Meet The Sabres: The Forwards

by David Oleksy on Oct 2, 2009 8:26 PM EDT

The Buffalo Sabres made their final cuts on Wednesday and have announced their team for opening night. This will be part 3 of a three part post entitled Meet the Sabres. It will basically be a quick guide to every player on the Sabes roster and what I expect from each player this season. Today we take a look at the Forwards that remain on the Sabres roster heading into the season.

For the sake of space I will keep my thoughts brief in this section. Keep in mind the Sabres are carrying 13 forwards on the opening night roster and that is not including injured forward Adam Mair that is not on the roster. I will break the forwards up by line and will include Tim Kennedy as an extra.

Line 1

Thomas Vanek

#26 / Left Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-2

Weight: 207

Born: Jan 19, 1984

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
73	40	24	64	-1	44	20	2	5	0	211

What to Expect: There is a faction of people that think Thomas Vanek had a disappointing season in 2008-2009. If 40 goals and 64 points is a bad season, I'll take another bad season this year. With that being said, I think Vanek is ready to explode this season. He played a much more physical game in the Pre-Season and I think he'll continue to play that way.

I would be extremely surprised if Vanek is not a 50 goal scorer this season. He has all the talent in the world and he has a goal scorers touch. Vanek is a power play specialist and can still improve at even strength. He would be helped considerably if given the opportunity to play on a line with Connolly and Pominville.

Derek Roy

#9 / Center / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 5-9

Weight: 188

Born: May 04, 1983

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
82	28	42	70	-5	38	9	1	9	0	221

What to Expect: Derek Roy is Derek Roy. Lindy Ruff has stated publicly that him and D-Roy have spent a lot of time together this off-season with the World Championships, Olympic camp and training camp. He also stated publicly that D-Roy is still too cute with the puck and needs to shoot more. I like Derek Roy but if he hasn't learned by now, he is not ever learning.

Drew Stafford

#21 / Right Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 216

Born: Oct 30, 1985

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
79	20	25	45	+3	29	9	0	0	0	183

What to Expect: Drew Stafford waited until the beginning of training camp to sign a reasonable contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Stafford would like to hit a big payday in two seasons and that starts with an increase in his numbers this season. If he stays healthy and plays with Derek Roy all season, he should be a 25-30 goal scorer.

Line 2

Clarke MacArthur

#41 / Left Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 5-11

Weight: 191

Born: Apr 06, 1985

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
71	17	14	31	-4	56	5	0	0	0	108

What to Expect: C-Mac earned his spot in the top six after scoring 17 goals last season. I would guess that Lindy Ruff will have a short leash with him if he is not playing well. It could be argued that Daniel Paille could very easily play in the top six in his place.

Tim Connolly

#19 / Center / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 191

Born: May 07, 1981

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
48	18	29	47	+12	22	5	1	5	0	126

What to Expect: What can I say about Tim Connolly that hasn't been said already? If Tim Connolly stays healthy he will be a point-per-game player, if he doesn't...it would be expected.

Jason Pominville

#29 / Right Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-0

Weight: 186

Born: Nov 30, 1982

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
82	20	46	66	-4	18	6	1	2	0	239

What to Expect: Jason Pominville was criticized heavily for his play last season, some of it was warranted but some of it was unfair. Expect a bounce back season for Pominville. He was stuck on a line with Jochen Hecht most of the season and the two played like they were drowning in quicksand. Pominville is expected to play with Connolly and C-Mac this season.

Line 3

Jochen Hecht

#55 / Center / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 199

Born: Jun 21, 1977

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
70	12	15	27	-9	33	3	1	1	0	173

Paul Gaustad

#28 / Center / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-4

Weight: 229

Born: Feb 03, 1982

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
62	12	17	29	+4	108	3	1	1	0	122

Mike Grier

#25 / Right Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 227

Born: Jan 05, 1975

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
62	10	13	23	+8	25	0	1	2	0	108

The Extras

Tim Kennedy

#13 / Left Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 5-10

Weight: 173

Born: Apr 30, 1986

Daniel Paille

#20 / Left Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-0

Weight: 200

Born: Apr 15, 1984

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
73	12	15	27	E	20	0	0	2	0	80

Matt Ellis

#37 / Left Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-0

Weight: 212

Born: Aug 31, 1981

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
45	7	5	12	+4	12	0	0	2	0	73

Patrick Kaleta

#36 / Right Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 5-11

Weight: 198

Born: Jun 08, 1986

2008-2009 Stats

GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG
51	4	5	9	+1	89	0	0	0	0	35

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Comments

Wait a second…you blame Pominville’s bad season on Hecht? Couldn’t it be a little bit of the old vice verse?

I do, however, agree with this statement:

I like Derek Roy but if he hasn’t learned by now, he is not ever learning.

I didn’t realize how old Roy is already. Dude’s got to grow up….

by krytime on Oct 2, 2009 11:35 PM EDT reply actions

Hecht has been down spiraling for a few seasons now where pommy hasnt at least not as drastic, he has still gotten a 60 point year last season where has Hecht had 27 points… Goose had more points then him, so yeah i am one of many that says pommys bad season had a little to do with being stuck with Hecht all season.
Roy is 26 now right? i think this year he will step up and if not Grier will kick his ass like he use to

by mitch400214 on Oct 3, 2009 12:12 AM EDT reply actions