Michael Pachla: A mid-July look at the Buffalo Sabres NHL depth-chart on defense A possible Rasmus Ristolainen trade and the pending UFA status of Zach Bogosian and Marco Scandella could alter the chart considerably this season.

Fist , oops first

Twenty-nine yr. old Marco Scandella is entering his 10th NHL season and third with the Buffalo Sabres. Things haven't gone as planned since Sabres general manger Jason Botterill made the trade with Minnesota to acquire him. It was one of Botterill's earliest moves as the new Buffalo GM set out to bolster a weak defense. Scandella has had his struggles, especially on the first pairing and the second-pairing could be a real challenge as well. However, scheme and chemistry will be the keys to him being the defensive-minded, mobile puck-mover he was traded for and he still has a lot of value on the penalty kill

He got worse and worse under Housley. I know most are ready to shoot him into the sun, but I won't be pissed at all if he's on the roster to start the year. Somebody on this d corps has to play the PK.

suck it beady



off to fight for a parking spot in downtown jacksonville

Given the amount of right shots we have, can we trot one out as the second line RW?

suck it beady



off to fight for a parking spot in downtown jacksonville
- homiedclown

Don’t get shot

Given the amount of right shots we have, can we trot one out as the second line RW?
- gcomella34

Ullmark has a mean clapper but he shoots left

Sure hope one of the rhd can play the offside. Scandella in the top 4 makes me sick, he was a disaster last year

Unfortunately for Casey Nelson he's remembered more for not doing anything after captain Jack Eichel was plastered to the boards in a questionable way by Colorado defenseman Nikita Zadorov then he is for his solid play as a reserve defenseman. Nelson plays a heady defensive game using positioning and stickwork but also has some nice traits offensively like being able to get his shot through from the point. That's not nearly enough to crack the top-six on defense but having a good reserve d-man at $812K means he has value, if not for Buffalo then for some other team who would probably snatch him up if exposed to waivers.


Pachla...would you prefer Bogo over Nelson?

Unfortunately for Casey Nelson he's remembered more for not doing anything after captain Jack Eichel was plastered to the boards in a questionable way by Colorado defenseman Nikita Zadorov then he is for his solid play as a reserve defenseman. Nelson plays a heady defensive game using positioning and stickwork but also has some nice traits offensively like being able to get his shot through from the point. That's not nearly enough to crack the top-six on defense but having a good reserve d-man at $812K means he has value, if not for Buffalo then for some other team who would probably snatch him up if exposed to waivers.


Pachla...would you prefer Bogo over Nelson?
- washedup20

depends, why do you ask?

I think it's going to be Laine tbh
- jcragcrumple

I don’t want to get myself too excited about getting a rocket winner For the next six years

Sure hope one of the rhd can play the offside. Scandella in the top 4 makes me sick, he was a disaster last year
- turbo044

the entire defense was a disaster

He got worse and worse under Housley. I know most are ready to shoot him into the sun, but I won't be pissed at all if he's on the roster to start the year. Somebody on this d corps has to play the PK.
- jcragcrumple

he's also a pending ufa who should have value at the trade deadline...by then pilut should have had plenty of time to be in mid-season form...the question with pilut, however, is what that form will be

depends, why do you ask?
- Michael Pachla

My interpretations from your writing makes me think you’re ready to push out a young steady quiet CHEAP quality defenseman based off of one mistake last year.

Nelson at his current skill and price is more valuable on paper than:

Scandella
Hunwick
Bogo

If he doesn’t make the roster because he is beat out by better players:

Montour
Ristolainen
Miller
Jokiharju

Then I’m all for it. There’s a trade for him vs a waive....


Feed me 6ths

We get Patrick Laine we would have the best line in the NHL

Skinner ( 34g) - Jack (33g) - laine (56g)

My interpretations from your writing makes me think you’re ready to push out a young steady quiet CHEAP quality defenseman based off of one mistake last year.

Nelson at his current skill and price is more valuable on paper than:

Scandella
Hunwick
Bogo

If he doesn’t make the roster because he is beat out by better players:

Montour
Ristolainen
Miller
Jokiharju

Then I’m all for it. There’s a trade for him vs a waive....


Feed me 6ths
- washedup20

Which are late 5ths and early 7ths

We get Patrick Laine we would have the best line in the NHL

Skinner ( 34g) - Jack (33g) - laine (56g)
- gerbe75pts

Yeah, no

Don’t get shot
- dadeadhead

no sh!t

My interpretations from your writing makes me think you’re ready to push out a young steady quiet CHEAP quality defenseman based off of one mistake last year.

Nelson at his current skill and price is more valuable on paper than:

Scandella
Hunwick
Bogo

If he doesn’t make the roster because he is beat out by better players:

Montour
Ristolainen
Miller
Jokiharju

Then I’m all for it. There’s a trade for him vs a waive....


Feed me 6ths
- washedup20

I've been a nelson-defender...here's the quote:

Unfortunately for Casey Nelson he's remembered more for not doing anything after captain Jack Eichel was plastered to the boards in a questionable way by Colorado defenseman Nikita Zadorov then he is for his solid play as a reserve defenseman. Nelson plays a heady defensive game using positioning and stickwork but also has some nice traits offensively like being able to get his shot through from the point. That's not nearly enough to crack the top-six on defense but having a good reserve d-man at $812K means he has value, if not for Buffalo then for some other team who would probably snatch him up if exposed to waivers.

although it might be ambiguous, that last part was about my belief that he'd not clear waivers if the sabres sent him down.

We get Patrick Laine we would have the best line in the NHL

Skinner ( 34g) - Jack (33g) - laine (56g)
- gerbe75pts

Would laine make you get over caufield? [url]

Would laine make you get over caufield?
- Sabretooth9[url]

Kate Upton could throw herself at the midget and he still would not get over anything



so the long and short answer is no

Would laine make you get over caufield?
- Sabretooth9[url]

If your buffalo would you be willing to trade Eichel or Dahlin? Laine is the same to peg, I know not quite as good, so why do we think we can trade for him. Price would be astronomical.

Bogo>Scandella and it’s not close. At least when he’s actually on the ice

If your buffalo would you be willing to trade Eichel or Dahlin? Laine is the same to peg, I know not quite as good, so why do we think we can trade for him. Price would be astronomical.

Bogo>Scandella and it’s not close. At least when he’s actually on the ice
- turbo044

Laine is severely overrated due to playing in a Canadian market

If your buffalo would you be willing to trade Eichel or Dahlin? Laine is the same to peg, I know not quite as good, so why do we think we can trade for him. Price would be astronomical.

Bogo>Scandella and it’s not close. At least when he’s actually on the ice
- turbo044

Price isn't astronomical if Chevy isn't interested in signing Laine long term. His pending contract lowers his value. He's a great goal scorer but kind of one dimensional.