Buffalo Sabres Roster: Do The Sabres Need An Enforcer?

By Jacob D. Strozyk |

The Buffalo Sabres have an abundance of young players on their roster, and they also have a good number of undersized players in Tyler Ennis, Brian Gionta, Phil Varone, and Johan Larsson. When there is an issue such as this, the management team usually brings in an enforcer to protect these players.

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The last enforcer to play for the Buffalo Sabres was John Scott, which was not exactly the best choice for a great number of reasons. He was brought in at a time where he was not needed because there was enough other players that could step up and defend the smaller players and themselves. With the older roster depleted now, the Sabres are left with only a couple of players that can throw the fists.

Maybe for the past few years, fans would turn to the likes of Patrick Kaleta to throw down, but he’s not an enforcer. An Enforcer is a larger, heavier, and less irritating player. An Enforcer’s role is to fight, throw some hits, and send a distinct message to the opposing team to back them off of the star players and the young ones.

In the modern NHL, there aren’t many enforcers left; Colton Orr, John Scott, Cody McLeod, and many would argue even Milan Lucic. With the Sabres in the situation where having a big enforcer may be beneficial to them, do they actually need one?

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Well first, let’s look at who the Buffalo Sabres already have on their team that can throw the fisticuffs.

On the defensive end, Mike Weber is really the only reliable fighting defenseman (don’t expect Bogosian to do so too much with his new increased role). Being a defenseman allows him to see more of the ice and he can keep closer tabs on the play and if there is a younger or smaller player that may need some extra muscle. He is 6’2, 212lbs, so he has the size to keep his teammates safe.

On the offensive end there is Cody McCormick, Marcus Foligno, and Nicolas Deslauriers. McCormick is a center and is very capable of manning the fourth line for the Sabres. He can chip in the odd goal here and there, but he is one of the hardest working and reliable bottom six forwards around. He can gold his own in the ring standing at 6’2, 224lbs.

Foligno is a very large power forward style player, but with all of these newer players on the roster, he may find himself dropped to the fourth line (which I think personally is a fantastic idea) and that’s completely alright. He has some scoring ability, but where Foligno can make his mark on this new Sabres team is by throwing hits and dropping the mets every now and again to create some momentum. He is a towering 6’3, 223lbs and is quite an intimidating fighter.

Last but not least is Nicolas Deslauriers. He is more of an agitator style player, but he can hold his own in a fight. Not only can he, but he is a willing fighting candidate most nights. On top of that, he can put up some points. Standing 6’1, 209 the Sabres left winger is one of the best fighting and hitting assets on the roster.

By putting these three players together on the fourth line would be a dangerous combination of heavy hits, big punches, and just enough scoring touch. They are reliable players all around and they would mess well enough together that the Buffalo Sabres would not need an enforcer. The three of them combined would be an enforcing line. Whenever they step out on the ice, teams will be shaking in their boots not knowing if the goals, hits, or fists are coming in their direction that shift.

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