Well, thought I'd start a thread just for fun. Maybe it'll continue past the draft once we get some new prospects on our team, but as of right now I think the Sabres are gonna see a dropoff in prospects coming in.
In years past we've had Shea Weber, Kopitar, Zajac, Pavelski, Osullivan etc come through our team. Some have stayed, some are no longer with us.
This year we've got Toews, Letang, Erik Johnson, Setoguchi, Hiller, Girardi and maybe a couple others that have scratched the surface but remain rookies next year.
So, heading into the 08-09 season Im hoping these guys can make an impact in the NHL next season:
Nikolai Kulemin - Said to be a sure fire 2nd line forward in the NHL, Kulemin has received a fair bit of hype. Time will only tell if this Russian forward who used to play alongside Evgeni Malkin can bring his game to a new level in the NHL.
Francois Bouchard - Our 2nd round selection from the 07 draft, Bouchard led the QMJHL in scoring that season, followed by a 12th place finish in the scoring race this season. Bouchard has a good opportunity to crack a still top heavy Washington Capitals lineup. He might be a part of the depth the team is looking for.
Jonathan Ericsson - Saw some time this year but mostly only due to injuries. The same will be his only opportunity until some of Detroit's defence hang up their skates for good. Its possible he can get a half season of play with the big club but the Sabres are expecting him to take the slow path to the NHL.
Nicklas Hjalmarsson - Another late season call up, Hjalmarsson plays a sound defensive game and could be a mainstay on Chicago's defence next season. The team has a very young defence and an inexperienced one. He'll be in a battle until the finish of training camp for the last spot or two on the defensive unit.
Petri Kontiola - Another Hawk, Kontiola scored at over a ppg pace in his first season in the AHL. After making an immediate impact he received 12 games in the big leagues where his top notch passing skills were showcased quite well as he ended with 5 assists in the NHL. Kontiola is a front runner for a regular spot with the Hawks next season. He could compliment a 2nd line scorer quite well with his vision.
Thats about all we got coming in next season. Definitely not any high profile names quite like Toews or Johnson, but a few notables. We'll be looking to restock our farm team through this years draft. We've been quite lenient at letting a lot of our prospects who have cracked the NHL go. Players like O'Sullivan, Benoit Pouliot, Pavelski, Cory Murphy, Sami Lepisto, among others have all been dealt, thus leaving our farm team relatively thin.
Other teams?
-- Edited by Sabres_Luke at 13:31, 2008-04-18
__________________
"With Sid on your team, anything is possible" - Mario lemieux
Although I wish I had your prospect depth, the guy I'm looking forward to making a contribution to my team is Jimmy Howard... Maybe splitting time with Osgood as a 1A or 1B goalie in Detroit if I'm lucky...
Clarke MccArthur- Buffalo- NHL 37games 8 goals 7 assists 15 points, AHL 43 games 14 goals 28 assists 42 games.. This will be his year to get fulltime top 3 line job with sabres..
Shawn Matthias- Florida- 53games 32 goals 47 assists 79 points in the OHL. and had 4 game stint in NHL where he netter 2 goals. im hoping he earns a spot on the left side of Olli Jokinen in florida.. (i think he is better than zednik is at this point in their careers.)
Mikhail Grabovski-Montreal- had 9 points in 24 nhl games this year in very limited role. had 20 points in 12 AHL games this year.. should find job on pro team with some vets leaving.
Mike Weber- Buffalo- played in 16 games for Sabres this year.. He played 4 games early in year because of injury.. and then got called up again with 12 games left and in his last twelve games was a +13. was seing good icetime upwards of 19 minutes in 8 of the twelve games and seeing PK time aswell as that is his specialty.
Kyle Chipchura-Montreal- 39 games 10 goals 11 assists 21 points AHL...36 games 4 goals 7 assists 11 points in the NHL. Kyle projects to be the Canadians defensive third line center who can play physical against other teams top end center. Hopefully he earns this job in camp and sticks with the pro club for a full 82 games.
Iyla Zubov- Ottawa- 74 games 15 goals 23 assists 38 points in the AHL, have heard many reports of him making the team out of camp next year. I personally hope they are true and Zubov gets a shot at NHL..
other outside chance to stick possible's Taylor Chorney Ryan Stoa Kirill Tulopov Jonas Junland TJ Miller (i think hes a sutter kinda player)
Well, for me it comes down to the kids that we have signed doing something with the opportunity. A couple need to take bigger roles.
Sekera and Pavelec should have increased roles. Gogulla will be at training camp and hopefully ready to make the jump. Abdelkader is signed and should compete for a spot next year..he got in some games this year. Ryno...who knows. Signed and looked good in the AHL. Fallon was signed in April...but a couple years from the NHL.
Sami Lepisto - Should have a job full-time on a fairly weak Washington defense core. I read in some article that he was the best defenseman not playing in the NHL last season.
Nick Foligno - I can definitely see some big point totals from this Ottawa forward.
Ryan O'Marra - More than any of my prospects, I hope O'marra makes the Oilers roster this season because that would more than likely mean that the Oilers have dealt Torres, as well as at least one more forward. O'Marra can pitch in points on the NHL level and will more than likely be pidgeon-holed into a defensive checking role, probably on the 4th line. Definitely not expecting great point totals from this forward until at least his 3rd NHL season.
__________________
Get ahold of me soon, or my players will already be dealt!
Sami Lepisto - Should have a job full-time on a fairly weak Washington defense core. I read in some article that he was the best defenseman not playing in the NHL last season.
Nick Foligno - I can definitely see some big point totals from this Ottawa forward.
Ryan O'Marra - More than any of my prospects, I hope O'marra makes the Oilers roster this season because that would more than likely mean that the Oilers have dealt Torres, as well as at least one more forward. O'Marra can pitch in points on the NHL level and will more than likely be pidgeon-holed into a defensive checking role, probably on the 4th line. Definitely not expecting great point totals from this forward until at least his 3rd NHL season.
All of these guys came from or related to trades with the Sabres haha. Lepisto the best forward not in the NHL last year? hmmmm... pretty far fetched but he did have a damn good year in the AHL. Only reason we gave him to you is cause we already had Bouwmeester, Weber, Wideman, Hatcher, Letang, Girardi and Erik Johnson under contract for at least another few years so Lepisto was dealable... didnt really wanna see him go though.
__________________
"With Sid on your team, anything is possible" - Mario lemieux
Sami Lepisto - Should have a job full-time on a fairly weak Washington defense core. I read in some article that he was the best defenseman not playing in the NHL last season.
Nick Foligno - I can definitely see some big point totals from this Ottawa forward.
Ryan O'Marra - More than any of my prospects, I hope O'marra makes the Oilers roster this season because that would more than likely mean that the Oilers have dealt Torres, as well as at least one more forward. O'Marra can pitch in points on the NHL level and will more than likely be pidgeon-holed into a defensive checking role, probably on the 4th line. Definitely not expecting great point totals from this forward until at least his 3rd NHL season.
All of these guys came from or related to trades with the Sabres haha. Lepisto the best forward not in the NHL last year? hmmmm... pretty far fetched but he did have a damn good year in the AHL. Only reason we gave him to you is cause we already had Bouwmeester, Weber, Wideman, Hatcher, Letang, Girardi and Erik Johnson under contract for at least another few years so Lepisto was dealable... didnt really wanna see him go though.
????
foligno for fritsche had nothing to do with buffalo that deal was with montreal right before his magical leave? you know luke ur buddy phil...
Ryan O'Marra - More than any of my prospects, I hope O'marra makes the Oilers roster this season because that would more than likely mean that the Oilers have dealt Torres, as well as at least one more forward. O'Marra can pitch in points on the NHL level and will more than likely be pidgeon-holed into a defensive checking role, probably on the 4th line. Definitely not expecting great point totals from this forward until at least his 3rd NHL season.
Almost impossible for O'Marra to make the Oilers next year. For that to happen.....
Glencross has to not sign, Torres has to be dealt and he would have to beat both Schremp and Pouliot in training camp. (Not to mention who is on a one way deal vs. O'Marra's two way deal. I remember Dan Cleary just being **** at camp and beating Jani Rita for a job because of the one way-two way debacle. Rita was one of the better forwards at camp that year. That was the year that Jason Smith and Ryan Smyth fought in camp....funny to watch....Smith beat him down pretty good.)
That is a lot of what ifs. For the record, I like him too and am cheering for him...but that is a tall order.
i agree it would be very difficult to make it for ommarra as they will likely make a signing aswell with new owner wanting to make a splash (PLEASE HOSSA)
agreed... he likely has at least 1 year left in minors, but I did say Torres and at least 1 more forward would have to be dealt for him to get his shot...
and I also agree that Lowe will do everything he can to get a finisher to put alongside Hemsky for next year, and of course the Oilers dont have to worry about salaries anymore...
I just wish Katz's money would have been here last season because then we could have gone ahead and fired MacT, which we could never do in the previous regime because the last thing we could do is pay a coach for 2-3 years NOT to coach for us...
__________________
Get ahold of me soon, or my players will already be dealt!
Rex, I said or a deal around a Buffalo deal. That basically was a three way since you must have lined up Foligno with Phil while we were talking with him.
Also, good conversation surrounding O'marra and other prospects, just please keep it to talk about prospects and dont go too deep into the Oilers discussion as it looks to be heading that way a bit, thats not what this thread is for.
__________________
"With Sid on your team, anything is possible" - Mario lemieux
