14 players sent down - 33 left in camp

Sabres.com

The Sabres sent 14 players to Portland yesterday. The biggest names in the group were Tyler Ennis and TJ Brennan.

That leaves 33 players on the roster. So, I thought I would break down who I think will make the team out of camp:

Goalies (3):

This is the easiest spot to call with Ryan Miller and Patrick Lalime locked in to make the team and Jhonas Enroth still in camp to get a little more seasoning before his inevitable red tag in his locker.

Defense (11):

Locks to make the club (5): Craig Rivet, Toni Lydman, Henrik Tallinder, Steve Montador, and Andrej Sekera

Likely to make the club (1): Chris Butler

Likely to get a look to start the season (1): Tyler Myers

Likely to get sent down (3): Joe DiPenta, Marc-Andre Gragnani, and Mike Weber

Likely to end up in forward/defense purgatory (1): Nathan Paetsch

I could see the Sabres keeping eight defensemen on the NHL roster to start the season with Nathan Paetsch getting a forward/defense slot as the Sabres see what they have in Tyler Myers for at least the first 9 games of the season.

The only reason that I could see Chris Butler getting sent down is due to the fact that he wouldn't have to clear waivers.

But, I don't expect too many surprises here.

Forwards (19):

Locks to make the club (9): Thomas Vanek, Jochen Hecht, Tim Connolly, Derek Roy, Paul Gaustad, Jason Pominville, Drew Stafford, Mike Grier, and Patrick Kaleta

Lock to either make the team or start the year on the injured list (1): Adam Mair

Likely to make the roster (3): Clarke MacArthur, Dan Paille, and Matt Ellis

Likely to get sent down barring a trade (3): Cody McCormick, Nathan Gerbe and Tim Kennedy

Likely to get sent down no matter what (3): Jeff Cowan, Philip Gogulla, and Felix Schutz

The forward situation is the trickiest one to call right now due to the potential for 8 defensemen making the team and the Mair injury.

I could see Cody McCormick getting the Mair roster spot as he fills that energy role better than Gerbe or Kennedy. I could see Gerbe or Kennedy playing themselves on the roster IF Regier can get a team to give up a reasonable draft pick for Dan Paille or Clarke MacArthur. But, I can't see Regier putting Paille or MacArthur on waivers to make a spot on the roster for Gerbe or Kennedy.

And stop dreaming about Tom Golisano paying the freight to send Jochen Hecht to Portland. That is not going to happen.