from competing for a playoff spot. Most likely the Sabres will end up picking in the top five in the next 2-3 drafts. As painful as that sounds, I applaud Terry Pegula’s and Tim Murray’s approach. It’s better to be at the bottom for a few years in order to reach the top; rather than spend a lifetime in mediocrity. IT IS TIME TO WIN A STANELY CUP. To put things into prospective, only Toronto and St. Louis have longer Stanley Cup draughts than the Sabres. Toronto has at least won multiple cups in the past. The Blues have a great shot at winning this year or within the next couple seasons. That would leave the Sabres in a tie with Vancouver to claim the title of: the team that has been in the league the longest without winning the Stanley Cup. So it’s past time to win. However, waiting a few more years would be worth finally winning a championship. This is our only option.
The current roster is a disaster. There are some players that will be key pieces going forward. The Sabres’ defense is their strong point and looks solid for the future. Especially if Tyler Myers can turn the corner and become the 6-8 monster he’s capable of becoming. In addition to Myers the Sabres have solid prospects including: Rasmus Ristolainen; Nikita Zadorov; Jake McCabe; and Mark Pysk. If the above five defensemen can continue to develop and live up to expectations, then with the addition of a veteran like Christian Ehroff the Sabres could easily have the best defensive combination in the league. For the remaining defensemen on the roster, I would say goodbye to Sulzer and Tallinder in the offseason; and keep Weber, McBain and Ruhwedel around as holdovers/fillers until the youngsters mentioned above are ready to be full-time NHLers.
The forwards on the roster are not nearly as promising. This shows every night as the Sabres struggle to find the net. I would start by using one of the compliance buyouts on Villie Leino. He is not worthy of wearing the Blue and Gold and is not someone I want around to influence our younger players. What a bust he was, end his disastrous time here. Drew Stafford is different, I would keep him for the last year of his contract. DO NOT resign him. Stafford scored 30 goals the year before signing his present contract, and he always seemed to be a player who turned it on when he wants to. So it wouldn’t surprise me if he had a solid year next season. And hopefully he will, that way we can trade him at the deadline for a 2015 draft pick. For Chris Stewart, I find him an interesting player; he’s in a contract year as well next season. Let’s wait and see what happens next year, maybe keep him or trade depending on how he performs. He has potential, and is a 26 year old skilled big body winger. He could become part of the future. Tyler Ennis is a restricted free agent this offseason, I would make him a qualifying offer, and eventually trade him. I don’t see him as part of the winning future. He doesn’t have the size to be a bottom six forward and he doesn’t have the talent/heart to be a top six forward on a Stanley Cup winning team. Cody Hodgson is another current member I’m not sure about. He’s got potential and I like the recent move to wing, I do not see him as a future center with the Sabres. If he can succeed as a winger I’m okay with CoHo as our second line LW/RW for the future.
The two other players on the Sabres current roster I see as part of the future would be Zemgus Girgensons and Marcus Foligno. I see Girgensons as our third line center. I know people love him and talk like he could be our number 1 center but I don’t think he has the offensive capacity to do that. However, he could be a great third line center that shuts down the other team’s top line for a Stanley Cup championship team while chipping in 20 plus goals a year. As for Marcus Foligno, I still have hope for him. He’s young, big and skilled. It would be great if Foligno could turn his game around and be part of the top six forwards of our future but if not, he has the size to be part of the bottom six. As for Nick Deslaurius, Brian Flynn, and Johan Larsson, I see them as fillers, possibly bottom six forwards floating between Buffalo and Rochester.
The Sabres current forward prospects, Mikhail Grigorenko and Joel Armia are the two who could impact how quickly the Sabres turn things around. A lot hinges on these two. If they both become busts then the Sabres are in for a much longer turn around. However, if Grigo and Armia can become part of the Sabres future top six then the turnaround process could be expedited. Other promising prospects J.T. Compher and Hudson Fasching could also be part of the top six or at least bottom six of the future. I like really like Justin Kea as the Sabres future fourth line center, and players like Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste, William Currier, and others listed above rounding out the bottom six.
For Goalie, I like the prospects we have with Linus Ullmark, Matt Hacket, Andrey Markov and Nathan Leuwen. I don’t think either Enroth or Neuvirth will be the future goalie winning the cup for Buffalo. Going forward I would have an open competition and rotate goalies until someone proves himself superior. I believe goalie can be an easy fix, you don’t need a great one to win. We’ve had great ones in the past only to come up empty. With a great team, you can win with a solid goalie. Keep drafting and developing at least one goalie a year and we’ll find someone solid enough to win, if we don’t have one already.
When it comes to free agency I would prefer not to sign many and avoid over spending. I would like the Sabres to sign Steve Ott this offseason and/or a similar veteran or two down the road. The Sabres should also sign veteran defensemen and goalies for depth, increase competition, mentors for the younger players and as needed. The one potential top free agent the Sabres should go all in on is Buffalo native Patrick Kane. He becomes a free agent in 2015. It’s hard to imagine him leaving Chicago, but if he did, at this time Buffalo would be starting to compete, and I’m sure Kane would love to play for his hometown team and win a few cups here. Just saying, it’s a possibility.
With the above forecast in mind, the next two-three drafts will be crucial for the Sabres. They need to find at least three more forwards to be cornerstones for our top six. If the Sabres win the lottery in 2014 they should select Sam Reinhart. Unless, they feel that Aaron Ekblad is the next multiple Norris Trophy winner. Regardless, the Sabres cannot miss on this one. They need to draft a superstar player and a cornerstone for the future of this franchise.
I believe the Islander’s will defer the 2014 pick and the Sabres will acquire their 2015 first round draft pick. It’s hard to imagine Garth Snow, someone on the hot seat giving up a top 5 pick in the 2014 draft. It would be great to grab both Reinhart and Sam Bennett but I don’t see that happening. However, we do have a solid chance that St. Louis either reaches the Western Conference Finals and/or Ryan Miller resigns before the draft, resulting in the Sabres acquiring the Blues 1st round pick in this year’s draft instead of the 3rd rounder in 2016.
For the 2015 draft, the Sabres will pick either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel first or second overall. Unless, the NHL screws us and changes the draft lottery system again; adds an expansion team or two; or the Sabres sign a bunch of free agents this offseason to become mediocre again; I don’t see how the Sabres don’t finish 30th in the rankings and therefore pick 1st or 2nd in 2015. In addition to this pick the Sabres will get the Islander’s first rounder and the Blues first rounder in 2015, the Sabres need at least one of these picks to be a top six forward (maybe package the two picks to draft in the top five, whatever it takes we need another top six forward).
With the 2014 and 2015 draft picks and the prospects we have now on the roster and a couple free agents signings this is potentially how the Sabres could start the 2016:
Line 1: LW Mikhail Grigorenko; C McDavid/Eichel; RW Patrick Kane
Line 2: LW Cody Hodgson; C Sam Reinhart; RW Joel Armia
Line 3: LW Marcus Foligno; C Zemgus Girgensons; RW J.T. Compher
Line 4: LW Justin Bailey; C Justin Kea: RW Hudson Fasching
D1: Tyler Myers and Nikita Zadorov
D2: Rasmus Ristolainen and Jake McCabe
D3: Mark Pysk and Christian Ehroff
Goalies: (1) Linus Ullmark; (2) Andrey Markov; and (3) Matt Hacket
Everything above is not obviously going to happen. We don’t know who the Sabres will draft, sign/resign, trade or what prospects will become successful. However, it’s fun to contemplate a brighter future, especially now after one of the worst seasons in Buffalo Sabres history. For now we can only dream what that will look like? What are your predictions for the Sabres future lineup?
With this in mind, I wanted to start a dialogue of: what pieces need to be moved; what prospects already in the system will flourish; what draft picks should/will be made; and what potential free agents the Sabres should sign. I believe, if the Sabres make the right moves going forward they are still at least 2-3 years away from competing for a playoff spot. Most likely the Sabres will end up picking in the top five in the next 2-3 drafts. As painful as that sounds, I applaud Terry Pegula’s and Tim Murray’s approach. It’s better to be at the bottom for a few years in order to reach the top; rather than spend a lifetime in mediocrity. IT IS TIME TO WIN A STANELY CUP. To put things into prospective, only Toronto and St. Louis have longer Stanley Cup draughts than the Sabres. Toronto has at least won multiple cups in the past. The Blues have a great shot at winning this year or within the next couple seasons. That would leave the Sabres in a tie with Vancouver to claim the title of: the team that has been in the league the longest without winning the Stanley Cup. So it’s past time to win. However, waiting a few more years would be worth finally winning a championship. This is our only option.
The current roster is a disaster. There are some players that will be key pieces going forward. The Sabres’ defense is their strong point and looks solid for the future. Especially if Tyler Myers can turn the corner and become the 6-8 monster he’s capable of becoming. In addition to Myers the Sabres have solid prospects including: Rasmus Ristolainen; Nikita Zadorov; Jake McCabe; and Mark Pysk. If the above five defensemen can continue to develop and live up to expectations, then with the addition of a veteran like Christian Ehroff the Sabres could easily have the best defensive combination in the league. For the remaining defensemen on the roster, I would say goodbye to Sulzer and Tallinder in the offseason; and keep Weber, McBain and Ruhwedel around as holdovers/fillers until the youngsters mentioned above are ready to be full-time NHLers.
The forwards on the roster are not nearly as promising. This shows every night as the Sabres struggle to find the net. I would start by using one of the compliance buyouts on Villie Leino. He is not worthy of wearing the Blue and Gold and is not someone I want around to influence our younger players. What a bust he was, end his disastrous time here. Drew Stafford is different, I would keep him for the last year of his contract. DO NOT resign him. Stafford scored 30 goals the year before signing his present contract, and he always seemed to be a player who turned it on when he wants to. So it wouldn’t surprise me if he had a solid year next season. And hopefully he will, that way we can trade him at the deadline for a 2015 draft pick. For Chris Stewart, I find him an interesting player; he’s in a contract year as well next season. Let’s wait and see what happens next year, maybe keep him or trade depending on how he performs. He has potential, and is a 26 year old skilled big body winger. He could become part of the future. Tyler Ennis is a restricted free agent this offseason, I would make him a qualifying offer, and eventually trade him. I don’t see him as part of the winning future. He doesn’t have the size to be a bottom six forward and he doesn’t have the talent/heart to be a top six forward on a Stanley Cup winning team. Cody Hodgson is another current member I’m not sure about. He’s got potential and I like the recent move to wing, I do not see him as a future center with the Sabres. If he can succeed as a winger I’m okay with CoHo as our second line LW/RW for the future.
The two other players on the Sabres current roster I see as part of the future would be Zemgus Girgensons and Marcus Foligno. I see Girgensons as our third line center. I know people love him and talk like he could be our number 1 center but I don’t think he has the offensive capacity to do that. However, he could be a great third line center that shuts down the other team’s top line for a Stanley Cup championship team while chipping in 20 plus goals a year. As for Marcus Foligno, I still have hope for him. He’s young, big and skilled. It would be great if Foligno could turn his game around and be part of the top six forwards of our future but if not, he has the size to be part of the bottom six. As for Nick Deslaurius, Brian Flynn, and Johan Larsson, I see them as fillers, possibly bottom six forwards floating between Buffalo and Rochester.
The Sabres current forward prospects, Mikhail Grigorenko and Joel Armia are the two who could impact how quickly the Sabres turn things around. A lot hinges on these two. If they both become busts then the Sabres are in for a much longer turn around. However, if Grigo and Armia can become part of the Sabres future top six then the turnaround process could be expedited. Other promising prospects J.T. Compher and Hudson Fasching could also be part of the top six or at least bottom six of the future. I like really like Justin Kea as the Sabres future fourth line center, and players like Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste, William Currier, and others listed above rounding out the bottom six.
For Goalie, I like the prospects we have with Linus Ullmark, Matt Hacket, Andrey Markov and Nathan Leuwen. I don’t think either Enroth or Neuvirth will be the future goalie winning the cup for Buffalo. Going forward I would have an open competition and rotate goalies until someone proves himself superior. I believe goalie can be an easy fix, you don’t need a great one to win. We’ve had great ones in the past only to come up empty. With a great team, you can win with a solid goalie. Keep drafting and developing at least one goalie a year and we’ll find someone solid enough to win, if we don’t have one already.
When it comes to free agency I would prefer not to sign many and avoid over spending. I would like the Sabres to sign Steve Ott this offseason and/or a similar veteran or two down the road. The Sabres should also sign veteran defensemen and goalies for depth, increase competition, mentors for the younger players and as needed. The one potential top free agent the Sabres should go all in on is Buffalo native Patrick Kane. He becomes a free agent in 2015. It’s hard to imagine him leaving Chicago, but if he did, at this time Buffalo would be starting to compete, and I’m sure Kane would love to play for his hometown team and win a few cups here. Just saying, it’s a possibility.
With the above forecast in mind, the next two-three drafts will be crucial for the Sabres. They need to find at least three more forwards to be cornerstones for our top six. If the Sabres win the lottery in 2014 they should select Sam Reinhart. Unless, they feel that Aaron Ekblad is the next multiple Norris Trophy winner. Regardless, the Sabres cannot miss on this one. They need to draft a superstar player and a cornerstone for the future of this franchise.
I believe the Islander’s will defer the 2014 pick and the Sabres will acquire their 2015 first round draft pick. It’s hard to imagine Garth Snow, someone on the hot seat giving up a top 5 pick in the 2014 draft. It would be great to grab both Reinhart and Sam Bennett but I don’t see that happening. However, we do have a solid chance that St. Louis either reaches the Western Conference Finals and/or Ryan Miller resigns before the draft, resulting in the Sabres acquiring the Blues 1st round pick in this year’s draft instead of the 3rd rounder in 2016.
For the 2015 draft, the Sabres will pick either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel first or second overall. Unless, the NHL screws us and changes the draft lottery system again; adds an expansion team or two; or the Sabres sign a bunch of free agents this offseason to become mediocre again; I don’t see how the Sabres don’t finish 30th in the rankings and therefore pick 1st or 2nd in 2015. In addition to this pick the Sabres will get the Islander’s first rounder and the Blues first rounder in 2015, the Sabres need at least one of these picks to be a top six forward (maybe package the two picks to draft in the top five, whatever it takes we need another top six forward).
With the 2014 and 2015 draft picks and the prospects we have now on the roster and a couple free agents signings this is potentially how the Sabres could start the 2016:
Line 1: LW Mikhail Grigorenko; C McDavid/Eichel; RW Patrick Kane
Line 2: LW Cody Hodgson; C Sam Reinhart; RW Joel Armia
Line 3: LW Marcus Foligno; C Zemgus Girgensons; RW J.T. Compher
Line 4: LW Justin Bailey; C Justin Kea: RW Hudson Fasching
D1: Tyler Myers and Nikita Zadorov
D2: Rasmus Ristolainen and Jake McCabe
D3: Mark Pysk and Christian Ehroff
Goalies: (1) Linus Ullmark; (2) Andrey Markov; and (3) Matt Hacket
Everything above is not obviously going to happen. We don’t know who the Sabres will draft, sign/resign, trade or what prospects will become successful. However, it’s fun to contemplate a brighter future, especially now after one of the worst seasons in Buffalo Sabres history. For now we can only dream what that will look like? What are your predictions for the Sabres future lineup?
YOU FORGOT FOLIGNO
Also a Ehroff package should be trade to Oilers for one of their fowards. I would keep Ennis over Hodgson because he cant play defense.
murray is the architect now. its going to be a strange off-season. after the draft is finished, assuming we get at least one potential first line center, im not sure if he is going to do much of anything. the most important goal for next year is to finish 30th again. the team is custom built for that right now. i expect that the real makeover will happen next year around the trade deadline. i think murray has an idea of what wins, and he has a lot of picks and a lot of cap room to do this right.
Foligno is listed on line 3
Evander Kane will be a Sabre this offseason. Count on it. He will be a steal.
I foresee Ryan Callahan becoming our Captain this off-season.