Dec 23, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Matt Ellis (37) and Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle (3) during the third period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
CENTERS
The Sabres organization has a lot of centers in the system right now, with seven of them set to become free agents on July 1, 2015. At the NHL level, there’s Torrey Mitchell, who will earn $1.9 million this season. It’s really a guessing game at this point with Mitchell; he’s only played nine games with the Sabres so far, so this upcoming season will be a testing point.
Then there’s Mikhail Grigorenko who will finish out his entry-level contract this season. That’s a question in and of itself, but I can’t see the Sabres walking away from him in good faith. Give him a chance; he’s a developing prospect and he’ll only continue to grow even more as times goes by.
In addition, three Rochester Americans centers could hit free agency next summer, with Tim Schaller, Phil Varone and Kevin Sundher all in the last years of their respective contracts.
Varone finally got some time in the NHL last season and could see more call-ups if he continues to produce at the level he has in the past; Sundher seems to still be working on developing his game, while Schaller’s headed into just his sophomore season in the AHL and will likely work hard to prove himself this season. There’s a lot of wildcard room with them, so we’ll see what happens.
Newly-signed Zac Dalpe will also be a free agent next July. He’s one of those guys that you can’t say either way right now. See what he does in Rochester (presumably) this season and go from there.
Last – but not least – there’s Matt Ellis. He’s been a mainstay in the Sabres organization, up and down between Buffalo and Rochester. Whether he’s providing a leadership role on the Amerks or getting called up to the Sabres, Ellis has been part of the Sabres organization in one way or another since 2008. Will the team re-sign him, or allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer?