Justin Danforth, the forgotten man

[dudacek]

Sabrespacers seemed to know very little about Danforth when the team added him last summer and are even more dismissive of him this summer.

I don't remember a post that suggests he'll be a lineup regular in the coming season.

But this guy is not Anders Bjork. He’s a scrappy terrier of a player with a proven ability to pop 100+ hits, 40ish blocked shots and 25 points. He’s a good 4th-liner with enough work ethic and ability to push the players above him and block any youngster who is not dialed in. It will be a tribute to the team’s depth if he is a regular healthy scratch this year.

That said, I have more concern about Danforth’s ability to come back from a year off at 33 than I do with Jiri Kulich’s at 22 — particularly given the nature of their injuries.

On paper he looks like a good fourth liner. Does anyone expect him to be useful this year?

[#freejame]

He’s basically Beck Malenstyn before everyone fell in love with Beck Malenstyn last year. 

[Porous Five Hole]

That’s Rochester Americans captain Justin Danforth

[Taro T]

58 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

That’s Rochester Americans captain Justin Danforth

Unitl today, didn't realize he'd been an Amerk for 2 seasons about a decade ago.

Expecting Kozak and Helenius are the 2 Sabres that start the year as Amerks (barring any moves between now and the start of the season and barring injuries) but wouldn't have money on it being Danforth as the 13th F rather than Kozak.  His age, salary, and lack of games due to the injury that was nearly full season could make him a guy that wouldn't be waiver claimed out of the gate.  Expect Kozak would clear but wouldn't have money on it.

[Weave]

I don’t know a damn thing about him, and have no expectations.

[kas23]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

That said, I have more concern about Danforth’s ability to come back from a year off at 33 than I do with Jiri Kulich’s at 22 — particularly given the nature of their injuries.

I’m actually more concerned about Kulich bouncing back. He lost a prime development year. This is going to set him back. Danforth otoh is a seasoned vet. He already knows his game. No development needed, he just needs to put his skates on. 

[Indabuff]

[Night Train]

Danforth..I did forget..

 

[Big Guava]

3 hours ago, kas23 said:

I’m actually more concerned about Kulich bouncing back. He lost a prime development year. This is going to set him back. Danforth otoh is a seasoned vet. He already knows his game. No development needed, he just needs to put his skates on. 

Watch Kulich go for 20/55 this year.

[TheAud]

6 hours ago, #freejame said:

He’s basically Beck Malenstyn before everyone fell in love with Beck Malenstyn last year. 

Except Malestyn is listed at 6'3" 209 lbs, plays LW exclusively, has never scored more than 7 goals in a season and is 28 years old, whereas Danforth is listed at 5'8" 193 Lbs, plays Center and RW, has scored 9 or 10 goals in a season 3 times, and is 33 years old. 

Damn near twins, it appears. 

[#freejame]

5 minutes ago, TheAud said:

Except Malestyn is listed at 6'3" 209 lbs, plays LW exclusively, has never scored more than 7 goals in a season and is 28 years old, whereas Danforth is listed at 5'8" 193 Lbs, plays Center and RW, has scored 9 or 10 goals in a season 3 times, and is 33 years old. 

Damn near twins, it appears. 

They are fast fourth liners who will forecheck hard, block shots and kill penalties. What more do you need to know? Not to mention, this documentary proves height and size make no difference in twindom 

Edited August 16 by #freejame

[_Q_]

2 hours ago, Big Guava said:

Watch Kulich go for 20/55 this year.

In Rochester before he is called up

[Big Guava]

9 minutes ago, _Q_ said:

In Rochester before he is called up

He won't be in Rochester 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Who?

[SwampD]

Don’t you have to meet someone before you can forget them?

[Ctaeth]

I'm currently undecided on how much I like danforth.  It's hard to say given how many games he actually ended up playing last year & the fact that I don't regularly watch columbus.  I remember a few times during the slow start where we were down a goal in the third with a few minutes to go and mr justin danforth was out there attempting to equalize.  I hope they don't try to force him into the lineup in spots where he doesn't fit just b/c he has a one way contract and prior association with jarmo

[dudacek]

33 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Don’t you have to meet someone before you can forget them?

Yes. We met him.

He played 9:33 in the opener against the Rangers, 13:27 against the Bruins in game 2 and 17:35(!) against the Avs before breaking his kneecap in the Sabres first win of the season over Ottawa.

At the time of his injury he had been playing with Malenstyn on the 2nd PK unit and was 5th on the team in blocked shots and 1st in Faceoff %

[GASabresIUFAN]

30 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Yes. We met him.

He played 9:33 in the opener against the Rangers, 13:27 against the Bruins in game 2 and 17:35(!) against the Avs before breaking his kneecap in the Sabres first win of the season over Ottawa.

At the time of his injury he had been playing with Malenstyn on the 2nd PK unit and was 5th on the team in blocked shots and 1st in Faceoff %

A speed date?

[clink]

I'm not entirely believing that this man exists? 

Truly, a Mandela effect scenario....

[That Aud Smell]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

He played 9:33 in the opener against the Rangers, 13:27 against the Bruins in game 2 and 17:35(!) against the Avs before breaking his kneecap in the Sabres first win of the season over Ottawa.

At the time of his injury he had been playing with Malenstyn on the 2nd PK unit and was 5th on the team in blocked shots and 1st in Faceoff %

no kidding?

i have no recollection of the guy.

[#freejame]

39 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

no kidding?

i have no recollection of the guy.

I was at the game. If I’m remembering correctly he finished his shift. 

[DarthEbriate]

Until the injury recovery is determined, and until proven otherwise, he's everything you'd want Kozak to become. Fast, hard forechecker, PK, can win draws and play as a center (preferred position) or winger. Unlike Kozak, he even scores goals (averages 14 goals / 82 games).

I'd rather have him (or Kozak) as a 13F than a one-dimensional enforcer type. His only issue is size... but tell that to Benson.

Back to his injury, we'll see how he does in camp. I still think he gets waived to Rochester and clears, but that won't be the last we see of him in a Sabres sweater.

[French Collection]

7 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Until the injury recovery is determined, and until proven otherwise, he's everything you'd want Kozak to become. Fast, hard forechecker, PK, can win draws and play as a center (preferred position) or winger. Unlike Kozak, he even scores goals (averages 14 goals / 82 games).

I'd rather have him (or Kozak) as a 13F than a one-dimensional enforcer type. His only issue is size... but tell that to Benson.

Back to his injury, we'll see how he does in camp. I still think he gets waived to Rochester and clears, but that won't be the last we see of him in a Sabres sweater.

I hope he is OK because I see a better NHLer in him than Kozak. The more guys ahead of Conor Sheary, the happier I am. Never liked him and his first stint verified why.

[PerreaultForever]

He's 33 with only 187 career NHL games. Coming off a major injury. Can he be an effective fourth liner? Possibly. Will he be? Unlikely. 

Some people are all excited because he had a lot of hits one year. Clifton had a lot of hits one year too remember that? (different position I know). Danforth is a marginal NHLer and imo if he's on the roster the roster isn't good enough. 

[Pimlach]

He is a middlesome 4th liner.  

Edited August 18 by Pimlach