From what I've scene of Kassian, he's a very talented player, but he's just not developed enough to be an offensive threat in the NHL. I'd hate to see his offensive development get hampered by bringing him into the NHL in a 3rd or 4th line role, and ask him to play a defensive forwards role. He needs atleast another year in Junior, and possible a year in the AHL...this is only my own personal observation and opinion.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

I agree. From what I saw, he's got a great shot. He had quite a few quality snipes. But his speed wasn't quite there, although that seems to have improved. I think another year in juniors will do him some good. Then he can be assessed from there.

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Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

I know, but I'm sick of people saying he's 18. He's not.

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mechaphil

My take on Kassian...he's gonna get that shot in the preseason and unless he absolutely LIGHTS IT UP, he's not getting a deal and he's going back to Windsor. His hands (both scoring and punching) are there, and his drive is there, but his legs aren't there yet. They're close, but not there yet. And that's what is holding him back.

On Weber...he's healthy and he's driven and the Sabres are carrying 8 defensemen to start the season. He has his chance and he's going to take it. Two key things to think about - his call-up in 07/08, he was +12 in 16GP and broke two of Cory Stillman's ribs on a clean shoulder-to-chest hit. Now he's bigger, better, meaner, and more driven. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Butler and Sekera.

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mechaphil

He's still young enough to not worry about it, one more year in the Juniors will do wonders for the kid, he'll fight for a spot this year, but next year he'll get it. He is a hard worker and it will pay off.

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This. While I am want to see Stafford shed his demons and become the 60 point dependable player he is, I grow tired of trying top pretend that he will ever relize that potential. Combine that with the fact that I am a huge supporter of Kassians on ice ability and I am down with the A Few Good men parady.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Kassian needs to prove himself capable of producing at the NHL level this preseason before he even gets the idea of replacing Stafford

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mechaphil

True, but you must admit that Staffard set the bar pretty low last season. With Kassian's on ice intangebles he becomes a compelling story for this trainign camp.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

And Stafford is entering the final year of his current contract ready for a rebound season. Yet another compelling story.

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mechaphil

Compelling yes, but not as compelling as Kassian's tale to tell. He is competing for an NHL job, that is better octane than the allmighty dollar. Kassian has yet to do wrong on the ice, while Stafford has been found guilty of slacking and is trying to justify that with a lack of financial motivation. It's hard to blame anybody rooting for Kassian to make the team, including myself.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

im high on kassian. im also high on him finishing juniors and playing in the AHL for a season.

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Zack Kassian has yet to do wrong on the ice?



He has a pretty grievous wrong to right during camp by being a model citizen if he wants to make the team. And that's while lighting it up. And not slacking off.

A more compelling story, yes, but a much harder one to accomplish over the next coupla weeks.

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mechaphil

Kassian is not a polite hockey player, he's going to do stupid things during the game. But there' two kinds of stupid, the stupid where you don't try to win, and the stupid where you try to do too much. Kassian will never be accused of slacking.

The Sabres could use a dash of the later in the lineup.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Don't get me wrong, I very much want to see Kassian score 3 goals and 5 or 6 points in preseason with 2 decisive fights and endless hustle. I want it to lead to his earning a roster spot after signing his ELC. But unless he lights it up like a mofo, he won't make the team. If people think he'll make the team as a grinder, they need to commit seppuku because he's a top-6 winger and that's the end of that.

If he emerges from Saturday's game with two points, a fighting major, and a plus rating regardless of the outcome, I'll say he's well on his way to proving everyone who said he wouldn't make it wrong.

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mechaphil

It's not unheard of for a young OHL forward to make an NHL roster out of camp, and start out on the 3rd or 4th line. Staal went from a 3rd line center in the OHL to the Penguins 4th line center in the NHL before being promoted to 3rd line and eventually Malkin's wing, and he was a much higher draft pick than ZK. But he had/has maturity on and off the ice that Kassian does not possess. That's why I think they will want to see him develope in the OHL or AHL or both, before making it to the NHL. Here's hoping I'm wrong.

The interesting thing is this, NHL clubs are allowed to keep OHL players for up to ten games before deciding whether or not to send them down or keep them in the NHL. Kassian may very well make the NHL team out of camp, but it may only be for 10 games or less.

The compelling part about it is that it really all depends on him, you said so yourself. If he lights it up and brings it he could not only make the team but stay with it.

If the Sabres are serious about winning It All this season then they aren't going to ignore assets based on a few bad decissions or wreckless acts.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

It's only 9 games, not ten. But otherwise, yea, if he kicks ass so much management can't look away from him, he'll make the team and bump someone *coughSTAFFORDcough* out of the picture.

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mechaphil

He would appear to be the most likely canidate to sit out those 9 games, for sure. I think the pre-season games will determine it, as well as injuries if any. I'm keeping my mind wide open, and I'll be very interested how far mgmt goes to do the same.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Kassian isn't making the team.

We're seeing exciting promising things out of him, but he won't play a regular season game for Buffalo until next season.

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Wheelhouse

I agree with both of your assessments. I think Kassian will get a look at a preseason game or two but they will send him back down.

Stafford in a "contract year". I'm so fucking sick of this term. How about, instead, we just start signing these bums to one year contracts.

I signed you up for a 3 year deal, and you only performed during the last one? Nice. Here's a one year tryout, to be followed by continuous one year tryouts. GFY.

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