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Recent Sabres performances might not look good to FA college players |
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Minnesota State defenseman Daniel Brickley and his No. 6 seeded Mavericks got ousted in the first round of a topsy-turvy NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament this weekend. The 6'3" 205 lb. defenseman went undrafted and is said to be skipping his senior season to turn pro with TSN's Bob McKenzie tweeting last night that five teams, without naming them, are said to be in the running for Brickley's services.
The usual suspects like Pittsburgh and Chicago will likely be in the mix for a player that is widely regarded as the best FA college player turning pro this year. Those are two organizations that have won six Stanley Cups (three each) dating back to the 2008-09 season and both are always on the prowl for inexpensive help, especially on the blueline, to help ease the crunch of superstars signed to long-term deals.
Both Pittsburgh and Chicago have proven to be class organizations the past decade plus and can put forth an alluring package to a player looking to begin his pro career.
The Buffalo Sabres may also be in the mix, and as they've shown in the past, upper-level free agents like fellow Maverick Casey Nelson in 2016 and UMASS-Lowell's top scorer, CJ Smith last season, may be had. Both Nelson and Smith played big roles in helping move the Rochester Americans into a playoff spot this season after a three-year absence and both are developing nicely. Nelson spent most of last season with the Amerks while getting 11 games with the big club while Smith has been plying his trade in Rochester and presently leads the team in scoring with 43 points (17+29) in 54 games.
This will be general manager Jason Botterill's first foray into college free agency as a GM and the organization could really use a shot in the arm. Botterill's Sabres have had a very poor season and if Brickley was watching at all last night, he came across a dismal performance by a team that looked as if it's ready for the off season.
There's very little the last place Sabres have to offer a player like Brickley outside of Jack Eichel and a somewhat quick route to regular NHL duty. Granted, Botterill is hell bent on incubating all his prospects (the length of which depends upon their development) so a player like Brickley may not start out on the big club out of camp were he to sign in Buffalo. Yet, with plenty of openings on the Sabres blueline at this juncture, a player like him with NHL size and offensive acumen (10 goals, 25 assists in 39 games this year) to go along with a booming shot, may not be long for the big club.
Buffalo has two draft picks in forward Casey Mittelstadt and defenseman Will Borgen who's 2018 college seasons ended early. Mittelstadt just finished his freshman season and could very well sign his first pro contract this off season. Borgen will be a senior should he stay in school one more year. Both seem ready to make the jump.
Botterill himself comes from the college ranks and has always had an affinity for landing and developing college players while an associate GM in Pittsburgh. He'll have a tough task at hand in trying to lure a player like Brickley to Buffalo and he might want to reiterate to his team that there are a lot of eyes watching their games. Hopefully Brickley was doing something else last night.
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