Sabres' Kennedy, Gerbe look to fill job openings
LEWISTON — It doesn't take a math wizard to figure out the Buffalo Sabres have openings on their roster. Dominic Moore and Maxim Afinogenov have departed, and fellow forwards Matt Ellis and Andrew Peters have yet to be re-signed. Subtract four from the season-finale squad, and the Sabres have four spots to fill.
Tim Kennedy and Nathan Gerbe are fully aware. And knowing is half the battle.
The members of the American Hockey League's all-rookie team last season are skating at the Sabres' development camp this week. They're doing so with added incentive. They know if they continue to make an impression, they can wear Sabres sweaters this fall rather than Portland Pirates uniforms.
"It helps," Kennedy said. "Last year I kind of knew going into camp that I didn't really have a shot at making the team, but I just wanted to make a real good impression. This year, I know with the season that I had in Portland, if I have a good camp, I'll have a pretty good shot at maybe getting one of those spots."
It's tough to determine the line between AHL award winner and NHL regular, but Gerbe and Kennedy are straddling it. Kennedy had 49 assists and 67 points in 73 games last season in Portland. Gerbe was named Rookie of the Year after 30 goals and 56 points in 57 games.
It's probably time to see how those numbers translate to the next level.
"I'm going to challenge any chance I get," Gerbe said in Niagara University's Dwyer Arena.
The challenge for both is to start well and maintain that pace. Gerbe was a standout in Sabres training camp last fall, but there was no room on the roster. When he did get the call, the goals failed to come. He tallied just one assist in 10 games with the Sabres.
"I've got to be an offensive player," Gerbe said. "I thought in games I had chances to score. The fine line is, I've got to score. That's the way I look at it. Sometimes maybe if you score on a few of those chances it's a different story. You get one goal one game, and you feel a different confidence and you get more.
"Ten games being up is a good thing. I can never look at it as a bad thing. It could be worse. I could have got zero games. You just learn from every time you get a chance, and that's why I'm looking forward to this season."
So is Kennedy. The South Buffalo native got only one shot at the NHL last year, and it was more whirlwind than audition.
"It was like 22 years all wrapped up in one day," he said. "I've been thinking about that day a lot. It was very special, and I want to make that happen again."
Kennedy has two things working for him in his bid to make the big club. One is his versatility. He was a winger at Michigan State, but the Pirates used him extensively at center to utilize his playmaking skills.
"It was a little hard lesson because I hadn't played it in like six years, but now I feel pretty good there," he said. "I also feel good at the wing, so whatever spot they want me in, that's fine with me."
The Sabres also need to learn exactly what they have in Kennedy before his contract expires. Though he's only in his second year, his deal is up after this season.
"It's kind of weird," Kennedy said. "It was just last year that I was trying to get the deal done, and now it's already up again.
"I just want to make a good impression and get one more contract, then hopefully keep getting contracts and keep having jobs."
It's a good thing to want, especially since the Sabres have a few job openings.
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