For the past couple of months, I've been keeping you updated on the RFA status of four young centers: Cody Hodgson, Derek Stepan, Nazem Kadri, and Adam Henrique.
Whats the hold up in re-signing these four dynamic players?
NY Rangers GM Glen Sather said Friday night that he will not be signing Stepan to a long term contract. Therefore, the player will have to accept his "bridge contract" and smile, or, he'll have to hold out in order to get the term and annual dollars that he and his agent feel that he deserves.
Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers remains an unsigned RFA, and his GM Glen Sather told Edmonton Sports Radio 1260, that he's not prepared to sign Stepan to a long-term contract. The 23-year old center will have to earn his big pay day.
Derek is in one of those positions where he's coming off an entry level contract. What we've done historically with all the players we've signed is we've put them into that gap contract where they have two years then after the first year then you negotiate an extention of that contract. That's pretty much what we're going to do with Derek. I'm not going to give him a long term contract at this stage. He's a good player. He's a smart player. He's a good team guy. There's certainly nothing wrong with him. But you got to wait a little while before you get the big bucks.
Stepan was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (51st overall). He scored 18 goals and 26 assists in 48 games for the Rangers during the 2013 season. He has registered 56 goals and 84 assists in 212 career games
If Stepan signs a two-year "bridge" deal, it will have a profond effect on the negotiating position of Hodgson, Kadri, and Henrique since all four players are being used as comparables of one another. If Stepan holds out, it may improve his chances of getting his long term deal sooner rather than later.
The Sabres are no doubt watching the Stepan, Kadri and Henrique negotiations very closely as it appears that management is leaning towards the "bridge contract" in all four players cases.
Hodgson has options. He can sign a Tyler Ennis style "bridge contract", or, he can hold out of training camp.
Sabres training camp opens on September 12.
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Its hot outside. Good thing its icy and chilly in the rink.
The Sabres prospects will compete in Traverse City, Michigan from September 5-9.
Sabres training camp begins on September 12.
A core group of Sabres have been skating in Buffalo for the better part of the past three weeks. Among them, are three young Russians who are getting along famously.
Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Zadorov, and Andrey Makarov, have been joined at the hip in Buffalo this summer. Rightly so. They've known one another for years playing together and against one another in Russia. They work out together, they skate together, they eat meals together. Its uncanny. Where you see one of them in town, you'll likely see the other two just a few feet away. Baseball hats turned backwards, talking junk to one another laughing and carrying on. These kids don't look out of place in Buffalo. They fit right in. I like seeing their on and off ice chemistry. Its a sign of togetherness and companionship. To me, Grigorenko appears to be more relaxed than he was at this time last summer in Buffalo. He's the elder statesman in his Russian Troika. Nikita and Andrey look up to Mikhail as he has experienced the NHL first hand. It will be great to see the three Russians compete hell-bent for leather at Traverse City.
Each player experienced the emotional peaks and valleys that are part of the territory for young kids trying to do their best to earn an NHL sweater and roster spot.
Grigorenko was taken 12th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. His rookie year was a whirlwind experience that featured the highs of making the team out of abbreviated camp to scoring his first NHL goal vs. Toronto, to the disappointment of being a healthy scratch, watching Lindy Ruff get fired, and then being demoted back to juniors in March. Right now, Grigo's happy to have two of his dear friends from home with him in Buffalo. He and Zadorov roomed together last summer at Russia's IIHF WJC training camp. Nikita was cut from the team, while Grigo and Makarov represented their country on home soil at the 2013 at Ufa, Russia.
Zadorov, played like a man possessed for the London Knights after the sting of being cut by his U-20 national team had subsided. He took out his anger and his frustrations on OHL forwards. He crushed his competition and earned himself a 16th overall pick in the 2013 Entry Draft.
Makarov was signed as a free agent last September by the Buffalo Sabres. The kid has all the tools and smarts to be a first or second round pick, however, he went undrafted in 2012. Makarov struggled to find his A+ level game in Saskatoon last fall, however, his overall play improved to the point where he was being mentioned in the conversation with top CHL golatender Zach Fucale as one of the best goalies in Canadian major junior. Makarov's Sasky Blades hosted the 2013 Memorial Cup and would eventually lose to Seth Jones, Ty Rattie and the Portland Winterhawks. Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathon Drouin, Zach Fucale and the Halifax Mooseheads would go on to easily win the 2013 Memorial Cup. Makarov was named Outstanding Goaltender of the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup. The 20-year-old Russian native and Sabres prospect made 120 saves, many of them spectacular, in just four games.
Perhaps its true. You've got to lose before you can win. The three amigos Grigorenko, Zadorov, and Makarov suffered through dejection and rejection in 2012-13.
Now, together again, they see better days ahead in Buffalo.
In the next three weeks, the trio will play with one another in meaningful NHL games against top prospects and professionals.
At the end of camp, the three will again head their separate ways. Grigorenko is in Buffalo to stay for the full 2013-14 season. He's staying put. Zadorov will head back to London for his sophomore season in The O. He's going to have a monster season for the Knights. Makarov will be bound for Rochester, where he will attempt to leverage the back-up job away from Connor Knapp or Nate Lieuwen. Matt Hackett is the heir apparent to David Leggio's throne. For now. Who knows. When or if Ryan Miller is dealt away from Buffalo, Hackett would then move up to Buffalo where he and Jhonas Enroth will be the "1A-1B" tandem. if Makarov plays his cards right, he'd go from Amerks back-up to starter after Hackett moves to Buffalo.
For now, the three bromigos will enjoy their time together again.
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Zemgus Girgensons has been a staple in Buffalo. He reminds me of pat Kaleta, but with 25-30 goals in his stick. Seriously. The kid is fearless and focused. I feel bad for the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, and Rangers prospect(s) who get caught with a puck on their stick and their head down in T-City. Zemgus will not hesitate to finish all checks with extremely prejudice.
Chad Ruhwedel and Mark Pysyk have been Buffalo regulars as well this summer. Both players skate so masterfully and fluently. They look to me to be in NHL, mid-season form already and its only August.
Two players who are looking to rebound from serious knee injuries in Corey Tropp and Brayden McNabb. To my naked eye, both players have recovered nicely and are putting in the necessary time and toil to insure that their strength and conditioning levels are at the exact point that they need to be at. Tropp and McNabb are not mortal locks to make the Buffalo opening night roster, therefore, look for them to make strong statements to Ron Rolston, Teppo Numinen, Joe Sacco and Darcy Regier during the seven exhibition games against Montreal, Carolina, Columbus, and Toronto.
I can't wait for the Traverse City experience. The Sabres won't see the Stars, Red Wings, Blues, or Wold unless the get to the Finals. When they do, it will be on, like Donkey Kong!
These baby Sabres are going to T-City to play for keeps. Its their heavyweight belt that all the other teams want to snatch out of their trophy case.
Ron Rolston and Chadd Cassidy will have their troops ready for war.
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While most Buffalo born 19 year olds are chillin at the beach or at the golf course, Justin Bailey, Buffalo Sabres power forward of the future, has been working like all get out this summer. He's entering his sophomore year with the Kitchener Rangers, and he's looking to break the 20 goal plateau with sick moves like these:
Those are some saucy mitts right there!
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As I told you on Thursday, Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko is on of 27 NHL prospects whi have been invited to participate in the NHLPA Rookie Showcase.
Here's the official release, courtesy NHLPA:
Just before the hockey season kicks off every year, we catch a glimpse of hockey’s immediate future at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase event.
For the fifth year in a row, 27 of the NHL’s top prospective and rookie players will arrive in Toronto on Monday, September 2nd, for a two-day experience that offers our official trading card partners – Panini America and Upper Deck – an exclusive opportunity to collect photos and signatures that will be used for upcoming trading card and memorabilia items. The event will mark the first time some of these players are photographed in their official NHL team uniforms and gear.
EA Sports will also be at the event, previewing NHL 14 to the rookies, as well as taking 3D head scans of the players to be used in their upcoming NHL 15 video game.
Memorial Cup Champions and junior teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin - two of the top three 2013 NHL Entry Draft picks – are just two of the many up-and-coming stars attending this event:
Nathan MacKinnon Colorado Avalanche
Tyler Biggs Toronto Maple Leafs
Brendan Gallagher Montreal Canadiens
Jonathan Drouin Tampa Bay Lightning
Cory Conacher Ottawa Senators
Bo Horvat Vancouver Canucks
Sean Monahan Calgary Flames
Malcolm Subban Boston Bruins
Christian Thomas Montreal Canadiens
Adam Clendening Chicago Blackhawks
Mathew Dumba Minnesota Wild
Mikhail Grigorenko Buffalo Sabres
Tomas Hertl San Jose Sharks
Boone Jenner Columbus Blue Jackets
Nic Jensen Vancouver Canucks
Danny Kristo New York Rangers
Dylan McIlrath New York Rangers
Mark McNeill Chicago Blackhawks
Jon Merrill New Jersey Devils
Petr Mrazek Detroit Red Wings
Valeri Nichushkin Dallas Stars
Tanner Pearson Los Angeles Kings
Derrick Pouliot Pittsburgh Penguins
Matt Puempel Ottawa Senators
Ty Rattie St. Louis Blues
Tom Wilson Washington Capitals
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