Brian Duff maps out potential position battles heading into the 2018-19 season.
By Brian Duff / Sabres.com
It’s July 3 and general manager Jason Botterill probably isn’t done.
So consider this more of an exercise to show what the Sabres have, rather than where these players might play.
It’s also a good time to reiterate what head coach Phil Housley said on April 9: “What are they willing to change?”
The individuals who figure that out clearly have openings to grab hold of:
Buffalo
Forwards:
Conor Sheary – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart
Victor Olofsson / C.J. Smith / Evan Rodrigues / FA/Trade? – Casey Mittelstadt – Kyle Okposo
Vladimir Sobotka – Patrik Berglund – Tage Thompson / Justin Bailey / Nick Baptiste
Scott Wilson / Zemgus Girgensons – Rasmus Asplund / Johan Larsson / Sean Malone / Andrew Oglevie – Jason Pominville
Defense:
Rasmus Dahlin – Rasmus Ristolainen
Marco Scandella – Zach Bogosian
Brendan Guhle – Jake McCabe
Matt Hunwick – Casey Nelson
Nathan Beaulieu
Goalies:
Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark
Rochester
Forwards:
C.J. Smith – Rasmus Asplund – Justin Bailey
Danny O’Regan – Sean Malone – Nick Baptiste
Alex Nylander – Kyle Criscuolo – Cliff Pu
Kevin Porter – Andrew Oglevie – Eric Cornel
Pascal Aquin / Vaclav Karabacek
Defense:
Lawrence Pilut – Zach Redmond
Brandon Hickey – Will Borgen
Matt Tennyson – Taylor Fedun
Nathan Paetsch – Andrew McWilliam
Devante Stephens – Arvin Atwal
Brycen Martin – Tobie Paquette-Bisson
Goalies:
Scott Wedgewood
Adam Wilcox
Jonas Johansson