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An early look at the Sabres free agents |
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Back-to-back 30th place finishes and a general manager who's talked consistently of not wanting a long rebuild is a recipe for some definitive turnover in an NHL organization. Add in an AHL affiliate that just finished the season 29-41-6, good for 14th in the conference and 27th in the league, and one could imagine some many more personnel changes and a decidedly different look to the teams in Buffalo and Rochester.
The Buffalo Sabres have gone through major personnel changes already as less than half the players from the 2013-14 opening game roster are still with the organization. Of the 11 that are still around only three--Tyler Ennis, Zemgus Girgensons and Rasmus Ristolainen--have top-six forward/top-pairing defenseman potential. Those changes filtered down to Rochester as well.
This season because of turnover and injuries to both clubs, over 50 players pulled on a Rochester Americans sweater. Murray was grabbing players from everywhere to try and fill the Amerks roster, which, be it known, is typical in the relationship between an NHL club and their AHL affiliate. Yet, that much turnover might be a little extreme.
Leading the organizational reset is Murray who took over his position half-way through the 2013-14 season. He has been separating the wheat from the chaff left over from 17 years of former GM Darcy Regier at the helm. This year Murray will be nearly finished with that task and really begin to put his stamp on the Buffalo Sabres and the rest of the organization.
As they begin the "build" portion of the rebuild in earnest this off season, Murray has 19 free agents that he'll need to make a decision on.
Here's an early look at who they are and where, or even if, these players might fit in.
UFA
F, Patrick Kaleta--The third longest tenured Sabres player has seen injuries and a changing NHL affect his pesky game. Suspensions and an assignment to Rochester in November, 2013 jostled him as to his preferred style of play while injuries brought to light that an NHL career shouldn't be taken for granted. Kaleta's a heart and soul guy with enough NHL-level skill to be a fourth line/reserve PK (pun intended) specialist. But younger players like Nic Deslauriers, who was the only player to play in all 82 games in Buffalo, have those same qualities. It was a great gesture of respect form former coach Ted Nolan to have a "A" sewn on Kaleta's sweater at the end of the season, and it couldn't hurt the club to have him on a one-year contract at league minimum. But unfortunately for Kaleta, like Nolan, the word "former" may proceed his status as a Buffalo Sabre.
F, Matt Ellis--Ellis is another heart and soul kind of player who's borderline NHL status has now been downgraded to AHL-level. The 34 yr. old forward who Regier claimed off waivers from Los Angeles (much to the dismay of GM Dean Lombardi at the time) has said that he'd really like to stick with the club and there should be no doubt that he means it. There's an honesty in his words and an honesty to his game that provides a strong, foundational mentorship for the youngins at the AHL-level both on and off the ice.
D, Andrej Meszaros--A 2014 free agent signing by Murray, Meszaros helped the team get to the salary floor and helped the team get to 30th place. Should still have enough going for him to land an NHL contract next season.
D, Andre Benoit--Unsure of what to expect coming to Buffalo after a banner year in Colorado, Benoit might have had a shot at a future in Buffalo but methinks he'll be headed somewhere else. Unless he's interested in a two-way deal with the Sabres.
D, Tyson Strachan--Much respect, big guy. Inconsistencies and lack of overall talent relegate the 30 yr. old vet to a bottom-paring/reserve role on another team. Too many young defensemen with too much upside means no room at the inn for Strachan in Buffalo.
G, Anders Lindback--If you don't know the numbers they're easily looked up. For those who've watched Lindback play, he was somewhat of a revelation. He has the size Murray covets in his goalies and played himself into serious consideration for a roster slot and a shot as #1 goalie on the big club. With the goalie situation in flux, Lindback earned a good look and a short-term contract with Buffalo.
D, Drew Bagnall--The 31 yr. old defenseman may never make it to the NHL and he knows it. But that never dissuaded him from being the best player he could be. That's a leader. As the young guns on the Sabres blueline grow in their NHL roles and reach their potential, it wouldn't be surprising to hear Rasmus Ristolainen, Mark Pysyk and Chad Ruhwedel and others singing the praises of Bagnall. Professionalism emanates from every pore in his body. From Jake McCabe after his rookie season in Rochester, "I can't imagine being in the lockeroom without [Bagnall]."
RFA
F, Johan Larsson--It took a while and it took some yo-yoing, but Larsson finally got it. The best player in Rochester all season finally showed that style of game at the NHL-level and it put him squarely in the top-nine conversation. A bridge contract might be in the offing for the 22 yr. old former 2nd round pick (2010, 56th overall, MIN) and it was earned. Am interested in how far he can take his somewhat limited skill-set and gadfly-like game at the NHL-level, but right now a bottom-six on a playoff-caliber team is not inconceivable.
D, Mark Pysyk--What more can you say about the 23 yr. old d-man. He's paid his dues many times over as a waiver-exempt defenseman caught up in a numbers game. Pysyk has gone through the past two seasons in Rochester knowing that he was better than half the defenseman playing in Buffalo yet he handled it with the utmost class and professionalism. We don't know what happened with his collapse during a pick up basketball game, but we do know he finished the season with Rochester playing three games in three nights and he came through just fine. The only decisions with the club concerning him is contract term and who he'll be paired with in Buffalo next season.
F, Mikhail Grigorenko--¡Ay, caramba! What this guy has gone through during the entirety of his entry-level contract should not be wished upon anyone. Not that he hasn't brought some of it upon himself, but Girgorenko is the poster boy for mismanagement by the Sabres. Not only that, the limbo that his development was put into because of the NHL/CHL agreement is a perfect example of why there should be exceptions to the rule. It's been a slow, arduous process in his development and stabilization at the NHL-level might give the team a clear indication as to his upside, if there's any left. Problem is, he might be caught up in a numbers game. With the presumed drafting of center Jack Eichel, the strong, top-six play of Zemgus Girgensons and 2nd-overall pick Sam Reinhart looking to lock down the top three center spots, there just may be no room for him other than the fourth line. And that's no place for him. Just ask Cody Hodgson.
F, Zac Dalpe--Another of Murray's free agent signings from last July. With 117 NHL games and 186 AHL games, Dalpe looks to be a classic "tweener." There should be room for the veteran on a two-way contract, but it's not imperative the Sabres re-sign him.
F, Phil Varone--Acquitted himself very well last season when given the opportunity for an extended stint with the Sabres. Varone can skate real well, plays a strong two-way game and seems to be growing with every game played. Even though he's a bit undersized at 5'10" 191 lbs., he's got game. Wouldn't hurt having him on board with a bridge contract.
F, Tim Schaller--Just finished his second full professional season and is making giant strides in the developmental process. The former Providence Friar was looked upon as a possible top-nine hard-nosed forward at the AHL-level but his scoring touch put him squarely in the top-six conversation as a strong two-way player. It also put him on the Sabres radar for possible checking-line duties at the NHL-level. Another year or two of seasoning in Rochester with spot duty in the NHL should give the team a pretty clear indication as to his upside.
G, Matt Hackett--The former Minnesota draft pick (2009, 77th) who came over in the Jason Pominville trade has had a real rough go of it. He was started the 2013-14 season as the Amerks #1 goalie before being overtaken by Nate Lieuwen. Hackett faltered in Rochester but injuries in Buffalo would eventually see him make it to the big club. He played much better for the Sabres than he did for the Amerks before suffering a gruesome knee injury which kept him out until January, 2015. He didn't play all that well afterwards, and you could tell by his movements that his knee just wasn't 100%. Facing over 30 shots a game really didn't help matters either. He could be another victim of a numbers game as Linus Ullmark (2012, 163rd) will be joining Andrey Makarov in net for Rochester next season. Murray is said to be in the market for a goalie of his liking and if they re-sign Lindback, Hackett could be odd man out.
G, Nathan Lieuwen--Inconsistencies and concussion issues look to have derailed Lieuwen,s career to this point. It was revealed in January that he was still feeling the effects of a concussion sustained on April 6, 2014 while playing with Buffalo, which is probably the reason he was having a very poor season in Rochester. Tough call on him. He has the size (6'5" 185 lbs.) and agility and had proven that he could at least compete at a high level in the AHL. The Sabres could tuck him away in Elmira with the Jackals of the ECHL and monitor his progress if no other team is interested in him.
F, Jerry D'Amigo--Came over from the Columbus Blue Jackets organization in the December trade of Luke Adam. Had six goals and 13 assists in 31 games for Rochester while logging an even plus/minus rating. The speedy, solidly built winger (5'11" 208) appeared in nine games for Buffalo failing to hit the scoresheet in 9:43 atoi. D'Amigo was lost for the season after taking a high-stick to the face from Nashville's Craig Smith on March 21st. Smith was fined $5,000 for the double-minor which left Sabres' trainers picking up D'Amigo's teeth from the ice. Should be in the running for a depth role in Buffalo or a top-nine role in Rochester.
F, Jordan Samuels-Thomas--Another player Murray traded for. JST came over from Winnipeg in a July deal that sent a conditional 7th round pick (conditions met) to the Jets. At 6'3 195 lbs, he's considered a "heavy," the type of player that Murray wants in his lineup. Although he did little to move up the depth chart, JST took on an enforcer role logging eight fights in 63 games. No reason to think that he won't be back next season in the same role.
D, Jerome Leduc--Defenseman Jerome "Leduc of Earl" started off the season very slow and one had to wonder if this might be his last season in the organization as he found himself in a bottom-pairing/depth role for the Amerks. But injuries in Rochester afforded him the opportunity to expand his role and he took full advantage of it. His game gained traction and it didn't go unnoticed by the coaching staff as Amerks bench boss Chadd Cassidy pointed out that Leduc had made huge strides this year. Leduc may be the beneficiary of a numbers game as there may be a couple of openings for him to fit in. One would think that this may be the last hurrah for the former 2010 3rd round pick (68th) and if he continues to make "huge strides" he may be one of those late bloomer-types.
F, Kevin Sundher--Sundher has had a rough go of it since signing his entry-level deal in the midst of the 2011-12 season. The former 3rd round pick (2010, 75th) looks to be a long shot to come back. Injuries and inconsistencies saw him sent to Elmira for nine games and that's never a good sign, especially in a contract year.
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