dudacek Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 (edited) The roster review continues with the 2015 Sabres rookie of the year #44 Nicolas Deslauriers LW (one year left at $637,500, age 24) Buffalo 82/5/10/15/-24/71 Few knew Nick Deslauriers when he came over from LA in an unexpected deadline-day trade in 2014. A defenceman in junior, the Kings moved him to forward two years ago and Tim Murray obviously liked the move, acquiring the AHLer to add some heft to a smallish Sabre forward corps. His rookie season produced some noticeable numbers. Deslauriers had seven fights. It wasn’t a who’s-who of heavyweights on his card, but he seemed to be in every one and scored a couple convincing knockouts. Further, he finished ninth in the entire NHL in hits, with 261. He skated nearly 12 minutes a night and appeared in all 82 games. Likeable off the ice, a character guy on it, Deslauriers seems to have set himself up for a long Buffalo career as a fan favourite in a fourth-line role. A good skater with a great attitude, he needs to answer two questions: can he grow into a hard-nosed third-liner? And can he hold his own with NHL heavyweights enough to be the Sabres deterrent? 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.sabres...9-cody-hodgson/ Tyler Ennis: http://forums.sabres...63-tyler-ennis/ Chad Johnson: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23441-roster-review-33-chad-johnson/ Edited June 19, 2015 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I'm sure it's been said already but we definitely appreciate you doing this series dudacek. Awesome stuff. I think Nic is a long-term 4th liner and nothing more. A fan favorite. Never anything more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Nic will never be confused for a scorer but I can see him chipping in offensively and moving off the 4th when the team is in a pinch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Nick could be a very solid 3rd line guy some day. I like Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I like Nic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drunkard Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I went with option 2. I think he'll be a fan favorite and regular 4th liner that will have the ability to move up to the 3rd line in case of injuries or play defense in a pinch if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Kaleta 2.0 with more offensive upside, a better fighter, and less suspensions and injuries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doohickie Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 He's the best pure fighter we've had in a long time, probably since Ray. And he's got those crazy "let's fight!" eyes that intimidate, which keeps him from having to fight all the time to be effective. A solid 4th liner with 3rd liner upside. Talented enough that no, he won't be pushed off the fourth line when the rest of the kids get here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 4th line 20 point guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I think he falls somewhere between option 1 & 2. 20-25 point fourth line guy with way more skill than a Rob Ray, and also someone who can fill in on 3rd line and maybe even 2nd line on a short term basis without looking completely out of place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted June 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Time will tell, but Nick has only been playing forward for two years. I could see him growing above the fourth line — he can skate and his hands aren't bad. He just needs to read the game better in the attacking zone. Sometimes guys surprise. David Clarkson, anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I like the kid. He'll never be a deterrent. He's not big enough for that role. But he's a gamer and a damned tough kid that will hold his own and inspire the masses. And he's seems more than capable of actually playing hockey. I see Murray thinking of this kid as the Sabres Chris Neil. I'm good with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I think a 30 point 3rd liner is pretty optimistic for what he could become, but a Rob Ray type is definitely underselling his ability to play the game. He can play on my 4th line any day, even when this team is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted June 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 (edited) Check out his arm in the photo up top — 78-inch wingspan, one of the longest in his draft year. He's listed at 209 on the Sabres website, but I've seen 230 elsewhere. He's a thick dude. And he's got those crazy eyes. With him and Cody Mac, and Bogo and Kane and Foligno and Zadorov I think we've got far better team toughness than we had a couple years ago. Edited June 19, 2015 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doohickie Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 (edited) I like the kid. He'll never be a deterrent. I've already seen him cow much bigger players into submission.* Yes, he's a deterrent. *Thinking specifically of a game against the Bolts; Victor Hedman was trying to clear the net after the whistle and crosschecked Nicky who whirled around and got right in his face (okay, a little under it) with the crazy eyes and Hedman visibly wilted. Edited June 19, 2015 by Neuvirths Glove Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I've already seen him cow much bigger players into submission. Yes, he's a deterrent. Can't say I recall any of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doohickie Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 When it comes to fighting, Des is a pig... as in, "you'll both get muddy (or bloody), but the pig likes it!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted June 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Can't say I recall any of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musichunch Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Having been in many "showdowns" that ended before fists were thrown, let me tell you that Hedman wanted nothing to do with Deslauriers. He stood his ground impressively to a guy much bigger than him. That's how you win respect around the league. I assure you next time they meet Hedman will take the scenic route away from Deslauriers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doohickie Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Yeah, that's the incident. Not exactly as I remembered it, but close enough. Girgs acquitted himself pretty well, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I like the kid. He'll never be a deterrent. He's not big enough for that role. But he's a gamer and a damned tough kid that will hold his own and inspire the masses. And he's seems more than capable of actually playing hockey. I see Murray thinking of this kid as the Sabres Chris Neil. I'm good with that. I like the Chris Neil comparison. That sounds about right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny DangerFace Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 He's easily one of my favorite players. Big bad mother deslauriers!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drunkard Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 I loved that whole segment of the game. The team may have been low on talent and got beat pretty badly on the scoreboard but had plenty of grit to not get pushed around or take any /cheapshots. Weber and Strachan get put in the box, no worries. Girgensons takes a cheap shot and not only does he stand up for himself but Zadorov rushed right in to protect his teammate as well. Even with those 4 out we still had Kaleta, McCormick, and Stewart out on the ice for the next shift to give 'em the business. Stewart didn't receive a penalty on the play, but even if he had we still would've had Foligno and Deslauriers to respond if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 So I would like to say that I think Team Grit is much more important than having a deterrant. If you know when you are on the ice against Buffalo they will make you pay for doing some BS, you aren't going to do it. Between Zadorov, Deslauriers, Zemgus, Gorges, Bogosian, Risto, Kane, etc... I wouldn't want to pull a lucic on Buffalo. Somebody on the team is going to eat you. I really hope we keep Zadorov his ceiling is so high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Having been in many "showdowns" that ended before fists were thrown, let me tell you that Hedman wanted nothing to do with Deslauriers. He stood his ground impressively to a guy much bigger than him. That's how you win respect around the league. I assure you next time they meet Hedman will take the scenic route away from Deslauriers. Yeah, that's the incident. Not exactly as I remembered it, but close enough. Girgs acquitted himself pretty well, too. The deterrent I was referring to is a guy that keeps Chris Neil's elbow down when he is skating in on Drury. Or keeps Lucic from running down Miller by his mere presence on the team. Hedman isn't a fighter. Adam Mair would have had that effect on Hedman and he wasn't a deterrence either I don't see Nick as a guy that is big and nasty enough to prevent those occurrences, but he'll sure stand up and be counted if something like that happens while he's in the lineup. And that is plenty good enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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