I’ve been very vocal in pushing Zach Jones as the Sabres 7th D man this year, and even for him to replace Samuelsson. However, the Sabres felt very differently, as on Sunday the Sabres placed Zach Jones and Jake Leschyshyn on waivers. It isn’t clear whether or not he will clear waivers and arrive in Rochester for the season. As a result, it seems like the Sabres will be using Jacob Bryson or Ryan Johnson as the replacement for Samuelsson and the other as the 7th defenseman to start the year. This of course assumes that Radim Mrtka will be sent to Seattle, which is still the expectation. In other news, Rippdog Sports is going to be doing livestreams of selected Sabres games this season. The complete schedule is below:
Tuesday October 7th @ 5:00 PM EST Blackhawks @ Panthers (TEST)
Thursday October 9th @ 7:00 PM EST: Rangers @ SABRES (Opening Night)
Saturday October 11th @ 7:00 PM: SABRES @ Bruins
Wednesday October 15th @ 7:00 PM: Senators @ SABRES
Saturday October 25th @ 7:00 PM: SABRES @ Maple Leafs
Thursday October 30th @ 7:00 PM: SABRES @ Bruins
4 Comments
What is the deal with KAs love affair with Bryson? He's just not physically big enough to defend around the net.
I see the battle for the final pair as Johnson–Timmins vs Bryson–Mrtka. If the staff goes with Johnson–Timmins, then Mrtka gets sent down after preseason and Bryson becomes the 7th D until Samuelsson is back. But if Bryson–Mrtka looks stronger, Johnson gets sent to Rochester (he’s waiver exempt) and Timmins ends up as the 7th D.
That’s why these last couple preseason games matter so much. Ruff has been rotating those combos to see who really earns it. It’s not just about who plays better — it’s about waivers, contracts, and development paths too. Mrtka is especially interesting: he’s raw and not NHL-ready long-term, but he’s shown enough to at least be in the conversation for a 9-game look before they decide on WHL or Rochester.
Remember in 2009-10 when Tyler Myers got his 9-game stint? The team and fan base rallied around that buzz and they started the year 7-1-1. Point is, if Mrtka has earned it and that energy can help them come out hot, then give him the shot. You can always make the longer-term decision after those games.
What are your thoughts on this?
I'm in for streaming the games and comments! It'll be nice to watch some of the games on YouTube (even on a smaller screen). Keep up the great content! I just subscribed on Saturday… But its nice to watch some one that really keeps a sharp eye on all the moves, trades, lineups and now the real games! ( tho I've loved the preseason vids too ). Lastly …. Go Sabres!
Cool if I see you live ill check it out