Its a glorious Monday July 11 here in Pegulaville. Life has never been better.
The sun is blazing. The humidity is thicker and saltier than French Onion soup. The forecast calls for more sun and fun this week.
Rookie and prospect camp just broke, after a rousing six day stint at NU's Dwyer Arena. By my own naked eye count, there were 5,000 or so Sabre fanatics in the crib to watch the scrimmages on both Saturday and Sunday. Great glimpse at the future. The fans chose to spend 90 degree beautiful days at the rink, rather than float in the pool. Only in Hockey Heaven!
So, I'm sipping my unsweet iced tea while examining the current NHL salary structures on capgeek.com. Did you know that as of this moment, your Buffalo Sabres are the proud owners of the crow's nest position in NHL salary spending? Its true. I had to re-boot the lapper twice because I thought it was a typo.
Sorry, man. I'm not used to this aggressive spending thing. I love it, don't get me wrong. Its taking a bit of gettiung used to.
Your Sabres are presently at a payroll of $63,945,357. Thats twenty players signed, leaving them with a pawltry $118,214 in cap room. Don't worry. Darcy Regier told us it would be like this. I'm now waiting for the next phase of trades to kick in any day now, so that teams like Buffalo can begin the re-shaping and massaging of their cap. Remember, they can spend to 10% over the $64ish million cap until mid September.
Personally, I'd like to get Ryan Miller's backup locked up now, in order to avoid drama later.
Jhonas Enroth still is unsigned. Shouldn't be a huge concern, as Darcy Regier can make roster moves on Morrissonn and Kotalik to create a chunk for Enroth. Question is, do the Sabres pay their RFA backup Patty Lalime money, like a $1 million per season or, do they offer him $550,000-$650,000 per season? Remains to be seen. I'm hearing that the players and the team are playing tennis over the term and the yearly salary. We'll see what happens.
I digress. Your Sabres have flipped the script and now sit alone atop the spending board, with the following teams rounding out the top 6 in salary spending:
Washington Capitals $63,905,128
Philadelphia Flyers $62,722,261
Pittsburgh Penguins $62,162,500
Calgary Flames $60,483,334
Vancouver Canucks $60,408,333
In one fell swoop, Mr. Pegula has transformed his Sabres into a leader, rather than have them act as a perennial follower. He's green lighted the money for Regehr, Ehrhoff, and Leion. Plus, he's ok'd $4 million per season for Stafford.
Perhaps its time to phone around the league to the floor teams in order to create a marketplace for Morrisonn, Sekera, Kotalik, amnd even Hecht. The floor teams must comply with the rules as well and will have to bring their spending to the league minimum acceptable amount. There's time to do so, however, why not make deals now, before the floor teams run out of money to play with, like the Florida Panthers.
Here are your bottom five teams, who are struggling to get themselves to the $48 million cap floor:
Winnipeg Jets $45,841,666
Phoenix Coyotes $45,518,750
Colorado Avalanche $44,504,167
Nashville Predators $41,208,333
New York Islanders $37,849,166
The Sabres have binged. Now, its time to purge their excess players and their salaries.
Personally speaking, I'm not afraid of having the conversation about trading Enroth now. Here me out.
The young Swede has a tremendous amount of value right now, having proven his worth in the NHL last season. He played well when Ryan Miller suffered a concussion late in the season when the Sabres were desperate to win games in order to qualify for the Playoffs. Enroth held up his end of the bargain and is lookingto be rewarded handsomely with a nice pay raise in his next contract.
If you are Darcy Regier, do you pay Enroth $1.5 million ir thereabouts, or, do you make him a take-it-or-leave-it offer? Lets face it, Enroth has some leverage, but none more than the team. The youngster showed glimpses of brilliance last Spring. Is is capable of such heroics this season? The Sabres have Ryan Miller in the crease as their starter for years to come. There are teams in the NHL who are willing to pay a premium to get their mitts on a goalie of Enroth's pedigree.
Look no further than the New Jersey Devils for a team that is looking for Marty Brodeur Version 2.0. Hedberg is a quality #2, however, he's not a #1. Jersey need a goalie in the worst way. What happens when and if Brodeur breaks down of fails next season? Can Hedberg win 35-40 games and be his team's MVP? No can do.
I'd send Enroth and Sekera to Newark for the RFA rights to Zach Parise.
Trading Enroth now makes sense.
At best, Enroth will get 17-20 starts in Buffalo per season as long as Ryan Miller is the #1 here. Enroth has proven to the skeptics that he is a premiere goaltender with the ability to win games. Sekera, in my opinion, has been rendered obsolete in Buffalo with the recent Ehrhoff signing. Reggie has fallen from the 4th Dman on a pretty good blueline last season to the #7 Dman on a great blueline this season. Suddenly, Sekera has become Nathan Paetsch. Sekera's trade value will never be higher than it is right now. He's an accomplished puck mover who fits nicely into the top four on 85% of the teams in the NHL. His role will be diminished in Buffalo with the addition of Ehrhoff and the emergence of MA Gragnani in the 2011 Playoffs vs. Philly. Sekera is scheduled to see the NHL arbitrator on July 25. He earned $750,000 in 09/10 and earned $1.25 million last season. What happens to Sekera if the arbitrator gives him a one year award in the $2 million range? The arbitrator tends to rule in favour of the player. Do the Sabres pay their 7th D $2 million?
Give your head a shake.
Like Sekera, Parise has an arbitration date. he'll have his case heard on on August 3 and its likely that he will get a high, one year award. He's looking for a multi-year deal. If you are Parise, why would you want to sign with the Devils now? Jersey does not have a head coach in place on July 11. The Devils can ill afford to tie up $8 million per season over multiple years for another one of their left wingers, especially since Kovalchuk is already signed to his cap-unfriendly deal. Parise and his agent should be looking elsewhere for the long term deal.
Teams can work out contracts or trade RFAs right up to the point in time that the hearing has happened. They can also opt to do trades after the arb ruling is made public.
I'd pusue moving Enroth and Sekera now. The Sabres can find a back up goaltender via a lower level player trade.
In case you missed it, here's my Zack Kassian piece that ran yesterday.
The gravevines at gin mills and on message boards along the Niagara Frontier are abuzz with talk of Zack Kassian these days. Will he? Won't he?
The Sabres prospects were on full display for the public to see at Niagara University this past week. Most Sabre fans drop to their knees at night to pray that the ubiquitous Kassian plays well enough in camp in order to make the Sabres squad this season.
After his Blue team had lost to Marcus Foligno's White team in Saturday's scrimmage, I spent time with Kassian. He left me with the feeling that he has matured from this time last season when he came to prospect camp looking to make a favourable impression. This time around, Kassian breaks camp having made increased the equity in his brand while changing the opinion of his biggest detractors in the process. Last Summer at this time, Kassian was uncertain of what his hockey future would hold. You see, last July, the Sabres had suspended contract talks with the former Windsor Spitfire star. The reason: they were concerned that Kassian's maturity and commitment to his craft were lacking, to say the least. Kassian was charged with assault for his part in a broohaha in a honkeytonk in his hometown of Windsor, Ontario. Kassian would have to wait until October for the charge against him to be dropped after he had completed his court-ordered 25 hours of community service. once his debt to society had been met, the Sabres promptly signed their future power forward to his first three-year contract a few days later. with a clean rap sheet and a bright future ahead of him, Kassian spent a final season in the OHL at Windsor. Some, including myself, thought that Kassian had shown enough grit, spit, and skill in Sabres training camp last September in order to earn a roster spot in Buffalo. Others were not so complimentary of Kassian's game. They thought that he lacked a filter what with his bar room shenanigans and all. The team and Kassian agreed that starting his pro career would have to wait. Back to Windsor he went.
Seeing Kassian up close and personal this week in Lewiston, his re-dedication and committment to the game are the first things you notice about him. he always had skill and toughness. Now, he has the whole shebang. Rather than riding jet skis and chilling at the lake as he had in Summer's past, Kassian is now living in a hotel in Buffalo with his buds Marcus Foligno, Luke Adam, and other prospects. He skates, stretches, weight trains, and keeps himself in shape on a daily basis under the watchful eye of the Sabres brass.
On Friday, Sabres GM, Darcy Regier was asked about Kassian's chances of making the Buffalo club this season.
“The work he's doing now is an indication that he's moving in the right direction,” Regier said.
The GM and coaches like Kassian's sense of urgency. So much so that he may skip rochester and begin his career in Buffalo, as Tyler Myers had. If not, he'll go to Rochacha and work his ass off until the call from the "716" finally comes. Suffice it to say, Kassian will be rocking a blue and gold sweater sooner rather than later.
“It's not a question of ability. It's about the maturity around the game. I think the challenge for all players — and this happens to be about Zack — is professionalism, responsibility and consistent work ethic,” Regier said. “It will be determined by Zack. We'll see.”
After the rigorous sixty minute scrimmage on Saturday, Kassian gave me revealing answers to my questions.
On playing on a line with Ennis and Adam at prospect camp:
“Its definitely easier playing with guys who have played the NHL game, especially Tyler Ennis. He’s a full time guy and it makes it so easy for me. He gets open in spots (on the ice) and is always aware of his linemates. Then theres Luke Adam, who is big and makes plays.’
I love these guys.
****
Kassian moves his big body at a high rate of velocity, with pinpoint precision. The Sabres are looking for a skilled big man who uses his body as a battering ram to create big ice for the playmakers to improvise in. Kassian knows that the eyes in the sky are watching him at all times when he’s on the ice.
“I’d like to think that. Definitely. I want them to watch me. I love playing with skilled players. I take a lot of pride in my ability to gel with the skilled guys, to open up the ice for them and to give them another option on the ice”.
***
Kassian also relishes his role as body guard for his line mates and teammates. Kassian does not take kindly to opponents who think that they can take liberties with his boys.
“I play with smaller, skilled players who feel comfortable when they feel… I don’t know if “safe” is the word, but… when they know that people are not going to try to take liberties with them, its going to make them feel and play that much better. I know my role. Its to open up space and to make the boys feel as comfortable as possible out on the ice. That’s my game, and I’m committed to keep doing that to stay here in Buffalo.”
****
Kassian was one of Buffalo’s last cuts in the 2010 training camp and he was disappointed when he did not make the final cut. Retrospectively, Kassian admits that he was not ready last Fall to play in the NHL.
“Staying that extra year in junior really helped me. Sure it would have been great to play in Buffalo, but, I was on the ice a ton (in Windsor), and it gave me the chance to play in all situations. I worked a lot on my skills and I think helped me. Darcy decided to bring a couple of prospects up here a couple of weeks ago to work out with Kevyn Adams and its helped me a lot! We’re on the ice everyday and and I’m working on all aspects of my game. I’m also spending a lot of time with coach Doug McKenney and its really paying off. I know that I need to constantly get better in order to make the jump from where I’m at to where I want to be. “
****
The mere mention of strength and condition coach, Doug McKenney’s name evoked a big smile on Kassian’s face. McKenney is a no nonsense health and nutrition guru, and he’s been working his Sabres prospects harder than most teams work theres. You cannot deny the results. McKenney’s job is to turn the boys to men, without disrupting their skills.
“Yeah, man, his workouts are tough, but, you gotta do it in order to make it to the NHL. Doug takes a lot of pride in his boys. You gotta put in the work. Its like any other job. You can’t just come to the rink, spend an hour and then leave. Working with Doug has taught me a ton. Things right now are going well and after this camp, I’m looking forward to getting back at it and pushing myself harder and harder”.
*****
I told Kassian that he appears leaner to me through his core and trunk. He's a re-packaged 6'3 and 210, and he looks ripped. Moreso than he did at this time last Summer.
“Yeah, working with Doug, I haven’t lost too much weight. His program is not so much about losing weight as it is about getting rid of the fat weights. It’s a conversion of fat to lean muscle without the loss of body weight. I’m turning fat into muscle and I’m committed to doing it. I feel really good and I can feel that I am getting stronger as a result of the workout program. We (Kassian, Foligno, Adam, and a bunch of other Sabres prospects) are here all Summer actually. I’m not going home. This is where I need to be right now. I’m lifting weights, paying close attention to my nutrition and learning to invest time in the care of my body. Doug tells us that we only have one set of knees, one set of shoulders and we have to take care of it all. I’m really learning a lot and I truly believe that this is the best thing for my career right now. I feel like it’s a sacrifice that I am making to stay here in Buffalo for the Summer rather than go home and just lift weights, ya know? This is where I want to be--- where I need to be”.
*****
Kassian is still haunted by the bitter memories of his Team Canada losing the gold medal to the resilient Russians at the World Junior Championships in Buffalo in January.
He and his teammates were exposed to an insane amount of heartbreak and anguish after they lost the lead to the Russians and ended up failing to win the gold on U.S. soil.
Kassian believes now that the adversity of Canada’s WJC loss to Russia can only help him and his buddy, Marcus Foligno, in their pro careers.
“ We (Canada) really wanted it badly. Spending a solid month with those guys, we really battled hard for one another. And then, we end up losing with twenty minutes left for the gold medal … talk about frustrating… everybody looks at each other differently now. Honestly, we gave it our all as a team. Its just that kind of momentum that happens in hockey that once the momentum shifts, its tough to swing it back to your fo your favour… we were leading 3-0, then they score an early goal in the third, and it put us back on our heels. We weren’t working to try to get it back. Its just one of those games that is definitely frustrating to this day. Me and Marcus still talk about it every time we are with each other, but, it happened. We learned from it. We’ll move forward.”
It was freakish how the Russians came out to start the third period. Canada had dominated them for 40 minutes and it was the longest of long shots to imagine a Russian comeback. I told Kassian that I vividly remember taking the elevator from the press box to the media room during the second period. I arrived in the media room just as the game would change in favour of Russia. With 4:29 remaining in the second period, Canada leading 3-0 and in full control, I recall marveling at Foligno’s destruction of Russian star, Tarasenko, by way of a thundering and violent skate to the head. The game delayed for several minutes, Tarasenko appeared to have gotten run over by two zambonis and he struggled to get off the ice and into the Russian room for observation. The mood of the media room was that of jubilation when it appeared that Canada had just made Russia tap-out.
Not so fast.
Tarasenko returned, and would tie the score at 3. Russia would go on to score five unanswered goals en route to their improbable upset over Canada.
“You are absolutely right”, Kassian told me.
“ Marcus was a physical force the whole camp and all tournament long. Marcus was amazing. He wasn’t even on the radar to make the World Junior roster, but he went to camp and he made a big impression and was inited to the tournament. Shows what a character guy he is. We hung out a lot together, and still do. He’s a great guy on and off the ice. He has a great World Junior tournamnent but that kind of momentum shift--- when you hit someone it normally fires up your team. It kinda backfired on us and gave them something to build on. We learned a lot.”
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My prediction is that Kassian will make this Sabres roster after this training camp. He’s the embodiment of all the key elements that the Sabres need in their lineup right now: size, skill, anger, and intimidation
Now, he's committed to his nutrition and improving his hockey health. By that I mean staying out of trouble away from the rink. He's been there, done that, bought the tshirt. He's got the scars to prove it.
“Oh yeah? I hope you are right”, he told me when I gave him my prediction that he'll be a Sabre soon.
"I'm committed to helping the Buffalo Sabres win a Stanley Cup".
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