Roster review: #63 Tyler Ennis

[dudacek]

Next up, last season's leading scorer:

 

 

#63 Tyler Ennis RW (four years left at $4.6 million per, age 25)

Buffalo 78/20/26/46/-19/37

 

It was never thought of in those terms when it happened — probably not even by management — but Tyler Ennis may have been the first asset acquired in the tank. He was taken in the 2008 draft with the 26^th pick, originally San Jose’s that came to Buffalo in the Brian Campbell trade. The pick was acquired as part of a new Sabre policy of auctioning off core UFAs rather than letting them walk without compensation.

 

Undersized and thought by some to be a gamble when he was picked, Ennis has proved detractors wrong, scoring more NHL goals than all but two players selected in his draft year. He registered 20 goals and 49 points as a rookie. Since then, he has been remarkably consistent offensively, scoring at a similar points/game rate every season, even as he was being constantly shifted through all three forward positions.

 

Despite similar numbers, last year was considered a bit of a breakthrough by some observers, as Ennis led the team in scoring. Part of that was an impression of consistently high effort, part of it was the sense he was winning more battles and turning over the puck less, part of it was the fact he was the only payer on the team capable of consistently creating offence.

 

Heading into this season, he seems to found a permanent home as the team’s top RW. Surprisingly, circumstances have made him a veteran who will be counted on to be a leader. Fans are speculating whether his game can grow further as the team adds more talent to the top six.

 

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.sabres...w-3-mark-pysyk/

Tim Schaller: http://forums.sabres...9-tim-schaller/

Matt Ellis: http://forums.sabres...-37-matt-ellis/

Cody Hodgson: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23431-roster-review-19-cody-hodgson/

Edited June 13, 2015 by dudacek

[Lanny]

I could see his assist totals increase with better line mates, but I think his goal production will remain around 20-25

[LabattBlue]

I could see his assist totals increase with better line mates, but I think his goal production will remain around 20-25

Agree.

[ubkev]

I could see his assist totals increase with better line mates, but I think his goal production will remain around 20-25

This sounds about right. I really was stressing the COULD hit 30 in my vote. He could probably do it for a year or 2 but he will most likely be 20 to 25 guy who might threaten for 70 points one year.

 

Next season prediction: 24 goals 34 assists.

[dudacek]

I clicked on the 30/30 because I think something like that will happen for him sometime in the next five years.

But it won't be the norm.

 

Production-wise, he's actually been remarkably consistent over his five years pro.

Pro-rated over 82 games, his best season so far would've been 58 points and his worst 44.

Edited June 13, 2015 by dudacek

[sabresouth]

I also voted 30-30 as well. I believe he will break 30 goals a couple of times in his career. I really like his energy as an example to the young guys.

[TrueBlueGED]

I just don't think he has the shot to hit 30 goals unless he gets a really lucky season. As others have mentioned, his consistency has been impressive. However, that's the very thing preventing me from projecting a significant production increase. He's been a 45-50 point guy enough years in a row to convince me that's just what he is. And there's nothing wrong with that at his contract.

[sabresouth]

He's definitely worth keeping as a second or third line guy IMO.

[dudacek]

Two questions:

Is Ennis currently the Sabres best player?

Would you trade him as part of a package to acquire Ryan O'Reilly or a similar player?

Edited June 15, 2015 by dudacek

[Taro T]

Two questions:

Is Ennis currently the Sabres best player?

Would you trade him as part of a package to acquire Ryan O'Reilly or a similar player?

1. For ~2 more weeks, probably yes. (Kane brings different strengths to his game; 1 of those 2 are currently their best player.

 

2. Not for O'Reilly; possibly for a similar player. Would have to see the whole package & who's coming back to say if he'd be included.

[WildCard]

Two questions:

Is Ennis currently the Sabres best player?

Would you trade him as part of a package to acquire Ryan O'Reilly or a similar player?

1) He'll be the 3rd best Sabre next season.

 

2) Not for O'Reilly, but I would for Wayne Simmonds

[X. Benedict]

Ennis' play was a bright spot this year. Finally ending the "he's a center" project was the one good thing Nolan did. He's a slasher moving in from the wing and has a nice knack for keeping plays alive. He's fun. Good shot. Best playing from perimeter with puck and finding lateral seams than trying to move through the middle.

 

He was really the one creative forward. Though I think really his production is about where it will stay.

[Rasmus_]

I don't see the goals going up too much higher.  He could get around 25-27 per season possibly.  But who knows, you never know really until the team is on the ice.  The assist total could definitely go up. 

[thewookie1]

I think 25 goals is probably what he'll hit on average, likely he'll have a 30 goal season one year however. Varying on who he plays with though will have quite the effect on his assists increase.

[That Aud Smell]

I have always enjoyed, and still enjoy Ennis's game. 

 

As I think X. indicated, I'm just grateful they're done pushing him at center. Wing is where he needs to be in order to be effective. And he can be effective, on a playoff team.

 

Also, I want to get back to a time where I celebrate a Sabres goal and then think of one of my favorite GF scenes (apologies to those who've seen me post this before - eventually, we all just start to repeat ourselves):

 

[bob_sauve28]

So glad we have him. Would be so great if he had a career year and was still only the fourth leading scorer on the team. But if he is the top scorer that would be great too. I'm already looking forward to next year. Hoping they take a giant leap forward 

[qwksndmonster]

I love me some Tyler Ennis.  Plays the game the right way, is fast, tough, and slippery.

 

I expect him to be around a 50-60 point player.

[TrueBlueGED]

Two questions:

Is Ennis currently the Sabres best player?

Would you trade him as part of a package to acquire Ryan O'Reilly or a similar player?

At worst he's top-3. And I'd trade him for O'Reilly (shocking, I know) but the rest of the package would be secondary pieces. No Zadorov, no 1st. Something like a 2nd and Bailey or McCabe.

[shrader]

I had no idea that he ranked so highly among goal scorers in his draft year.  Nice little stat there.  Anyway, I can't wait for that day 2-3 years from now where he's a complementary player on this team as opposed to our top guy.  That's when we start winning and he should be a key piece in that.

[nfreeman]

I love me some Tyler Ennis.  Plays the game the right way, is fast, tough, and slippery.

 

I expect him to be around a 50-60 point player.

 

I'm a fan of Ennis' too.  He's one of the few offensively gifted players on the Sabres and he plays with an edge.  I have no interest in trading him unless it's part of a package for a bona fide star.

 

As for his point production ceiling -- a lot of that depends on whether the NHL does anything to increase offense, innit?  If nothing changes, and we're looking at a world in which only 5 players in the NHL break 80 pts, and no one breaks 90, I'd guess Ennis will end up in the 50s.

[dEnnis the Menace]

I'm a fan of Ennis' too.  He's one of the few offensively gifted players on the Sabres and he plays with an edge.  I have no interest in trading him unless it's part of a package for a bona fide star.

 

As for his point production ceiling -- a lot of that depends on whether the NHL does anything to increase offense, innit?  If nothing changes, and we're looking at a world in which only 5 players in the NHL break 80 pts, and no one breaks 90, I'd guess Ennis will end up in the 50s.

 

This

[JJFIVEOH]

Ennis has been nominated for an ESPY for Best Play of the Year. Looks like he's the only NHL'er to get nominted. GO VOTE!

 

http://espn.go.com/espys/2015/?voting=bestplay

 

http://espn.go.com/espys/2015/

Edited June 25, 2015 by JJFIVEOH

[woods-racer]

Ennis has been nominated for an ESPY for Best Play of the Year. Looks like he's the only NHL'er to get nominted. GO VOTE!

 

http://espn.go.com/espys/2015/?voting=bestplay

 

http://espn.go.com/espys/2015/

If you can get the people of Latvia in on this Ennis is a lock!

[Taro T]

If you can get the people of Latvia in on this Ennis is a lock!

His name ends w/ an 's,' so he's got that going for him; which is nice.