How obviously good he was there flanked by two big wingers who could take care of most of the physical stuff for him. Why wouldn't you want your (at least at the end of last season) best offensive player playing in the position he's been most successful at? Especially if it's the most important forward position?
Because it's not what they drafted or developed him to be. You're looking short-term with him playing with Foligno and Stafford. Yes, it's what they want going into this season, and it's what most people want. That doesn't mean they want Ennis there long-term. If Hodgson, Grigorenko and Girgensons all work out, you have 3 very capable centers available for the top 3 lines. They still might want Ennis to slide back to wing long-term once they're all ready to go, which could be as early as next season.
His tenure at center is also very limited, so you're not working with a whole lot of data. His play at wing is way more established, so saying he's been the most successful there is flawed.
The real issue isn't Kassian. It's Hodgson. Even if they wanted to get rid of Kassian, trade him for something of use. Kassian had value. He was an asset. They drafted a center with their 1st round pick, traded picks to get back into the first round to draft another center, then drafted another 3 centers with their remaining picks. And even after the draft, Regier still said his number 1 priority going into the season would be to add another center. So what do you know that i don't. That doesn't seem like a team happy with their centers. What need hole did Hodgson actually fill for the Sabres? What you are really forgetting is the timeline. Ennis was on the wing when the Sabres made the deal. What they thought they were getting in Hodgson, they didn't know they already had in Ennis (plus some.) It was a bad trade.
worst case scenario we swapped Kassian a 6-9 forward with grit for hodgson a 6-9 center, and ennis suddenly developed into a player who can play seemingly whenever.
Theres no reason ennis cant go back to wing when the G-men are ready....we need ennis at center this year and this year only.
I was a huge Kassian fan until about 5 games into his sabres tenure and being a rochester native I got to see him every game after he was sent back down from buffalo...this kid's attitude problems(as foreseen by some with his bar incident) are a huge red light...sure he may throw down but if he ever cracks 30-30-60 in his career ill eat crow, however if hodgson doesnt pot 60 points in the next 3 years id be surprised.
We are also forgetting that Kassian's spot went to Foligno...to be honest here, no Kassian trade= no foligno call up...
The real issue isn't Kassian. It's Hodgson. Even if they wanted to get rid of Kassian, trade him for something of use. Kassian had value. He was an asset. They drafted a center with their 1st round pick, traded picks to get back into the first round to draft another center, then drafted another 3 centers with their remaining picks. And even after the draft, Regier still said his number 1 priority going into the season would be to add another center. So what do you know that i don't. That doesn't seem like a team happy with their centers. What need hole did Hodgson actually fill for the Sabres? What you are really forgetting is the timeline. Ennis was on the wing when the Sabres made the deal. What they thought they were getting in Hodgson, they didn't know they already had in Ennis (plus some.) It was a bad trade.
The real issue isn't Kassian. It's Hodgson. Even if they wanted to get rid of Kassian, trade him for something of use. Kassian had value. He was an asset. They drafted a center with their 1st round pick, traded picks to get back into the first round to draft another center, then drafted another 3 centers with their remaining picks. And even after the draft, Regier still said his number 1 priority going into the season would be to add another center. So what do you know that i don't. That doesn't seem like a team happy with their centers. What need hole did Hodgson actually fill for the Sabres? What you are really forgetting is the timeline. Ennis was on the wing when the Sabres made the deal. What they thought they were getting in Hodgson, they didn't know they already had in Ennis (plus some.) It was a bad trade.
The issue is timing. You can't compare centers just drafted to centers in their early 20s to centers in their early 30s and say that if we have enough of any one kind, we have enough of all of them. The draft is irrelevant to the team's current needs until one of them proves they can fill them. So yes, we can draft 100 centers and still have a need for centers in the short term.
The real issue isn't Kassian. It's Hodgson. Even if they wanted to get rid of Kassian, trade him for something of use. Kassian had value. He was an asset. They drafted a center with their 1st round pick, traded picks to get back into the first round to draft another center, then drafted another 3 centers with their remaining picks. And even after the draft, Regier still said his number 1 priority going into the season would be to add another center. So what do you know that i don't. That doesn't seem like a team happy with their centers. What need hole did Hodgson actually fill for the Sabres? What you are really forgetting is the timeline. Ennis was on the wing when the Sabres made the deal. What they thought they were getting in Hodgson, they didn't know they already had in Ennis (plus some.) It was a bad trade.
Completely disagree,
1) Regier didn't know where he would be drafting at the time of the trade...nor did he know the two young centers would be available to draft.
2) The knock on Kassian both in Buffalo mid-season and Vancouver down the stretch was his absence of physical play. Zack appeared to be attempting to control his emotions/focus on his offensive game at the expense of being the wrecking ball from ****. So the very thing that made him an asset for Buffalo was not being displayed on a consistent basis.
3) Hodgson had a rather poor showing with the Sabres after arriving at the trade deadline...but make no mistake about it, this kids hockey sense and leadership skills are things that are hard to find. He is future captain material, and for a team that has been accused of being mentally weak at times, is a welcome addition.
The real issue isn't Kassian. It's Hodgson. Even if they wanted to get rid of Kassian, trade him for something of use. Kassian had value. He was an asset. They drafted a center with their 1st round pick, traded picks to get back into the first round to draft another center, then drafted another 3 centers with their remaining picks. And even after the draft, Regier still said his number 1 priority going into the season would be to add another center. So what do you know that i don't. That doesn't seem like a team happy with their centers. What need hole did Hodgson actually fill for the Sabres? What you are really forgetting is the timeline. Ennis was on the wing when the Sabres made the deal. What they thought they were getting in Hodgson, they didn't know they already had in Ennis (plus some.) It was a bad trade.
Disagree for a lot of reasons, which mostly have been touched on already.
The idea of writing off Hodgson at the end of his rookie season is asinine, though. He played a really solid game most nights, and the fact is he had, what, 2 practices with the team in the first 20 days of being a Sabre? I'm willing to give him another look and not worry about whether or not Zeke ever puts it all together.
Trading Roy wasn't the mistake; failing to shore up the position after his departure was.
I don't think that management, in their heart of hearts, really expects much of the team this season. They're holding on for Grigs, Armia, and Girgensons, imo.
I don't think that management, in their heart of hearts, really expects much of the team this season. They're holding on for Grigs, Armia, and Girgensons, imo.
I think management, in their heart of hearts, hopes there is no season.
I don't think that management, in their heart of hearts, really expects much of the team this season. They're holding on for Grigs, Armia, and Girgensons, imo.
I think they do. I think they believe they're a (completely) healthy Miller and fewer back-to-backs away from being a playoff team. Whether that's the case or not, we'll find out if they play a season. But I don't believe that managment thinks this team just isn't good enough.
I don't think that management, in their heart of hearts, really expects much of the team this season. They're holding on for Grigs, Armia, and Girgensons, imo.
I agree. I think they were more interested in seeing the progression of Ennis and Hodgson and a few of the others (will Foligno take a step back from his development? is Mcnabb ready to fill the shoes of Regehr when his contract is up?)
Of course the loss of this season doesn't help this, but the fact that the prospects have a chance to play catch up to the vets and have an opportunity to push for a spot, will do wonders for competition.
I don't think that management, in their heart of hearts, really expects much of the team this season. They're holding on for Grigs, Armia, and Girgensons, imo.
Yup. We're in a rebuild. I think we'd be competitive this season. Probably a first round exit.
In a year or 2, that's when we'll start turning the corner. The potential is def there.
Ha, this takes me back a year ago when we got Mario Williams and the other explosive D players. Everyone in Buffalo were optimistic, well look now. It's the same thing here, yeah they look good on paper and Lindy can go ahead and showboat about them, but lets get serious.
Ha, this takes me back a year ago when we got Mario Williams and the other explosive D players. Everyone in Buffalo were optimistic, well look now. It's the same thing here, yeah they look good on paper and Lindy can go ahead and showboat about them, but lets get serious.
Exactly, they are set at Center with Eric Wood and long snapper Garrison Sanborn.
I'm okay with a center-by-committee approach if they can pick up a respectable 2nd/3rd line centre who can play key defensive minutes. I want Grigs to stay in the Q this year and tear it up through a long playoff run. Don't !@#$ with this kid's development - he really could be the player this team has been waiting for. We've already rolled the dice with Girgensons in the AHL.
Because it's not what they drafted or developed him to be. You're looking short-term with him playing with Foligno and Stafford. Yes, it's what they want going into this season, and it's what most people want. That doesn't mean they want Ennis there long-term. If Hodgson, Grigorenko and Girgensons all work out, you have 3 very capable centers available for the top 3 lines. They still might want Ennis to slide back to wing long-term once they're all ready to go, which could be as early as next season.
His tenure at center is also very limited, so you're not working with a whole lot of data. His play at wing is way more established, so saying he's been the most successful there is flawed.
So basically you're using guess work and supposition to counter Ruff's actual comments.
How exactly does Hodgson get put with Girgs and Grigs developmentally? Coho is the same draft year as Ennis and has more NHL games as a center (91gms) than Ennis (about 20gms).
Its seems like you're the one more so than the Sabres that does't want Ennis at center long term. Or at least prefer the kids(Grigs and Girgs) or Hodgson to him.
Based on the fact Ruff wants him at center and sees him taking over Roy's minutes.
Out of necessity. That doesn't necessarily mean Ruff absolutely wants him at center, it just means he's the best option to be there now. If Ruff had more options at center I doubt the decision to keep Ennis there is as easy to make as it is now.
Obviously we probably won't be resigning all of our FA's, and these lines are just a crapshoot, but this looks like a sick-nasty (bringin' it back) lineup. D-corps won't look so bad either.
