Michael Pachla: Individual player development in Rochsester and were to go from here Player development should be priority-one, even if a Sam Reinhart or Nikita Zadorov end up with some time in the AHL next season

grerat write up Michael, and now I have to go back and read part 1. But I agree, starting the year in Roch could be good for both Zadarov and Reinhart

Great read.

I'm really excited to see Pysyk and Ruhwedel in Sabre uniforms. They are going to be solid defenseman in the NHL level who will be able to log big minutes and cut down on the number of shots given up. Also the break out from the defensive zone should be smoother when one of them is on the ice.

Great read.

I'm really excited to see Pysyk and Ruhwedel in Sabre uniforms. They are going to be solid defenseman in the NHL level who will be able to log big minutes and cut down on the number of shots given up. Also the break out from the defensive zone should be smoother when one of them is on the ice.
- doppelthat

Pysyk yes, but do you really see Ruhwedel as that type of D-Man? I see him as a number 7, but I am no expert. Do you think he has regular top 6 potential?

I think he could be. Whenever I have seen him play I haven't seen any major blunders and he is developing nicely. He may never be a NHL star but he can be a solid d man who can put a few pucks in the net.

grerat write up Michael, and now I have to go back and read part 1. But I agree, starting the year in Roch could be good for both Zadarov and Reinhart
- markyjoe

thx...we may be in the small minority with those two, but if they come out of camp not quite ready, it won't hurt them to start in Rochester, imo

Great read.

I'm really excited to see Pysyk and Ruhwedel in Sabre uniforms. They are going to be solid defenseman in the NHL level who will be able to log big minutes and cut down on the number of shots given up. Also the break out from the defensive zone should be smoother when one of them is on the ice.
- doppelthat

thx...those two are so similar in their games and both are really good with their first pass out of the zone...rudy has more offense to his game right now, had plenty of pp time in Rochester plus he's more apt to jump into the rush

From previous blog

Edmonton has options. It's unfair the way their team is coming together. They didn't draft wise and it still works out for them.
- joshs

Wise enough to end up with 100 first overall picks

Perhaps you meant "Where to go from here" But hey, why expect you to speak and spell at third-grade level?

thx...we may be in the small minority with those two, but if they come out of camp not quite ready, it won't hurt them to start in Rochester, imo
- Michael Pachla

If grigorenko is in fact here next season, i would absolutely like to see reinhart in rochester for awhile. Neither of those two should ever be in a fourth line role, and if reinhart dominates his time in the ahl, grigorenko will be pushed.

Personally i am rooting for grigo, and would like to see him retained. I expect and believe he will improve upon the way he came to camp last season.

Its really too bad he cant be in the AHL without clearing waivers though, he could have also fit the long term development mold you mentioned with varone, except with way more skill.

Perhaps you meant "Where to go from here" But hey, why expect you to speak and spell at third-grade level?
- courier

thx...pershiate that

If grigorenko is in fact here next season, i would absolutely like to see reinhart in rochester for awhile. Neither of those two should ever be in a fourth line role, and if reinhart dominates his time in the ahl, grigorenko will be pushed.

Personally i am rooting for grigo, and would like to see him retained. I expect and believe he will improve upon the way he came to camp last season.

Its really too bad he cant be in the AHL without clearing waivers though, he could have also fit the long term development mold you mentioned with varone, except with way more skill.
- ieetbred

just an all-around awful situation for grigorenko who had question marks to begin with....he's been a reclamation project for a year now and he's starting to make progress...be interesting to see how murray handles this

just an all-around awful situation for grigorenko who had question marks to begin with....he's been a reclamation project for a year now and he's starting to make progress...be interesting to see how murray handles this
- Michael Pachla

If the plan is for SR to be in Buffalo next year, Grigorenko is dealt in the off season, IMO.

From previous blog



Wise enough to end up with 100 first overall picks
- JCSabs06

Yeah that's some evil genius drafting I guess. Still I feel that if u are just starting a rebuild and u have the top pick, u take a center.

If the plan is for SR to be in Buffalo next year, Grigorenko is dealt in the off season, IMO.
- BigStew

true dat

Yeah that's some evil genius drafting I guess. Still I feel that if u are just starting a rebuild and u have the top pick, u take a center.
- joshs

I said this in the last blog, the Oilers really need a change in how their team is made up. At least 2 of Hall, Eberle, Yakapov, and Drasiatl (or however you spell his name) need to be gone for some bigger bodies who can play and some help on defence. If they don't do that they will continue to get pushed around in the West, especially come playoff time when the refereeing does a major change on how they call the games.

just an all-around awful situation for grigorenko who had question marks to begin with....he's been a reclamation project for a year now and he's starting to make progress...be interesting to see how murray handles this
- Michael Pachla

would be amazing if grigorenko became that amazing center that we were expecting. he was drafted with the hope/projection of being a top line center.

I said this in the last blog, the Oilers really need a change in how their team is made up. At least 2 of Hall, Eberle, Yakapov, and Drasiatl (or however you spell his name) need to be gone for some bigger bodies who can play and some help on defence. If they don't do that they will continue to get pushed around in the West, especially come playoff time when the refereeing does a major change on how they call the games.
- BigStew

chiarelli built a Stanley cup team with a good chunk of players acquired through trades and through free agency...if he can work at least some of that magic in Edmonton, three or four years from now, the oilers could be a scary good club

I said this in the last blog, the Oilers really need a change in how their team is made up. At least 2 of Hall, Eberle, Yakapov, and Drasiatl (or however you spell his name) need to be gone for some bigger bodies who can play and some help on defence. If they don't do that they will continue to get pushed around in the West, especially come playoff time when the refereeing does a major change on how they call the games.
- BigStew

i somehow hope everything blows up in their face. Like they can't afford everybody or they trade them away and get fleeced and then the players they trade away become stars. No team should have that many #1 overalls in that short of a time frame.

chiarelli built a Stanley cup team with a good chunk of players acquired through trades and through free agency...if he can work at least some of that magic in Edmonton, three or four years from now, the oilers could be a scary good club
- Michael Pachla

They should be as long as he isn't scared to actually make a trade with some of their core players like Lowetide and MacTavern were. You have to trade good players to get good players and I think Chiarelli knows that and has proven that.

chiarelli built a Stanley cup team with a good chunk of players acquired through trades and through free agency...if he can work at least some of that magic in Edmonton, three or four years from now, the oilers could be a scary good club
- Michael Pachla

Toronto bailed Boston out. Boston was cap strapped and toronto gave up full value for Kessel. But yeah for awhile it seemed like Boston couldn't make a bad move.

Good stuff Mike.

8 weeks til June 26. Then a whole summer.

It will get slow around here.

Jake the Fake Allen just gave up a bad shortie.

chiarelli built a Stanley cup team with a good chunk of players acquired through trades and through free agency...if he can work at least some of that magic in Edmonton, three or four years from now, the oilers could be a scary good club
- Michael Pachla

He's not going to have many options other than trades. The FA market is pretty bare to begin with and players don't want to play in Edmonton even more than they don't want to play in Buffalo. He's going to need to try and find help on the blueline and he's going to have to do it by targeting good quality guys that don't have any type of NMC/NTC in their contract. It can be done, but more than likely he's going to have to part with one of their top forwards.

Jake the Fake Allen just gave up a bad shortie.
- PrinceChill

It would be some sweet irony for Stewart to be on the team that runs St.Louis out of the playoffs in the first round.