Prospect Info: Dan Catenacci (2011, 77th) – '16-'17: Rochester #43 (AHL), Re-signed, 1 year, 2-way

[stokes84]

a 4th liner?

with his speed and style of play... a mooe hopeful comparison would be Marchand

That's definitely the more hopeful outcome. I'd be pleased if he can become a very good defensive forward and pker that can chip in an occasional goal and out skate people. I love what Paille has become in Boston and I think he is very valuable on their bottom 6. Players like that are great for filling out a good team.

 

[Sabreality]

high - brad marchand
med - darren helm
low - jim slater

 

[Buffalo Warlord]

Definitely a high energy player. Should slide over to wing but will be flexible and likely will spend whole year at Rochester

 

[sivert]

He's just a bigger Gerbe. You are overly optimistic here comparing him to Marchand.

 

[ZeroPT*]

He's just a bigger Gerbe. You are overly optimistic here comparing him to Marchand.

If Gerbe were bigger he would probably be much more respected, you're just being overly-pessimistic.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

If Gerbe were bigger he would probably be much more respected, you're just being overly-pessimistic.

A bigger Gerbe is what every team inthe league is looking for inthe bottom 6. Hard working, good skating, some scoring, and a pest. Gerbe's flaw was being 5ft nothing and unfortunately it will prevent from ever makin it as a bottom 6er.

 

[ohlguy]

Tha Sabres in Catenacci have a player who was ranked as high as a first rounder in the 2011 NHL Draft. Buffalo was lucky enough to get him as their second pick at #77. To note Andrew Shaw was selected in the same 2011 NHL Draft at #139 from Owen Sound and his numbers were nowhere near Cat's numbers. These are the finds and later picks that put teams over the top making them contenders like Andrew Shaw #139, Marchand #71, Chara #56, Datsyuk #171, Zetterberg #210 and Brendan Gallagher #147.

I've watched Cat since coming to the OHL and he can turn out to be one of those finds. We're talking about a first overall OHL pick in 2009, he won the fastest skater at the CHL Prospect Game, puts up great numbers and regarded as a top defensive PK player. Throw in the fact that he is excellent on draws, voted one of the hardest workers in the OHL by the coaches poll and trained by fitness guru Gary Roberts, fans in Buffalo/Rochester have a lot to be excited about. Having Bobby Orr as his agent to learn from also helps........now the rest is up to him.

 

[ZeroPT*]

A bigger Gerbe is what every team inthe league is looking for inthe bottom 6. Hard working, good skating, some scoring, and a pest. Gerbe's flaw was being 5ft nothing and unfortunately it will prevent from ever makin it as a bottom 6er.

pretty much this, if Cat plays like Gerbe I would be super happy.

 

[Chainshot]

Considering every team can use a combination of speed and tenacity, and he has both in spades, his ticket could be punched in a variety of roles from mid-line scorer to high-speed shut-down player. It'll be interesting to see what sort of icetime he earns in Rochester out of the gate.

 

[FanboySlayer*]

Catenacci The Sleeper Prospect

While listening to the radio call of the prospects game they mentioned how often this guy's name was in Hamilton's call, he's the kind of player who isn't going to be in the A for long. He'll get called up and stick, one of those players who was made for the NHL, what he was in junior will be what he is in the NHL.

 

[Djp]

Problem is Buffalo doesnt have the room....

As I have said---in camp it will be a battle between Girgensons, Armia, Catenacci, Larrson, and flynn for 2 forward spots.

Tropp will have a spot because he would have to clear waivers.

Grigorenko will stay with the team this year. I think Foligno is on his last year of exemption so he could be sent down to Rochester without needing to clear waivers.

The rest of the roster needs to clear waivers or get traded. As of now its 11 forwards. Hodgson signed will make it 12....thus 2 open spots.

 

[DJN21]

the real problem in my mind is what to do with Kaleta. ON one hand I love him hes a fan favorite and will be leaned on heavily as a PK specialist going forward. He can be in his own way a game changer. Yet if he doesnt find his offensive game again suddenly a 4th line of Tropp-Larsson-Cat lline sounds really enticing moving forward until they excel upwards or bust

 

[FanboySlayer*]

Problem is Buffalo doesnt have the room....

As I have said---in camp it will be a battle between Girgensons, Armia, Catenacci, Larrson, and flynn for 2 forward spots.

Tropp will have a spot because he would have to clear waivers.

Grigorenko will stay with the team this year. I think Foligno is on his last year of exemption so he could be sent down to Rochester without needing to clear waivers.

The rest of the roster needs to clear waivers or get traded. As of now its 11 forwards. Hodgson signed will make it 12....thus 2 open spots.

it won't be out of training camp unless he scores 4 or 5 goals in pre-season games - injury callup who won't look back. that's what i think but of course he may go the more expected route of a 2/3 years up and down from rochester to buffalo.

some players don't need much of the AHL - i mean players who weren't high first round picks.

 

[msm29]

I still worry about his size, particularly given he's never been touted as an offensive star. If his scoring tails off at the AHL/NHL levels, he could fall into the Gerbe trap, where his speed and tenacity simply isn't enough to play an effective checking role.

Obviously, he's bigger (and faster) than Gerbe. Maybe I just haven't seen him play enough.

 

[Waterfowlist]

I still worry about his size, particularly given he's never been touted as an offensive star. If his scoring tails off at the AHL/NHL levels, he could fall into the Gerbe trap, where his speed and tenacity simply isn't enough to play an effective checking role.

Obviously, he's bigger (and faster) than Gerbe. Maybe I just haven't seen him play enough.

Uhh, he is 5'10" and 183 lbs. I guess I just don't see the Gerbe connection? Mike Peca was 5'11" and 183 lbs. I don't remember people complaining about his role on the checking line.

Once a player is over 5'8", they are fine.

 

[ohlguy]

I heard from people watching that Cat looked great in yesterday's game and was all over the ice. If anyone followed Catenacci in Junior hockey as I did, they would know that he's the complete 200 ft. package and NHL material. Compete and skill level are elite, he's very strong on his skates and can play any role which that will be huge for him. I personally think he will be given a chance right away.

I was able to see Cat and Hodgson playing against some top NHLers at Gary Roberts Biosteel Camp, Cat was actually was one of the best players out there. I guess he's a sleeper, but if you followed him in junior, you would bet on Cat being there opening day.

If this is truly a rebuild for the Sabres then lets see what some of these great young prospects like Cat can do. The Sabres have a few real good ones and this will only benefit the organization down the road if these guys are given that chance early on.

 

[Jame]

the real problem in my mind is what to do with Kaleta. ON one hand I love him hes a fan favorite and will be leaned on heavily as a PK specialist going forward. He can be in his own way a game changer. Yet if he doesnt find his offensive game again suddenly a 4th line of Tropp-Larsson-Cat lline sounds really enticing moving forward until they excel upwards or bust

I don't see the problem. You dress Kaleta every night that he's healthy... he's a proven asset who brings an element that is needed, and is also a reliable player defensively and on the PK.

I'm just glad we have the Rochester depth to deal with the 20+ games he's going to miss due to injury

 

[Jame]

I don't think Tropp needing to be exposed to waivers to be sent down, should guarantee him a spot among the 23.

 

[Jacob582]

I don't think Tropp needing to be exposed to waivers to be sent down, should guarantee him a spot among the 23.

Did you feel the same way about TJ Brennan?

 

[Jame]

Did you feel the same way about TJ Brennan?

yes.

and while TJ still made the team, their was far less competition for that spot. If Tropp earns the spot, GREAT! But with a lot of players competing for roster spots (from the AHL vets to the young stud rookies), there is no reason Tropp should be handed a spot (like TJ was) simply because he's waiver eligible

 

[Jacob582]

As I have said---in camp it will be a battle between Girgensons, Armia, Catenacci, Larrson, and flynn for 2 forward spots.

I agree with the thread title in the fact that he is the only forward you listed above that was not playing pro last year and yet he is listed with those other forwards that fans speak so highly of.

I think he will quickly jump to the front of the list (injury call up).

 

[Jacob582]

yes.

and while TJ still made the team, their was far less competition for that spot. If Tropp earns the spot, GREAT! But with a lot of players competing for roster spots (from the AHL vets to the young stud rookies), there is no reason Tropp should be handed a spot (like TJ was) simply because he's waiver eligible

Yup, but you know contract status comes into play on who is on the 23 man roster whether its Grigorenko, Brennan, Gragnani, Paestch, Weber, Tropp......... Darcy hates losing assets.

I rather have Tropp as the 14th forward than Larsson or Girgensons.

I don't think we should lose Tropp to waivers, but you have a good point as this could create a toxic lockroom. I feel this was the case with Grigorenko and playing Gragnani to get him enough games to keep his RFA rights.

 

[Jame]

Yup, but you know contract status comes into play on who is on the 23 man roster whether its Grigorenko, Brennan, Gragnani, Paestch, Weber, Tropp......... Darcy hates losing assets.

I rather have Tropp as the 14th forward than Larsson or Girgensons.

Agreed. I wouldn't want to have any of the young upper talent up in Buffalo to ride the bench.

But... I do think there is some merit to carrying someone like McCormick in that 13/14 role.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I still worry about his size, particularly given he's never been touted as an offensive star. If his scoring tails off at the AHL/NHL levels, he could fall into the Gerbe trap, where his speed and tenacity simply isn't enough to play an effective checking role.

Obviously, he's bigger (and faster) than Gerbe. Maybe I just haven't seen him play enough.

He's been a PPG+ player for the last 3 years in junior, and he put up 3 points in his first 2 AHL games last year. Very small sample size, though it's all we have to work with, but so far no signs of the offense not translating into the pros. He's also not nearly as small as Gerbe (slightly undersized, but 5'11" is an entirely different story than 5'5"), and he plays a more complete game than Gerbe did.

I think Catenacci has some really solid upside. Could top out as a fast, pesky 2nd liner. If his offense doesn't show up in the NHL, he's still the kind of guy you love having on the 4th line. I know everyone wishes their 4th line was comprised of guys 6'3"+, but there aren't that many big guys to go around, and there are plenty of effective checkers Cat's size (ie, Callahan).

 

[Jacob582]

Agreed. I wouldn't want to have any of the young upper talent up in Buffalo to ride the bench.

But... I do think there is some merit to carrying someone like McCormick in that 13/14 role.

Note: I edited my post above.

I agree about McCormick. I hope he is given a chance to make the team. Darcy did say he would be with Buffalo or traded.