Report From Day #3 At Sabres Rookie Camp

Here post this.
Report from Day #3

Good crowd, stands were about 3/4 full.

I spent most of my time on the main rink which had:

Gerbe - Zagrapan - Gogulla
Kennedy - Hunter - Allard
Van Guilder - Schutz - Orpik
Vatri - Scarsella - Lagace

Brennan - Crawford
Butler - Weber
Schiestel - Kostka
Funk - Biega

I spent the last 40 minutes at the other rink and the vast majority of the players looked very gassed. Not sure what drill they were running but the look like they just got done with a bag skate. It was 4 on 4, then 3 on 3 and finished with 2 on 2 so they were doing a lot of skating in open ice. Players from that rink will have a * next to gassed if they looked tired. On rink 2:

Tropp - Byron - Stafford
Ennis - Cepis - Whitmore
Adam - Irwin - Kaleta

Sekera - Myers
MacKenzie - Card
Southorn - Persson
Gragnani - Generous

On to the report, at least what I noticed

GERBE -
GENERAL NOTES - Just sick skills. First step speed is off the charts, top end is nice too. Any defender not paying attention was lost after the first step. Very fast hands. If there was a loose puck in the crease area he snapped it up before anyone.
SPECIFIC PLAYS - 1 on 1 in the crease with Weber right on him, roofed the puck in a blink. PP type drill. Top corner one timer, sweet shot. Next play one timer pass to him, faked the shot and made a nice pass to the middle, shot saved and then Gerbe put home the rebound low stick side. Scored numerous goals on the drills. Had one highlight play where he one timed one of the post and it came back in the air towards him, he kicked it in out of mid air, top corner. Lucky, but sweet. Had no trouble with size 1 on 1. Some trouble when traffic got real heavy. Took off on the wing and blew by the defender, made nice pass to Zagrapan who put it in. Nice heads up and selfless play. There was another drill where I saw a player in gray but couldn't see who it was, made several notes and was quite impressed, then he skated away and I saw [GERBE]. The kid has talent alright.

ZAGRAPAN - Decent faceoffs. Seemed tired on several plays. When he wanted to skate he did so well. Seemed to have some chemistry with Gerbe. Had some strong forechecks, but weak back checking. Seemed tentative in the corners, and pushed off the puck, at times easily. Nice hands.

Gogulla - Was impressed. Very nice hands. Made that note 'nice hands' then added x2, x3, x4, x5. He has a goal scorers touch around the net (Vanek like).

Hunter - Nice speed

Kennedy - Smooth skater, shifty. Wore 19 and reminded me of 19.

Shutz - Very competitive. Worked hard and never gave up on plays.

Sekera - Silky smooth, calm and in control of the play at all times. Looks like a pro.

Myers - Looked gassed* at times. When he did kick it in gear he showed excellent skating ability and nice speed. If a player was anywhere near him with the puck he would shut the play down.

Ennis - Very fast (sorry didn't see that rink much)

Gragani - nice stick work. Competitive.

Biega - Looked very good. Stuck with Gerbe on a few plays and would not let him loose. Played big.

Irwin - Have no idea who he is, but he impressed me. Very competitive, and solid all around play. Several times on the 3 on 3s he took over the play. Always right place and right time. Roofed a goal. Battled well.

Weber - Man among boys in terms of attitude. Very confident and in control. Gave off a big dog vibe.

Butler - Very nice. Blocked shots regularly and well. Handled Gerbe on a few plays.

Brennan - Him and Zagrapan are similar in that both obviously have the skills and show it on numerous plays. But consistency is a big problem for both. At times they seem very tentative and unsure, then the next play it 'clicks' and they look very sharp.
Compliments of Niagara Mike

Todd(Sabres Blogger)