As free agency was winding down and the last signings were trickling through, Sabres management was sitting back assessing what was accomplished and what wasn't. Just then the phone rang with the new Ottawa Senators GM Steph Villeneuve on the other end, "Could Crosby be moved?". Rumours had Crosby available since the season ended, though we were told a trade was not looking promising with GM's baulking at his $13,050,000 salary due over the next 3 seasons. The deal apparently came together fairly quickly without a lot of back and forth, the price was set and both parties were in agreement. Sindey Crosby was a Senator, coming back to the Sabres is center Matt Duchene, prospects Jonathan Dahlen & D'Artagnon Joly, and Ottawa 1st & 6th rounders next year and a 4th rounder this year.

 

Duchene gives the Sabres a replacement center, albeit a big step down from Sid. He's only come close to producing at a PPG pace once in his career back in 2014-2015 NHL season so he has some work to do to get back into the conversation as a legit number one center. He should get the opportunity this year to take the reigns as the #1 guy this year and is a good candidate to bounce back. The draft picks fit in with the direction the team has been trying to take, build through the draft. The BRHL year 2020 draft will have a projected franchise center at the top in Jack Hughes, the Sens pick probably won't be in the lottery but you never know.

 

Is the team done making moves? We have heard rumblings that the Sabres are in the market for another top 4 Dman and also still have their ears to the ground for an elusive #1 goalie. Details are lacking at this time.

 

Also, today we'll take a look at how the prospect pool looks after the draft & recent trades. We'll rank the entire prospect pool today but you'll have to wait for the spring top 10 to get more details on who the prospects are and how they're projected. Jack Roslovic is the only prospect currently on the teams pro roster, this could change in camp but it does look like he'll be the only rookie on the roster. Here's the current prospect list:

 

 

1. Thomas Chabot D 6'2" 196 lbs - Ottawa Senators

NHL - 63GP 9G 16A 25P 14PIM -12

 

2. Gabriel Vilardi C/RW 6'3" 201 lbs - Kingston Frontenacs

OHL - 32GP 22G 36A 58P 14PIM +21

 

3. Jack Roslovic C/RW 6'1" 187 lbs - Winnipeg Jets

NHL - 31GP 5G 9A 14P 2PIM +5

 

4. Kale Clague D 6'0" 181 lbs - Brandon Wheat Kings / Moose Jaw Warriors

WHL - 54GP 11G 60A 71P 43PIM +42 (combined)

 

5. Michael McLeod C/W 6'2" 187 lbs - Mississauga Steelheads

OHL - 28GP 16G 28A 44P 34PIM -1

 

6. Dennis Cholowski D 6'1" 201 lbs - Prince George Cougars / Portland Winterhawks

WHL - 69GP - 14G 52A 66P 32PIM +29 (combined)

 

7. Kole Lind RW 6'1" 185 lbs - Kelowna Rockets

WHL - 58GP 39G 56A 95P 65PIM +24

 

8. Jonathan Dahlen W 5'11" 176 lbs - Timra IK

Allsvenskan - 44GP 23G 21A 44P 8PIM +11

 

9. Filip Chlapik C 6'1" 196 lbs - Bellville Senators

AHL - 52GP 11G 21A 32P 47PIM -16

 

10. Blake Speers C/RW 5'11" 185 lbs - Binghamton Devils

AHL - 62GP 12G 7A 19P 26PIM -18

 

11. Patrick Harper C/LW 5'7" 150 lbs - Boston University

NCAA - 20GP 8G 13A 21P 6PIM +3

 

12. Matthew Phillips C 5'7" 141 lbs - Victoria Royals

WHL - 71GP 48G 64A 112P 32PIM +20

 

13. Tyler Steenbergen RW 5'10" 187 lbs - Swift Current Broncos

WHL - 56GP 47G 55A 102P 44PIM +52

 

14. D'Artagnon Joly RW 6'3" 181 lbs - Baie-Comeau Drakkar

QMJHL - 55GP 23G 45A 68P 45PIM +1

 

15. Dominik Kahun C/LW 5'11" 174 lbs - EHC Munchen

DEL - 42GP 12G 29A 41P 2PIM +16

 

16. Kevin Roy W 5'9" 170 lbs - San Diego Gulls

AHL - 45GP 14G 23A 37P 14PIM +4

 

17. Lukas Vejdemo C/W 6'2" 194 lbs - Djurgardens IF

SHL - 47GP 10G 12A 22P 16PIM +7

 

18. Jordy Stallard C 6'2" 187 lbs - Prince Albert Raiders

WHL - 72GP 44G 47A 91P 26PIM +10

 

19. Ryan Gropp LW 6'2" 194 lbs - Hartford Wolf Pack

AHL - 59GP 14G 7A 21P 14PIM -25

 

20. Justin Kloos C/RW 5'9" 179 lbs - Iowa Wild

AHL - 76GP 19G 31A 50P 42PIM -12

 

21. Matthew Spencer D 6'2" 205 lbs - Syracuse Crunch

AHL - 39GP 1G 4A 5P 13PIM +2

 

22. Sheldon Rempal 5'10" 165 lbs - Clarkson University

NCAA - 39GP 23G 23A 46P 34PIM +19

 

23. Nathan Noel 5'11" 174 lbs - Rockford IceHogs

AHL - 17GP 1G 0A 1P 18PIM -2

 

24. Alexandre Alain 6'2" 181 lbs - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

QMJHL - 65GP 44G 43A 87P 52PIM +26