Posts About "C.J. Smith"

Last Chance for Several Young Sabres

July 19th, 2018 As he promised at the 2017-18 end of season press conference, Jason Botterill has shaken up the core of the Buffalo Sabres' roster. With a new cast of characters, there will be a great deal of competition for starting roles, particularly at forward. For several youngsters on two-way deals, and those approaching the final year of their...

Sabres Hoping College Kids are the Trick

May 21st, 2018 Jason Botterill, a former Michigan Wolverine, is a big proponent of the college route in terms of player development. This was evident when he was an assistant GM in Pittsburgh, and it has become more evident in his first year as GM of the Buffalo Sabres. Through the draft and through free-agent signings, Botterill has used the NCAA to...

Buffalo Sabres Promising Prospect Pipeline

March 17th, 2018 Hope is on the horizon. The Sabres have a number of exciting players that are already in their system. There is a definite group of players ready for NHL play. And there is a distinct group that is close but, realistically, at least a year away. One never knows exactly how a teenager or young twenty-something will adjust to living in...

C.J. Smith is Knocking on the Sabres Door

February 3rd, 2018 Taylor Leier, Pat Cannone, Charles Hudon, Jakub Markstrom, Brandon Pirri, Ryan Hamilton. What do these men have in common? They're all fringe players who've achieved limited (to no) success in the NHL? Mostly correct, but the answer I was attempting to extract is that they're the most recent recipients of the AHL All-Star Game/Challenge...