It's gonna come down to how dirty he wants to get around the net
He's gonna end up playing w skilled guys like Ennis, Hodgson, Grigorenko, etc...
So if he puts in the effort, and develops his skills in close quarters, there's no reason he can't be a 20goal scorer consistently
And I'm totally ok with that output
His ceiling is prob something like 25-35-60pts
Lowball, 15-25-40pts...
I'm ok w the "lowball" as long as he consistently bangs and makes it tough for whoever he's out there against, regardless of what line he ends up on...
We're gonna have a lot of 20+ goal scorers,
So if he does bottom out it won't be the end of the world as long as he continues to be physical
- jdfitz77

Just crazy we got a guy like that in the 4th round.

I agree on Barkov. I would like to have the 4th pick instead just so we don't pick drouin or mackinnon and Barkov falls into are laps.
- Smittyx36

He could be an incredible 3rd line center for us, with potential to be a dominant top line power forward
He was buried this past year at the World JRs bc of his age I think and some pretty talented guys above him...
He'll dominate at next years if he isn't on an NHL roster

He could be an incredible 3rd line center for us, with potential to be a dominant top line power forward
He was buried this past year at the World JRs bc of his age I think and some pretty talented guys above him...
He'll dominate at next years if he isn't on an NHL roster
- jdfitz77

If we draft him at 4th I fully expect him to be a first/second line center...

God I hope your right! I can't stand RR.

What do you think about Darcy? I think he has another year or two to turn this team around.
- Smittyx36

Darcy will be back.....I just cant get a read on RR. We are better under him with limited talent but I'm I also thing we are more boring.

I think more like Girgensons-Larsson-Foligno as a potential 3rd line
- Homer

I like how that looks too
We could even split them up, so that we have a physical guy on each line
Something like
Foligno-Hodgson-Armia
Ennis-Grigorenko-Girgensons
(Shinkaruk?)-Larsson-Tropp
Kaleta-Catenacci-Flynn

One really nice thing I like we are doing is bringing in guys that have played all the forward positions, so it gives some really nice options to switch guys around and see who'll fit with who best

hmm, I dont think he'll ever be a 25 goal scorer....hope Im wrong.
- Homer

I think it depends who he plays with an how much PP time he gets
Trading Vanek would make Foligno our top guy in front of the net
Foligno-Hodgson-Armia as a future line?
I could see that
And I could see each of them as 25+ goal scorers in that situation
But like u said earlier,
He could just as easily end up slotted in on a 3rd line where he's more like to get around 15 goals

If we draft him at 4th I fully expect him to be a first/second line center...
- Smittyx36

That's certainly his upside,
But he's really young too... It might take him a few years to get to that level
And with us having other quality centers here,
No reason to rush him into that role either

That's certainly his upside,
But he's really young too... It might take him a few years to get to that level
And with us having other quality centers here,
No reason to rush him into that role either
- jdfitz77

I mean once he has a couple years under his belt. If he is still just a 3rd line guy I would consider that a bust. But I don't think that will be the case with him

Just crazy we got a guy like that in the 4th round.
- Smittyx36

That actually happens a decent amount in the draft, ESP after the 2nd round...
Teams start taking guys that haven't played in JRs yet, or happen to be buried under guys that have played for 2-3years already...
But eventually these kids get their icetime,
Then they either flourish or flame out

We happened to pick Foligno at the perfect time to end up getting nice value
I do wonder if we pass on him if he had a different last name though?

Either way...
He's really young, And I think he'll at least be a solid 3rd line guy for us going forward
His name and gritty style play will keep him a fan fav here for quite awhile

Darcy will be back.....I just cant get a read on RR. We are better under him with limited talent but I'm I also thing we are more boring.
- Homer

We were boring under Lindy too. Should check the possession numbers when our team has a 1 or 2 goal lead over the last 5 years.

RR system is less risky than Lindy's, but Lindy's system once we got the lead....

We were boring under Lindy too. Should check the possession numbers when our team has a 1 or 2 goal lead over the last 5 years.

RR system is less risky than Lindy's, but Lindy's system once we got the lead....
- theblueandgold

Both systems stink and are terrible to watch. I want a new coach if we are truly rebuilding

I mean once he has a couple years under his belt. If he is still just a 3rd line guy I would consider that a bust. But I don't think that will be the case with him
- Smittyx36

I see what you're saying
It just depends what our line-up looks like
If he ends up behind Hodgon & Grigorenko bc they develop into PPG players, and Barkov's strong two-way game suits a 3rd line role...
I'm ok with that
He could end up being the best 3rd line center in the league
With all the young centers we have right now,
I could def see 3 of them becoming good enough (even after some are moved to the wing), to where we end up with a "Jordan Staal" type situation
That'd be a GREAT problem to have

I see what you're saying
It just depends what our line-up looks like
If he ends up behind Hodgon & Grigorenko bc they develop into PPG players, and Barkov's strong two-way game suits a 3rd line role...
I'm ok with that
He could end up being the best 3rd line center in the league
With all the young centers we have right now,
I could def see 3 of them becoming good enough (even after some are moved to the wing), to where we end up with a "Jordan Staal" type situation
That'd be a GREAT problem to have
- jdfitz77

Yes. That would be a GREAT problem to have

Catenacci is being sent to Rochester. Not sure if anyone mentioned this already today. I'm too lazy to go back through everything to look.

Catenacci is being sent to Rochester. Not sure if anyone mentioned this already today. I'm too lazy to go back through everything to look.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes goosie .
Heading out .

I'm going to skip the per-game crap and the anthems (in case Rene Rancourt sings- the guy is BRUTAL and I can't understand how he got the job).

So the sports world expects to the Sabres to lay down for Boston, huh. Well, it's a damn good thing that they're really good at that already.

So the sports world expects to the Sabres to lay down for Boston, huh. Well, it's a damn good thing that they're really good at that already.
- buffalofan19

They won't. Because everyone expects them to. I do expect that Boston will come out blazing tonight though.

We were boring under Lindy too. Should check the possession numbers when our team has a 1 or 2 goal lead over the last 5 years.
- theblueandgold

How many times this year have the Sabres applied so much pressure in the offensive zone that they have pinned the opposing team in their own end?

Seems like a handful of times all season, at most.

So the sports world expects to the Sabres to lay down for Boston, huh. Well, it's a damn good thing that they're really good at that already.
- buffalofan19

Do you remember that 7-4 Sabres victory in Boston???

Catenacci is being sent to Rochester. Not sure if anyone mentioned this already today. I'm too lazy to go back through everything to look.
- HonkFortheGoose

Ya, I brought it up...
Psyched to see what this kid can do
Any idea if the Rochester playoff games will be televised?

Ya, I brought it up...
Psyched to see what this kid can do
Any idea if the Rochester playoff games will be televised?
- jdfitz77

They don't have any more televised games. There's only 3 games left on their schedule in the first place. I'll be at the game on Saturday.

If we draft him at 4th I fully expect him to be a first/second line center...
- Smittyx36

I agree, it would be a complete waste of time to put someone with his talent in a 3rd/4th line role....in back to back years

They don't have any more televised games. There's only 3 games left on their schedule in the first place. I'll be at the game on Saturday.
- HonkFortheGoose

Sometimes TW throws a game on that isn't scheduled. (fingers crossed)

Catenacci is being sent to Rochester. Not sure if anyone mentioned this already today. I'm too lazy to go back through everything to look.
- HonkFortheGoose

I don't want to jinx it but he's starting to look like the 2nd best steal of the draft ( I was gunna say the steal of the draft but I forgot about Andrew Shaw)