Claimed off Waivers: [FLA] Panthers claim D Casey Fitzgerald off waivers from the Sabres

[MMC]

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[Ace]

Thank you, Florida.

 

[violaswallet]

Matthew Tkachuk's second cousin once removed. Rebuilding the team in his image

 

[Jerzey Devil]

Tom Fitzgerald’s son too.

 

[Chainshot]

Wouldn't be surprised if this is momentary and when they Panthers move to send him down, he'll just wind up back with the Sabres, assigned to Rochester.

 

[old kummelweck]

Good luck to him. He looked like he could have been a decent 7th D, but the Sabres have borderline AHL defenders in abundance. The org did like him and probably were hoping he'd clear and maybe miscalculated, or perhaps they wanted to give him a shot with another org. He's certainly been a good soldier.

More of a roster casuality than anything else. Sabres are juggling 3 healthy goalies and needed the spot.

 

[uncleben]

For those interested, this cost Florida $56,250, paid to Buffalo and not counted against the cap.

 

[Forge]

Tom Fitzgerald’s son too.

Never gets old:

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.

Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.

 

[Ace]

If Florida could turn a guy thoroughly and soundly beaten for a spot by Clague and Bryson into a valuable player…why don’t they have the best D core of all time already?

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

If Florida could turn a guy thoroughly and soundly beaten for a spot by Clague and Bryson into a valuable player…why don’t they have the best D core of all time already?

Defensemen take time to fully develop, sometimes until they're in mid to late 20s.
Last year, we had 12th ranked GA/G.
We're 12th this year in 5 on 5 GA IIRC so it's not elite, but it's pretty good for patchwork.
We've never drafted high end defensemen outside Ekblad and Bouwmeester

This offseason Zito will have tons of cap room to retool the defense, especially if he moves Reinhart + dead buyout money + UFAs walking etc coming off the books.

The downfall is it doesn't seem to be a great UFA defense group in elite quality but more volume of really good #3s and 4's/2nd pair guys.

 

[Chainshot]

Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.

Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.

Buffalo has already used 10 different defensemen this year. They will do what they have to do - had four regulars out at one point in their losing streak and it showed. Even in that span, he didn't get a lot of TOI. He tends to struggle with his positioning because he puck watches and gets drawn out of position. His first step is a little sluggish to recover so NHLers get around him regularly, leading to odd-man chances against his partner. If there are forwards back, it doesn't hurt as much.

 

[Djp]

Defensemen take time to fully develop, sometimes until they're in mid to late 20s.
Last year, we had 12th ranked GA/G.
We're 12th this year in 5 on 5 GA IIRC so it's not elite, but it's pretty good for patchwork.
We've never drafted high end defensemen outside Ekblad and Bouwmeester

This offseason Zito will have tons of cap room to retool the defense, especially if he moves Reinhart + dead buyout money + UFAs walking etc coming off the books.

The downfall is it doesn't seem to be a great UFA defense group in elite quality but more volume of really good #3s and 4's/2nd pair guys.

View attachment 633727

Fitzgerald is 25. I don’t see him blossoming into something more than a bottom pair D.

expected him to get claimed simply because he’s a RD a yr after his ELC.

some GMs do this simply because the needEd someone short term and don’t want to risk a waiver eligible player on their AHL team having to re-clear waivers

Matthew Tkachuk's second cousin once removed. Rebuilding the team in his image

i though they were first cousins…parents are siblings.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Fitzgerald is 25. I don’t see him blossoming into something more than a bottom pair D.

expected him to get claimed simply because he’s a RD a yr after his ELC.

some GMs do this simply because the needEd someone short term and don’t want to risk a waiver eligible player on their AHL team having to re-clear waivers

Weegar never fully took off for us until a few years ago and he's nearly 30.
Forsling is turning 27, he was an afterthought in CAR and VAN.

Not saying this happens all the time but Florida has a knack for taking other teams depth players and pumping up their stats/roles.

Hoffman
Marchment
Montour
Reinhart
Bennett

To name a few of recent past.

It could also be a nothing move, time will tell of course.

 

[Djp]

Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.

Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.

Surprised me he got claimed…no.

buffalo doesn't have any waiver exempt D in Rochester To easily call up and send down.

Fitz was exempt till this year. I don’t see him becoming anything more than a bottom pair Dman.

 

[quietbruinfan]

Defensemen take time to fully develop, sometimes until they're in mid to late 20s.
Last year, we had 12th ranked GA/G.
We're 12th this year in 5 on 5 GA IIRC so it's not elite, but it's pretty good for patchwork.
We've never drafted high end defensemen outside Ekblad and Bouwmeester

This offseason Zito will have tons of cap room to retool the defense, especially if he moves Reinhart + dead buyout money + UFAs walking etc coming off the books.

The downfall is it doesn't seem to be a great UFA defense group in elite quality but more volume of really good #3s and 4's/2nd pair guys.

View attachment 633727

With respect, I would say third pair guys. Though Muhura has surprised and may have potential as a two-way defenseman.

 

[Chainshot]

Weegar never fully took off for us until a few years ago and he's nearly 30.
Forsling is turning 27, he was an afterthought in CAR and VAN.

Not saying this happens all the time but Florida has a knack for taking other teams depth players and pumping up their stats/roles.

Hoffman
Marchment
Montour
Reinhart
Bennett

To name a few of recent past.

It could also be a nothing move, time will tell of course.

Reinhart wasn't a depth piece in Buffalo, he was their first line RW, but okay.

 

[ShootIt]

Hell, I'll take this as a win if it could kick Marc Staal off to the #7th d-man. I know it won't but let me dream.

 

[biturbo19]

Seems like one of those guys that coaches like more than fans. But i can see why Florida would take a flyer on a guy who at least seems like a fringe/depth defenceman of vaguely NHL caliber. I guess. Surprising that Florida has kept halfway afloat with that defence...certainly room for improvement.

 

[elchud]

Interesting, I think I'd prefer Kiersted over Fitzgerald. And Casey is the 4th RHD on a roster behind a (theoretically) really solid top-3 RHD set of Ekblad/Montour/Gudas. Casey is a good kid and can still develop into a decent 3rd pair guy, but he isn't there yet.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Weegar never fully took off for us until a few years ago and he's nearly 30.
Forsling is turning 27, he was an afterthought in CAR and VAN.

Not saying this happens all the time but Florida has a knack for taking other teams depth players and pumping up their stats/roles.

Hoffman
Marchment
Montour
Reinhart
Bennett

To name a few of recent past.

It could also be a nothing move, time will tell of course.

There is absolutely no doubt that the best Fitzgerald will ever be is a mediocre 3rd pair starter. Most likely to remain an NHL/AHL tweener. Wished Buffalo kept him for Rochester, but don't waste time thinking about any better result.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.

Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.

Spoken like a man who has not watched much Casey Fitzgerald hockey since he's turned pro.

I think Buffalo fas will mostly he happy for him if he blossoms in FL...seems like a great, hard working dude.

Reinhart wasn't a depth piece in Buffalo, he was their first line RW, but okay.

Or 1C, depending on which year you're talking about

 

[DEANYOUNGBLOOD17]

Two years ago Florida claimed Gustav Forsling from waivers and now he’s playing upwards of 24 minutes a game, Florida also claimed Josh Mahura from waivers and Mahura already set career highs in games played and points this season with the Panthers, maybe Florida could find another defender on the scrap heap as Zito seems to have a knack for finding other teams castoffs. though Fitzgerald plays a different style then the two aforementioned players.

Difficult situation for Buffalo losing Fitzgerald as they now only have 11 defensemen on NHL contracts, if injuries mount on the Sabres defense they may have to turn one of their AHL contracts into an NHL contract or make a trade for a defender if one doesn’t become available on waivers to acquire.

Florida is desperate for defence….not to worry ….. Coach Paul Maurice will coach him up a bit and playing coach Paul Maurice systems will make him look like an All-Star by February! ( Sarcasm)

 

[wetcoast]

Good luck to him. He looked like he could have been a decent 7th D, but the Sabres have borderline AHL defenders in abundance. The org did like him and probably were hoping he'd clear and maybe miscalculated, or perhaps they wanted to give him a shot with another org. He's certainly been a good soldier.

More of a roster casuality than anything else. Sabres are juggling 3 healthy goalies and needed the spot.

He is a decent bottom pairing guy but basically a placeholder hope he does well.