If I had a vote for MVP of Sabres Prospects Camp, my selection would be second year sledge hammer Zemgus Girgensons. The 19 year old did everything right this week. I mean everything. He his second year peers and the new kids by example. He made plays for his linemates in the Blue and Gold scrimmage. He hammered the body. He wreaked havoc all over the ice with his skating. He even was the locker room comedian after the practice sessions and the scrimmage.
Check this out.
Girgensons assisted on both of the goals that his liney Nick Baptiste scored in the scrimmage. Both feeds were slick and on the tape. tasked the shirtless, tatted-up playmaker how he made such deft plays to Baptiste.
"Hold on a minute" he told me as he turned to his locker. He pulled on a retro, flat-brim Sabres cap off the shelf, pulled it on his head and said.
'Shoot".
In true Marshall Mathers manner, Girgensons slipped out of his hunting and gathering mode and into self effacing humor mode.I sometime forget that he's only 19 years old because his on-ice game suggests that he is 25 years old. In the scrimmage, he looked like a young Steve Ott.
I proceeded to ask him how he and his Blue squad mates were able to pound the body and win pucks from the Gold squad from the opening faceoff.
"You know what... we started listening to techno in her before the game. Then I switched it up to hip hop. You know, 2 Chainz, stuff like that. While we were getting ready, the Gold team was listening to country music. Thats how it happened".
Yes, Zemgus. Thats exactly how it all went down.
He's been one of the top performers at Sabres prospects camp. He didn't disappoint at the camp and in the scrimmage. His bull-in-the-china-shop style never gets old.
Girgensons says that he learned valuable lessons during his rookie season in the AHL. He's now ready to take the next step to the NHL.
Thanks, Sabres.com
Zemgus Girgensons has never apologized for the way he plays hockey. His style is raw, loud, aggressive, and in-your-face. His robust style impressed the Sabres so much that they invested one of their two 2012 first round draft picks in the jack hammer. At just 18 years of age, Girgensons became the highest Latvian drafted in NHL history (16 spots higher than Sandis Ozolinsh in 1991) when the Buffalo Sabres selected him in the first round (14th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
In his rookie season on pro hockey, Grigensons' firebrand style earned him the immediate praise of his ten head coach Ron Rolston in Rochester. Rolston wasted little time putting the kid on the ice in key moments of games. When his rookie season began, Girgo was the youngest player in the AHL at age 18. His age meant nothing. It was just a number. Girgensons impressed the Sabres and Amerks mostly with his professional-built body and his fearlessness on the ice. He immediately played with the poise of a 22 or 23 year old who had played four years in the NCAA or in junior hockey. Girgensons made the huge jump from the USHL Dubuque club to pro hockey, in one fell swoop.
On Wednesday, just after his first day of his second pro camp had ended, Girgensons told me what has gitten him to this point in pro hockey:
"My will", he said. "I want to play in the NHL. Thats it, you know?".
His rookie season in "The A" saw him start fast and strong. He then hit a rookie lull period during a stretch of games in late December, early January. Maybe it was fatigue, or trying to do too much by himself. Typical symptoms that occur during rookie campaigns in pro hockey. Though he wasn't scoring ay the pace that he'd grown accustomed to in Dubuque, Girgensons was bringing the physicality and the hammer to every one of his shifts. Girgo learned quickly that if he wasn't scoring with regularity, then he better be playing the defensive side of the puck with vim and vigor. He did just that.
Then on January 12th, His rookie season to a major turn for the worse when he was suckered by Richard Panik of the Syracuse Crunch. In game 37 of his rookie season, he suffered a major concussion when he was plowed in the blind spot by a wreckless, chicken sh*t, cowardly hit that he never saw coming. For his idiocy, Panik earned a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for interference for his nuking of Girgensons.
He would be forced to sit out 15 games with his concussion and the ensuing symptoms. Its too bad because the Amerks missed him when he was out of the lineup.
In 61 games played, Girgensons scored 6 goals and added 11 assists. He was physical and made life miserable for opponents.
The takeaway from his injury-interrupted rookie season was the impressive way he played at the end of the regular season and in the first round of the playoffs. Girgensons led the Amerks with three goals in three playoff games before the Amerks were eliminated in the best-of-five series with the Toronto Marlies in the first round of the 2013 playoffs. His Amerks head coach Chadd Cassidy lavished praise on Girgesnons at camp this week when he called Girgensons the best Amerks player to play in the Toronto playoff series. High praise for a kid who is mature beyond his years.
Girgensons is not lacking for confidence and self esteem. He told me that he's a better player now than he was at this time last season. Boy, does it show. He's playing at a robust 6'2 200, and he is a lean, mean, muscular fore checking machine. His first year of pro hockey didn't kill him, it only made him stronger. His teammates better watch him in Friday's Blue & Gold scrimmage. He's feeling great about himself and his game and he feels like he has to be one of the leaders of the 40 man prospect group. Girgensons finished his checks with authority and he drove the blue ice at 100 mph. He pulled all of the D zone coverage to himself then deftly found his bud Baptiste for two goals in the scrimmage.
Thats how he rolls.
The Latvian was Buffalo's best forward in the morning session on Wednesday and Thursday. After the session, he was laughing and cracking jokes with the rooks in the Buffalo room. On the ice, Girgensons is an intense, puck removal machine. Off the ice, he's a cool as the First Niagara Center air on a humid July afternoon.
On Friday, he earned my scrimmage MVP. Afterwards, he reiterated what he told me earlier in the week.
"I'm a center. I want to play center in the NHL. I feel like I help the team more at center". he played wing in Rochester last season and he made the transition very easily. With more exceptional performances at training camp like the ones that he provided this week, "Z" will put some serious pressure on Rolston and Regier to play him in his natural position. If that means outplaying Grigirenko, Ennis, and Porter to earn a center job, then so be it. Ennis could easily transition back to the wing where he played under Lindy Ruff. Imagine Girgensons, Ott, Kaleta, Foligno, Vanek, Armia and the rest of the Sabres forwards creating chaos in the offensive zone by making life miserable for enemy D-men. Rememebr how Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell thumped Chara, Seidenberg, mcQuaid and the Bruins D men in the Cup Finals? The Sabres can adopt a similar aggressive style and achieve similar results with Girgensons in the Buffalo lineup this season. Like the pugnacious Shaw and Bickell, Girgensons has an above average set of mitts. He excels from teh dots down, going hard ti dirty areas to get the greezy goals. He has no fear. None whatsoever. He's big and confident enough to absorb punishment on the way to the net. He'll also give it back to opponents without hesitation. he likes to initiate contact, not retaliate from it. He gets opponents off of their games. He's a solid hockey player and he'll get a fair shake to play for the Sabres.
There was a time, not that long ago, that the Sabres lacked organizational depth down the middle. Their cupboards were bare, so Darcy Regier and Kevin Devine invested time and resources in the position. Last June, they drafted two great centers in Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgis Girgensons in the first round of the NHL Draft. In February of this year, they traded captain Jason Pominville to Minnesota for a high-end asset package that included center Johann Larsson.
They've also added Phil Varone, Dan Catenacci, Justin Kea, Colin Jacobs, JT Compfer, Eric Locke, Sean Malone, Brad Navin, and Logan Nelson to their depth chart.
The future is bright at center ice for the Sabres.
Its mid-July, and Thomas Vanek is still a Buffalo Sabre. So is Ryan Miller.
Its looking more and more like both players will be reporting to training camp in Buffalo in mid-September.
On Friday night, Darcy Regier said that its not unusual that there has been very light action this summer on Vanek and Miller. Regier said that its not just his players, but all of the 2014 UFAs to be who are not getting any love right now.
“Talking to my counterparts around the league, that’s not unusual right now,” he said. “For whatever reason, there’s not a lot of activity on players that are going to become unrestricted in ’14.”
There are a couple of reasons why this is. Tell me off the top of your head how many teams in the NHL have cap space right now to fit in Vanek's $7.1 million and Miller's $6.25 million.
I asked Vanek's agent earlier this week if the shrinking cap to $64.3M and the size of his client's cap number are impediments to a potential trade right now. "You answered your own question", he told me.
NHL GMs have eyes bigger than their stomachs right now. They want things that they want to order the expensive menu items that financially are out of their price range and that they cannot have. So, they are forced to order off the value menu. Why have their been so few UFA signings since the July 5 binge-fest?
Another reason for the sound of silence surrounding Vanek and Miller is that the asking price to trade for them is "too high", thus, interested teams sit idle.
There isn't a long line of NHL GMs waiting in line to get beat up in a trade with Regier. For example, Vanouver GM Mike Gillis had to hand over Cody Hodgson and Alex Sulzer for Zack Kassian and MA Gragnani. Nashville GM David Poile handed over a first rounder (Zemgus Girgensons) for Paul Gaustad. How about sniping Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher having to fork over top prospects Johan Larsson and Matt hackett, plus a first rounder (Nikita Zadorov) and a second rounder for Jason Pominville.
Say what you will about Regier being too patient. He always wins a trade. You can't hate on him for that.
Its better for Regier to save his money for the talent-heavy 2014 UFA market. There are going to be some beauties who will be unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2014.
Here's the list of 2014 UFA, courtesy of capgeek.com:
Player Pos Team Age Cap Hit Expiry
Heatley, Dany L MIN 32 $7,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Gaborik, Marian R CLB 31 $7,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Vanek, Thomas L BUF 29 $7,142,857 2014 (UFA)
Thornton, Joe C SJS 34 $7,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Marleau, Patrick L SJS 33 $6,900,000 2014 (UFA)
Lundqvist, Henrik G NYR 31 $6,875,000 2014 (UFA)
Bouwmeester, Jay D STL 29 $6,680,000 2014 (UFA)
Boyle, Dan D SJS 36 $6,666,667 2014 (UFA)
Stastny, Paul C COL 27 $6,600,000 2014 (UFA)
Phaneuf, Dion D TOR 28 $6,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Miller, Ryan G BUF 32 $6,250,000 2014 (UFA)
Sedin, Henrik C VAN 32 $6,100,000 2014 (UFA)
Sedin, Daniel L VAN 32 $6,100,000 2014 (UFA)
Timonen, Kimmo D PHI 38 $6,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Cammalleri, Mike L CGY 31 $6,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Iginla, Jarome R BOS 36 $6,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Kiprusoff, Miikka G CGY 36 $5,833,333 2014 (UFA)
Markov, Andrei D MTL 34 $5,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Alfredsson, Daniel R DET 40 $5,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Kessel, Phil R TOR 25 $5,400,000 2014 (UFA)
Pominville, Jason R MIN 30 $5,300,000 2014 (UFA)
Hemsky, Ales R EDM 29 $5,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Bergeron, Patrice C BOS 27 $5,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Gionta, Brian R MTL 34 $5,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Komisarek, Mike D CAR 31 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Jokinen, Olli C WPG 34 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Pitkanen, Joni D CAR 29 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Whitney, Ray L DAL 41 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Brodeur, Martin G NJD 41 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Hiller, Jonas G ANA 31 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Legwand, David C NAS 32 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Michalek, Milan L OTT 28 $4,333,333 2014 (UFA)
Callahan, Ryan R NYR 28 $4,275,000 2014 (UFA)
Meszaros, Andrej D PHI 27 $4,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Pavelski, Joe C SJS 28 $4,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Quincey, Kyle D DET 27 $3,775,000 2014 (UFA)
Salo, Sami D TBL 38 $3,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Orpik, Brooks D PIT 32 $3,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Halak, Jaroslav G STL 28 $3,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Schultz, Nick D EDM 30 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Stajan, Matt C CGY 29 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Mitchell, Willie D LAK 36 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Dubnyk, Devan G EDM 27 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Hjalmarsson, Niklas D CHI 26 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Bolland, Dave C TOR 27 $3,375,000 2014 (UFA)
Tallinder, Henrik D NJD 34 $3,375,000 2014 (UFA)
Steen, Alexander L STL 29 $3,362,500 2014 (UFA)
Girardi, Dan D NYR 29 $3,325,000 2014 (UFA)
Robidas, Stephane D DAL 36 $3,300,000 2014 (UFA)
Seidenberg, Dennis D BOS 31 $3,250,000 2014 (UFA)
Ericsson, Jonathan D DET 29 $3,250,000 2014 (UFA)
Nabokov, Evgeni G NYI 37 $3,250,000 2014 (UFA)
Brown, Dustin R LAK 28 $3,175,000 2014 (UFA)
Moulson, Matt L NYI 29 $3,133,333 2014 (UFA)
Olesz, Rostislav L NJD 27 $3,125,000 2014 (UFA)
Phillips, Chris D OTT 35 $3,083,333 2014 (UFA)
Samuelsson, Mikael R DET 36 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Kostitsyn, Sergei L NAS 26 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Jokinen, Jussi L PIT 30 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Vrbata, Radim R PHX 32 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Setoguchi, Devin R WPG 26 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Klesla, Rostislav D PHX 31 $2,975,000 2014 (UFA)
Ott, Steve C BUF 30 $2,950,000 2014 (UFA)
Greene, Matt D LAK 30 $2,950,000 2014 (UFA)
Kulemin, Nikolai R TOR 26 $2,800,000 2014 (UFA)
Morris, Derek D PHX 34 $2,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Schultz, Jeff D LAK 27 $2,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Crawford, Corey G CHI 28 $2,666,667 2014 (UFA)
Downie, Steve R COL 26 $2,650,000 2014 (UFA)
Stempniak, Lee R CGY 30 $2,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Koivu, Saku C ANA 38 $2,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Cogliano, Andrew C ANA 26 $2,390,000 2014 (UFA)
Niskanen, Matt D PIT 26 $2,300,000 2014 (UFA)
Smyth, Ryan L EDM 37 $2,250,000 2014 (UFA)
Nikitin, Nikita D CLB 27 $2,150,000 2014 (UFA)
Moss, David R PHX 31 $2,100,000 2014 (UFA)
Bertuzzi, Todd R DET 38 $2,075,000 2014 (UFA)
Emelin, Alexei D MTL 27 $2,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Sarich, Cory D COL 34 $2,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Khabibulin, Nikolai G CHI 40 $2,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Bouchard, Pierre-Marc R NYI 29 $2,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Vokoun, Tomas G PIT 37 $2,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Fiddler, Vernon C DAL 33 $1,800,000 2014 (UFA)
Winnik, Daniel L ANA 28 $1,800,000 2014 (UFA)
Elliott, Brian G STL 28 $1,800,000 2014 (UFA)
Chimera, Jason L WAS 34 $1,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Boyle, Brian C NYR 28 $1,700,000 2014 (UFA)
Goc, Marcel C FLA 29 $1,700,000 2014 (UFA)
Stuart, Mark D WPG 29 $1,700,000 2014 (UFA)
Stralman, Anton D NYR 26 $1,700,000 2014 (UFA)
Emery, Ray G PHI 30 $1,650,000 2014 (UFA)
Hunwick, Matt D COL 28 $1,600,000 2014 (UFA)
Pyatt, Taylor L NYR 31 $1,550,000 2014 (UFA)
Belov, Anton D EDM 26 $1,525,000 2014 (UFA)
Russell, Kris D CGY 26 $1,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Bouillon, Francis D MTL 37 $1,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Giguere, Jean-Sebastien G COL 36 $1,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Rupp, Mike R MIN 33 $1,500,000 2014 (UFA)
McClement, Jay C TOR 30 $1,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Gustavsson, Jonas G DET 28 $1,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Hansen, Jannik R VAN 27 $1,350,000 2014 (UFA)
Pouliot, Benoit L NYR 26 $1,300,000 2014 (UFA)
Fayne, Mark D NJD 26 $1,300,000 2014 (UFA)
Biron, Martin G NYR 35 $1,300,000 2014 (UFA)
Brookbank, Sheldon D CHI 32 $1,250,000 2014 (UFA)
Diaz, Raphael D MTL 27 $1,225,000 2014 (UFA)
Clemmensen, Scott G FLA 35 $1,200,000 2014 (UFA)
McCormick, Cody C BUF 30 $1,200,000 2014 (UFA)
Eaves, Patrick R DET 29 $1,200,000 2014 (UFA)
Lee, Brian D TBL 26 $1,150,000 2014 (UFA)
Mitchell, John C COL 28 $1,100,000 2014 (UFA)
Thornton, Shawn R BOS 35 $1,100,000 2014 (UFA)
Weaver, Mike D FLA 35 $1,100,000 2014 (UFA)
Glass, Tanner L PIT 29 $1,100,000 2014 (UFA)
Eager, Ben R EDM 29 $1,100,000 2014 (UFA)
Powe, Darroll L NYR 28 $1,066,667 2014 (UFA)
Boll, Jared R CLB 27 $1,050,000 2014 (UFA)
Stoner, Clayton D MIN 28 $1,050,000 2014 (UFA)
Labarbera, Jason G EDM 33 $1,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Asham, Arron R NYR 35 $1,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Handzus, Michal C CHI 36 $1,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Hannan, Scott D SJS 34 $1,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Comeau, Blake L CLB 27 $1,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Moore, Dominic C NYR 32 $1,000,000 2014 (UFA)
MacKenzie, Derek C CLB 32 $1,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Olesz, Rostislav L NJD 27 $1,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Parros, George R MTL 33 $937,500 2014 (UFA)
Konopka, Zenon C MIN 32 $925,000 2014 (UFA)
MacDonald, Joey G CGY 33 $925,000 2014 (UFA)
Read, Matt R PHI 27 $900,000 2014 (UFA)
Benoit, Andre D COL 29 $900,000 2014 (UFA)
Thorburn, Chris R WPG 30 $866,667 2014 (UFA)
Carcillo, Daniel L CHI 28 $825,000 2014 (UFA)
Gervais, Bruno D PHI 28 $825,000 2014 (UFA)
Prosser, Nate D MIN 27 $825,000 2014 (UFA)
Fraser, Colin C LAK 28 $825,000 2014 (UFA)
Greening, Colin L OTT 27 $816,667 2014 (UFA)
Khudobin, Anton G CAR 27 $800,000 2014 (UFA)
Smith, Derek D CGY 28 $775,000 2014 (UFA)
Potter, Corey D EDM 29 $775,000 2014 (UFA)
Bernier, Steve R NJD 28 $775,000 2014 (UFA)
Carter, Ryan C NJD 29 $775,000 2014 (UFA)
Regin, Peter C NYI 27 $750,000 2014 (UFA)
Scott, John L BUF 30 $750,000 2014 (UFA)
Bickel, Stu D NYR 26 $750,000 2014 (UFA)
Greiss, Thomas G PHX 27 $750,000 2014 (UFA)
Barch, Krystofer R NJD 33 $750,000 2014 (UFA)
Bissonnette, Paul L PHX 28 $737,500 2014 (UFA)
Brown, Mike R EDM 28 $736,667 2014 (UFA)
Nilstorp, Cristopher G DAL 29 $725,000 2014 (UFA)
Westgarth, Kevin R CAR 29 $725,000 2014 (UFA)
Komisarek, Mike D CAR 31 $700,000 2014 (UFA)
Dowell, Jake C MIN 28 $700,000 2014 (UFA)
Schultz, Jeff D LAK 27 $700,000 2014 (UFA)
Petersen, Toby C DAL 34 $675,000 2014 (UFA)
Desjardins, Cedrick G TBL 27 $650,000 2014 (UFA)
Jones, Blair C CGY 26 $650,000 2014 (UFA)
Taormina, Matt D TBL 26 $650,000 2014 (UFA)
Lawson, Nathan G OTT 29 $650,000 2014 (UFA)
Staubitz, Brad R ANA 28 $637,500 2014 (UFA)
Labrie, Pierre-Cedric L TBL 26 $625,000 2014 (UFA)
Aucoin, Keith C STL 34 $625,000 2014 (UFA)
Cannone, Pat C OTT 26 $625,000 2014 (UFA)
MacIntyre, Steve L PIT 32 $625,000 2014 (UFA)
Lasch, Ryan R TOR 26 $625,000 2014 (UFA)
Scrivens, Ben G LAK 26 $612,500 2014 (UFA)
Jackman, Tim R CGY 31 $612,500 2014 (UFA)
McCarthy, John L SJS 26 $612,500 2014 (UFA)
Connelly, Brian D MIN 27 $612,500 2014 (UFA)
Bruton, Chris R NYI 26 $610,000 2014 (UFA)
Montoya, Al G WPG 28 $601,000 2014 (UFA)
Pyatt, Tom L TBL 26 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Mullen, Patrick D VAN 27 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Cracknell, Adam R STL 27 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Bass, Cody C CLB 26 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Hall, Adam C PHI 32 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Haley, Micheal C NYR 27 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Reaves, Ryan R STL 26 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Holmstrom, Ben C PHI 26 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Chorney, Taylor D STL 26 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Eckford, Tyler D OTT 27 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
McElhinney, Curtis G CLB 30 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Johnson, Aaron D NYR 30 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
MacIntyre, Drew G TOR 30 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Guenin, Nate D COL 30 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Sutter, Brett L CAR 26 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Newbury, Kris C PHI 31 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Johnson, Chad G BOS 27 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Van Der Gulik, David L COL 30 $600,000 2014 (UFA)
Syvret, Danny D NYR 28 $587,500 2014 (UFA)
Garbutt, Ryan C DAL 27 $575,000 2014 (UFA)
Bollig, Brandon L CHI 26 $575,000 2014 (UFA)
Genoway, Chay D WAS 26 $575,000 2014 (UFA)
Kassian, Matt L OTT 26 $575,000 2014 (UFA)
Street, Ben C CGY 26 $575,000 2014 (UFA)
Wathier, Francis L DAL 28 $575,000 2014 (UFA)
Engelland, Deryk D PIT 31 $566,667 2014 (UFA)
Rau, Chad C MIN 26 $562,500 2014 (UFA)
Gionta, Stephen R NJD 29 $562,500 2014 (UFA)
Rechlicz, Joel R WAS 26 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Boulton, Eric L NYI 36 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Piskula, Joe D NAS 29 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Bourque, Chris L BOS 27 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Angelidis, Mike C TBL 28 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Lerg, Bryan L COL 27 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Vitale, Joe C PIT 27 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Blunden, Mike R MTL 26 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Brouillette, Julien D WAS 26 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
MacDonald, Andrew D NYI 26 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Stoa, Ryan C WAS 26 $550,000 2014 (UFA)
Mitchell, John L ANA 26 $542,500 2014 (UFA)
Blanchard, Nicolas C CAR 26 $537,500 2014 (UFA)
Finley, Joe D NYI 26 $537,500 2014 (UFA)
Cliche, Marc-Andre R LAK 26 $537,500 2014 (UFA)
Peters, Justin G CAR 26 $537,500 2014 (UFA)
Zatkoff, Jeff G PIT 26 $537,500 2014 (UFA)
Porter, Kevin L BUF 27 $537,500 2014 (UFA)
Kevin Oklobzija of the D and C reports that Rasmus Ristolainen can play in Rochester this season if he doesnt make the Buffalo Roster in training camp. This according to Risto's Buffalo contract.
The clarification comes this morning from Sabres assistant general manager Kevin Devine, and is presumably due to the NHL contract that the 18-year-old Ristolainen signed on Friday night.When development camp began on Wednesday, Ristolainen said that would be required to return to his team in his native Finland if he didn’t earn a job with the Sabres. He said without hesitation that he would be bound by his Finnish contract.However, as a first-round draft pick, and apparently through terms negotiated in his NHL deal, the Sabres can assign Ristolainen to the Amerks if they so desire.There would be a chance they’d allow him to return to Finland, just as they did with winger Joel Armia. It’s highly unlikely that would happen, however, considering that they believe he’s very close to NHL ready.
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Now that the Sabres have signed D monster Rasmus Ristolainen to his three year entry level contract, its likely that a Nikita Zadorov signing will be soon to follow. That is if you trust history.
Last year on this day, the Sabres inked Zemgus Girgensons (14th overall in 2012 entry draft) to his entry level deal. Five days later, they signed Mikhail Grigorenko (12th overall pick) to his entry level pro contract.
Before he attended Sabres prospects camp in early July 2012, Girgenson was a lock to attend a premiere NCAA hockey program. While in Buffalo, however, Girgensons fell in love with the Sabres and the rest is history.
Girgensons opted to sign and turn pro rather than attending the University of Vermont. He started he was the youngest player in the AHL at 18 years of age last season. Girgensons fell in love with Buffalo midway through the 2012 prospects camp.
Seeing definitely was believing for the gritty center man.
"I always felt that the NCAA was the best way for me to develop on and off the ice. After attending the Buffalo Sabres camp, and learning their plans for me, I feel I am ready to begin my professional career."
In some respects, Girgensons situation from last July is very similar to what Rasmus Ristolainen is going through right now. Earlier this week, Ristolainen said that in the event that he doesn't make the Sabres roster out of training camp that he would return home to play with TPS Turki, his hometown team. At the NHL draft, Ristolainen said that he had no contractual obligations overseas. This week, he spoke of his Turku option. Darcy Regier said Friday night, three hours before the Ristilainen contract announcement, Darcy Regier said that that the D man's Buffalo Sabres contract will dictate where the Ristolainen will play next season, not his Turku contract.
Ristolainen told me after Friday's Blue & Gold scrimmage that he really enjoyed his time in Buffalo. In the room, he meshed well with his teammates. On the ice, he was a difference-maker, especially while he was he paired with Jake McCabe.
Darcy Regier and Kevin Devin know great talent when they see it. My guess is that Ristolainen will be in Buffalo's top seven group once training camp ends in September.
“We felt that it was important to get Rasmus under contract quickly so that we could start the development process right away,” Regier said in the official team press release.
“He’s a very mature defenseman for his age and will have every chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp.”
Zadorov was equally as impressive in his first prospects camp as Ristolainen and McCabe were. He delivered big checks in the scrimmage and never seemed out of position on the ice. He crept down the wall and joined the offensive on nearly every shift. He communicated very well with his D partner during shifts. This kid's got the whole package, just like Ristolainen. It won't surprise me at all when Buffalo announces the Zadorv signing, which may come as early as this weekend. He will go back to the London Knights to continue his reign of terror on the Ontario Hockey League.
Like marble pillars, Zadorov and Ristoalinen are huge building blocks for this evolving Sabres team.
I'm a big fan of Ristolainen's hairstyle. Reminds me of Billy Idol, cirvca 1982 "Rebel Yell".
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