Buffalo Sabres represented by small but talented group of NCAA and European prospects

[HF Article]

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The Buffalo Sabres tend to draft players out of the CHL, and as a result have fewer high-end prospects in Europe and the collegiate levels. Even when the Sabres elected to drafted European-born players with their first round picks, as they did twice in 2012 by taking Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons, both players were playing in North American leagues at the time.



In Europe, Joel Armia is the Sabres' best prospect and considered one of the best young players who have yet to make the move overseas. Linus Ullmark has looked promising in limited playing time with MODO.

Jake McCabe, a standout for Team USA at the World Junior Championships, is the Sabres' best collegiate prospect and follows a growing crop of high-caliber defensemen to come from Mike Eaves' Wisconsin program.… read more



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[Mit Yarrum]

When are our pros and cons going to be updated?

They've been the same since before the 2012 draft, including "size down the middle" as a con, which I would have agreed with before the last draft. But it's still there. I might disagree with the "top end forwards" one too, with Armia and Grigs in the pipeline.

We've had several reviews of our prospects but no one has taken a new look at that section.

 

[CrankyJay]

Yeah, what's the deal with Armia? Is he still too raw to bring over for camp or at least play in the AHL?

 

[thefifagod]

Yeah, what's the deal with Armia? Is he still too raw to bring over for camp or at least play in the AHL?

No, he's still playing out his season for Assat.

 

[Mit Yarrum]

Yeah, what's the deal with Armia? Is he still too raw to bring over for camp or at least play in the AHL?

Under contract overseas.

 

[Sabres Fan UK]

Yeah, what's the deal with Armia? Is he still too raw to bring over for camp or at least play in the AHL?

I thought that was the plan after he finishes his contract with Assat (and he did have mandatory military service to do also).

Edit: wow, three people answered that one haha.

 

[Revelate]

I'll be keeping a close eye on Isackson next season. He'll be relied on heavily next year with the mass exodus of some of the Gophers best players. He has a lot of promise and hope he steps up.

 

[thefifagod]

Wow, this article is awful. Ullmark didn't play in the WJC and Armia doesn't play C at all. Pretty embarrassing on Chen's (author's) part.

 

[jBuds]

Wow, this article is awful. Ullmark didn't play in the WJC and Armia doesn't play C at all. Pretty embarrassing on Chen's (author's) part.

Re: McCabe...
Talking about other Badgers in the NHL as dmen, you'd also probably want to mention Gilbert, Smith, Drewiskie, and most importantly....MacDonagh

And did I miss something? Armia has played center at times?????

 

[RazielMoshman]

Under contract overseas.

I thought it was that he had his national service during the offseason, causing him to miss (what would have been) camp here. Then he would have been under contract when the 2 day camp got together.

 

[Jason Chen]

Re: McCabe...
Talking about other Badgers in the NHL as dmen, you'd also probably want to mention Gilbert, Smith, Drewiskie, and most importantly....MacDonagh

And did I miss something? Armia has played center at times?????

Author here... list of Badgers d-men could go on and on - I've only picked a few examples as a comparison.

Armia is often listed as a centre when he really is a right winger. In previous Sabres posts I've pointed that out before. I think we don't really get a sense of what position a player plays until he plays regular shifts in AHL or NHL.

Raziel and Mogilny - Armia is in the final year of his contract with Assat Pori. It is very likely he comes overseas next year as part of the Sabres rebuild.

As for Ullmark being on the Swedish WJC squad - I apologize. That is a sloppy mistake. What I meant to say was that Ullmark played two games for the Sweden national junior squad (and was brilliant). I know he didn't make the U20 WJC team.