By Mike Harrington
At some point this week, the Sabres are returning to training camp. Remember them? There are decisions to make on this roster in short order.
Here's an alphabetical list of who the Sabres currently have:
NHL roster forwards (11) -- Matt Ellis, Tyler Ennis, Nathan Gerbe, Patrick Kaleta, Ville Leino, Cody McCormick, Steve Ott (acquired from Dallas for Derek Roy), Jason Pominville, John Scott (free-agent signee), Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek.
NHL roster defensemen (8) -- Christian Ehrhoff, Jordan Leopold, Tyler Myers, Adam Pardy (acquired from Dallas), Robyn Regher, Andrej Sekera, Alexander Sulzer, Mike Weber
NHL goalies (2) -- Jhonas Enroth, Ryan Miller.
Key Rochester forwards -- Luke Adam, Marcus Foligno, Cody Hodgson, Kevin Porter, Corey Tropp (injured -- out for season).
Key Rochester defensemen -- T.J. Brennan, Brayden McNabb
There are a few players in Rochester, notably Brennan, who have to clear waivers to stay in the AHL. It may be tough for the Sabres to get Brennan through waivers, considering he's leading the Amerks wtih 30 points.
And what will they do with first-round draft pick Mikhail Grigorenko? They can give Russia's top player at the World Junior Championships a nine-game junior tryout but there was a report last month that the team told the Quebec Ramparts they would keep him in junior hockey for the season rather than put him through a short training camp and sprint of a season.
This team needs centers. Jochen Hecht is unsigned playing in Germany and saying he's concussion-free.
We'll see.
