Gerbe tops Hot List

Nathan Gerbe can't get any love in the form of a first-place vote on CSTV's Hobey Watch, but he's certainly looking good in the eyes of The Hockey News. THN's Ryan Kennedy placed the Boston College left wing at the top of his latest Hot List, a weekly round-up of prospect happenings. We're not trying to make this a gerbe.com by any means. Sometimes things just shake out that way.

MacKenzie foil clip from December

It's a light night for Sabres prospects, with only Drew Schiestel of Niagara in OHL action against Patrick Kaleta's old club, the Peteborough Petes. So while sixteen players are taping their sticks and honing their blades in preparation for a busy Friday slate, let's take a look at a USHL fight clip from December featuring Lincoln's Rick Carden against Sabres 2007 7th rounder, Drew MacKenzie of Waterloo. Even though there were more headlocks than haymakers, the New Canaan, CT native appears willing to put on the foil. The 6'2, 200-pound defenseman will continue his career in Hockey East this fall at the University of Vermont.

CSTV knocks Gerbe down a peg

Though it doesn't matter, it's worth pointing out that Boston College LW Nathan Gerbe is still without a first-place vote in CSTV's Hobey Watch. Gerbe was quiet in Friday's tie at Maine, but scored the game winner in the 4-2 Eagles win the next night. Heading to the stretch, Gerbe's 1.61 points-per-game leads the nation, just as it has since he was midstride in his nine-game, 27-point outburst over a month ago. With unanimous front-runner Kevin Porter going pointless over the weekend in then-#1 Michigan's loss and tie against rival Michigan State, one might think something could break at the top of CSTV's list. Instead, last week's #2 was leap-frogged by Miami's Ryan Jones, who had a goal and an assist over two weekend games in Alaska. Jones, 23-year old senior, is having a fine season with 22 goals, but isn't close to being the dynamic player that the feisty Sabres draft pick is. Perhaps Gerbe's battle with Maine's Ben Bishop on Friday overshadowed his breakaway game winner on Saturday. Another online outlet, INCH, seems to take a different approach with their version of the Hobey Watch. Their explanation of Gerbe at #1 sounds eerily similar to thoughts previously expressed in this space (like in the link at the top, for example).

1/30 Recap: Schiestel strong into break

Niagara D Drew Schiestel continued his fine play of late with an assist in the IceDogs' 6-2 win over the Majors. A deft skater with a solid 6'2 190-pound frame, Schiestel is currently +6 with four assists over the past five games - all IceDogs wins. At Peterborough tomorrow then off until next Thursday, the steady defenseman is on the verge of completing his best statistical month since his arrival in the OHL with 1-8-9 +9 in twelve January games. His two assists on January 12th pushed him over his previous season's point total (21). With nineteen games remaining in the season, Schiestel has six goals, 27 points, and a healthy +8. The latter is particularly impressive, considering his -6 was last on the team through mid-November. Somewhat of an unknown commodity when tabbed by the Sabres with the 59th pick in the 2007 draft, the Hamilton-born defender looks to carry on effectively as the second-place IceDogs look to catch Brampton for the Central Division title. In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Dennis Persson missed his fourth straight game for Nykopings (neck, fever) in their 5-0 blanking of Oskarshamn.

1/29 Recap: Eidsness slick in Oilers win

In a battle of the South Division's best, the Okotoks Oilers used a pair of power play goals and 29 saves from the games #1 star, Brad Eidsness, to up-end the top-ranked Junior "A" club in all of Canada, the Camrose Kodiaks, 2-1. Holding a 2-1 lead, the AJHL's top goaltender stopped all 15 shots in the third as the Kodiaks did everything but score. Camrose was turning up the heat in the last five minutes when Eidsness robbed the league's leading point-getter, Joe Colborne, with a game saving glove. Colbourne, a DU recruit pegged as a first-rounder in 2008 by many draft publications, was standing all alone in the crease when Eidsness stuck his arm up at the last second to keep the puck out of the net. He would make another save two minutes later that left the Kodiaks radio announcer with nothing left to say except, "That's why he's the best goaltender in the league, folks." Hoping to inch back into the CJAHL Top 15 for the first time since mid-December, Okotoks (36-9-0-4) gets to see Camrose (41-5-0-5) four more times this season. Elsewhere, it was a full slate 'Q'uesday with all four Sabres QMJHL prospects seeing the ice. Benjamin Breault assisted on the first and last Drakkar goals in their 4-2 win at Moncton. J.S. Allard had an assist, and T.J. Brennan was -1 as St. John's took a 7-2 licking from Halifax. Paul Byron went pointless for his second game in a row as Gatineau fell to Val-D'Or, 4-2. A -2 for the night, Byron hopes to also kick a three-game goalless streak at Rimouski on Friday.

Gogulla gives again

Cologne LW Philip Gogulla notched three assists for the second straight game as the Sharks defeated Wolfsburg, 6-2. After assisting on a power play goal earlier, The 6'2 Dusseldorf native set up Moritz Mueller's game winning goal with less than seven minutes to go in the first period. Gogulla would later pick up his third helper of the night on a Sean Tallaire short-handed tally in the third. The back-to-back three point efforts raise Gogulla's career best point total to 34 through 42 games (.81 ppg). The 48th player taken in the 2005 draft will next take the ice Friday versus Duisberg. In two games with the DEL's last-place team, Gogulla is -2 with an assist. Also in the DEL, Felix Schutz picked up and assist in Ingolstadt's 4-0 shutout of Straubing. The 20-year old centerman now has 19 points as a rookie after a 96-point junior career in the QMJHL.

Bonus for Jhonas: Enroth earns first shutout of the year

When you're a confident, 19-year old goalie eager to show the world that you have NHL-level skills, what do you do after working the door for a string of games while your former backup plays? You demand to play, which is exactly what a healthy Jhonas Enroth did a week ago as the Sabres prospect grew tired of deferring to streaking Bjorn Bjurling since returning from the World Junior Championships, January 5th. After a first reprise in Saturday's 4-3 win over Frolunda, Enroth further asserted that the SSK job is still his with a shutout of second place Timra tonight. The 29-save performance, aided by a D that quickly swept away rebounds, was the first shutout of the season for the 2006 second round pick. An Elitserien rookie carrying the league-best 2.17 GAA, Enroth looks poised to attend his first NHL camp this fall. (For those scoring at home, this entry's title is a tribute to John Gurtler.)

Brennan named QMJHL Defensive Player of the Week

From QMJHL website:

The defensive player of the week award goes to Fog Devils blue-liner T.J. Brennan. It is the second time this season that Brennan has received the TELUS defensive player of the week award. In four Fog Devils wins, Brennan collected a game-winning goal and added four assists while recording a +2 rating. The defenseman helped his team defeat the Wildcats (2), the Sea Dogs and the Rocket. Yesterday, he played arguably his best game of the week, registering two assists to go along with six shots on goal in a 4-3 win over the Rocket. With 53 points in 52 games, St. John’s sits in fifth place in the Eastern division standings.

Brennan's Fog Devil teammate J.S. Allard was a finalist for the offensive award after going 1-6-7 in the team's four games.

Mancari: Master Blaster

Congratulations to Amerks forward Mark Mancari, whose record setting 102.8 MPH blast earned top prize at the AHL All-Star Skills Competition Sunday night in Binghamton. The booming slapper brought the fans to their feet, with the stick immediately being ushered to Toronto for display in the Hockey Hall of Fame. In a trying season for the Rochester, it's only natural that one of the year's brighter spots comes in an exhibition. Rochester’s leading scorer at the break with 13 goals and 36 points, Mancari replaced the recently recalled Clarke MacArthur in the Canadian All-Star lineup. The former Ottawa 67’s standout was chosen by the Sabres in the 7th round (204th overall) of the 2004 draft. You can watch the AHL All-Star Classic for free tonight on the B2 Network by clicking this link. Game time is 7:00 PM.

Schedule for week of 1/28 - 2/2

This week is lighter than last, with the AHL and USHL taking their All-Star breaks. There's plenty of action to go around, though. Games To Watch: On Tuesday, Okotoks (Brad Eidsness) will put their 35-9-0-4 record to the test against the #1 ranked Junior "A" club in all of Canada, the Camrose Kodiaks (41-4-0-5). Camrose boasts two of the AJHL's top five scorers in Joe Colbourne (DU) and Duluth Mike Connolly (Duluth). Eidsness will see plenty of these WCHA-bound playmakers when he enrolls at North Dakota. The QMJHL's two hottest teams - league best Baie-Comeau (Benjamin Breault) and second place Rouyn-Noranda - will square off on Friday night. Other notes SSK will see both ends of the SEL this week, with their contest against last place Mora sandwiched between games against two of the better teams in teams Timra and Farjestad. The opportunity for Sabres prospects to have good weeks is there. Kolner Haie (Philip Gogulla) faces two of the DEL's bottom teams, while all of Denver, Michigan State, Bowling Green, and Harvard play teams near the bottom of their respective league's standings. Meanwhile, Boston College will be tested by Providence before the Beanpot gets underway. The complete rundown: Monday (1/28) 2008 AHL Al-Star Classic (Mancari) SSK (Enroth) at Timra Tuesday (1/29) Cologne (Gogulla) at Wolfsburg Ingolstadt (Schutz) at Straubing St. John's (Brennan/Allard) at Halifax Baie-Comeau (Breault) at Moncton Val-D-or at Gatineau (Byron) Camrose at Okotoks (Eidsness) Wednesday (1/30) Niagara (Schiestel) at Mississauga Oskarshamn at Nykopings (Persson) Thursday (1/31) Niagara (Schiestel) at Peterborough Friday (2/1) Denver (Butler) at Minnesota State Nebraska-Omaha at Michigan State (Kennedy/Tropp) Bowling Green (Eno) at Ohio State St. Lawrence (Generous) at Niagara Providence at Boston College (Gerbe/Orpik) Harvard (Biega) at Brown Mora at SSK (Enroth) Waterloo (MacKenzie) at Sioux City Okotoks (Eidsness) at Brooks Halifax at St. John's (Brennan/Allard) Rouyn-Noranda at Baie-Comeau (Breault) Cologne (Gogulla) at Duisburg Wolfsburg at Ingolstadt (Schutz) Saturday (2/2) Rochester at Toronto SSK (Enroth) at Farjestad Waterloo (MacKenzie) at Lincoln Nebraska-Omaha at Michigan State (Kennedy/Tropp) Denver (Butler) at Minnesota State Bowling Green (Eno) at Ohio State Gatineau (Byron) at Rimouski Halifax at St. John's (Brennan/Allard) Val-D'or at Baie-Comeau (Breault) Brooks at Okotoks (Eidsness)

1/27 Recap: Gogulla goes off, Schiestel solid

It's always a Super Sunday here at SabresProspects.com. Cologne's Philip Gogulla erupted for three assists tonight in the Sharks 5-4 overtime win over Struabing. The three-point night marked his highest output since starting the year with a two goal, one assist performance against Hamburg back in September. The 6'2 left wing signed a contract with the Sabres prior to training camp, but returned to the DEL where his 31 points are third-best on the league's third place team. Gogulla's frequent linemate in IIHF play, Felix Schutz of Ingolstadt, was -1 in a 6-0 shutout loss to Mannheim. The Sabres 4th round pick in 2006, Schutz has just six points in his last 21 games after starting the year with 12 through his first 14. He hasn't recorded a multi-point night in over three months. A neck injury once again sidelined 2006 first-round pick Dennis Persson as Nykopings fell to Vaxjos, 3-1. He should be ready to resume play within the week. In a North American tilt featuring a pair of top-ranked 2008 draft prospects, Drew Schiestel assisted on the game winning goal and was a game-best +3 in Niagara's 3-1 win over Sarnia. Currently rated the #1 North American by Central Scouting Bureau, dynamic Sting center Steven Stamkos was held off the scoresheet for 54:00 before setting up his team's lone goal. To date, the Unionville, ON native has 34 goals and 65 points in 40 games. Schiestel's touted teammate, 6'4, 210-pound defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, demonstrated the strength and ability that's put him top-5 in most 2008 mocks. In the Q, T.J. Brennan assisted on the first two Fog Devil goals in their 4-3 win at PEI. Playing the left side, the New Jersey product also contributed a game-high six shots on goal to spark the visitors. J.S. Allard was -1 for St. John's in the win. Benjamin Breault was quiet offensively as Baie-Comeau continued to roll in their 3-2 shootout win over Victoriaville.

1/26 Recap: Allard sets mark; "Genny" gets tossed

News and notes on a busy Saturday for Sabres prospects... NCAA LW Nathan Gerbe scored the game winning goal late in the second period as Boston College defeated Maine, 4-2. The energetic Eagle wore a target for most of the contest, carrying play to produce a game-high five shots on goal. "Big" Ben Bishop owned the match-up until the shifty junior broke in alone to clank home his 19th of the year. A night after exchanging swipes with the 6'7 Maine goaltender, Gerbe and freshman D Mike Banwell picked up coincidental slashing minors in the second. BC teammate Andrew Orpik collected four penalty minutes in the win, including a minor for a blow to the head. Gerbe's 1.61 points-per-game is still tops in the country as the Eagles head into Friday's game with Providence before kicking off the Beanpot the following Monday. A night after aiding a shutout of #1 Michigan, Michigan State's Tim Kennedy and Corey Tropp were again unable to combine for a goal as the Spartans and Wolverines played to a 2-2 tie. Kennedy had a chance at an open net to start the third, but shot the puck into the sprawling Billy Sauer. MSU looked to be on their way to the sweep until Spartan forward Matt Schepke knocked the puck into his own net with 1:38 to play. It was a strange twist to the weekend after Wolverine Mark Mitera own-goaled the night before. Hobey Baker favorite Kevin Porter was again quieted by the green and white defense, mustering just four shots on goal all weekend for the maize and blue. As expected, Nick Eno got a rest while Bowling Green was swept by Notre Dame, 5-1. In the ECAC, St. Lawrence D Matt Generous was throw out of his game with Rensselaer after a check from behind on Jonathan Ornelas. The Saints defender had just gotten out of the box from a previous scrum before uncharacteristically earning the misconduct. The Engineers beat the Saints, 6-3. Sophomore rearguard Alex Biega could not get any of his three shots past summer prospects camp invitee Mike Devine as Harvard beat Dartmouth, 3-1. CHL In a sad day for St.John's, Jean-Simon Allard scored a goal and two assists as the Fog Devils defeated the Sea Dogs, 5-4. With three more points, the 2007 5th rounder now has a career-best 52 with 19 games remaining. The 6'2 pivot is developing on schedule, on pace for a 72 point finish after going 12+38=50 in 69 games in 2006-07. Foggies D T.J. Brennan was active with the puck, assisting on Allard's tally and using his wheels to jump into the rush. Brennan made a few longs looks up ice, creating an aggressive tempo from the back end. Earlier in the day, it was announced that this would be the Fog Devils last season in the Newfoundland outpost, as new ownership has struck a deal with Verdun. Just outside of Montreal, Verdun receives another QMJHL franchise fourteen years after their last entry folded and five years after the Montreal Rocket bolted for PEI. Elsewhere in the "Q", center Paul Byron was -1 with five shots for Gatineau in an exciting 6-5 OT loss to Rouyn-Noranda. R-N came from St. Hyacinthe via Verdun originally... USHL Future Catamount Drew MacKenzie was -2 in Waterloo's 4-3 win over Lincoln. The rookie has 12 points, leads his team in PIM, and his +4 has been among the team's best all season (compared to UNH bound, NYI draft pick Blake Kessel's -15). The Black Hawks are off until Friday while the league heads to Green Bay for the USHL All-Star Game on Tuesday. AJHL In Grand Prairie, Brad Eidsness manned the South Division net for the first period of the AJHL 2008 All-Star Game. In a game featuring 96 shots on net, the Sioux recruit limited the North to three goals. Northern Michigan recruit Tyler Gron had four goals and two assists to earn MVP as the North defeated the South by a touchdown, 14-7. Rochester (AHL) Finally, Rochester went into the first intermission against Lake Erie holding a 1-0 lead, only to give up five second period goals en route to a 7-2 loss. Adam Dennis faced just two shots in the first, but Lake Erie chased him after scoring four goals in the first 8:38 of the second. Dylan Hunter notched a goal for the Amerks, while Mark Mancari and Mike Weber added assists. With Anthony Stewart and Patrick Kaleta back with the Amerks, Marc-Andre Gragnani played defense for the second straight game. The Montreal native, perviously flourishing as a forward, finished the game a -4. For now, trying to coach the talented AHL rookie into a defenseman is understandable. However, it's not like the Sabres pipeline is rife with left wings, or lacking in puck moving defensemen. Perhaps Grags' playmaking vision gets a permanent look next fall when the Sabres have to ice a full AHL roster.

Enroth finally gets nod in SSK win

Playing in his first SEL game since December 8th, SSK's Jhonas Enroth made 33 saves to earn a 4-3 OT win over Frolunda. The high-profile Enroth appeared in 17 of his team's first 27 games, but had not faced a shot in the half dozen outings since bringing home World Junior silver. One of those was missed due to a fever and a sore neck. The outstanding play of Bjorn Bjurling (EDM) in his absence was responsible for the rest. A week ago, a frustrated Enroth told a Swedish television station that he "needed to play soon." (non-English link) In between Elitserien starts, both the 5'11 Swede and Sabres GM Darcy Regier spoke of the plan to get him signed to a deal after the SEL season. When asked, Enroth hasn't been shy about believing in his abilities to be an NHL goaltender. The patient fan would like to view the signing of 19-year old Enroth as an event completely independent of a possible contract extension for Ryan Miller, 27. The Sabres will likely keep very close tabs on Enroth throughout year one, though. The uncapped days of Cliff Fletcher's "draft schmaft" philosophy are over with, and expectations for the netminder are high. Plus, the age for unrestricted free agency is getting younger, and teams like Buffalo will want to get the most use of their picks while the salaries are manageable. If Enroth quickly demonstrates the maturity, skills and stamina necessary, one might wonder how the Sabres handle negotiations with one of their current pillars in Miller. The initial inclination would suggest business as usual for the Sabres, as if Enroth isn't even in the system. You never know what the decision will be from Seymour Knox Plaza, though. When asked to share his thoughts about next years camp competition, Ryan Miller told the Buffalo News, "If he wants to come over and try his skills, if he thinks he’s ready, the job’s open every year. You’ve got to prove yourself." While the likely route for Enroth involves some time in the AHL, the job as heir-apparent to Miller is wide open. Right now, the second-round pick in 2006 looks to have the inside track.

1/25 Recap: Gerbe Disturbs; Amerks Continue Slide

#6 Michigan State opened the weekend's marquee match-up by escaping a hostile Yost Arena with a 1-0 win over #1 Michigan. The line of Justin Abdelkader (DET) centering Sabres prospects Tim Kennedy and Corey Tropp generated ten shots on goal, but could not connect. The Munn will rocking tomorrow as the clubs head back to E. Lansing to complete another installment of the biter rivalry.

With Hobey Baker front-runner Kevin Porter of Michigan posting blanks for just the fourth time all season, Nathan Gerbe had a chance to ease the gap in a showdown against old-friend Ben Bishop and Maine. Instead, the left wing himself put up zeros as the Eagles and Black Bears played to a 3-3 tie. BC banger Andrew Orpik was also in action, but did not register a point for the tenth consecutive game.

Despite going pointless, Gerbe still managed to make some noise on the ice. Midway through the third, the goaltender Bishop took exception as he skated into the crease after the whistle. The netminder shot right at the smaller Gerbe, setting off a slight melee. Gerbe ended up with the extra penalty for his efforts, and Maine would proceed to score on the ensuing power play to earn the tie.

Seeing Bishop lose his cool is not surprising when recalling the 5'5 agitator's attempt to show him up last February. After scoring a goal, Gerbe taunted the Blues draft pick instead of celebrating with teammates, leading Bishop to drop Gerbe to the ice. Needless to say, the two are not fans of each other.

Regardless of your opinion on Gerbe's methods, you have to admire his taste for larger targets. At 6'7, 210 pounds, Ben Bishop is an oak tree in the crease. Two seasons ago, Gerbe blew a fuse in a fight with 6'2, 200-pound Jordan Hart of Merrimack. Gerbe's fearlessness is an uncommon trait in the Sabres' prospect stable.

Elsewhere, Nick Eno got his third consecutive start as #21 Bowling Green traveled to South Bend to take on #9 Notre Dame. Outshot 16-2 in the first period, the freshman was buzzed for three goals while making several tough saves against the hungry Irish. Eno would let two more past him in the second, eventually giving way to Jimmy Spratt to finish out the 6-1 ugly loss. The loss lowers the Howell, MI native's record to 8-4 on the season.

Rounding out NCAA play, Matt Generous was +1 in the Saints' 3-1 loss to Union. A stabilizing cog on the Saint Lawrence blueline, the Cheshire, CT native is now a team-best +14 with the next best total being a distant +5. Generous is the only drafted player on the SLU roster.

Moving north, Benjamin Breault scored a pair of goals as Q pace-setters Baie-Comeau defeated Acadie-Bathurst, 4-3 in a shootout. The game's #1 star has six points in his last three games, and looks to add to his total Sunday against a Victoriaville club that has given up the third most goals in the league.

The other Sabrecentric game on the Q slate featured Paul Byron, who had a power play assist in Gatineau's 6-0 shutout of Val d'Or.

In Omaha, Drew MacKenzie assisted on the only Black Hawks goal in their 3-1 loss to the Lancers. The Taft product has doubled his production of late with seven points in his last 14 games after posting five points through his first twenty.

Drew Schiestel was +1 as Niagara rode a five-point night from Jordan Foreman to a 6-3 win over last place Kingston.

In Germany, Philip Gogulla was quiet as the third-ranked Cologne Sharks lost to Augsburger, 2-1. Felix Schutz was equally quiet in Ingolstadt's 4-3 loss to Berlin.

Also of note, more Russian Super League stats were recently posted. Artem Kriukov, the infamous first round pick of the 2000 draft, has cooled after his nice start for SKA. Now age 25, the center has scored seven goals for 15 points - a total he seems to have been stuck at for the past fifteen games. All in all, it's an improvement over the four points he had all of last season.

Also in Russia, defenseman Vjacheslav Buravchikov has gone pointless with a -4 in 34 games for Ak Bars.

***

Finally, the sinking ship that is the 2007-08 Rochester Americans season endured another loss last night against Lake Erie. The Amerks started quickly, sprinting out to a 3-0 lead after one. Dylan Hunter had two assists in the opening frame, with Marc-Andre Gragnani, Rej Sekera, and Michael Funk also picking up helpers.

The Avalanche affiliate would claw their way back, scoring three goals of their own in the second. Still deadlocked through the end of OT, the Amerks failed on all five shootout attempts against Tyler Weiman. Meanwhile, Jamie Lundmark beat Tyler Plante to seal the 4-3 Monsters win.

Marek Zagrapan remained out of the lineup as he clears himself of illness, while Marc-Andre Gragnani (+2) shifted back to defense for the entire game.

On a happier note in Rochester, congratulations go out to Mark Mancari, who today was named to his first AHL All-Star game in place of the near-graduated Clarke MacArthur.

No Hobey? No problem

Boston College forward Nathan Gerbe is getting plenty of support in the media for his fine statistical season on Chestnut Hill. The gifted speedster just posted one of the most prolific tears in recent NCAA memory with 27 points in nine games, yet the gap between he and top-ranked Kevin Porter (PHX) of Michigan in CSTV's Hobey Watch is rather wide. Porter is a great player in his own right, but it's dumbfounding how Gerbe cannot garner one first-place vote from the CSTV panel. From hobeybaker.com:

Hobey Baker Memorial Award Criteria 1. Candidates must exhibit strength of character both on and off the ice. 2. Candidates must contribute to the integrity of the team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. 3. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportmanship. 4. Candidates must comply with all NCAA rules: be full time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; and complete 50% or more of the season.

Gerbe's aforementioned praise comes while being criticized for incidents of questionable behavior on the ice. Essentially a blend of the NHL's Lady Byng and Hart trophies, fans should wonder which carries more weight when reading various Hobey forecasts. Let's not be ignorant and suggest that the feisty forward fits the trophy's criteria to a T. He doesn't. He has the character and skills of the first two points. I'm assuming he's compliant with #4. It's the sketchiness of #3 that causes his detractors to claim that he'd misrepresent what the trophy stands for. The great namesake of the Hobey was called for only one penalty during his career at Princeton from 1911-1914. Gerbe has 21 minutes this year alone, but it's still just the eighth-most on the Eagles squad. Even Porter himself has 18 for the Wolverines. The astute hockey fan knows this isn't about penalty minutes anyways. The same set also knows that the game of hockey has changed quite a bit in 94 years. The sport's pace and style demand that a player who's often half-a-foot shorter than his foe doesn't back down. Gerbe's game of skill isn't lacking physicality, something he'll need to continue exuding as a pro. This is really all Sabres fans should be concerned with at this point. Don't get me wrong. Hockey can do without the occasional dive and chirping between whistles. Butt-ending an opponent, like Gerbe did against Merrimack to earn a one-game suspension earlier this year, is a dishonorable thing to do on the ice. I'm not excited that he had been warned about his behavior prior to the suspension, though I wonder if Gerbe was more guilty of retaliating in that particular instance. Merrimack has played a chippy brand in the past, and that particular night saw Eagles goalie John Muse get run, and senior forward Dan Bertram get knocked out of the game by a checking from behind misconduct. It's hard to say when Gerbe's infraction took place because he wasn't penalized for it during the game. I've been critical of Gerbe until this season. I've wanted to see a balanced, dominating presence from the Oxford, MI native, and that's exactly what coach Jerry York has gotten in a season that has seen the suspension of upperclassmen Brett Motherwell (has since left the program) and Brian O'Hanley, and injuries to junior forward Brock Bradford. Gerbe's 1.71 points-per-game is tops in the country, with his 18 goals landing him 5th on the national list. He's a double digit guy in the plus column, and his three short-handed goals are second in the NCAA. Nathan Gerbe is a player with immense talent and heart, much like Hobey Baker. If he doesn't exemplify college hockey's top boy scout to a few media members, so be it. His future is looking to be pointed straight at the NHL, something the coveted award doesn't guarantee.

1/24 Recap: Enroth sits again; Eidsness heads into break on top

The Sabres won a road game last night. Life is good. Jhonas Enroth has done nothing wrong, but he clearly has lost the starting job to Bjorn Bjurling in the SSK crease. After missing time after the World Juniors due to illness, it was thought that a healthy Enroth would get the nod against Djurgarden on Thursday. That wasn't the case, as Enroth watched his counterpart make 27 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss. In Enroth's defense, Bjurling has been exceptional over the past month. His save percentage is half a point better than Enroth's while facing 310 more shots in just seven more games played. Brad Eidsness made 25 saves in Okotoks' 2-1 home-ice decision over Canmore. Eidsness will now head north to Grand Prairie for the Rogers AJHL All-Star Weekend leading the league in wins (21), goals against average (2.01), and save percentage (.938). The wins are great and a GAA close to the promised land of sub-2.00 is worthy of praise, but the truest junior level goalie statistic is save percentage. Eidsness' sparkling number in that category is indicative of superb concentration and reflexes. Drew Schiestel picked up an assist as Niagara exploded for 59 shots on goal in their 8-3 win over the Otters. The swift skating Hamilton native is 7th on his team in scoring, ranking second among defensemen to 2008 lottery hopeful, Alex Pietrangelo. After an adjustment period to start the year, Schiestel is a safe bet to ascend the prospect rankings when the new list is released in mid-February. Bored over NHL All-Star weekend? Check here for updates on the 27 games involving Sabres prospects from Friday through Sunday.

1/23 Recap: Another Hump Day Humdinger at the BCA; Stamkos Watch Officially Underway

These Buffalo winters are getting ridiculous. I passed five zambonis on the I-90 today on my way home from work. To top it off, the Sabres and Amerks are playing less-than-savory hockey these days. In 20 years when these guys come back to play an alumni game, I'm putting my bucks on the Fire Department. Enough already. Let's keep this about the kids. They're innocent, and they're the future. Paul Byron scored his 21st goal of the season tonight in Gatineau's 4-1 loss to Halifax. Watching a bulk of Byron's games of late, I've been impressed by what I've seen from the smallish center. The Ottawa native possesses excellent speed, great hands, and despite his thin frame, will do the little things like block shots and fly into the corners on most every shift. Of course, Byron was drafted for his scoring ability. Tonight's goal came on the power play, but it was just his third of the year with the "Beninati manpower advantage". Translation: Byron has scored 18 even-strength goals in 32 games. That's an impressive stat, and might change my opinion that his point output will have to rival his weight (145) in order for him to be signed. J.S. Allard is heating up again, picking up assists on both St. John's goals in their 2-1 win over Moncton. The teams leading point getter, Allard posted two assists in each game of the back-to-back set with the Wildcats. T.J. Brennan, back to wearing an "A" after donning a "C" last night, picked up a power play assist of his own on the first Foggies' goal. Now for the depression. The Rochester Americans dropped their sixth consecutive game, and 22nd of their last 24, with a 4-1 loss to Quad City. Mark Mancari and Dylan Hunter assisted on the lone Amerks goal while Marc-Andre Gragnani's even rating makes it ten of his last eleven games as an even or plus player. Things are pretty bad when you're only celebrating assists and plus/minus ratings on the top farm club. Brutal. I'll speak for all Sabres fans when saying, "We'll take what we can get." The rest: Weber -1 Sekera -1 Funk even Marek Zagrapan returned from the flu yesterday, but obviously wasn't 100% as he sat this one out to recover fully. Adam Dennis made 25 saves in the loss. Of the three shots that got past him (QC scored an empty netter), one came on the power play and another was on a penalty shot in the final minutes after he threw his stick on his way to gaining the extra attacker. For a great read on the pathetic situation in Rochester, I implore you all to check out Kevin O's blog here. *** Needless to say, the CHL Top Prospects Game played tonight in front of over 13,000 fans in Calgary takes on a whole new meaning for Sabres fans this season. In a year heavy with high-end defensive prospects, the White Team defeated the Red in a surprisingly high scoring contest, 8-4. I listened to most of the game and will address these prospects closer to the draft, but I will say that that the clock you see counting down is officially being titled the Stamkos Watch. Lethbridge's Zach Boychuk demonstrated some flash with a goal and two assists, but Steven Stamkos is the complete package. Tonight's performance was a great example of what the Sabres are lacking. The Red Team's Player of the Game threw some hits, got into a fight, and scored a goal. In 37 games this season for Sarnia, the 6'1 center has scored 32 goals and 61 points while amassing 50 minutes in the box. Noticeably missing tonight was Everett forward Kyle Beach, a piercing blend of talent and aggression who would certainly be of interest to Sabres fans. Click here for TSN's game write-up.

1/22 Recap: Brennan bags winner, Persson out with neck injury

Another cold Tuesday night in Buffalo with five games on the developmental slate... In Newfoundland, St. John's co-captain T.J. Brennan fired home the game winner with 1:29 left to play as the Foggies defeated struggling Moncton, 3-2. The goal was Brennan's ninth of the season and sixth on the power play. Fellow 2007 draftee J.S. Allard continued his playmaking ways with two assists for the Fog Devils. The two teams will play it back tomorrow night at Mile One. Drew MacKenzie picked up the primary power play assist on the game winner in Waterloo's 3-2 defeat of Indiana. Brad Eidsness got a rest, giving way to Braely Torris in the Oilers crease as Okotoks traveled up Highway 2 to take on the Calgary Royals. Over the pond in DEL action, Philip Gogulla went pointless in the Sharks 4-1 win over the Metro Stars, while Felix Schutz picked up a pair of minors in Ingolstadt's 3-1 loss at Hannover. Also in Europe, Nykopings defenseman Dennis Persson missed last night's game against Huddinge with a neck injury. He's out at least a week, meaning he'll miss tomorrow's game against Vasteras - a program he should have never left - and likely Sunday's tilt with Yaxjo. Just more bad luck for the Sabres 2006 first-rounder.

Breault captured on film in Junior

Two seasons ago en route to being tabbed by the Sabres in the 2006 draft, Benjamin Breault and his Baie-Comeau Drakkar teammates spent some time with a pair of Canadian filmmakers for the project titled, Junior. The french language documentary, filmed completely behind the scenes with zero game footage, intensely depicts the demanding lifestyle of the Canadian junior hockey player. It's been met with good reviews since its November premier. (Read an interview with the filmmaker here) Often we hear of highly regarded teens sliding in their draft years. Breault, the 57th ranked North American skater in CSB's 2006 final draft rankings, was one of four players trailed by cameras away from the rink. Through the course of the season, the viewer gets to watch the Pembroke, Ontario native deal with the pressure and emotions of being a star prospect while navigating social life as a teenager. A point-per-game player with 30 goals and 68 points that season, the talented center slid to the 7th round on draft day. Heading into play this week for first-place Baie-Comeau, Breault has collected 47 points in 43 games after a 40-40-80 campaign in 2006-07. In October, he was named to represent the QMJHL in the ADT Canada/Russia Challenge but missed the series due to injury (he was replaced by Sabres prospect J.S. Allard). The Sabres own his rights through June, and he'll likely be in Buffalo's camp this fall given the dearth of Amerks offense and the Sabres need to ice a full roster as a single affiliate in 2008-09.

Amerks Lose Basement Battle

The frustrating season for the Rochester Americans continued in Des Moines with a battle of last place teams. The result, another 4-2 loss to the Stars, is no longer shocking. The Amerks closed out a four-game road swing, securing one of a possible eight points while away from the BCA. They're now 1-8-1-1 in their last eleven contests. It was close through two, with Iowa scoring the only goal of the game in the second period. The third opened with three goals in the first 7:30. The problem is that two of them were scored by the Stars. The sole noteworthy event fitting this space's purpose is the assist picked up by Mike Funk on the first Amerk goal. I can only hope that Marek Zagrapan and his -3 was still feeling the effects of the bug that kept him out of yesterday's game. The rest: Sekera - even Gragnani -2 Weber -2 Mancari -1 Hunter +1 The Amerks are a hard-working group of kids, but they're simply not strong enough to compete night-in and night-out. To be fair regarding the title, Iowa's point total would be good for third place in the North Division. The Amerks return home for games Wednesday and Friday night.

ESPN pimps Gragnani

Sean Allen of ESPN.com ran a story last week about AHL players positioning themselves for NHL call-ups. Included on his list was Amerks rookie Marc-Andre Gragnani, whose 25 points (4-21-25) currently ranks 12th among AHL frst-year players. In the story, Allen paints a picture of an exciting rearguard poised to aid a struggling Sabres squad. He's got it half right. The Sabres are indeed struggling. Known for his vision and puck moving skills as a junior with PEI, the rangy 6'1 Gragnani signed with the Sabres this past offseason. After registering a league-worst -20 rating through his first 23 games on the blueline, the Sabres 2005 third-rounder found himself thrust into a forward costume right around Halloween. "Grags" continued to split time between wing and the blueline, with most of his defensive work coming with the man advantage. To date, he is one of two Amerks (Mark Mancari is the other) who has appeared in every game this season. It became clear in December that the skilled Quebecois' future (at least for the rest of the 2007-08 campaign) was as a "defenseman-turned-forward". His play has spiked since the switch, giving a boost to fellow Sabres properties and frequent linemates Marek Zagrapan and Mark Mancari along the way. Gragnani now has nine points in as many January games, and his 21 assists lead the team. He's also been an even or plus player in every game throughout the stretch, adding further proof that the move was a good one. It all adds up to a welcome turn of events from his first quarter as a pro. With a depressing cloud of negativity surrounding what appears to be the final year of the Rochester-Buffalo relationship, consider Grags' moving in a positive direction as a sign that not everything is going horribly down on the farm. If Allen's speculation is on point, Grags will be dialed to produce and create by season's end. It's just that it will be from a wing, and not from the blueline as suggested. -------------------- One other Amerks note: Mancari, who himself is a defenseman-turned-forward, was Rochester's nominee for AHL Player of the Week after scoring goals in each of his last five games. The award was given to Quad City's Grant Stevenson who continued his eight-game scoring streak with four goals against Rochester yesterday.

Schedule for Week of 1/21 - 1/27

The slate for the week features some some quality match-ups, as well as opportunites to pick up easy points, for teams involving Sabres prospects. Thursday evening should mark the return of Jhonas Enroth to the SSK crease as they battle Djurgarden. The CCHA will feature a pair of high-profile weekend sets for key Sabres prospects. #7 Michigan State, with wings Tim Kennedy and Corey Tropp, will enter a tough home-and-home series with hated #1 Michigan, while Nick Eno's Bowling Green Falcons will swap home ice with #6 Notre Dame. Another Saturday match-up will feature two of the top three QMJHL clubs as Paul Byron's Gatineau Olympiques travel to second place Rouyn-Noranda. Brad Eidsness' Okotoks Oilers (34-9-0-3) will host two of the weaker teams in the league this week (Calgary Royals and Canmore) before visiting AJHL South Division leaders Camrose (39-4-0-5) next Tuesday. Drew Schiestel's Niagara Ice Dogs face a pair of last place teams during the week before welcoming 2008 top prospect Steven Stamkos on Sunday. I'd rather write about more the action itself, so here's the complete schedule for the week: Monday Huddinge at Nykopings (Persson) Rochester at Iowa Tuesday Moncton at St. John's (Allard, Brennan) Okotoks (Eidsness) at Calgary DEG Metro Stars at Cologne (Gogulla) Ingolstadt (Schutz) at Hannover Indiana at Waterloo (MacKenzie) Wednesday Quad City at Rochester Moncton at St. John's (Allard, Brennan) Halifax at Gatineau (Byron) Nykopings (Persson) at Vasteras Thursday Erie at Niagara (Schiestel) Canmore at Okotoks (Eidsness) Sodertalje (Enroth) at Djurgarden Friday Lake Erie at Rochester Union at St. Lawrence (Generous) Boston College (Gerbe, Orpik) at Maine Bowling Green (Eno) at Notre Dame Michigan State (Kennedy, Tropp) at Michigan Berlin at Ingolstadt (Schutz) Cologne (Gogulla) at Augsburger Niagara (Schiestel) at Kingston Acadie-Bathurst at Baie-Comeau (Breault) Gatineau (Byron) at Val D'or Waterloo (MacKenzie) at Omaha Saturday Frolunda at Sodertalje (Enroth) Harvard (Biega) at Dartmouth Notre Dame at Bowling Green (Eno) Boston College (Gerbe, Orpik) at Maine Michigan at Michigan State (Kennedy, Tropp) RPI at St. Lawrence (Generous) Gatineau (Byron) at Rouyn-Noranda St. John's (Allard, Brennan) at Saint John Lincoln at Waterloo (MacKenzie) Sunday Mannheim at Ingolstadt (Schutz) Cologne (Gogulla) at Struabing Yaxso at Nykoping (Persson) St. John's (Allard, Brennan) at PEI Victoriaville at Baie-Comeau (Breault) Sarnia (Stamkos) at Niagara (Schiestel)

1/20 Recap: Byron's Abuzz; Schutz scores big goal

I'm freezing at pee-wee hockey. Ingolstadt coach Mike Krushelnyski has to be impressed. Playing in front his new coach for the first time, Felix Schutz scored his 9th goal of the season with 3:17 left to force overtime in a wild one with Augsburger. Ingolstadt went on to complete the 7-6 come-from-behind win in the extra session. The 5'11 Schutz sat out two games earlier this week due to sore back muscles. He'll carry a two-game point streak into Tuesday's game at Hannover. The Telus feeds were working well today, so I was able to take in good chunks of games involving Paul Byron and Benjamin Breault. Breault looked in control, scoring a goal and setting up the winner to earn the #2 star in Baie-Comeau's 5-3 win over Victoriaville. One thing I keep noticing about Breault is that he can be crafty with his stick defensively. He's not a "charlie hustle" type, but it was refreshing to see him go down to block a point shot on the PK. The Drakkar are ranked #9 in the latest CHL Mosaik Top 10. The pace slowed down in the Baie-Comeau game, but right on cue, the third period between Gatineau and Shawinigan was filled with wide open, high-energy hockey. The Olympiques color scheme makes it tough to see the numbers, but you always know when Paul Byron is on the ice. He had a "Gerbe" game today with two goals on a game-best six shots on goal in the 4-1 win. Adding sparkle to the game's #2 star was his six blocked shots - also a game-best. As good as Byron was, Claude Giroux was better. The Flyers prospect skated parts of the third with Matthew Pistilli and Gerrit Fauser and dominated every shift. The non-stop pressure of Giroux and his linemates lead to few spirited fights in the final minutes. 2007 2nd round defenseman Drew Schiestel continued his recent upswing in the OHL, netting an assist and a +1 in the IceDogs 4-0 win over Ottawa. Niagara outshot the 67's 43-15 en route to the easy shutout. With 25 points, Schiestel has already eclipsed his point total for last season (21). More importantly, after being a -5 through the first 28 games, he's been a minus player just twice in his past 17 raising his season rating to +3. Hockey fans in Buffalo should consider going to see to see Schiestel next Sunday (1/27) as likely 2008 lottery pick Steven Stamkos and the Sarnia Sting come to town. It's a 2:00 puck drop right over the border in St. Catherines.

The Buffalo Sabres Prospect Machine

4/3: New Allard, Brennan, Gerbe videos added. 5/29: Biega video added (drills) 6/21: Jokinen, Myers, Ennis, Adam added 10/12: Jokinen updated 11/5: Gogulla, Eidsness added Here's an on-going collection of video clips displaying Buffalo Sabres prospects in action. Know of a clip that should be included? Send the youtube link to bakes@sabresprospects.com! *note* it's highly recommended that you adjust the volume to a low setting when viewing the clips. The levels vary, with some being excruciatingly loud. Luke Adam Alex Biega Tyler Myers Brad Eidsness Nathan Gerbe Jhonas Enroth TJ Brennan Justin Jokinen Tyler Ennis J.S. Allard Philip Gogulla More Gogulla Paul Byron Tim Kennedy Mike Kostka Drew MacKenzie Derek Whitmore Marek Zagrapan Mark Mancari Benjamin Breault

Breault's hit not-so gross

This past Tuesday (1/15), 2006 7th rounder Benjamin Breault was given a gross misconduct for running into 6'5 Rimouski goaltender, Jean-Christophe Blanchard. Feeling wronged, some Rimouski fans thought Breault should be suspended. Well, here's the video. You decide if the hit deserved a gross misconduct: A respected Q playmaker, Breault has 20 goals and 45 points this season. He also averages over a hit per game, but not all are of the lamely "gross" variety.

1/19 Recap: Gerbe's streak ends; Eno, Eidsness shine

Saturday Night Fever. It might be time for Jhonas Enroth to get his starting job back in the SSK crease. The sensational rookie, who was arguably the best goalie in the SEL before winning silver at the World Juniors, watched again tonight as SSK lost 4-1 to Modo. Bjorn Bjurling, a 28-year old property of the Edmonton Oilers, caught fire and assumed the top spot for SSK right before Enroth left for international action. Bjurling has performed admirably as the top guy, posting a 2.32 GAA and a league-best .931 save percentage in 23 games. Meanwhile Enroth, who himself ranks second and third in SEL GAA and save percentage respectively, should be ready to see his first action since the WJC's on Thursday against Djurgarden. He's battled a bug for much of the two weeks since returning from the Czech Republic. Nathan Gerbe's point scoring tear came to an end as #11 Boston College battled to a 2-2 tie with crosstown rival BU. The 5'6 Hobey Baker favorite caps an impressive run of 27 points in nine games that began November 30th with a hat trick against the same Terriers team that shut him down tonight. The anti-Gerbe camp will be pleased with the unsportsmanlike/goalie interference minor he received just 1:27 into the game after running into Buffalo native Brett Bennett....Fourth-line banger Andrew Orpik was quiet for the Eagles, mustering just one shot on goal. Nick Eno earned another win with 18 saves in Bowling Green's 2-1 decision over Western Michigan. The freshman netminder's record is now 8-3, and he looks to be entrenched as the Falcons' #1 after playing both ends of the weekend set for the first time all season. Sabre prospects LW Tim Kennedy and RW Corey Tropp played together for what I believe to be the first time this season as #7 Michigan State shutout Ohio State, 4-0. Kennedy, the Spartans leading scorer, pitched in two assists while 2007 third-rounder Tropp added a helper of his own. North Dakota recruit Bradley Eidsness upped his record to 20-2-3 in Okotoks' 5-2 win over Lloydminster. Eidsness, who made 34 saves in the contest, leads the AJHL in wins, GAA, and save percentage through Saturday. Benjamin Breault had a pair of assists as Baie-Comeau rode a three-goal third period to beat Drummondville, 6-3. Indicative of his season-to-date, T.J. Brennan had a game-high four shots on goal and was a game-worst -2 in the loss. Brennan, the Sabres 2nd round pick in 2007, is now a disgusting -25 on the Foggies blue line. J.S. Allard opened scoring for the Fog Devils with his 13th of the year at the 2:45 mark of the first period. Chris Butler was +1 in #4 Denver's 4-2 win over Bemidji State. Butler, who is considered a high-end defenseman in the WCHA, had an up-and-down weekend after last Friday's rare icing miscue against Wisconsin. Steady D Matt Generous was St. Lawrence's only "plus player" (+1) in the Saints' 4-1 loss at Colgate. In the USHL, 2007 7th rounder Drew MacKenzie went pointless in Waterloo's 2-0 shutout win over Sioux City.

1/18 Recap: Gerbe dishes; Eno gets a grip

Friday Night Action: Nathan Gerbe had two assists in #11 BC's 5-4 win over #15 Lowell. Andrew Orpik put up zeros for the Eagles. Nick Eno made 35 saves in Bowling Green's 4-1 win over WMU. The foil was on in this one, as a line brawl broke out in the final seconds right after the Falcons scored an empty netter. WMU was frustrated by a slash earlier in the period, and their frustration had an outlet once a one-goal game became a three-goal lead for BGSU. Paul Byron scored his 18th goal of the season and added two assists in Gatineau's 7-2 win over Chicoutimi. Drew MacKenzie (+1) had an assist in Waterloo's 4-1 win over Sioux Falls. Chris Butler was a disappointing -3 as #4 Denver fell to an emerging Air Force club, 5-2. The Falcons made great use of their 16 SOG. Drew Schiestel was also -3 in Niagara's 5-1 loss to Sarnia. Future Sabre Steven Stamkos had two assists for the Sting. Corey Tropp and Tim Kennedy were both even with no points as #7 Michigan State beat Ohio State, 4-1. J.S. Allard was +1 while T.J. Brennan missed a shootout attempt as St. John's lost to Cape Breton, 3-2. Matt Generous was even in the Saints' 3-1 loss to Cornell. Philip Gogulla was -2 as Cologne lost to Iserlohn, 4-3. Ben Breault was -1 in Baie-Comeau's 7-2 loss to Lewiston.

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2014-15 Buffalo Sabres Prospects Schedule

About Us

A rinkrat for a large chunk of his life, Kris Baker has spent the last decade covering the Buffalo Sabres prospects for various media outlets.

In January of 2008, Baker created SabresProspects.com with a mission of providing daily prospect updates in hopes of making the topic more accessible for fans. Since then, Baker’s work has been featured on the Buffalo Sabres official website, WGR550.com, yahoo.com, and other mainstream television venues.

In 2012, Baker co-hosted an online chat for the Buffalo News in preparation for the NHL draft. In 2013 and 2014, he was a featured analyst for WGR 550's live draft coverage. In 2014, he contributed Sabres prospects content for WGRZ-TV (NBC) and WIVB-TV (CBS) in Buffalo.

You can hear Kris weekly during the season on Sabres Hockey Hotline hosted by Kevin Sylvester (WGR 550 AM), as well as his appearances on The Howard Simon Show. Baker randomly appears on The Enforcers, a weekly television show co-hosted by former Sabres toughguy Andrew Peters, while also serving as a college hockey color analyst for Time Warner Cable Sports.

Kris attended the University of Maryland (GO TERPS!) and currently resides in sunny Orchard Park, NY. Away from the pucks, he enjoys playing golf, watching MMA, and enjoying the lovely combination of pub food and craft beers. He is a noted hop head, so be sure to send him tips on tasty new IPAs.

You can reach Kris on Twitter @SabresProspects or via email at bakes@sabresprospects.com.

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To view videos as they were originally posted, please click the video tag.

Player Playlists:

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2008 NHL Draft Prospects Video Page

Steven Stamkos Luke Schenn Nikita Filatov Alex Pietrangelo Kyle Beach Zach Bogosian Drew Doughty Tyler Myers Mikhail Stefanovich Tyler Ennis Josh Bailey Cody Hodgson Mattias Tedenby Yann Sauve Tyler Cuma Andre Petersson Brett Theberge Jake Youso Aaron Ness Luke Adam Danick Paquette Mark Barberio Patrice Cormier