The scary thing about the Amerks as far as the Sabres future goes, is there are ZERO forwards tearing it up. Rochester has been a scoring by comittee team all year, which is fine for winning, but not so hot for the sabres future.
1. Lazar was thier highest PPG producer. So what he is on the Sabres is the best they have for us.
2. Thompson was second till getting injured.
3. Dea and Oglevie are tied for the lead with 15 goals in 55 games. It es entirely possible that Rochester does not produce even ONE 20 goal scorer this year.
4. Most players are above or near even on +/-, except CJ Smith (-9), Mittelstadt(-12), and Gilmore(-19). Ouch!
5. Jacob Bryson on defense with .42 ppg and a +12 might be the best prospect down there, though rookie sheltered minutes must be considered.
The cupboard is looking thin with the current development class. I hope the next wave coming in shows more promise.
The cupboard is thin. If the look is for blue chippers, they are very much at a very thin moment developmentally. There has also been an odd lack of mobility within the organization to see if any of their cast of fringe potential players could break through. They bring players up and put them in minimal roles with other players already struggling. It's a bit chicken-and-egg, but at no point did they ever see if someone might have chemistry in a scoring role in previous seasons. The last player they tried that with was Bailey and it went poorly. It doesn't mean that Smith or Oglevie or even Dea couldn't have had some success if plugged in beside a competent center and let loose.
Now in terms of some interesting depth guys, they have some. Bryson is very much a quality defender. He's not being sheltered, he's being used in PK and some PP2 situations, defending a lead, late in games, etc.... He's a smart, positionally excellent player with enough quickness and stick to be disruptive and turn plays quickly. His recent scoring surge should not be a surprise. He's acclimated and his natural ability is starting to show.
Borgen we've waited on for a bit. He seems like a potential low-cost 3rd pair/PK2 RHD who gives them the physical element some want in a defender without being a dumbass with the puck or positionally like so many of the so called stout defensemen are on the big club.
Oglevie should get a look. And he should get a look in a role that isn't playing on the Isle of Misfit Toys or subbing into the Bench Connection line. He's a straight-line player with good speed, gets into greasy areas and does not shirk backchecking - which should be expected of graduates of Jackson's Irish program. There is a player there. I fear he's going to get the same treatment as Smith and O'Regan before him and not get an opportunity to show what he can do.
I think Malone gets a deal this summer and might be in the mix as 4C/F13 for next season since he is many of the things a team seems to want at that slot - cheap, good at faceoffs, and a willing checker.