With the first two games of the Buffalo Sabres season completed, we can start a new weekly feature where we take a look at each player on the roster and analyze whether their stock is rising, falling, or just staying neutral.
Forwards
Luke Adam (2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, 12:22 TOI/game) – Adam has become the biggest rookie for the Sabres after his impressive game against the Kings. Adam will have a spot on the roster until his game falters and he needs to be sent back down to Rochester. At this point though, it may not happen.
Thomas Vanek (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, 16:01 TOI/game) – The Sabres leader in goals scored scored twice on the power play against the Ducks and had a couple helpers against the Kings. If the Sabres are going to continue their winning ways, Vanek is going to have to be a part of the scoring.
Jason Pominville (1 goals, 3 assists, 4 points, 15:42 TOI/game) – Pominville is not known for his scoring prowess but what he does well is make sure that the scorers on his line get the puck where they need it. A three point game against the Ducks and another assist against the Kings has Pominville at the top of the score sheet for the Sabres.
The rest of the team, including defensemen and goaltenders after the jump.
Nathan Gerbe (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, 15:05 TOI/game) – Gerbe had two assists in two games including a nice helper to Paul Gaustad during the Kings game. Gerbe has been playing well, but hasn’t really stood out playing with Gaustad and Kaleta.
Paul Gaustad (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, 14:32 TOI/game) – Gaustad had a nifty between the legs redirection goal on Saturday against the Kings and has been solid again in the faceoff dot winning 15 of 36 draws in two games.
Ville Leino (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, 14:54 TOI/game) – Leino scored on his first shot with the Sabres, something that he has done with each team he has played for. Other than that though, Leino has been relatively quiet in his first two games.
Drew Stafford (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, 15:54 TOI/game) – Stafford scored a power play goal in the third period against the Kings and has been quietly playing pretty well, just not registering anything else on the scoreboard.
Derek Roy (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, 15:37 TOI/game) – Roy has been relatively quiet in the first two games, outshadowed by the Vanek/Adam/Pominville line.
Brad Boyes (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, 12:53 TOI/game) – Boyes is going to be the player fans will probably complain about the most for not producing this season and through two games he has quietly just had one assist.
Cody McCormick (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 8:29 TOI/game) – McCormick has the lowest average time on ice among the forwards and hasn’t registered anything on the scoreboard yet. He does have a shot on goal if that accounts for anything. If Hecht comes back into the lineup, McCormick makes the most sense to move out of the lineup.
Patrick Kaleta (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 13:31 TOI/game) – Kaleta continues to play that pest style and is second on the team in penalties drawn/60 minutes with 2.9, just behind Jason Pominville with 3.0
Tyler Ennis (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 15:09 TOI/game) – My pick for the breakout player on this team hasn’t done anything yet through two games.
Jochen Hecht (did not play) – With how well the team has played in the last two games, Hecht is going to quickly become an afterthought the more that he is out of the lineup.
Defensemen
Andrej Sekera (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, 15:18 TOI/game) – Sekera has been paired with Gragnani in the first two games and has an assist on the season thus far. Other than that, he hasn’t really stood out which is a good thing for a defenseman.
Marc-Andre Gragnani (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, 13:31 TOI/game) – Gragnani has the lowest time on ice/game among the defensemen, but his presence on the power play has helped this season. With more games to play, Gragnani should produce more.
Christian Ehrhoff (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, 24:16 TOI/game) – Ehrhoff has the highest time on ice/game among the defensemen and was brought onto this team because of his offensive scoring. While he doesn’t have a goal yet, Ehrhoff will contribute sooner rather than later.
Jordan Leopold (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 24:07 TOI/game) – Leopold has been the defenseman paired with Ehrhoff thus far and the defenseman has the most shifts/game with 28. Other than that, there isn’t much else to say about Leopold
Robyn Regher (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 20:23 TOI/game) – Regher has played a solid defensive game in the first two games and leads the team in hits (7) and blocked shots (9).
Tyler Myers (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 22:39 TOI/game) – Having Myers paired with Regher has given the young defenseman a solid partner to help him learn and correct any mistakes that he might still make.
Goaltenders
Ryan Miller (2-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .952 SV%) – Miller has had two solid games in net for the team and with a revamped defense in front of him, he may not have to work very hard this season. He did make a couple of fantastic saves and didn’t have many miscues.
Jhonas Enroth (did not play) – Enroth will be rode the bench this weekend, but may get some time within the next two weeks.
If you disagree with anything that I say, let me have it in the comments.