Will Kaleta Survive

[thesportsbuff]

You're a stoner with a fledgling sports blog.

 

Cool story, dude. Bonus points for use of "fledgling."

[nfreeman]

While it wouldn't shock me if all you naysayers are right, I think you are selling him short on the talent meter. Now that he may not be called on to be the only agitator, I could see him developing into a solid third line, pk specialist.

I agree that his hockey ability is being well underrated in this thread. I'd be pretty surprised if any of the prospects passes his this year or if any of them is as good of an agitator as he is. And I don't think other teams tune him out now as Weave claims. I thin he still makes them insane -- pretty sure he drew a major penalty from Richards in the playoffs this year (and was it a match penalty?

 

I also think though that his game will not allow him to play more than 55-60 games per year. And unless the Sabres trade Pommer, Hecht or Boyes, I don't see how Kaleta can make it to the 3rd line.

 

My bottom lime is that I think Kaleta is a valuable NHL player abd will be on the Sabres until he's a UFA, and at that point I can see someone overpaying for him.

[wjag]

While looking at the young guys in development camp, I was wondering with all the similar players to Kaleta, will he survive long enough to accomplise his dream of winning the cup for his home town team? Unless its this year, I would say he is out of here next year.

 

I don't know how you justify a roster spot for him any longer. Love his hustle, but that alone is not enough.

 

Even without the influx of talent this offseason, Kaleta's days were numbered. His style lends itself to a short career. He's definitely a fan favorite, but he's reckless and irresponsible with his body.

 

I think we all saw his body breaking down last year. His heart is there, just not the rest of him.

 

 

Kaleta will become a beloved and respected member of the Sabres alumni.

 

PTR

 

Well said.

 

I see nothing in Kaleta's game that I can compare to Lucic.

 

Agreed..

[Taro T]

I don't know how you justify a roster spot for him any longer. Love his hustle, but that alone is not enough.

 

 

 

I think we all saw his body breaking down last year. His heart is there, just not the rest of him.

 

...

The way you justify a roster spot for him is $907k cap hit. When he's healthy, he's good on the pk.

 

I'd be surprised if he gets even McCormick money next year. It'll probably be still in the $0.975-$1.0MM range. You won't affect his development by having him sit in the press box a few games. (There isn't a whole lot better he can get before he hits his ceiling.) And when Kassian or Foligno or whichever young guy that cracks the lineup next year needs to spend a game or 2 in the press box, he'll be ready to go back in. Or when somebody else is injured he could get back in the top 12.

 

I expect him to be a Sabre for ~3 more years, but this year or next will be the last that he's a regular member of the top 12. (Unless other moves make him a necessity to keep the team under the salary cap.)

[X. Benedict]

While it wouldn't shock me if all you naysayers are right, I think you are selling him short on the talent meter. Now that he may not be called on to be the only agitator, I could see him developing into a solid third line, pk specialist.

 

It's easy to undervalue people in the NHL and their ability to adapt and modify their game to survive.

 

I've always thought the thing most undervalued in Kaleta is his hockey smarts. Everything he does is a calculation. He makes his living keeping his cool and getting others to tip.

 

I wouldn't bet against him surviving in the league a long time.

[wjag]

The way you justify a roster spot for him is $907k cap hit. When he's healthy, he's good on the pk.

 

I'd be surprised if he gets even McCormick money next year. It'll probably be still in the $0.975-$1.0MM range. You won't affect his development by having him sit in the press box a few games. (There isn't a whole lot better he can get before he hits his ceiling.) And when Kassian or Foligno or whichever young guy that cracks the lineup next year needs to spend a game or 2 in the press box, he'll be ready to go back in. Or when somebody else is injured he could get back in the top 12.

 

I expect him to be a Sabre for ~3 more years, but this year or next will be the last that he's a regular member of the top 12. (Unless other moves make him a necessity to keep the team under the salary cap.)

 

Under the previous regime, I would agree with this. With the talent in the system pushing him and the current regime, I think he could lose a numbers game. As for the maroon text, I suspect staying healthy will be a big issue for him. Delivering a games worth of hits and then spending three weeks recovering from them doesn't translate into a long and productive career. The only way I see him suriving three more years is to change his game from crashing into the boards to crashing the net. He's capable of it, but will he?

[SabresFan526]

Under the previous regime, I would agree with this. With the talent in the system pushing him and the current regime, I think he could lose a numbers game. As for the maroon text, I suspect staying healthy will be a big issue for him. Delivering a games worth of hits and then spending three weeks recovering from them doesn't translate into a long and productive career. The only way I see him suriving three more years is to change his game from crashing into the boards to crashing the net. He's capable of it, but will he?

He certainly has a tendency of crashing directly into the net and taking the posts off the pegs. I've seen him do it numerous times on great scoring opportunities. Oh well.

 

Like I said earlier, up-thread, he's a good player and I think he will survive and find a place in the NHL as his game is something that every team needs. My thought is with Kassian and Foligno, I think Kaleta may get lost in the numbers game with those two and they will take his roster spot on the team. Just my thought.

[Evan Almighty]

I don't see how it's automatic that he's gone after this year. Assuming Hect and Boyes are gone after this year, are we not left with:

 

Vanek Roy Stafford

Ennis Leino Pommer

Gerbe Gaustad McCormick

Kaleta/Prospect Adam/Someone else Kaleta/Prospect

 

And if that center named Someone else is acquired in a trade, isn't it at least somewhat likely that at least one of those 4th liners named Prospect or one of the other wingers isn't here anymore? This also assumes Pommer comes back fully recovered.

[Taro T]

Under the previous regime, I would agree with this. With the talent in the system pushing him and the current regime, I think he could lose a numbers game. As for the maroon text, I suspect staying healthy will be a big issue for him. Delivering a games worth of hits and then spending three weeks recovering from them doesn't translate into a long and productive career. The only way I see him suriving three more years is to change his game from crashing into the boards to crashing the net. He's capable of it, but will he?

The cheap cap hit being a positive about him has nothing to do w/ the ownership being cheap or not, it has everything to do w/ bumping up near the salary cap.

 

Under the current cap, the median player salary will be ~$3MM. For every $7MM player on the roster, the team needs to find 2 - $1MM players. And for every $4MM player, the team needs to find a $2MM player or 1 - $1MM player can create room for 2 - $4MM players.

 

He could lose the #'s game, but while his salary is a smidge high for a #13 I'd expect they'd prefer to have an established player sitting in the press box than 1 of the kids that they're still trying to develop.

[nfreeman]

It's easy to undervalue people in the NHL and their ability to adapt and modify their game to survive.

 

I've always thought the thing most undervalued in Kaleta is his hockey smarts. Everything he does is a calculation. He makes his living keeping his cool and getting others to tip.

 

I wouldn't bet against him surviving in the league a long time.

I agree with this.

[ROCBuffalo]

While looking at the young guys in development camp, I was wondering with all the similar players to Kaleta, will he survive long enough to accomplise his dream of winning the cup for his home town team? Unless its this year, I would say he is out of here next year.

 

It is sad to see cause he has been one of the more interesting guys to watch on this team. He just makes guys so angry and sticks up for his team mates. Unfortunately his style of play might keep him off the ice. But i think that he will be able to last. He took a freak puck to the hand and he was never the same. I think he is a really good hockey player for the role that he plays and I think he will continue to be good at his role for a couple years.