Buffalo Sabres Roster Updated : July 21

by David Oleksy on Jul 21, 2009 11:05 AM EDT Comment 17 comments

With the signing of Clarke MacArthur and Andrej Sekera the Sabres now have 21 players under contract. That number includes Joe Dipenta who is likely headed to Portland and doesn't include Nathan Gerbe, Tim Kennedy, Mike Weber and Tyler Myers that all have an opportunity to make the team this year.

I have positioned the players in the chart based on the my projected line combination's as well. One of the most fun things in sports is trying to predict the future. I think the Sabres have a solid top six as written in the chart.

LW			C			RW
1	Thomas Vanek	6.4		Derek Roy	3.5		Jason Pominville	4.5
2	Clarke MacArthur	1.4		Tim Connolly	4.5		Drew Stafford	RFA
3	Daniel Paille	1.35		Paul Gaustad	2.5		Patrick Kaleta	0.55
4	Jochen Hecht	3.8		Adam Mair	0.775
Res	Matt Ellis	0.5

D				D
1	Craig Rivet	3.5		Chris Butler	0.585
2	Steve Montador	1.55		Andrej Sekera	0.7
3	Toni Lydman	3.15		Henrik Tallinder	3.25
Res	Nathan Paetsch	1.05		Joe Dipenta	0.55

G
1	Ryan Miller	6.25
2	Patrick Lalime	1

	Under Contract	21
	Estimated Hit	52.062		Estimated Salary	51.36
	Estimated Cap	56.8		Projected Budget	50
	Cap Space	4.738		Money Left	-1.36


	* denotes NTC


	Other Notables
D	Tyler Myers	0.85
D	Mike Weber	0.563
F	Nathan Gerbe	0.85
F	Tim Kennedy	0.635
F	Phillip Gogulla	0.685

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Comments

Line Combinations

I realize the point of this post wasn’t to start a discussion about line combinations (almost impossible to predict and likely to change frequently) but I can’t help but say that I think Stafford will continue to get opportunities on the first line with Vanek and Roy while I see the second line shaping up to be Mac, Connolly, and Pommers. Maybe we could even put together a third line with a bit of offensive upside using Hecht, Goose, and Paille – which COULD be pretty defensively sound. Leaving, I guess, Ellis, Mair, and Kaleta for the forth line while Gerbe and Kennedy could sub in for anyone injured among the top 6 forwards (since I’m not sure they would be especially effective playing on a 4th line).

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Jul 21, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

Depth Chart by Position

Keep in mind that I did this depth chart by position and anyone can play any position. It is not uncommon for a Left Winger to play on the right side when necessary. I could see Stafford playing with Roy and Vanek and I could also see a line with Vanek-Connolly-Pominville. It will be fun to watch it all play out but the point is that the top six forwards are a talented group.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Jul 21, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed, if they live up to what we seem to think they’re capable of. Oh, and stay on the ice.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Jul 21, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Sabres Roster

They look good on paper. It’s too bad it doesn’t translate to the ice. I predict they will finish in the bottom four of the Conference. There just isn’t enough talent here build a contender. That was painfully evident watching this year’s playoffs. Lindy did a remarkable job in getting them to finish only one game out of the playoffs. In reality they were far more than one game out of the playoffs. Their final rally was against teams who were already in the playoffs and were resting their best players. They couldn’t beat the teams they needed to beat, namely the Rangers and Ottawa. Looks like another disappointing and abusive season for us Sabres fans. Go Sabres!

by Geolover on Jul 21, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

I think Hecht deserves a crack in the top six. I know he had a horrible year, but I’m hoping it was just an aberation. Most certainly, I ~~think~~ know he’s better than MacArthur.

There seems to be a gaping hole at RW. Hank really needs to go in order to free up money to use at that spot. How? I don’t know…

by krytime on Jul 21, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

Hecht better than MacArthur?

Clarke MacArthur just scored 17 goals as a 24 year old rookie…Jochen Hecht has scored more than 20 just once in his career. I’m not sure what MacArthur did to upset people but it is obvious he isn’t liked. He could be terrible this season and not be able to get on the score sheet or he could have an even better season and score 25 goals this season.

Clarke MacArthur scored 17 goals this season and Drew Stafford scored 20…why is Drew Stafford talked about as a player that is ready to break out and MacArthur is a piece of trash that the Sabres should dispose of as soon as possible?

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Jul 22, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

couldnt of said it better myself

by mitch400214 on Jul 22, 2009 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s somewhere in the middle. MacArthur isn’t as good as Stafford, plain and simple. That doesn’t mean he sucks. He’s just doesn’t deserve to be on the top two lines as you have suggested. Maybe he can step up his game a lot, but 31 points doesn’t make him a potential top six forward.

At twenty four years old he should be near his peak. Considering he got benched and buried on the depth chart last year, why should we be too hopeful about him? He’s an ok player, but not a top six forward on a playoff team.

I want to see movies of my dreams. - Built to Spill.

by jj24 on Jul 22, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

He had 17 goals as a rookie

He is lacking in many area but he has proven that he has a scorers touch. The only way he will succeed in the NHL is to score goals and he needs the opportunity to be a top six forward in order to do that. If he plays on the third or fourth line it is just wasting his talent.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Jul 22, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t say he has a scorers touch. He scores “opportunistic” goals. He wasn’t a rookie last year, either. He had 56 career games under his belt going into last season. That. for me, is too much experience to be considered a rookie.

Look, I have nothing against the guy. I’m glad he’s on the team. I just don’t buy that because he scored 17 goals last year, and he’s relatively young, he’s going to score more goals next year. Being a formidable player on a third line isn’t a bad thing, and that’s how I see him.

I want to see movies of my dreams. - Built to Spill.

by jj24 on Jul 22, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

He may never be a 30-40 goal scorer in the league but that is what he needs to be to stay in the league. He isn’t good enough in other areas to be anything more than a goal scorer. He needs to play as a top six forward to accomplish that goal. He has a one year contract so he should play in the top six and see if he deserves another contract or he should be let go.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Jul 22, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

He shouldn’t just be given a top six forward position if he hasn’t earned it, yet. You said it yourself:

He isn’t good enough in other areas to be anything more than a goal scorer.

He hasn’t shown any type of skill that would lead us to believe that he can score 30-40 goals if he’s put on the top two lines. That’s just blind hope, my friend.

Also, saying he has to score 30-40 goals a year to stay in the league seems silly to me. I think working on the other areas of his game is what he needs to do to stay in the league. He doesn’t have the hands to be an true sniper so why make that his only hope?

I want to see movies of my dreams. - Built to Spill.

by jj24 on Jul 22, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

He doesn’t have the hands to be an true sniper so why make that his only hope?

That is where we disagree…I think that is his biggest asset he has the tools of a goal scorer but lacks in his aggressiveness and skating.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Jul 22, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s a good debate we have and I guess it’s pretty much run its course. I guess we can both agree that MacArthur needs to step up next season, as well as a bunch of other players. Thanks for running a good site. It’s nice talking hockey with ya.

I want to see movies of my dreams. - Built to Spill.

by jj24 on Jul 22, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for your feedback

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Jul 22, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes I think Hecht is better than MacArthur, again, last year being an aberration. It’s not just about goals my man.

Hecht was/is one of the better two way forwards in the league when on his game. He also wore a letter, which in my book says a lot. He always played bigger than what he is, something MacArthur hasn’t shown the willingness to do.

Stafford gets the edge over MacArthur on size alone. Young power forwards are at a premium in this “new” (?) NHL. MacArthur is a floater with a decent shot. Guys like him are a dime a dozen.

by krytime on Jul 22, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

That is exactly why Hecht should not be playing in the top six. He is a two-way forward that is best served by playing on the third line as a defensive forward that can contribute offensively. The top six is a place for goal scorers and I consider MacArthur to be a goal scorer.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Jul 22, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions