Buffalo Sabres Daily: Sam Reinhart, Mikhail Grigorenko

If you have missed any part of the development camp so far – you wont catch any today as it is an off day for the organization.  But you might not want to miss any of the activities on Thursday and Friday.  But if you do miss it all, Sam Reinhart will be around for longer, so no sweat.  [Sports Media 101].

Tim Murray went into the draft thinking he had to take the best player at the number two position that was left available.  Even if that meant that his guy was gone at number one.

Thankfully for Tim Murray, the Buffalo Sabres have needs across the board – because he was’t able to get a miss.  Sam Reinhart is however, proving to be the proverbial home run for the Buffalo Sabres, already impressing future teammates and coaches alike.

Now that the draft is behind him, there is no more pressure, and that suits Reinhart just fine – he can focus on hockey, and show everyone just how good he is.

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I figured there would be a draw at First Niagara Center last night for the first live hockey played in that building since the season ended.  What I didn’t expect was the size of the crowd when someone texted me a picture.  The Buffalo Sabres prospects scrimmaged in front of a large crowd last night.  [WGR550].

I didn’t quite believe my eyes when I saw the picture of last nights action.  I wasn’t able to attend the scrimmage, bu was surprised at how much it looked like a regular season game from last season  – there were that many people there.

Sure the draw and attention of Sam Reinhart has a lot to do with it, but the Buffalo Sabres are putting some buzz on this rebuild and making people want to watch hockey.

Is it October yet?

Sure Sam Reinhart is the main attraction – but if your heading to First Niagara Center for one of the final days of development camp – there are other players to keep an eye on.  [Bleacher Report].

Brendan Lemieux, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Nikita Zadorov, and Mikhail Grigorenko all hoping to impress the Buffalo Sabres coaches for a spot on opening night.

Speaking of Mikhail Grigorenko – the kid might actually be getting it, on a maturity level.  [Pro Hockey Talk].

Sure, he sulked, he didn’t want to play in Lindy Ruff system, but if you actually think about how much hockey, how much turmoil, how many coaches, and changes this kid had to deal with.

It wasn’t like Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier were setting Mikhail Grigorenko up for success by playing him on he third and fourth line given his talent and skill set.

But for this kid to turn around now at this point and say it is all on him if he wants to play in the NHL, and that is it his own fault for not making it to the big leagues as a former first round draft pick – that shows a little maturity.

It would be real easy for Grigorenko to say look how the team has treated me, where they have played me.  I could have been a better player if they used me better.  Instead he has taken the high road – and that will go further with the new organization and the other players i the locker room better than refusing to report and sulking.