It'll be interesting to see. His skating ability will allow him to be able to to play big minutes. Plus he's not generally a puck chaser. He's good at reading the play and knowing where to be.

That said, he's still young and will make mistakes. I think he'll be on the second pair, so I would probably guess somewhere around 18 mins a night.
- HonkFortheGoose

That's what i figure as well, maybe pair him with Donovan to start. I wonder if is health is still a concern to them.

That's what i figure as well, maybe pair him with Donovan to start. I wonder if is health is still a concern to them.
- Sabresfan-365

That health thing last year is definitely interesting. As far as I read afterwards, they never found anything wrong. I don't know if maybe it was some sort of exhaustion, as he had played a TON of games in a 6 day span between both clubs or what.

I'm not sure if it's good that they didn't actually find anything or if it's more concerning.

That health thing last year is definitely interesting. As far as I read afterwards, they never found anything wrong. I don't know if maybe it was some sort of exhaustion, as he had played a TON of games in a 6 day span between both clubs or what.

I'm not sure if it's good that they didn't actually find anything or if it's more concerning.
- HonkFortheGoose

After what happened with Peverley you can never be too careful. Exhaustion would make sense though.

After what happened with Peverley you can never be too careful. Exhaustion would make sense though.
- Sabresfan-365

They held him out for a long time afterwards as well. Missed a couple weeks I believe. I hope that exhaustion is all it was because I'm a big fan of his. He's in no way ever going to be a "sexy" player or anything, but he's exactly the type of guy you need back there.

They held him out for a long time afterwards as well. Missed a couple weeks I believe. I hope that exhaustion is all it was because I'm a big fan of his. He's in no way ever going to be a "sexy" player or anything, but he's exactly the type of guy you need back there.
- HonkFortheGoose

From what i remember he's got a decent shot as well, there may be a place for him on the power play

my 5 questions coming into the season right now


1. Line chemistry up front, who plays where, do they put skill on 4th line or throw crap out there and have more talented players in the presser.

2. backup goalie, is johnson it or do they try to get an upgrade

3. Colaiacovo, the x factor on the back end.

4. Special teams, a forward on the pp point or struggle with the d men running it.

5. Gorges, is he done, if not they better have him on bottom pair not icing 22 minutes a night.

From what i remember he's got a decent shot as well, there may be a place for him on the power play
- Sabresfan-365

He's got good hands. There's definitely some offensive upside to his game, but he seems to be content to let his partner be the one to jump in offensively. Where he'll get on the scoresheet most often is going to be in the assist column and that will primarily be from the nice outlet passes he makes.

my 5 questions coming into the season right now


1. Line chemistry up front, who plays where, do they put skill on 4th line or throw crap out there and have more talented players in the presser.

2. backup goalie, is johnson it or do they try to get an upgrade

3. Colaiacovo, the x factor on the back end.

4. Special teams, a forward on the pp point or struggle with the d men running it.

5. Gorges, is he done, if not they better have him on bottom pair not icing 22 minutes a night.
- homiedclown

Murray already said that Johnson is the backup this year.

Murray already said that Johnson is the backup this year.
- HonkFortheGoose

he also said myers wasn't being shopped

I don't believe anything he says when it comes to roster, which is a good thing

He's got good hands. There's definitely some offensive upside to his game, but he seems to be content to let his partner be the one to jump in offensively. Where he'll get on the scoresheet most often is going to be in the assist column and that will primarily be from the nice outlet passes he makes.
- HonkFortheGoose

Based on what i saw last year this could come in handy on the power play. his first pass and eichel's skating could make zone entry look like child's play.

my 5 questions coming into the season right now


1. Line chemistry up front, who plays where, do they put skill on 4th line or throw crap out there and have more talented players in the presser.

2. backup goalie, is johnson it or do they try to get an upgrade

3. Colaiacovo, the x factor on the back end.

4. Special teams, a forward on the pp point or struggle with the d men running it.

5. Gorges, is he done, if not they better have him on bottom pair not icing 22 minutes a night.
- homiedclown

1. bylsma seems to love his vets (see craig adams) so probably B

2. not sure it really matters

3. Can't be an x factor if your healthy for less than half of the regular season

4. D-men might be better, Donovan is pretty good offensively unless they like eichel better at the point than on the half wall.

5. The surgery he recieved has ended a lot of careers in other sports so we'll see.

Based on what i saw last year this could come in handy on the power play. his first pass and eichel's skating could make zone entry look like child's play.
- Sabresfan-365

Very true. I wish the AHL stats were as comprehensive as the NHL ones. I don't know of anywhere we can go to find out how much PP time he got this year while in Rochester.

my 5 questions coming into the season right now


1. Line chemistry up front, who plays where, do they put skill on 4th line or throw crap out there and have more talented players in the presser.

2. backup goalie, is johnson it or do they try to get an upgrade

3. Colaiacovo, the x factor on the back end.

4. Special teams, a forward on the pp point or struggle with the d men running it.

5. Gorges, is he done, if not they better have him on bottom pair not icing 22 minutes a night.
- homiedclown

Preseason will determine all that imo.

Very true. I wish the AHL stats were as comprehensive as the NHL ones. I don't know of anywhere we can go to find out how much PP time he got this year while in Rochester.
- HonkFortheGoose

http://chicagosports.spor...ffense_pppct_regular.html


Best i could find, Rochester ranked 4th in the league. Now how much Pysyk had to do with that i have no idea.

Very true. I wish the AHL stats were as comprehensive as the NHL ones. I don't know of anywhere we can go to find out how much PP time he got this year while in Rochester.
- HonkFortheGoose

Maybe here is a good starting point .

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0000032015.html

http://chicagosports.sportsdirectinc.com/hockey/ahl-statistics.aspx?page=/data/ahl/statistics/2010-2011/offense_pppct_regular.html


Best i could find, Rochester ranked 4th in the league. Now how much Pysyk had to do with that i have no idea.
- Sabresfan-365

Yeah, it's so hard to find this stuff for the AHL. This is the best I could find. It's his game by game stats, but the problem is it only tracks PP goals.

http://theahl.com/stats/g...e.php?seasonId=48&id=4635

Jack Eichel has been working out at home in Massachusetts.

"It'll be a few more weeks training at home and trying to get better, then obviously back to Buffalo," he said. "We have a rookie showcase in Toronto, then rookie camp, and before you know it training camp. I'm just excited for it. I'm looking forward to getting back to Buffalo." It has been a busy summer for the second overall pick in the 2015 draft. Eichel has generated plenty of buzz in Buffalo already and he should get a key role with the team this season

Murray already said that Johnson is the backup this year.
- HonkFortheGoose

i think the bigger question is about Lehner..

i think the bigger question is about Lehner..
- IndianaSabresFan

He should be just fine . A year older , as long as he is 100% healthy.

Who scores his 1st NHL goal first, Reinhart or Eichel. I pick Reinhart.
- sippyd

McCabe

I hope we play each QB 1 full quarter tonight ..

Doesn't mean they won't stop watching, lots of individuals to keep an eye on, but as far as season goals go, what else would you focus on?
- Sabresfan-365

The team showing a slow and gradual improvement when it comes to learning and understanding how to actually win games as opposed to playing very well for long stretches but ultimately losing the game.

With that will come a reasonable start, likely followed by a down stretch of results, with an uptick regarding the team's record at the end of the year.

It all adds up to a bottom 5-8 league finish to me, and 3 chances at a top 3 pick via the new lottery. This years pick could put the team over the top.

i think the bigger question is about Lehner..
- IndianaSabresFan

Lehner could be the most important indicator of future success in the entire franchise.

Even with a pretty mediocre defense, if he comes up big the team could be fine. And if we have a chance to acquire/develop greater talent at the blue line, the franchise looks great if he plays well.

But if he sucks, not only do we continue suffering, but we have to call into question exactly how good an eye Murray has for talent, and how prudently he is managing the club's assets.

Lehner could be the most important indicator of future success in the entire franchise.

Even with a pretty mediocre defense, if he comes up big the team could be fine. And if we have a chance to acquire/develop greater talent at the blue line, the franchise looks great if he plays well.

But if he sucks, not only do we continue suffering, but we have to call into question exactly how good an eye Murray has for talent, and how prudently he is managing the club's assets.
- Der Kaiser

If this happens beyond this year i would agree. They're still a young team with a lot of growing to do, there are going to be some frustrating nights where he's bombarded with high quality scoring chances. Bylsma likes to have the D jump in on the rush a lot as well so that may have an effect as well.

The team showing a slow and gradual improvement when it comes to learning and understanding how to actually win games as opposed to playing very well for long stretches but ultimately losing the game.

With that will come a reasonable start, likely followed by a down stretch of results, with an uptick regarding the team's record at the end of the year.

It all adds up to a bottom 5-8 league finish to me, and 3 chances at a top 3 pick via the new lottery. This years pick could put the team over the top.
- kingcong39

Spot on. Id like to see them win games, and if they make a big run im all for it. I just dont see anything near 8th place with all the young players on the roster and without strengthening our back end. Which is why one more high pick is absolutely worth setting sights on as a fan. Be it for drafting a player, or trade bait.

The difference is we dont really have much to purge at the deadline should it come to that, and the young players who dont hit a wall will hopefully only get better through the end of the season which could slide us out of bottom 5.

Of course if lehner posts .925 for 55-60 games, that could change everything. Imagine even a slight upgrade in scoring last season to go along with the stellar goaltending. We would be talking about what a waste last season was.