Buffalo Sabres: Ranking the top five defensemen in Rochester
By Sion Fawkes
Chase Priskie
A former sixth-round pick, Chase Priskie proved he could provide solid depth during his stint with the Florida Panthers, whether it was playing for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, or seeing limited time on the ice over in Sunrise. He made it to the final cut with Florida last season, but a logjam in both the NHL and AHL ranks means it will be tough for Priskie to see ice time.
Like Laaksonen, Priskie has shown two-way prowess at the AHL level, contributing 31 points, eight goals, and 23 assists in 54 games. And while he did not score a point in the NHL, his three hits and three blocks over 56 minutes of total ice time shows off his serviceable potential.
Even more encouraging, Priskie’s possession metrics at even strength also look good. Yes, he played for a high-scoring team like the Panthers, but with a Corsi For (CF) sitting at 51.3% and a 51.6% Fenwick For (FF), it shows that the Panthers did not experience a wildly significant drop-off when compared with numbers to someone like Anthony Duclair.
This tells me Priskie has potential to develop a little more and find his way onto an NHL roster. As in Laaksonen’s case, that may not be with the Buffalo Sabres. But if injuries derail the team at the NHL level, he showed he can at least be called upon to see spot duty in a few games.
Article Source: Florida Roll Call: Future of Chase Priskie with the Panthers by George Richards