jc17
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2013
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The blue collar thing is always weird. Is buffalo really any more of a blue collar city than anywhere else?
Oh, like how Vesey and Eichel were buds?
Confirmed with Link: Sabres sign CJ Smith (UMass-Lowell LW)
- Thread starter Jim Bob
- Start date
The blue collar thing is always weird. Is buffalo really any more of a blue collar city than anywhere else?
Oh, like how Vesey and Eichel were buds?
Dubi Doo
Registered User
- Aug 27, 2008
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Oh yeah, Buffalo is extremely blue collared compared to major cities like Chicago, NYC, LA, etc.... Not sure if it's anymore blue collared than any of the other Rustic Belt cities.... I don't take vacations to the like of Cleveland very often.
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joshjull
Registered User
That's an awfully long and wound up post to say you'll reserve judgment on him since these types of players don't always work out.
The Casey Fitzgerald to Petersen's Vesey, if you will. Let's hope it works out better this time around.
I don't know if you were referring to my post, but I meant "work out" in the sense that there was something made of Murray bringing in one of Vesey's buddies (Fitz) would hopefully encourage Vesey to sign. I certainly don't think Murray drafted Fitzgerald or signed Smith to get their more ballyhooed buddies sign, but it could have auxiliary benefits.
old kummelweck
Registered User
- Nov 10, 2003
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I haven't really been in tune with college free agents this year. Does anyone have any career projections for Smith? What's his skill set?
old kummelweck
Registered User
- Nov 10, 2003
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Not to get off topic, but I absolutely can't believe this.
I went to college in Iowa and hockey was pretty popular there. Everybody loved the USHL team in town and there were plenty of outdoor rinks. And that's in one of the smaller cities.
Anyway, I like the signing. Can't hurt.
Not your post it all Zip. Just pointing out the people who are *****ing about UDFA being good or not it's just silly.
struckbyaparkedcar
Guilty of Being Right
It's like people *****ing about Japanese baseball players. It's an avenue for prime age, cost controlled, potentially day1 contributors that don't cost assets beyond cash/cap.
Even if they're 25-30 point dudes, free rotation level guys are a great thing.
Even if they're 25-30 point dudes, free rotation level guys are a great thing.
Posters don't understand a lot of things related to asset management and efficiency
Don't know anything about the guy..but it's encouraging that Murray is able to reel in college free agents. The allure of immediate playing time no doubt played a role. I don't buy the blue collar comment because I wouldn't label our style of play as blue collar. Buffalo has the most efficient power play in the league. They haven't exactly been scratching and clawing for goals. While still in the bottom 3rd in scoring, I haven't seen it as a problem in the latter half of this year. They just needed Jack back. I guess they have a couple physical guys but that's the only thing that is "blue collar" about them. But however if that's what brought him in, I'm okay with him thinking that.
When one door closes, another opens. It was a disappointing end to the season for UMass-Lowell. The River Hawks had won the Hockey East Tournament and were ranked fourth in the country, but they fell short of reaching the Frozen Four, losing to Notre Dame in overtime of the Northeast Regional Final.
But opportunity presented itself to C.J. Smith and the junior decided to skip his senior year and sign with the Buffalo Sabres. The forward was among those also making the leap from college hockey to the pros. He joined the Sabres at practice on Thursday. After the team was off on Friday, he is expected back at practice Saturday and should make his pro debut Sunday when the Sabres host the New York Islanders in KeyBank Center.
"He's always been able to score but I think he's developed his 200-foot game," UMass-Lowell Coach Norm Bazin said. "It's not something that came easily. He worked on his play away from the puck and once he continued to work hard on his two-way game, his offense improved. His biggest asset is his passion for the game. He loves to play. He seems to get more consistent every year. He's improving with every year and that's a good sign that his upside is yet to be determined."
Of course, Bazin wished he had one more season to help Smith develop that upside, but again, the name of the game is seizing opportunities. "I think from the standpoint of a college coach, you always want the kid to come back and finish a degree and get 30 goals," Bazin said. "But we wish him well. I don't know a lot about Buffalo, but they have a lot of young talent and I think it's a terrific fit. I think C.J. will grow with the organization and be able to be a strong asset."
http://buffalonews.com/2017/03/31/new-sabre-c-j-smith-developed-two-game-umass-lowell/
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brian_griffin
"Eric Cartman?"
To Chain and Struck's point, we never want management to eschew "fliers" on cost-controlled
Assets available for cheap. Keep the contracts in the mid-40s and roll the dice. The downside risk is negligible.
Assets available for cheap. Keep the contracts in the mid-40s and roll the dice. The downside risk is negligible.
@ByMHarrington - Kane scores. CJ Smith assist with the great backhand pass...1-1 at 10:08... #Sabres
Djp
Registered User
Not to get off topic, but I absolutely can't believe this.
I went to college in Iowa and hockey was pretty popular there. Everybody loved the USHL team in town and there were plenty of outdoor rinks. And that's in one of the smaller cities.
Anyway, I like the signing. Can't hurt.
I'm surprised by that stat too. It may be where players were born, not where they were raised. Iowa gets winter weather. It's a natural hockey environment like minnesota and wisconsin.
I mostly agree.....
Drafting 4th round and later on college players or europe players are a better ROI because you have around 4 yrs to watch them vs 2 years for CHL players. They we r drafted later because they likely need more development.
Still, outside of goalies, getting a top 6/top 4 from college drafted 4th round or later is very very rare.
I believe for college players, if you don't draft them when they are 20 0n Sept 15 drafted year, I think you can draft them till they leave college at 22-24. If all they had was 1 college year they likely had a limited role.
Of course you always have a Vesey type who was a 1st/2nd/3rd round pick who may feel they have a better chance in the nhl not on the team that drafted them. A college player may opt for ufa if team doesn't give a max ELC contract.
How many refuseto sign??? maybe 1 or 2 each year ????
Over the last 15 years the college game has improved,so sccess of undated players is limited.
joshjull
Registered User
I've been wondering why he hasn't been called up yet with his production so far. Could he be viewed in a better light than Bailey or Baptiste and is getting the Guhle treatment? As in they are working on his game and letting it blossom in the minors, so when he finally gets called up he stays up. (Taylor's comments on Guhle's development and what I'm calling the Guhle treatment). Or am I reading too much into this?
EDIT: Watch he gets called up for Saturday's game after his huge game Friday.
EDIT: Watch he gets called up for Saturday's game after his huge game Friday.
Matt Ress
Don't sleep on me
You might be giving them too much credit. Guhle didn't look too impressive in camp this year. Might just be a "Well ya know Guhle, ya gotta earn it!" And then pats self on back for acquiring so much "depth."
dotcommunism
Moderator
- Aug 16, 2007
- 5,182
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Maybe there's some similarity, but Guhle's a few years younger and a defenseman too. I'm not sure it's a perfect analogy. Smith is probably more in the same boat with Fasching. They're both a couple of years older than Guhle, but still a bit raw in terms of having professional experience. Granted, Fasching's had a slower start to the season, but I'm not sure it's a huge leap. Guys like Bailey and Baptiste, on the other hand, have two full years of pro experience and get treated differently.
