dudacek Posted June 5, 2015 Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 (edited) More roster discussion with the penultimate free agent in the organization: #59 Tim Schaller C (24-year-old RFA) Rochester 65/15/28/43/3/116 Buffalo 18/1/1/1/-5/2 If there was an award for the most under-the-radar prospect for the Sabres going in to last year, it would probably have gone to Tim Schaller. By the end of the year, if there was another award for most improved prospect, he would have been in the running for that as well. A New Hampshire-born undrafted college free agent, Schaller parlayed decent size and a reputation for responsible play into a professional contract, but his lack of skill made him an apparent longshot for an NHL career. Two years later, he’s certainly grown in stature. The rookie’s strong final month in Rochester caught the organization’s attention and he followed that up with a good camp last fall. Adding some surprising offensive numbers in his second AHL season to go with his continued attention to detail, he ended up being one the primary Rochester call-ups. While he certainly didn’t stand out in the NHL, he didn’t look out of place on the fourth line either. As an older prospect seeking a new contract, he is at a crossroads. He’s well down the team’s list of centre ice prospects, but even the most loaded teams need serviceable fourth liners. It’s not yet clear if he is just another warm body, or whether he can provide good service as an 11th-13th forward in the manner of a Cody McCormick. Links to the rest of the series: Anders Lindback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/ Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabres...e-dalpe-damigo/ Mikhail Grigorenko: http://forums.sabres...ail-grigorenko/ Tyson Strachan, Andre Benoit: http://forums.sabres...han-and-benoit/ Mark Pysyk: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23414-roster-review-3-mark-pysyk/ Edited June 5, 2015 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasmus_ Posted June 5, 2015 Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 An Amerk and emergency call up, anymore than that and meh. He's replaceable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sauve28 Posted June 5, 2015 Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 Tough time to try and crack the Sabres line up. Who does he bump or pass over? Deslaries? Grigo? Larrson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dEnnis the Menace Posted June 5, 2015 Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 An Amerk and emergency call up, anymore than that and meh. He's replaceable. My thoughts exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted June 5, 2015 Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 Depth forward. He's an Amerk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogre Posted June 5, 2015 Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 He is responsible with puck. Enough grit to bang out a few weeks in the NHL if needed. An easy call up in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 5, 2015 Report Share Posted June 5, 2015 Who? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 Who?Beat me to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spndnchz Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 Who? The fracking guy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted June 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 I hope Tim doesn't read Sabrespace. Talk about not making an impression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 I'd like to give him a legit chance to center the 4th line. Bless Cody McCormick's heart, but I think his body is done. Maybe Schaller won't be up to the task, but I thought he showed some glimmers in spot duty last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 I hope Tim doesn't read Sabrespace. Talk about not making an impression. He's a good player. Just on the bubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted June 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 He's a good player. Just on the bubble. I like that he is there as a depth guy for injuries or trades. The new Matt Ellis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 I like that he is there as a depth guy for injuries or trades. The new Matt Ellis? I finally might be rid of the original, and you want to give me a replacement? :angry: (I know, I know, every team has their Matt Ellis) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Malooga Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 (edited) Beat me to itYou guys don't follow the Amerks or the prospects much, do you? He was Rochester's best and most consistent player, on both ends of the ice. He's a 4th line NHL center within 2 years, IMO. http://www.amerks.com/statistics.asp Edited June 6, 2015 by Bob Malooga Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 You guys don't follow the Amerks or the prospects much, do you? He was Rochester's best and most consistent player, on both ends of the ice. He's a 4th line NHL center within 2 years, IMO. http://www.amerks.com/statistics.asp I follow plenty. Meh. Matt Ellis is his top end and I never want a team that has Matt Ellis on the roster beyond emergency call up again. Shaller can continue to be a fantastic AHLer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 Doesn't Schaller have more of an offensive skill set than Ellis who had nothing in that regard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted June 7, 2015 Report Share Posted June 7, 2015 You guys don't follow the Amerks or the prospects much, do you? He was Rochester's best and most consistent player, on both ends of the ice. He's a 4th line NHL center within 2 years, IMO. http://www.amerks.com/statistics.asp Amerks? No. The prospects? Are you kidding me? What else has there been to follow these past 3 years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Doesn't Schaller have more of an offensive skill set than Ellis who had nothing in that regard? Yes. Schaller is Mario Lemieux compared to stone gloves Matt Ellis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannepanne Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Yes. Schaller is Mario Lemieux compared to stone gloves Matt Ellis. lead gloves Matt Ellis is probably more accurate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.