When Sabres GM Jason Botterill traded Marcus Foligno to Minnesota on Friday, he did so with serious reservations. Foligno was a key cog in Buffalo. He wasn't a dangled nor a human highlight package. He played a key role. He was a bouncer. He was the protector and body guard.
Now the Sabres will have to replace his pugnacity and power.
Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher revealed on Friday that he has been hot on Foligno's trail for the past two seasons. Former Sabres GM Tim Murray shot down all trade requests that involved Foligno. Credit to Fletcher for his persistence. Murray's onstinance served to drive up Foligno's value. Fletcher knew that Botterill needed badly to upgrade his D. Botterill was forced to have to include Foligno in the multi-player trade that saw Buffalo get physical puck mover Marco Scandella and sniping forward Jason Pominville in exchange for Foligno and Tyler Ennis. The Sabres and Wild also traded third and fourth round picks.
In the end, Fletcher was patient and eventually got his man in Foligno.
Marcus will add needed thump to the Minnesota lineup. Foligno will join former Sabres teammate Chris Stewart as the guardians of the ice.
Foligno is the modern day heavyweight in that he can skate on all four lines, hit, fight and score. He possesses skill and speed to burn. I see him thriving under Bruce Boudreau'sbcoaching and will not be shocked when he scores 20 goals this season.
Foligno fears no player in the NHL. I pity the poor fool who messes with Moose's teammates.
In his six year Buffalo career, Foligno delivered 1,023 hits and blocked 219 shots. He averaged 14:47 TOI.
In other words, Foligno has perfected the fine art of making a huge impact on each and every one of his shifts played. He makes the most of the least amount of ice time. That makes him economical and valuable to his new team.
A 6'4" and 230 lbs., Foligno is a legit heavyweight. Betcha didn't know that Foligno was 14 for 14 in his fights the past two seasons. He had nine fights in 2016-17. He would have had more fights in that span had noted glove jigglers Brad Marchand, Alexei Emelin and Dion Phaneuf accepted Foligno's invitation to dance.
Foligno plays a robust style. He flushes the walls and is intent on being first in loose pucks. His speed, strength and long wing span allow him to initiate contact on opposing forwards and D sooner than they anticipate. Foligno eats up time and space. He makes people pay for holding on to pucks. Foligno finished 4th in the NHL in hits in 2016-17 with 279 total collisions. He dished out 193 hits last season. Foligno rang up 73 PIMs in 2016-17, and, 79 last season.
On Saturday afternoon, Botterill spoke to media via conference call about the loss of the man Sabres fans affectionately called "Moose". Botterill was asked how he intends to replace Foligno's pugilism and toughness. Botterill preached team toughness. He also piqued my curiosity when he mentioned Evander Kane by name.
"I think it's a scenario where we have had some discussions with that. That's probably why we didn't want to lose Marcus because he does bring that "element". I'm a big believer in having more of a scenario of a team toughness mentality up there. we have players such as Evander Kane, Ristolainen, Bogosian, Scandella who have size to them and certainly can finish their checks and play a very physical game. We do think we have some team toughness but that's one of the aspects that we will look at in the organization."
So, Kane is officially off the NHL trade market, right?
That's what my ears heard when Botterill mentioned him by name.
It appears the trade of Marcus Foligno has pushed the "pause" button on the Kane trade chatter. For now at least.
The Sabres are now thin on experience at left wing after the Foligno trade. Trading Kane now would further complicate the Buffalo left wing situation.
Joining Kane in the left side brigade are Matt Moulson, Benoit Pouliot, Nic Deslauriers and C.J. Smith. If Zemgus Girgensons has his way, he will be the man playing the #3 center which would push Johan Larsson back to left wing. Also, Josef Josefson, who was signed as UFA on Saturday also plays LW and center. Botterill lost LW Will Carrier to the Vegas Knights in last week's Expansion Draft. One less competitor for a Buffalo LW job. But, a battle nonetheless.
Not exactly that 1976 Montreal Canadiens, eh? Trading Foligno created a crater on the LW depth chart.
Buffalo's left wing conundrum should be be viewed as a massive opportunity for Sabres prospects Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste and Hudson Fasching to aspire to. Botterill likely won't make a trade to add a veteran top six LW. There were no noteworthy left wingers available for a sweet price on UFA Day 1.
Therefore, one of the organizational prospects can play the role of Jake Guentzel made famous in The Burgh and earn a full time ride on the Buffalo train. Guentzel was a third round pick of the Penguins who earned a roster spot after exceeding all expectations set for him in the AHL. Guentzel is 23 and has played a key role on the team that has won back to back Stanley Cups. He would not be the player he is today has he not cut his teeth in the AHL.
That's Botterill's Way.
Which Buffalo prospect will it be? Bailey? Baptiste? Fasching? Why not Alex Nylander?
Bailey, 22, is my choice to earn a full time ride in Buffalo next season. He has done the work over the years. He has Foligno's size and anger along the walls and in front of the net. Bailey has high end skill and has tremendous speed and quickness which he uses to escape contact. He knows where the back of the net is. Bailey has scored 43 goals the past two seasons combined in Rochester.
Baptiste plays an edgy brand of hockey that is augmented by his fast hands and fast feet. Baptiste, like Bailey, will stick his nose in the tough areas on the ice. Baptiste scored 25 goals last season and has racked up 38 goals total the past two seasons.
Fasching is a battleship on skates. He's big and strong like Foligno and can skate, too. He plays a bump and grind style that wears down enemy forwards and D. Fasching can finish, too. Fasching scored 8 goals in his first 37 games of pro hockey in Rochester last season.
Nylander isn't known for his physicality and truculence. However, if he eats his pasta and packs on 10-15 lbs. of muscle this summer, he too will be a candidate for consideration to play in Buffalo next season. Nylander popped in 10 goals and 18 assists in his first 65 games of pro hockey in Rochester last season.
How bad do the kids I Rochester want it?
Botterill wants to see people fighting for their roster spot.
“There’s always going to be competition for spots,” Botterill said Saturday.
“There’s going to be openings. As a group, we’ll continue to look at the possibility of signing more players if the right fit is there over the next couple of days or from a trade perspective over the next couple of months.
“Whether it’s this week or waiting more toward training camp or the start of the season when some teams may face a cap situation, we’re always going continue to look to improve our team.”
If I'm a Sabres forward prospect right now, I'm hitting it hard at the HARBORCenter weight room where Botterill is monitoring progress on a daily basis. If Im working out at my off-season home, I'm switching the plan up and staying in Buffalo for the summer. At times like these, it's better to be seen by the new head coach and new GM than to be invisible until mid-September when training camp begins. I'm also playing my off-wing at summer shinny sessions. Right wing? Left wing? Who cares. The smart prospect forward will create more demand for his services if he is versatile and can play multiple positions.
The whole landscape has changed in the past two months. New GMs and new head coaches in Buffalo and Rochester. Jobs are available and all applicants/candidates will be given on-the-spot interviews.
It's time for Bailey, Baptiste and Fasching to step up with swagger and confidence and fight for the 15 minutes of nightly ice time that used to be served to Marcus Foligno.
There will be no hand outs by Botterill and Phil Housley. Whoever wants a Buffalo left wing job better crush it everyday in the weight room.l and in the ice. We will see in September who dedicated themselves and put in the extra work at the gym in May, June, July, and August.
My guess is that Kane will now be a Sabre until Christmas time.
Housley said last week that he and Kane have had a few "get to know you conversations".
Maybe Housley confided in Kane and told him that he needs him to lead the charge this season. At some point in their chats, Housley should have told Kane that he will not tolerate any nonsense from him this season. Meaning, when the team is stretching at 4:30 per the plan, don't walk in the building at 4:35pm. When the team is kicking around the soccer ball before the game, don't sit in the room. Join the group. No one man is an island unto himself. That is the message that Tim Murray was selling to Kane the past two seasons. "Be a better teammate".
Housley would be wise to remind Kane that he is entering his unrestricted free agency season.
Kane will be UFA on 7/1/18 and if he wants a seven year, $42 million contract like Kyle Okposo signed last July, he has to go out and prove himself all over again.
Kane should score 30-35 goals this season. He will get paid handsomely when he hits the open market in 364 days from today.
NHL teams will surely will continue to inquire about Kane's availability. Botterill will have to trade him at or before the NHL trade deadline. Botterill seemingly will not allow Kane to skate from Buffalo without compensation. That's why it's imperative that Kane know his role today so that she the season starts, he will fly out of the starters blocks highly motivated. The better Kane performs in October, November, and December, the higher trade value he will have before the NHL trading deadline.
If Botterill and Phil Housley want Kane to play with more truculence, pugilism and swagger, the power forward will answer the bell. Kane has 1,140 hits and 209 blocked shots in his eight year NHL career. In his two years in Buffalo, Kane has amassed 280 hits and 52 blocked shots. You better believe he has more physicality to dish out. Kane is at the point in his career where opponents will chirp him, however, they will not fight him because they know busted beak and an appointment with their team dentist will be the result.
Kane had only one fighting major last season and three bouts in 2015-16. You'll recall that Kane speed bagged Florida Panthers D Alec Petrovic three times in one game in 2015-16.
Kane is no stranger to the heavy, nasty brand of hockey. He lives to mix it up. He creates chaos in the offensive zone. He's relentless and highly motivated. He can help re-brand the Sabres as a tough team to play against by dropping his gloves more often and finishing his checks with more emphasis.
Kane will inspire his his teammates when he pumps up his physicality to the next level.
I'm not advocating for Kane to fight every game. He can't scorer his 5v5 goals if he is sitting in the sin bin. The Sabres have a few heavyweights who aren't afraid to get nasty with opponents. hell, Robin Lehner will hit opposing forwards if Housley tells him to.
The Sabres have been a toughness-by-committee club for the past couple of seasons. Foligno's loss will be sorely missed. However, the show must go on. Botterill says it's time for other Sabres players to pitch in and throw their knuckles and weight around.
Rasmus Ristolainen came into his own and both offensively and defensively in 2016-17. He achieved career highs in points and TOI per game. He also upped the ante on the defensive side of the puck. Risto delivered 195 hits, which was second only to Foligno. Ristolainen dished out 138 hits in 2015-16. Ristolainen has more grit and jam to give to his to his teammates this season.
Zach Bogosian has had four fist fights the past two seasons. He's no stranger to the nasty style. Bogosian should be team leaders in hits every season. Injuries have cost him a total of 48 man games the past two seasons. Bogosian is prone to inuries because he plays the physical style. He will have to take better care of his body while finishing his checks and clearing the crease this season.
Nic Deslauriers has had nine fights the past two season. He delivered a team high and career best 206 hits in 2015-16. When healthy and cast in an energy role, Deslauriers can be a weapon due to his speed, strength and size. Deslauriers isn't afraid to chuck the knucks with heavyweights either.
The acquisition of Scandella excites me. He's a 6'3" and 215 lb. hammer on skates. In Minnesota, Scandella played a more reserved role in his end of the rink. He would retrieve pucks and move them swiftly to the forwards. His career high for hits is 70. He has had three fist fights the past three seasons. In Buffalo, he is going to be asked by Houlsey to use his body more inside shifts. Scandella has more nasty to give to the group.
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On Day 1 of unrestricted free agency, Botterill signed eight UFA.
Sabres training camp will be a proving ground for all players. The only Sabres players guaranteed a roster spot are Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Samson Teinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen. There will be 21 different forwards slugging it out for 12 Buffalo forward jobs. There will be 12 defensemen fighting for 6!jobs in Buffalo.
Rochester will be a much improved team by virtue of Botterill's urgency and priority.
Johnson and Pouliot each signed one year contracts.
Veteran forwards Jacob Josefson and Seth Griffith signed one-off deals. Right-shot defenseman Matt Tennyson inked a two-year deal that transitions from a two-way contract to a one way in the second year. Forwards Kevin Porter and Kyle Criscuolo each signed two year deals.
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