Hodgson will probably go first line, then Ennis, Grigorenko, and Ott.
Ennis is going back in exchange for that #1 spot 
lets hope so. I agree though. Darcy has something up his sleeve. We traded away our number one center and do not have one now. You cant say hodgson or grigorenko are going to be that because they are not. They are not ready. It is foolish to think a ruissian kid who has never played in the nhl and isnt even signed yet is going to be a first line center.
I could see ennis, leopold adam sekera or mcnaab going somewhere if a move is to be made for a number 1 along with some picks.
I am pumped for ott thought he is a more physical jarett stoll from the kings, an awesome 40-50 point 3rd 4th line guy. He smashed everything, fights anyone.
John scott is the biggest toughest heavyweight in the leage. If anyone wants to be reassured of how he stands up for his team mates watch this.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_795jrQti6I
This dude is a beast and chara, chris neil and … of course milan lucic better have their heads on a swivel and know they are not the toughest biggest dude on the ice when they play the sabres anymore.
I was hoping Roy would be the centerpiece of a Ryan deal. Ducks want a second line center. Ott is nice to have but we’ve subtracted scoring from a team that already couldn’t score.
Roy only scored 6 more goals than Ott. Ott wont stand around when Miller gets plowed over.
Edit: The Sabres still have slightly over 10 million left in cap space left. IF the ST. Louis blues dont give T.J Oshie (RFA) a qualifying offer then the Sabres can probably pick him up for 3.5 to 5 million a year. 19 goals 35 assists +15 rating and only 25. We cannot afford a Parise or a Semin who will easily make at least around 6 million a piece.
Praise won’t be a Sabre, and nobody wants Semin.
Centers will go
Ennis
Hodgson/Adam
Ott
McCormick
I still do not see that Girgorenko coming in and playing this year. Adam needs to develop a little more and mature and he could be a top center. And our D are terrible if you ask me.
I don’t want Parise. His market value has sky-rocketed due to the shallow UFA pool. (ie. Brad Richards 2011). Semin is lazy, enigmatic and a Cancer in the dressing room. A desperate team will sign him, he will float around for a few years like he did in Washington and he will flee to the KHL with the promise of tax free money.
For a number of $3.5 - $5 million (I have ZERO idea where you’re getting that from, that’s a pretty large range) we can pick up TJ Oshie? Oh yeah? The kid who has known problems maintaining his focus in St Louis? The kid that shows up to practice late and had to be disciplined internally from the Blues? We just got rid of Derek Roy, we don’t need to replace him @ Bayou. Personally, I’d like a kid like Sam Gagner who is also available and has a lot more upside.
Ennis can’t play first line center. If anything it would have to be Hodgson. Our defense is terrible? I wouldn’t use the word terrible. Maybe “didn’t exceed expectations” is more like it. MA Gragnani played a large factor in mediocrity. Hopefully a full season with him gone and Weber and Brennan getting some ice time, it’ll get better.
Steve Ott on WGR this morning. Good interview.
http://www.wgr550.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=5925152
I wonder how many more skilled players we’ll label “cancer of the locker room” and ship off before we realize the cancer is the coach?
Our best line down the stretch was Stafford, Ennis, Foligno I would have hand down said that was our top line. They had the best chemistry of any line I saw all year. To start the year Pomiville, Adam, Vanek tore shit up I wouldnt mind seeing that kine come back Adam made the Rookie All star team because of this. As for the D Weber, Regehr, and Sekera are all garbage. McNabb is still young but same as Brennan I like Brennans play style better. At best they have 6 D right now and they dont play that well in the defensive zone. I said that about Regehr last year -12 is pretty good for your defensive defensemen HA! and Weber played 51 games and was -19 they need to go. I dont like to hate but this isnt a winning team as of now.
Darcy said in the press conference that they are probably going to leave Ennis at center and possibly move Ott to wing. And most likly moving McNabb back down to the AHL.
These would be my lines
Stafford Ennis Foligno
Pominville Adam Vanek
Leino Hodgson Ott
Gerbe McCormick (Girgrenko) Tropp
Calling Sekera Garbage shows how little you know.
Regher was the most consistent player on the Sabres last year. You knew what you were getting out of him every game. Sekera was hit or miss, but when he was on his game, he was on his game. Weber was alright, played a bit physical, nothing really overly impressive.
You’d put Adam with Pominville and Vanek again?! They tried that last year and even when Pomers and Vanek were scoring, Adam wasn’t getting points from it. Luke Adam simply wasn’t producing at all on that line. He wound up in Rochester for a reason, not so he could be a second line center next year. I don’t mind Luke but he wasn’t playing to his potential. Also why would Adam be on the second line over Hodgson?! I predict he goes on the first line right away. Luke Adam I’d try to move for Bobby Ryan or even draft picks.
Also judging players by plus minus isn’t entirely accurate. Martin St. Louis was a -3 last year, I guess he must suck. Jay Bouwmeester was a -21, Rick Nash was -19, Eric Staal -20, Jeff Carter -12. All these guys must just be the worst of the worst right?
Ok you guys are right I’m completely wrong we have awesome players and thats why we made it to the playoffs last year. All those guys you just named were on teams that couldnt make the playoffs… except Carter who ended up with the kings. Sekera is a joke might as well have a forward playing D. I would take an average guy that is consistent over a player who is hot or cold like Sekera anyday. Consistency wins games. And I’m sorry but Regher is too slow he would literally get skated around at times looks just like Craig Rivet on the ice slow and old. Adam was tearing it up then Lindy moved lines around to try to find a fit for Leino and Roy came back but had no chemistry with the other lines. Once Adam was moved off the first line he sucked Ill admit it but I would give it a shot again Ive been following the kid for years and has awesome potential. I think Hodgson still has to prove himself alot too he also would play in flashes at the end of the season. Some games he would look great and other he would be a complete ghost.
There are facts, opinions, and then there is the crap you just posted. The good news is with your excellent knowledge of Hockey you could write for the Buffalo news, I mean somehow Bucky Gleason still has a job.
Suter and parise both to the wild. Maybe player movement will finally pick up now!
Whatever man I guarantee I’ve played a much higher level of hockey than you ever have and have much more knowledge about the game than you… go back to reading your newspaper.
I’m sure you do
Wow, both got 13 year deals for 98 million.
As long as Parise wasn’t going to Pittsburgh I’m OK with it. Minnesota needs them bad. Good loyal fans, mediocre team.