"Either he had the game of his life or we just discovered something."
That's what Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff had to say about Jamie Wise, the final player invited to Development Camp this week who became the talk of Thursday's scrimmage by scoring three goals to lead Blue to a 7-3 win over Gold in front of over 5,000 fans at First Niagara Center.
And to help complete Ruff's thought, we're going with the latter.
Wise, who scored just one hat trick in 142 career OHL games, plays a grit game with some obvious ability around the net. Ruff mentioned how the six foot, 204-pounder has a "little bit of Kaleta to him", and with a firm impression made, looks to be a player that could find himself in an NHL training camp this fall with another strong showing in Friday's camp finale (closed to the public). Late risers do exist. Wise looks on his way following his breakout 31-goal season with Mississauga.
Luke Adam was credited with the game's first goal when he buried a Corey Tropp feed from in close at 10:29 of the opening frame to give Gold a 1-0 lead. Tropp was bringing his physical game throughout the scrimmage, while Adam showed some improvement with the puck in open ice and generally looked in command.
Gold's lead would hold into the second period, but not for very long, as Zemgus Girgensons scored the game's prettiest goal just 1:33 in by taking the puck down the left side, slipping to the middle and going back to the forehand (first clip below).
Girgensons at times looked like the best player on the ice. Fully engaged, finishing every hit, showing flashes of offensive creativity - the Latvian looks ready to bypass the collegiate ranks and immediately bring his blend to Ron Rolston's mix in Rochester. Ruff's postgame comments, which included thoughts on Girgensons' "man's body", did little to change that opinion. The 6'2" forward is set to meet with Sabres brass on Friday to carve out his 2012-13 plan with his decision to come shortly thereafter.
A Wise penalty shot goal off a nice fake gave Blue the 2-1 lead at 6:01 (:26 mark of above montage), but Dan Catenacci would even the score by scarfing up a Jerome Gauthier-Leduc rebound at 10:31 (:36).
Late in the middle frame Wise would strike for a second time, corralling a loose puck and beating Linus Ullmark short-side from the left dot to put Blue ahead 3-2 heading into the second intermission.
Sabres GM Darcy Regier spoke to the media in the second intermission. Among the topics covered, the greatest revelation was that surefire hall of famer Dominik Hasek was at the arena last month to discuss his desire to return to the NHL as a 47-year old. The Sabres honored his request to meet but later informed the highly decorated 'tender that they were comfortable with their current group.
The third period began much like the second as Blue's Jacob Lagace scored off a penalty shot in the opening minute. Former Minnesota State forward Justin Jokinen would finish an odd-man rush for Gold to cut the deficit to 4-3 but the Blues sealed the deal late with Wise's third of the night, a Fienhage slapper from the right point, and a Joel Armia empty netter.
Pesky invite Frederick Roy, a teammate of Mikhail Grigorenko's last season with the Quebec Remparts, finished the night with two assists. Small in stature but a player who clearly enjoys contact, Roy wasn't putting guys to the ice but he certainly wasn't afraid to hit the paint to make a play.
The long week of early morning workouts with Navy SEALs and on-ice drill work made for some tired legs late. Mikhail Grigorenko, still finding his wind after a long bout with mononucleosis, showed flashes all the way to the end, including a nice forehand deke in the shootout. The Grigorenko that fans saw this week was the same patient playmaker with excellent vision and hands that we watched this past season in the Q. Whether or not he has enough juice to make the Sabres out of camp remains to be seen, but he will no doubt be a compelling candidate with fully recharged batteries come fall.
The one thing to remember is that this was a summer camp and not training camp. No jobs are won but the coaching chatter is in full gear. For instance, the goaltending duo of Connor Knapp and Nathan Lieuwen will battle this fall for the primary backup spot in Rochester. Early indications suggest Knapp will have the upper hand when things get cooking.
I'll post more thoughts and audio shortly (guys like 2012 seventh-rounder Judd Peterson, for example, showed a good burst this week). In the meantime, check out Sabres.com for complete highlights and post-game a/v.
The Sabres have announced details for their annual development camp, which is set to run from Sunday July 8th through Friday the 13th at First Niagara Center. Workouts will be open to the public on Monday through Wednesday between 10:00-12:30 (all times tentative), while simulated game action will take place with a Blue/Gold scrimmage on Thursday at 6:00 PM.
From the Sabres press release:
The camp will feature approximately 38 Sabres prospects, including the team’s 2012 NHL Draft picks, all of whom are scheduled to participate in the six-day camp. The players will take part in both on-ice and off-ice workouts. The goals of the camp are to show prospective players the fundamental ideas of the Sabres’ playing system and expose them to the conditioning programs of an NHL player. Camp participants will also study and examine NHL rules and the successful techniques a player must possess to become a professional athlete.
The list of attendees is headlined by a trio of first round picks who get to show their skills in front of fans for the very first time. Freshly inked Joel Armia (2011) was unable to attend last year's camp just weeks after being drafted but will make the trip for his initial NHL exposure, while the 2012 duo of Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons will also share the ice with their peers.
In addition to the entire 2011 and 2012 draft classes, three players from 2010, Mark Pysyk, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, and Kevin Sundher, will also be skating as a prelude to their first pro seasons in Rochester. Nathan Lieuwen, who missed last season's d-camp while recovering from a hernia operation, will be in nets this go round as he prepares for his rookie year.
Three RFAs, T.J. Brennan, Alex Biega, and Drew Schiestel, have paid their entry-level dues and will not participate.
The published roster is rounded off with invites Frederick Roy (Quebec - QMJHL), MacKenzie Braid (Sudbury - OHL), Kyle Jean (Lake Superior State - CCHA), Kevin Czuczman (Lake Superior State - CCHA), and Mark Guggenberger (Texas - CHL).
- strong positional defendr
- likes to join the rush, uses heavy slapshot
- strong stride, good vision up ice
- another in line of Swiss D to develop in NA
- big versatile forward with good acceleration
- balanced two-way skill set, smart defensively
- uses body to protect puck and work the boards
- very nice hands around the net
- needs to improve accuracy from beyond the slot
- elite level competitor, consistent offensive threat
- great speed and shooting, very energetic
- goes hard two-ways, dangerous on the penalty kill
- pro style tool set, improved week-over-week in 2012-13
- excellent skater for a big man, strong around the net
- poised confident, fantastic shooting release
- high character, NHL bloodlines with father/brother
- will be tough to knock off puck with added bulk
- committed to North Dakota (2013)
Grigorenko tries on the colors for the first time.
"Now it's time for me to make my impression felt... so sit back, relax, and strap on your seat belt"
The Buffalo Sabres made great strides in their quest to get bigger and more talented down the middle Friday, selecting Quebec Remparts leading scorer Mikhail Grigorenko (12th overall) and Dubuque Fighting Saints power froward Zemgus Girgensons (14th overall) in the first round of the NHL draft.
In all it was a successful opening night for the Sabres. They nabbed the most gifted player available at their original spot, and then acted swiftly with Flames GM Jay Feaster for the second straight draft by bundling the 21st and 42nd picks in exchange for #14 to close out their round earlier than scheduled.
I mentioned in the draft preview how many top-end Europeans are now playing in North American in their draft years. Rated the #3 North American skater by Central Scouting, Grigorenko is the first Russian-born player drafted by Buffalo since 2005, while Girgensons, who was ranked 18th, becomes the first-ever Latvian to be selected in the first round of the NHL draft.
For those wondering, there are no language issues whatsoever with either player. Girgensons is 100% fluent after spending three years in the U.S., while Grigorenko picked things up rather quickly despite living in a city dominated by en francais. Kevin Devine dropped the line of the weekend by joking that Grigorenko already speaks better than (Sabres amateur scout) Iourri Khymlev.
With Grigorenko, the Sabres pick up a highly-skilled center with excellent offensive sense and balance. He has great hands around the net but it's his passing and vision that really stand out. The 6'3, 200+ pounder controls the offensive tempo, a trait that causes many to believe that he's close to NHL ready with a future as a #1 pivot. From a skill standpoint, Devine thinks he could good to go as early as this fall. I fully expect the Sabres to act quickly on a contract but time will tell on that front.
After accumulating four goals and 18 points at the 2011 U18s, Grigorenko was an instant North American hit with 85 points (40+45) to be an easy choice as the CHL's Rookie of the Year. Despite the sparkling results, his will to compete was often questioned, but his coach with the Quebec Remparts, Patrick Roy, always spoke glowingly of his Russian rookie and recently suggested that it has simply been an issue of stamina at the root of the chatter. I'm no doctor, but it makes you wonder about his spring bout with mononucleosis and the impact of its onset.
After listening to Kevin Devine and Darcy Regier speak after Friday's first round, it appears that Roy's input heavily influenced their decision. Grigorenko has informed the Sabres that he'll return to Quebec City next season if he is unable to crack the NHL roster.
The pick worked out the way it should have - don't chase him but don't let him pass by. I'm glad the Sabres agreed that you couldn't pass up a potential Malkin clone with the 12th pick in the draft.
Girgensons: fit for duty in a blue collar town
With Girgensons, the Sabres nabbed a well-rounded center with high character who plays the game hard. He'll hound the puck. He'll slide to block a shot. He'll stand in the crease and push back after the whistle. Simply put, the 6'2, 198-pounder is a natural leader who goes in straight line with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
While some speculated on Grigorenko's work ethic, no one ever questioned Girgensons'. Devine remarked about his no-quit attitude at the World Juniors when he sacrificed his body late in a blowout loss to Russia. He even kept chugging for a few shifts after breaking his jaw in an April playoff game on a play that saw him lay a hit.
And by the way, Girgensons can score. His aggressive style led to 45 goals through 100 USHL games over the past two seasons. While a very capable offensive player, the best seems yet to come as his hard working style should see him create a little more on his own as he develops. The blend of skills combined a very high effort level makes perfect sense after picking a dominant offensive talent two picks earlier.
While the Kelowna Rockets maintain his WHL rights, Girgensons is expected to honor his early commitment to the University of Vermont, where he'll be skating over the next two weeks in preparation for the upcoming Sabres d-camp.
Ironically, Calgary ended up nabbing Girgensons' replacement on the Dubuques roster with the pick they got from the Sabres, selecting Providence commit Mark Jankowski at #21.
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The Sabres began day two by selecting American-born defenseman Jake McCabe out of the WCHA's Wisconsin Badgers. From the draft preview:
Many of the defenders in this draft bring a strong two-way skill set to the table, and McCabe’s total package could be considered among the best. The Wisconsin native played in the WCHA as a true freshman in 2011-12, using smarts and excellent mobility to score three goals and 12 points while getting PP time alongside points machine Justin Schultz on the Badgers top PP unit.
It’s not all offense though. McCabe has a mature body and good shutdown skills that could make for a nice #4 defenseman after his days in Badgerland. A product of the U.S. NTDP, McCabe’s history with Amerks bench boss Ron Rolston could lend to some valuable input on draft day as the Sabres re-load youth on the blueline.
McCabe rebounded well after missing some time thanks to a cut tendon courtesy of a teammate's skate. While pegged in the preview as a third, the pick in the second makes sense given the relationships and overall skills of the player. Needless to say, I really like McCabe as quality two-way defensemen are always welcome in the NHL.
Happy with their organizational skill and speed at the center spot, the Sabres used their third round pick on another big body that more likely projects to checking line duty.
A former first-rounder in the 2010 OHL draft (13th overall), the 6'4, 211 pound Kea employs a hard-working power forward style that sees him strong on the forecheck, valuable on the PK, and a willing pugilist as evidenced by 14 scraps through his first two years of major junior. Moving forward, many expect the lanky forward to get more opportunity to show his offensive side while filling out his frame.
The Sabres brought the big pivot in for their combine and certainly thought highly enough of his make-up to produce the third round investment. Per Kevin Devine, they think he could be Paul Gaustad type with better skating.
5th round (133rd): Logan Nelson - C/W, 6'2", 188 lbs.
Yet another Sabres combine visitor, the Minnesota native is a strong, skilled forward who compiled 23 goals and 62 points this past season in Victoria while playing parts of the year alongside fellow Sabres prospect, Kevin Sundher. Naturally a center, Nelson plays with an edge, using his big body to make plays around the net.
Passed over in his first draft year as a member of the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers, Nelson moved to the WHL where he emerged as a more complete player. His production did not go unnoticed by USA Hockey, who invited the talented Nelson to their U20 Evaluation Camp later this summer. He'll turn 19 in September, giving him one more year of junior to become a stronger skater before hitting the AHL.
Nelson notched his first WHL hat trick back on January 3rd in a 9-4 loss to Calgary. All three goals can be seen below.
I thought that perhaps the Sabres would stop their "every other year" trend and add a goalie to build more top-to-bottom depth, and they did just that. We'll go back to the draft preview for the goods on the big Swede who the Sabres had good intelligence on thanks to the January hiring of former MoDo GM Fredrik Andersson as a professional scout.
Linus Ullmark – G, 6’3, 198 lbs., Modo (SWE Jr)
Big and raw, the talented Ullmark enters his second draft year after an excellent season with Modo’s J20 squad that saw him post a solid 2.76 goals against average and .918 save percentage with the storied franchise. Ullmark’s play steadily improved throughout the season and into the playoffs, where he sparkled with a 2.24 GAA, .927 sv%, and one shutout in five starts.
Growing up dreaming of playing for Modo’s top club, Ullmark got his wish at the Christmas break when he was called in to back up Mikael Tellqvist while Anton Forsberg was away at the U20s. When Telllqvist fell ill, Ullmark was thrust into his first start as an 18-year old on two hours notice and held up well in an OT loss to Lulea.
While the bottleneck kept him buried most of the year, we’re still giving Ullmark a good shot to be drafted by the Sabres and an equally good chance to earn a larger SEL role with Modo before coming to North America.
The Sabres continued their run of three straight players in their second year of eligibility with the selection of Austin. The mammoth rearguard flourished this past season after an offseason trade to Belleville, leveraging his past experience as a spot-duty forward to score six goals and 26 points while developing his stay-at-home game under the guidance of former Edmonton Oilers bench boss George Burnett. Named the Bulls' Most Dedicated player, the steady improvement and overall package including a strong shot and a nice set of feet for a big man make him a smart pick late in the draft.
One Austin's season highlights came as he showed his mobility up-ice to score the overtime game winning goal in game #4 of the Bulls' first round playoff series against Ottawa (below).
Developing just up the road from Sabres amateur scout Keith Hendrickson, Peterson enters Sabreland following a prolific high school season that saw him rack up 47 goals and 83 points with Duluth-Marshall (MN) High School. Peterson's offensive package, which includes a nice burst and sniping accuracy, along with his relationship earned him an up-close audition at the Sabres pre-draft combine, where he confirmed his standing as a deeper day two option and potential depth scorer.
Native Minnesotan Brian Burke was also said to be interested, but the Sabres acted before the Leafs final pick to snatch up the 2012 Mr. Hockey Finalist. Peterson will play for the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders in 2012-13 before entering the WCHA ranks with the St. Cloud State Huskies.
Peterson ( gold #18) opened the 2011 scholastic season with a hat trick and an assist. You can see the points below.
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Sabres Development Camp is scheduled for July 8th-14th. (So just chill 'til the next episode).
Some of the first bits of trade information heading into draft week have arrived in the aftermath of Friday’s deal that saw Tampa Bay acquire promising (and huge) goaltender Anders Lindback from the Nashville Predators. While the package put together is somewhat newsworthy, it’s the other ‘tenders targeted and teams left in the hunt that appear just as interesting.
So who else was Steve Yzerman looking at when assessing candidates to be the Lightning’s future backstop?
Sources tell Sabres Prospects that, aside from being rebuffed when inquiring about LA’s Jonathan Bernier, Tampa Bay was also hot on the trail of former Vezina and Conn Smythe winner Tim Thomas before pulling the trigger with the Preds. Thomas’ uncertainty over next season raised some obvious questions, but it looks like at least one team is perceiving his “personal leave” as posturing for different colors.
Tampa Bay making their investment leaves two clubs, Toronto and Columbus, desperate for a number one goalie who can play now. With the market bare for both starters and backups, I’m being told that the only teams offering high caliber stoppers are Vancouver (Roberto Luongo) and St. Louis (Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott). Coincidentally, the Leafs and Jackets hold two of the first five picks on Friday.
In fact, the goalie market is so dry that exiled vet Cristobal Huet is talking to a handful of NHL clubs about a reserve role. Huet, who turns 37 this fall, has been buried professionally in Switzerland the past two seasons while his contract with the Blackhawks expired. Not Sweden. Not Finland. Not the KHL. Switzerland – a place usually seen as a one-way destination for former NHLers..
In my opinion, the thin market makes Bernier a hot commodity as a backup, and potentially even as a starter in a place like Columbus, where a big name like Luongo (or even Thomas) may not be agreeable to going since, well, his stats are almost guaranteed to take a hit.
For those curious, New Jersey has apparently informed clubs that they are looking to extend Johan Hedberg one more year, effectively removing him from the radar of goalie-needy clubs. Again, thin market.
The Sabres aren’t directly involved in any of this madness but it’s something to keep an eye on as the weekend plays out. It’s always fun to see the Leafs scramble.
Wise, who scored just one hat trick in 142 career OHL games, plays a grit game with some obvious ability around the net. Ruff mentioned how the six foot, 204-pounder has a "little bit of Kaleta to him", and with a firm impression made, looks to be a player that could find himself in an NHL training camp this fall with another strong showing in Friday's camp finale (closed to the public). Late risers do exist. Wise looks on his way following his breakout 31-goal season with Mississauga.
