Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – When Jordan Greenway played with Tage Thompson on the U.S. National Team Under-18 program, Don Granato was their head coach.
Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said on Friday when asked about Greenway, Granato pounded his fist on the table while making his case to acquire this player.
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Greenway’s flight to Buffalo this weekend was diverted due to weather, so he didn’t make it on time to play on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Granato is excited about this acquisition, because he feels Greenway, at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, can play like a big man.
“There’s a lot that intrigues, and familiarity is high," said Granato. "He’s an extremely talented, talented athlete, and a high character person that has a lot of potential.”
Adams said on Friday he felt the Sabres were being “bullied”, and he knew this team needed to be harder to play against.
“He has a significant physical presence in the game," Granato said of Greenway. "You can’t not notice him. He’s a big man with a strong net-front, he’s strong behind the net below the goal line, taking pucks to the net, and has very good speed. He can keep up with the pace that we want.”
When Granato evaluates a player, he thinks about if that player has it in him to get better.
“I’ve seen enough of him on the physical side to know that there’s even more there, and he’s an imposing athlete,” he said.
Granato said early in his Sabres career, Greenway will join the penalty kill, but eventually he’d like to get him power play time too.
There’s also Greenway, the man, and Granato says the 26-year-old has a deep care for doing things the right way.
"When you present something to him, he is going to lose sleep until he can accomplish it. He doesn’t want to disappoint," he said. "We acquired a talent that we know can do more, and they’re at the right spot in their career where they’ve had a base of experience. And much like I knew there was a lot more in Alex Tuch, this is the case with Jordan.”
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Some fans felt the Sabres should’ve done more, and even started trading away some of the good young talent just to make the playoffs this year. Granato disagrees with that thought process.
“Now is not the time to be impatient," Granato said. "Historically, there’ve been so many mistakes through impatience, and we are working on something we started out to build. I think of where we were two years ago to where we are now, and we just have to keep doing that.
"Imagine if we can grow as much in the next two years as we’ve just grown in this two years. I don’t think we’re going to sweat anything that didn’t happen [Friday], because there’s no reason to. I’m actually excited everybody’s trying to make moves and spending, spending, spending to do it, spending the future. Our future, we feel, is pretty darn bright and strong, so we targeted what we thought would help this team with the parameters of, 'OK, we’re not going to be impatient and giveaway something that we know is going to be really special for us.'"
Thompson was 16 when he played with Greenway, while Greenway was 17. Thompson remembers him well in their time with the U.S. Development Program.
“He’s a big guy that plays really fast," said Thompson on Saturday. "He’s got a lot of skill, and I think he’s going to fit in really well with this group on and off the ice. We’re excited to have him, and I think he’s going to add a lot to the lineup.”
The Sabres were off Sunday and will host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, then head to Long Island to play the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
