I would say that the biggest mistake they could make would be sending him down and not giving him the #1 pivot spot.
- HonkFortheGoose

will be talking to don stevens and (hopefully) kevin oklobzija later this week...if i'm not mistaken, that was their top line last year with adam and varone as their top scorers

oe Yerdon ‏@JoeYerdon 12m12 minutes ago
Nolan confirms Grigorenko and Dalpe sent down. McCabe had a maintenance day.

Jokes on me McCabe is still here

will be talking to don stevens and (hopefully) kevin oklobzija later this week...if i'm not mistaken, that was their top line last year with adam and varone as their top scorers
- Michael Pachla

That sounds right. But, I'd rather a guy that's probably going to develop into an NHL player should get that spot over a career AHL guy. Especially if it means developing chemistry with other players that should be NHL players soon as well.

Is Zadorov still here, or was he sent down?

That sounds right. But, I'd rather a guy that's probably going to develop into an NHL player should get that spot over a career AHL guy. Especially if it means developing chemistry with other players that should be NHL players soon as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

yeah...I'm with ya...just wrote that down as a question for those two

I still don't see how Grigorenko out performed Reinhart though. And that, to me, is the key here. I think both deserve to get a chance, but the roster limitations say otherwise. And since they have a bit more flexibility with Grigorenko, I think that's why this is the decision they made.

Plus, I don't think it's a bad thing for Grigorenko to play in Rochester with Armia. They seem to have pretty good chemistry together, so developing that in the meantime is a bonus, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Honestly, then you were not paying attention. This is not up for debate. Grigo looked the part. Reinhart not even close. I don't care about points. Crosby wasn't the pens leading scorer in the playoffs, does that mean he is not a better player than those who outscored him?

You are the only one saying that Reinhart and Grigo were even close.

And two years ago, there wasn't a better center playing in Rochester when Grigorenko made the team on a tryout. Quite a difference.

yeah...I'm with ya...just wrote that down as a question for those two
- Michael Pachla

That's definitely a good one. I'm all for having the team be as successful as possible, and I guess if they feel that having Adam on the top line accomplishes that more, then it is what it is. But if that's the case, I'd like to see them rearrange things a bit more so that Grigorenko and Armia are together. I think that could be a lethal combo for us for years to come.

Honestly, then you were not paying attention. This is not up for debate. Grigo looked the part. Reinhart not even close. I don't care about points. Crosby wasn't the pens leading scorer in the playoffs, does that mean he is not a better player than those who outscored him?

You are the only one saying that Reinhart and Grigo were even close.

And two years ago, there wasn't a better center playing in Rochester when Grigorenko made the team on a tryout. Quite a difference.
- SabresPanacea

Really???

According to a sabres.com link Grigorenko wasn't on the roster.
- stashu

Hmm... Maybe I'm thinking of the prospects scrimmages or something.

Either way Grigorenko doubled Reinhart's point total

Honestly, then you were not paying attention. This is not up for debate. Grigo looked the part. Reinhart not even close. I don't care about points. Crosby wasn't the pens leading scorer in the playoffs, does that mean he is not a better player than those who outscored him?

You are the only one saying that Reinhart and Grigo were even close.

And two years ago, there wasn't a better center playing in Rochester when Grigorenko made the team on a tryout. Quite a difference.
- SabresPanacea

Wow, really? Not up for debate? Is that why there were a bunch of us all discussing it? I love how you think things are so black and white. They are not. I wish life was that easy.

And I paid plenty of attention. What exactly was wrong with Reinhart's game that you feel he doesn't even look the part? Is he a bit timid out there at the moment, perhaps. But he was getting PK time, PP time, and didn't give up any huge chances to the other teams in the games I watched.

I'm sure that's going to garner a "Get your eyes checked" response from you, but I wouldn't expect anything less at this point.

Wow, really? Not up for debate? Is that why there were a bunch of us all discussing it? I love how you think things are so black and white. They are not. I wish life was that easy.

And I paid plenty of attention. What exactly was wrong with Reinhart's game that you feel he doesn't even look the part? Is he a bit timid out there at the moment, perhaps. But he was getting PK time, PP time, and didn't give up any huge chances to the other teams in the games I watched.

I'm sure that's going to garner a "Get your eyes checked" response from you, but I wouldn't expect anything less at this point.
- HonkFortheGoose

To be fair, Reinhart being timid, would be called lazy if it were Grigorenko.

Personally I saw a lot more out of Grigorenko that yelled NHL'er than I saw of Reinhart

Honestly, then you were not paying attention. This is not up for debate. Grigo looked the part. Reinhart not even close. I don't care about points. Crosby wasn't the pens leading scorer in the playoffs, does that mean he is not a better player than those who outscored him?

You are the only one saying that Reinhart and Grigo were even close.

And two years ago, there wasn't a better center playing in Rochester when Grigorenko made the team on a tryout. Quite a difference.
- SabresPanacea

WOW , are you for real ? Take a chill pill . Not up for debate ? This forum is a place to debate . Please read more and post less.

To be fair, Reinhart being timid, would be called lazy if it were Grigorenko.

Personally I saw a lot more out of Grigorenko that yelled NHL'er than I saw of Reinhart
- sbroads24

Did I see more "jump" in Grigorenko's game? Sure. But just because a player has that style to his game doesn't mean that another one is any less effective. Pominville played a quiet game, but he's definitely an NHLer. And to be honest, everything I hear about Reinhart sounds a lot like Pominville to me, with the main difference being that he's a center and not a winger.

To be fair, Reinhart being timid, would be called lazy if it were Grigorenko.

Personally I saw a lot more out of Grigorenko that yelled NHL'er than I saw of Reinhart
- sbroads24

Also, Reinhart still has his junior eligibility, Grigorenko finally doesn't - Grigs is ahead of him in line so Reinhart would have to do something to jump him - I was mostly happy with how he performed but he didn't jump ahead, IMO.

This is about asset management, that's it. Get Reinhart his 9 games, let Grigorenko play in Rochester with Armia and dominate against adults, bring him back when it's time to send Reinhart back with a folder of "things to work on".

Nothing about this situation reflects poorly on either player - it's the team operating within the rules established for managing young players, and not wanting to have Grigorenko here in a bottom half role vs getting top-line minutes in the A.

Is Zadorov still here, or was he sent down?
- buffalofan19

Nothings been said so far so I'll assume he's here. It's interesting though, they're at the limit now but they've got quite a few defensemen. I assume someone (pobably zadorov?) will get sent down when pysyk returns.

Also, Reinhart still has his junior eligibility, Grigorenko finally doesn't - Grigs is ahead of him in line so Reinhart would have to do something to jump him - I was mostly happy with how he performed but he didn't jump ahead, IMO.

This is about asset management, that's it. Get Reinhart his 9 games, let Grigorenko play in Rochester with Armia and dominate against adults, bring him back when it's time to send Reinhart back with a folder of "things to work on".

Nothing about this situation reflects poorly on either player - it's the team operating within the rules established for managing young players, and not wanting to have Grigorenko here in a bottom half role vs getting top-line minutes in the A.
- nfph

This.

Also, Reinhart still has his junior eligibility, Grigorenko finally doesn't - Grigs is ahead of him in line so Reinhart would have to do something to jump him - I was mostly happy with how he performed but he didn't jump ahead, IMO.

This is about asset management, that's it. Get Reinhart his 9 games, let Grigorenko play in Rochester with Armia and dominate against adults, bring him back when it's time to send Reinhart back with a folder of "things to work on".

Nothing about this situation reflects poorly on either player - it's the team operating within the rules established for managing young players, and not wanting to have Grigorenko here in a bottom half role vs getting top-line minutes in the A.
- nfph

This Geez folks relax and breath. No one is throwing Grigorenko away .

I just feel bad for Grigo that's gotta be a huge bummer for him. At the end of the day I think it's the right move though. If he proves training camp wasn't a fluke and brings it night in night out in Rachacha I can easily see him being back up by Christmas, quite possibly sooner.

As for Reinhart, in my opinion when it comes to these CHL guys they have to be really really impressive in preseason to even warrant a 9 game look and frankly Reinhart wasn't. That being said this team likely isn't going much of anywhere this season and Sammy figures to be a huge part of the future so it can't hurt to get him up close and personal with some of the best centers in the world to show him what he'll be up against in the future and what he needs to work on when he's back in juniors.

On a side note I'm a BU alum and I managed to catch parts of their exhibition game the other day. They played some college from Canada who was obviously way beneath their weight class so take this with a grain of salt but Eichel looked incredible. 5 assists with every single one of them being the primary assist and there were several occasions where he went around/through 3 or 4 guys like they weren't even there. While I can't see the Sabres purposefully tanking and I think they're a greatly improved team they'll still likely finish at or near the bottom of the standings and should have a decent shot at either him or McDavid (hoping for Eichel both as a fellow Terrier and an AMERICAN).

According to a sabres.com link Grigorenko wasn't on the roster.
- stashu

I'm guessing he meant the year he was there....?

I just feel bad for Grigo that's gotta be a huge bummer for him. At the end of the day I think it's the right move though. If he proves training camp wasn't a fluke and brings it night in night out in Rachacha I can easily see him being back up by Christmas, quite possibly sooner.

As for Reinhart, in my opinion when it comes to these CHL guys they have to be really really impressive in preseason to even warrant a 9 game look and frankly Reinhart wasn't. That being said this team likely isn't going much of anywhere this season and Sammy figures to be a huge part of the future so it can't hurt to get him up close and personal with some of the best centers in the world to show him what he'll be up against in the future and what he needs to work on when he's back in juniors.

On a side note I'm a BU alum and I managed to catch parts of their exhibition game the other day. They played some college from Canada who was obviously way beneath their weight class so take this with a grain of salt but Eichel looked incredible. 5 assists with every single one of them being the primary assist and there were several occasions where he went around/through 3 or 4 guys like they weren't even there. While I can't see the Sabres purposefully tanking and I think they're a greatly improved team they'll still likely finish at or near the bottom of the standings and should have a decent shot at either him or McDavid (hoping for Eichel both as a fellow Terrier and an AMERICAN).
- daaaahawks

Da Bears!

Also, Reinhart still has his junior eligibility, Grigorenko finally doesn't - Grigs is ahead of him in line so Reinhart would have to do something to jump him - I was mostly happy with how he performed but he didn't jump ahead, IMO.

This is about asset management, that's it. Get Reinhart his 9 games, let Grigorenko play in Rochester with Armia and dominate against adults, bring him back when it's time to send Reinhart back with a folder of "things to work on".

Nothing about this situation reflects poorly on either player - it's the team operating within the rules established for managing young players, and not wanting to have Grigorenko here in a bottom half role vs getting top-line minutes in the A.
- nfph

Ahhhhh

About Grigorenko, I called it. Despite what Nolan said, politics played a role in the decision making for the roster. When it came to Grigo, the decision was already made before camp, he just made it more difficult for them to send him down.

Also, Reinhart still has his junior eligibility, Grigorenko finally doesn't - Grigs is ahead of him in line so Reinhart would have to do something to jump him - I was mostly happy with how he performed but he didn't jump ahead, IMO.

This is about asset management, that's it. Get Reinhart his 9 games, let Grigorenko play in Rochester with Armia and dominate against adults, bring him back when it's time to send Reinhart back with a folder of "things to work on".

Nothing about this situation reflects poorly on either player - it's the team operating within the rules established for managing young players, and not wanting to have Grigorenko here in a bottom half role vs getting top-line minutes in the A.
- nfph

they sent the Wrong guy down grigorenko worked his ass off was the best player in preseason .. he should of got some games

Looks like Nolan was lying when he said hard work pays off ..

This.
- HonkFortheGoose

X2 He does come up with something worthy every now and then