Sabres Cut 14 Players

[Orange Nation]

Sabres Cut 14 Players
Josh Richter - Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 2:45 PM

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - The Sabres cut the following 14 players today, trimming their roster down to 28:

John Adams, D
Clarke MacArthur, LW
David Cullen, D
Mark Mancari, RW
Branislav Fabry, RW
Sean McMorrow, RW
Dylan Hunter, LW
Chris Taylor, C
Jiri Novotny, C
Chris Thorburn, C
Nathan Paetsch, D
Scott Stirling, G
Daniel Paille, LW
Michael Ryan, C

Cullen, McMorrow and Taylor are on waivers until noon on Monday.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff says the cuts were difficult.

"We're limited on room. I've really liked the way Novotny has played. Nathan Paetch had a very good camp. Shawn McMorrow came into camp in tremendous shape. They're not easy decisions. I think some of the guys that I've mentioned will be NHL players. Usually, when you go through the first round of cuts you're looking at second tier guys. Some of these guys will definitely play."

With five more cuts coming before the start of the season, Ruff says he's keeping an eye on certain guys.

"(Paul) Gaustad, (Jason) Pominville, Tim Connolly, Derek Roy -- these guys are fighting for a big piece of the pie. Thomas Vanek has played very well. Obviously, there are some pieces that are starting to fall into place. These games mean a lot."

The Sabres are now on their way to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning. Ruff says after trimming the roster down, Sunday's game will have more of the feel of a regular season contest.

"It means the lineup is going to be better. We'll have some good veterans in there. Marty's going to play the full game. It will have more of the sense of a regular season game than some in the past. The lineups have been a mixture of 5-6 guys that have been in Rochester to 5 or 6 full-season veterans. It's gonna look quite a bit like that tomorrow night."

[The REAL Sabres]

Is Hunter going to sign or is he playing as an overager in London??

[anEinherjer]

I like how he throws Vanek's name in there just to make it sound "fair"...

[shotgun]

did the buffalo kid make the cut

[pigpen65]

I like how he throws Vanek's name in there just to make it sound "fair"...

Yeah, and Roy and Pomminville too? If either of them gets cut, Lindy would be fired. Hopefully anyways, he'd deserve to be.

[Forum21]

Is Hunter going to sign or is he playing as an overager in London??
Hunter would really like to sign in Rochester, but will go back and play in London for pops if he has to. I think he earned a shot in rochester, but with the new agreement with Florida, there are very few spots for guys like him.

[Forum21]

Yeah, and Roy and Pomminville too? If either of them gets cut, Lindy would be fired. Hopefully anyways, he'd deserve to be.
Roy is going to end up back in Rochester with the way Connolly has played, and Pominville I think will knock Kotalik to the trading block.

I could even see Gaustad going back to rochester until Regeir can make some room for him. The guy you'll see shipped out will most likely be Mair to make room.

Just my opinion.

[Forum21]

Also, Pyatt's days must be numbered.

[LALAFONTAINE]

Yeah, and Roy and Pomminville too? If either of them gets cut, Lindy would be fired. Hopefully anyways, he'd deserve to be.

Name the forwards Pominville deserves to be ahead of. He will be going down to Rochester.

So will Roy, unless a trade is made before Oct. 5. That will be less of a function of the way Roy is playing and is more a function that Roy is able to go to Rochester without clearing waivers.

Saying Ruff's deserves to be fired over a decision that will be Regier's (due to waiver rules) is silly.

[LALAFONTAINE]

Roy is going to end up back in Rochester with the way Connolly has played, and Pominville I think will knock Kotalik to the trading block.

I could even see Gaustad going back to rochester until Regeir can make some room for him. The guy you'll see shipped out will most likely be Mair to make room.

Just my opinion.

Kotalik was on the trading block after his cowardice last year. If we could get rid of Kotalik and Campbell and Biron, I'd be as pleased as hell.

Even though I think Gaustad and Roy go down to Rochester at the beginning of the year, I think like you do, that they will be up as soon as a deal is made to clear room for them.

[anEinherjer]

How is it that the Sabs have so many guys that all might be good enough to make it? Is it that our prospects are pretty good this year, or that our team in general sucks and we're stuck with a bunch of AHLers that have a chance to crack our lineup?

Here's to hoping it's the former.

Also, what cowardice by Kotalik last year?

[Forum21]

How is it that the Sabs have so many guys that all might be good enough to make it? Is it that our prospects are pretty good this year, or that our team in general sucks and we're stuck with a bunch of AHLers that have a chance to crack our lineup?

Here's to hoping it's the former.

Also, what cowardice by Kotalik last year?
It's a little of both. The team is just hitting their stride in respect to a youth movement, and they've developed a lot of decent 2nd, 3rd and 4th line players. These aren't guys that aren't going to be superstars, but they'll play a lot of hockey in the NHL.

On the other side of the coin, we have quite a few guys on our normal roster that are marginal NHL/AHL players, and if they don't step up, guys like Connolly, Pyatt, Peters Mair and 2 or 3 dmen, they'll find themselves on waivers or traded.

Regeir is going to have to make a few moves in the coming months, and it could make our team better.

[Hockeystud1414]

I think the thought of roy going to Rochester is rediculous...Connolly isn't that good. What has he done? looked good in pre-season? Lets ee what he actually does in the season..I am not a connolly fan, I would rather have Roy who isn't as much of a wuss and works hard...

[LALAFONTAINE]

How is it that the Sabs have so many guys that all might be good enough to make it? Is it that our prospects are pretty good this year, or that our team in general sucks and we're stuck with a bunch of AHLers that have a chance to crack our lineup?

Here's to hoping it's the former.

Also, what cowardice by Kotalik last year?

He didn't play when he was hurt (not injured) and dogged it. Ruff called him out.

[LALAFONTAINE]

I think the thought of roy going to Rochester is rediculous...Connolly isn't that good. What has he done? looked good in pre-season? Lets ee what he actually does in the season..I am not a connolly fan, I would rather have Roy who isn't as much of a wuss and works hard...

Connolly's impressed this camp.

Roy dogged it in the AHL the first half of last season.

Plus, Roy doesn't need to clear waivers....that's the real reason.

[M76]

yea why cut someone who still has some potential (connoly) for someone who can freely move down to rochester, it wouldnt make sense.. If we have the ability send these guys to crapchester to keep guys on the team for a month and see how they play then do it