Sending Stafford to minors would be easy subtraction

It doesn't take a math major to look around the halls of HSBC Arena, count the players and come up with 24. The NHL roster limit is 23. The Sabres will have one too many once Jochen Hecht is activated from injured reserve Friday.

So who goes?

There are three skaters who can be sent outright to the minor leagues: defenseman Andrej Sekera and forwards Drew Stafford and Patrick Kaleta. Sekera is part of the lockdown defensive duo and the first power-play unit. He's going nowhere. Kaleta brings a ruggedness that is otherwise lacking.

Stafford is slumping. He was dropped from the first line and has just three points, including none in the past five games. He has played less than 10 minutes in three of the past four.

Three recent scratches could be sent to the minors but would have to clear waivers: Nathan Paetsch, Andrew Peters and Matt Ellis. Paetsch would certainly be claimed. Peters is highly admired in the dressing room, and coach Lindy Ruff likes having an enforcer on the roster.

The Sabres claimed Ellis off waivers just before the season opener. He was scratched the past three games but was solid in the seven prior. He would probably draw interest if he made the wire again.

Tim Connolly is nicked up (again!), and he could be placed on IR so no one has to leave town.

But my choice would be Stafford. He's done little on the ice. He seems to lack passion for hockey off it. Send him to Portland.

---John Vogl

Comments

[me]

It turns out Connolly played, and Stafford cannot be sent to the AHL without cleary waiver. Care to defend your reporting?

[lotofsnow]

Ellis was waived today, according to Darcy on WGR just now.

[Ebscer]

Get rid of Ellis, we never needed him. In fact get rid of Peters as well, Mancari, Gerbe and Kennedy have all been playing so well, there is no reason to ever see Ellis or Peters playing for Buffalo again.

[Soupy]

Is Ruff playing the waiting game because a trade is in the works? What other reason would he not tell what transaction is going to take place? They are not going to put Connelly, Lydman or Roy on the 7 day injury list because they have a cold. Is Connelly headed out of town and thats why he didn't skate this morning?

[Tony]

If it is accurate that only Sekera and Kaleta do not have to clear waivers, then Kaleta should be on his way to the Airport!!! Either that or send Matt Ellis down and hope he clears waivers.

[eric]

The Sabres web site claims that only Sekera and Kaleta can be sent down without clearing waivers...not Stafford...is that an editorial error?

[Rich]

Ruff doesn't have a facination with Peters, he just knows that with an enforcer in your lineup, these cheap-shot artists around the league might be less likely to start something knowing a guy like Peters will retaliate at his coach's bidding. It's an old-school way of thinking, but since the league does pretty much nothing in the way of eliminating such an element from the game (with 20 or 30 game suspensions as opposed to 2 or 3), it seems to be about the only option. The Sabres do not have another enforcer type on the team: Mair is smallish and Gaustad is always getting hurt.

[pgr88]

Send Max to down. It will hurt his ego, but he is doing nothing. He flys down the ice, but give the puck away 100% of the time.

[Chad]

Peters isn't going anywhere. It's pointless to clamor for it. Ruff likes the threat of Peters and that in itself is worth his small salary. Not sure if any of you saw it, but Forbes ranked Peters the #5 best fighter in the league (for the buck). I was surprised he was that high.

I think the Sabres will either send Stafford down or try to sneak Ellis to the minors. We'll see what happens.

[Jim c]

Put Peters on waivers. NO ONE will claim him, send him to the East Coast Hockey League affiliate, where he belongs. No not send him to Portland and interupt the development of a young player or veteran leader as they seem to have a good mix there now.

[Hank]

This from the Maine Hockey Journal. Kevin Dineen was asked about who the Sabres might send down after Wednesday night's game.

http://mainehockeyjournal.com/2008/11/05/pirates-keep-winning-on-the-road/
"Dineen also said it was unlikely Portland would be seeing Drew Stafford from the Sabres, he’s been in contact with Regier and Ruff and they’ve discussed several possibilities, but Stafford hasn’t been one of them."

It's possible Sabres brass may change their mind about sending down Stafford due to injury and illness issues in Portland. The Sharks were unable to ice a full roster Wednesday. That will likely be the case this weekend if the guy the Sabres send down is claimed on waivers. They don't have to worry about that if they send down Stafford.

[joel]

Stafford's a no-brainer. Let him get some confidence in the AHL and bring him up when the next injury hits.

While we're at it, bring Gerbe up and try to sneak Ellis down. If we lose Ellis on waivers, oh well, I'm sure Darche or one of these other vets in Portland could do the same job.

Gerbe was the best player on the ice during the little bit of preseason action I saw.

[lotofsnow]

What A Joke, Connolly was at practice today, so apparently it wasn't much of an injury. Seems like it was as reported: sore muscles after returning to game intensity.

[tim]

Chad,

We are once again officially in 100% agreement.

[jan]

It wouldn't hurt Stafford to go to Portland. Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, and others have been in this situation as well. Dineen will get him working on building his skills and confidence, and when the next opportunity comes, if he's improved, he can come back to Buffalo. He was brought up too soon his rookie year due to injuries on the Sabres, and didn't get the time to develop skills needed to stay in the NHL. It's time for him to figure out that playing hard every shift, every period, every game will help keep him in Buffalo. The Sabres have lots of good players, they need to continue to let the young players like Gerbe, Kennedy, etc. develop their skills in the AHL for a year or so --they'll be in Buffalo soon.

[kriszaP]

Mark, you are right on about Max, we tried all summer to get something for him and found no takers. I predict he will be playing in Russia next year no one will want him as a free agent either.Since we are stuck with Max and given Connelly is healthy (very unlikely) we should move Stafford to the minors to get him going. I believe he is very important to the future success of the Sabres. We need him to produce. Go Sabres

[What A Joke]

Sorry, but can someone please explain to me why Connolly is still on the Sabres? 2 games played this year and already an injury? Count me as one who feels that his injury probability outweighs any potential...

[Chad]

Tim, I read my post again and could see why it may be confusing. I was referring to only THIS YEAR. I probably should have clarified that. Clearly, I think Gerbe and Kennedy will eventually be Sabres regulars. I just don't think that will be this year. The current numbers crunch likely won't exist after this season with all of the team's potential FA's. Sorry for the confusion.

[tim]

Chad,

I repsectfully disagree with the "numbers crunch" idea. In the next year you will, most likely, see the Sabres wave good-bye to Connolly, Max, Ellis, and it's a possibility to Stafford (unlikely but possible). Connolloy would be a center on the way out, welcome to Buffalo Nathan Gerbe. Max, shifty forward with puck handling skills, with a little work on confidence and speed welcome back to Buffalo Tim Kennedy. Ellis, size and strength, plus scoring ability welcome to Buffalo Mark Mancari.

Not endorsing the possibility just analyzing a scenario. I just dont think that the fact that right this very second we have a lot of forwards means that Gerbe and Kennedy are well on there ways to being former Sabres prospects.

[Vandy Adam]

I too am excited with some of our prospects down in the AHL. They are lighting it up.

I don't know about you guys but I've been keeping up with the Pirates online. I think the NHL prospect system is fun to track and is one really cool aspect that the NHL has over the NFL.

I wish the Buffalo News would include a few stories about our prospects every once in awhile. Hey, John Vogl, how about some updates on some of our AHL players, college players, players overseas. Who's progressing? Who isn't?

[P.E. Carr in Calgary]

Put Afinogenov on waivers and hope someone claims him. The most exciting player to watch, but a guy who accomplishes absolutely nothing. And if someone claims him it frees some cap space.

[Chad]

The Gerbe/Mancari/Kennedy has been great for Portland this year, but I think it's a stretch to expect either Kennedy or Gerbe to have anything more than the proverbial cup of coffee with the Sabres. We already have a numbers crunch, as evidenced by this blog post. Unless there's a rash of injuries the Sabres just are not going to start waiving players to make room for Kennedy and Gerbe.

I agree with Anne, Mancari is the guy we'd call up right now. He has 16 pts in 10 games. This is a make-or-break year for him with the organization so the team should see if he's a legitimate NHL player. He'd also add some needed size to the Sabres' lineup.

[Don H]

It's hard to understand Ruff's continued fascination with Peters. I agree that Stafford has earned a trip to the minors with his unenthusiastic play. Kennedy and Gerbe need a full year in the AHL to prepare for the higher level of play in the big time.

[Amy]

I would agree with sending Stafford down. There have been times this season where he's been great, but then he cancels those out by either disappearing for stretches at a time or making a boneheaded move. Time in Portland might just remind him how good he's had it up here.

Then again, what do I know? I'm just a mouse potato.

[Mark]

Max is horrible on the ice. On pace for 50 assists is such a joke almost all of those are secondary assists. Well, they are still assists is what you are going to say. Most of the assists are pure luck because someone who he passed the puck to made a good pass to someone else. Obviously Max does not have any trade value because when they were looking for one this summer they could not find one. That is why I said waive him if you can not trade him. Plus Max was the one who was really pushing to be traded why would you want someone who did not want to be on the team and still does not.

[tim]

I say again...

Is anyone getting excited about a line of Mancari and Kennedy centered by Gerbe in the next 2 or 1 years?

[Anne]

@Jon

I think even if we needed to call someone up, it would be Mancari. Gerbe is still working out the defensive kinks but Mancari is lighting it up with the 3rd most points in the AHL and is a team-leading +12.

[SabresFan in DC]

The boys in Portland are looking good. Last night, Gerbe had 3g and 1a, Mancari had 2g and 1a, and Kennedy had 3a. It's great to see Kennedy, the South Buffalo native, off to such a great start! And Grebe has picked up right where he left off at Boston College.

Send Stafford down. He needs to build his confidence back up.

[jon]

Whats it going to take for them to bring up Gerbe and give him a shot? 10 goals in Portland already.

[Dave]

I have to think Sekera is on this list just because an extra name was needed. It'd be absolutely nuts to even decrease his ice team, much less move him to the minors.

[Chad]

In the event that Stafford is sent down, the secondary question becomes what to do with him if he is outperformed by Mancari, Gerbe and Kennedy down in Portland? Do you keep him in the minors and further diminish any trade value he may have left after being sent to the minors? It's a tricky situation.

[TJ]

I agree with all of the Stafford assessments - he's a shadow of the player we saw at the end of 06-07. A wake-up call in Portland, where he'll be forced to play hard under Dineen or sit out, is the perfect tonic. He's been gifted enough opportunities in Buffalo, playing on top line, and hasn't produced.

[Vandy Adam]

Stafford has been "slumping" for a year-and-a-half. He should have been sent back down last season when he wasn't cutting the mustard and he should be sent down again now. Not only should he be sent down, I would leave him there for a half-dozen games. This guy needs to wake up. He had top line forward written all over him in his rookie year. Since then he has been invisible.

It's tough to talk about a player's behavior because as fans we only see a sight of the unseen. Maybe he's a great locker room guy, but based on what I see (minus the Neil fight), he needs an attitude adjustment.

[lotofsnow]

Mark, why would you waive someone who is on pace for 50 assists?

I hate to say Stafford because he's been clutch on the shootout, but he seems to just coast through games while everyone else (including Max) is trying their hardest to win.

[Mark]

They need to trade Afinogenov. If they can not trade him then waive him.

[Anne]

Wow, you're right. Ellis is actually fairly strong in the face-off circle and we definitely need all the strength in that area we can find. No way we lose Sekera. He and Spacek have been playing great hockey together and together they have about 15 assists, I don't feel like checking. No way we risk losing Paetsch and Kaleta is filling his role in well and playing on the penalty kill.

I can't believe that I agree Stafford should be the one to go, but I do. haha

[Chad]

Finally, someone else who's with me re: Stafford. People need to let go of the notion that he's a top-nine forward right now. The AHL would do him some good and get him some confidence if he can start finding the net. Roy went back to the minors, gained confidence and took off from there.