Kane, Bogosian, ROR, Lehner and Sabres Ready For Lift-Off

A picture can tell a thousand stories, right?

I'm guessing that Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian are thrilled to be reunited in Buffalo.

These old buddies first met one another as teenagers in Atlanta.

Bogosian made his NHL debut with the Thrashers in 2008-09. Kane made his NHL debut the following season.

Both came of age in Winnipeg.

They are now cleared for take off in Buffalo.

Kane and Bogosian will be relied upon to participate in the Sabres leadership group that includes Brian Gionta, Josh Gorges, Zemgus Gigensons, Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Ennis, Matt Moulson, Marcus Foligno and Mike Weber.

Kane, 24, has been working out and skating in Vancouver and Los Angeles this summer. He was given a clean bill of health on his surgically repaired shoulder in June. A healthy Kane will add 25-30 goals to Buffalo's pop gun offense from 2014-15. I'm hoping that Kane brings a chip on his shoulder to Buffalo for the way things deteriorated for him in Winnipeg. I don't know what happened between he and Dustin Byfuglien and frankly I don't care. Kane needed to get out of Winnipeg. He will find solace and tranquility in Hockey Heaven, where he will be able to be himself and act naturally.

Bogosian, 25, spent this past summer in Buffalo where he worked out and skated with his Sabres teammates. Bogosian became a cult hero in Buffalo last February after he skated into the lineup and became a 28-30 minute TOI D-man. He hits, fights and blocks shots in ways that his predecessor Tyler Myers could never do on a consistent basis.

Bogo may need a permit to carry those loaded guns in Erie County.

Both young men look to be in excellent physical condition. I was blown away after watching Bogosian skate the five or six times I did in the past month. Dude moves with such ease for the big man that he is. He is long, lean, mean and ready to splatter opposing forwards who dare to infringe on his side of the ice.

I haven't seen Kane in person yet, but I'm told that he is in mid-season shape in terms of his cardio and his skating. He hasn't played in a game since before the February blockbuster trade that sent he and Bogosian to Buffalo, however, he has been doing extra skating for the past few months. I pity the poor defenseman of Eastern Conference who think that they are going to stick check Kane. He is going to blow through or around many forward and D on his way to the cage.

Bogosian, Kane and their Buffalo teammates and coaches participated in the annual Sabres Foundation golf tournament on Thursday.

The boys will report to First Niagara Center at the crack of dawn Thursday for their medical exams.

On Friday morning, training camp will officially open up.

Per usual, great shot @BWipp of @BogosianZach and @evanderkane_9 #leaders pic.twitter.com/uCvi7yJnFY

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 16, 2015

___________________________________________________________________________

Talk about your low centers of gravity. Ryan O'Reilly looks like he squats Toyota Prius.

O'Reilly has been skating in Buffalo since early last week, Man, the guy can compete and work. He treats his practice sessions like they are games. No joking around. No B.S. with the boys. Just hard battles and constant motion at a high tempo. He is going to be just what the doctor ordered for the Sabres

_______________________________________________________________________

Meet your new starting goalie Robin Lehner, your 6'5" 230 lb. mountain of mean and nasty.

Like Kane, a change of scenery will do Lehner a lot of good. He needed to get out of the shadow of Craig Anderson in Ottawa. He will be a perfect fit in Buffalo.

Thanks, Bill Wippert