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bflodaj writes...

Blame Murray

Posted Saturday | Comments 5
For the last couple of months after the Thursday night brawl in Buffalo it has bothered me that Lindy Ruff has received criticism for his actions in that fabulous hockey game...Lindy sent out his fourth line to get revenge on what many believe to be a dirty play by Chris Neil, is it Lindy's fault that Brian Murray sent out the Spezza line who has no backbone???I believe th...
I’ve been a Sabres fan since I’ve been knee-high to a grasshopper (as my mom always says). My earliest memories are of hearing Rick Jeanneret roaring “LALALALALAFONTAINE!” and “Alexander the Great!” I even remember one time my babysitter didn’t believe my brother and me that we were allowed to listen to the Sabres game and I locked myself in the bathroom. M...
Everyone knows that the Buffalo Sabres are 1st seed. Everyone knows that the Buffalo Sabres won the Presidents Trophy. Everyone knows that every Buffalo fan says "This is our year!". I am pretty sure the upstart New York Islanders will have something to say about that. Coming in 8th seed with a thrilling shootout win over the New Jersey Devils, the Isles rode 3rd str...
Many people are quick to pull out this little gem regarding the Buffalo Sabres playoff hopes. Gritty forecheck and physical play throughout a series will wear down the Buffalo Sabres and dash their Stanley Cup run! Right? No. This seems to be a misconception that has spread and become a generally accepted rule of thumb. Look at the 05-06 Philadelphia Flyers. T...
GilPerrault writes...

Take in the Moment!!

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I am looking forward to the start of the playoffs like no other year I have followed hockey. The excitement that I feel for the Sabres is incredible. I am a typical Buffalo fan who has a tough time visualizing a championship. We have been disappointed so many times in our lives with our two pro teams, the Sabres and Bills, it makes it hard to jump the gun and assume anythi...
WildMTUFan writes...

Playoff pool draft a success

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
As a last minute decision I put together a playoff pool together. I invited a solid amount of hockey fanatics to the draft and ended up with enough for a good time. The draft was a very good time as it lasted over an hour and was pretty much solid hockey talk. The contrast in opinions, the intense loyalties, the fake loyalties and indecision were all omnipresent to the par...
BleedBlue&Gold writes...

This is a great idea!

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I feel as excited as a geek when the new version of Everquest comes out! I live in Virginia and there are not many people who live and breathe hockey around here. If it wasn't for the boys in my men's league I might know about three true hockey fans around here. Just to break the ice, I'll tell you that I have been around hockey all my life. I grew up in Buffalo and re...
Unfortunately, due to the real circumstances in the greater Buffalo area, many of us have to watch this playoff run from a distance. Since I was a kid, I've been a crazy superstitious person. Well, today is the day of change. I have to get my haircut, go get my Lipton Green Tea, get some extra laundry soap cause there is going to have to be extra laundry done, etc. This is...
What a season for the Buffalo Sabres and fans. They have taken home the President Trophy as the top team in the National Hockey League throughout the regular season. They finished with 53 wins and 113 points. They will be playing the New York Islanders in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday night puck drops at 7:08pm. This should be an interesting series. Ted N...
pscwx1139 writes...

Ready for the Playoffs

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Well folks, it finally has arrived! The playoffs are here and I couldn't be more excited. A great slate of games tonight with what will probably be one of the most exciting series being Ottawa V. Pittsburgh. So much speed and talent on the ice between both teams and two young upcoming goaltenders. Ray Emery has a lot to make up for from last year's run when he laid a f...
Throughout the season, the Sabres haven’t done had much to criticize. One characteristic about their play that has popped up from time to time is that at times they tend to play too cute. It hasn’t been uncommon to see “the extra pass” from Vanek… after you just saw “the extra pass” from Roy. They are just not a team who likes to pepper the opposing goa...
With hockey fever raging through Buffalo unchecked, that can mean only one thing. We are one day from game one. Sabre players have said they are not looking beyond the Islanders and have laid very classy praise on Ted Nolan and his boys from the Island. Are the Islanders equally prepared? [img:left]http://msn.foxsports.com/id/6198854_36_2.jpg[/img]We have not heard m...
Rammer5 writes...

Playoff Beard-off 2007: Game 1

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Ditch the razor and hide the shaving cream its playoff time! The time of year when your stomach turns to knots at every odd man rush. As many players in the Sabres room have said, this is the "Real Season." That is the attitude they have had since dropping Game 7 of the 2006 ECF with a battered blue line. From training camp to this past Sunday it's been all about ...
wchiasson writes...

Who do I cheer for?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
With the Oilers being out of playoff contention for sometime now, I've been debating who to root for in the playoffs. I thought I'd cheer for the Islanders with Smytty, my favourite player of all time,on the roster. Maybe the Sabres with them being a local team. Islanders? With my favourite player of all time now on the roster. Sorry, not you Bergy. They beat out th...
Since the Canes aren't defending the Cup this spring, it's easy for me to make predictions. I think Buffalo and Ottawa are the two best teams in the East, and I hope there's at least one upset (probably the Rangers over the Thrash) that will allow the Sabres and Sens to meet in the East final. I think that would be a great series, and I think Buffalo will win it. So I'm go...
wchiasson writes...

Who do I cheer For?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 3
With the Oilers being out of playoff contention for sometime now, I've been debating who to root for in the playoffs. I thought I'd cheer for the Islanders with Smytty, my favourite player of all time,on the roster. Maybe the Sabres with them being a local team. Islanders? With my favourite player of all time now on the roster. Sorry, not you Bergy. They beat out the ...
SabreFreek writes...

A View From The Top

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
So, here we are on the cusp of the playoffs and I find myself in very unfamiliar territory. My beloved Sabres are the Stanley Cup favorites for the first time in my lifetime. This isn't like '99 when it was "an average team with the world's best goaltender". This isn't like last season when no one outside of the Sabres' organization thought much of that team. This ...
BryDrz writes...

Lindy's Redemption

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Thursday evening at 8pm in front of a packed HSBC Arena the Buffalo Sabres will begin the 1st round of Stanley Cup Playoff action against the #8 seed New York Islanders. Many storylines come to mind when it comes to this series. From Rick Dipietro's mysterious head injury to the well awaited Jack Adams award winning battle between Nolan and Ruff, as the Replacement look...
flyershockey81 writes...

God, I Hate Buffalo

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
Who the hell Anointed the Buffalo Sabres Stanley Cup winners? yeah i picked them in first round but come on Buffalo, stop already! It amazes how every publication and website has buffalo winning cup and people in Buffalo already going to arena to pick out their spot for indoor parade pep rally. Gee, one year every publication picked flyers win the cup and the got sweep...
Suedos writes...

The Sabre Redemption

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]QUOTE:[/b] "I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." ...
SabreCrazy07 writes...

One Team One Goal

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
One Team One Goal Lindy and the boys have fulfilled a season long goal…………. Lock up home ice advantage throughout the playoffs!!!! This year’s edition of the Buffalo Sabres has lived up to the high expectations of the local fan base. They have managed to do so amidst a plethora of man games lost due to injury & a league that was put on notice last spri...
CreaseCop43 writes...

Wachovia Center Experience

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I was at my first Wachovia Center Flyers games this weekend. What a great venue for hockey! Even though the Flyers were out of it, the fans were relativley high spirited. The Saturday game against the Islanders was a stinker for 55 minutes, but Finnegan's Wake took my mind off of it. Sunday against the Sabres was more fun. The fans and the game were very entertaining....
briere2112 writes...

Playoff Predictions

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
Hey, this is my first blog. I made these predictions for all of the playoff rounds so I thought I would share them with you. Note that these were made before the games tonight. [u][b]Eastern Conference Quarterfinals[/b][/u] [b]1. Buffalo (4-2)[/b] vs. 8. NYI [b]2. New Jersey (4-1)[/b] vs. 7. Tampa Bay 3. Atlanta vs. [b]6. NYR (4-2)[/b] 4. Ottawa vs. [b]5. Pittsbur...
This is it Sabres' fans. We have been waiting for this since we watched the Hurricanes raising the Cup last year. I think the team has been waiting for this since THEY watched the Hurricane's raise [i]THEIR[/i] Cup last year. In my second blog, I wanted to just take a brief look at the series. I think every publication has already made the world aware that Buffalo ...
No. Buffalo is not David. The President's Trophy winning Buffalo Sabres take the ice at the HSBC Arena against the "projected longshot" New York Islanders tonight at 8pm. The Islanders know that tonight marks the start of their season. 3rd string goaltender Wade Dubielewicz gets the nod from coach Ted Nolan to face this powerpacked Sabre squad for game 1. Is he worr...
predjoe writes...

Tonight's PREDictions

Posted Thursday | Comments 2
Even though the Preds are off tonight I will still be watching Versus and the scoreboard from around the league. Here are my PREDictions for tonight’s match ups. [b]Calgary at Detroit[/b]: As much as I want to predict an upset here I think the Wings will come out on top tonight. I see a low scoring affair…2-1 or 3-2 Wings. (Detroit wins the series) [b]NY Islander...
Tonight starts the quest for the Cup Lord Stanley will come to it's rightful place in BUFFALO, NY Thomas Vanek will score 2 goals Other scores: Connolly, Drury, Briere Tonight starts the Journey that will be finished when Buffalo Wins the Stanely Cup right here in BUFFALO, Join Sabres fans during the game at [b]www.sabreschat.com/chat.shtml [/b]to talk a...
Well, Game 1 is finally here! The past several days have inched by as I've waited for the playoffs to start. It should be a good game. I think the Islanders will really work hard and battle. The Sabres have waited for this all season, so they better be ready. I expect them to play like they were at the start of the season and during the playoffs last year. At times t...
go_leafs_go writes...

Isles don't stand a chance

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I'm sorry but to say the Islanders have a good chance of winning tonight, especially being in Buffalo, is completely wrong. Dubielewicz will be nervous and the team it self cannot even come close to matching the Sabres offense. Sabres got the first 2 games besides that the Isles stand a better chance, but not much, of winning at home. Good luck tonight Islanders cause you'...
briere2112 writes...

Sabres 2-1 after 2...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Sabres are up 2-1 after 2 periods. The Sabres are playing pretty well, but they aren't capitalizing on some chances that they usually would. Roy's giveaway was terrible and led to the Isles only goal so far. If the Sabres can score on the PP at the start of the 3rd, they should be in good shape. Should be a good 3rd period!
What a game..... 4-1 score. close to the 5-1 prediction This was a solid strong performance by the Sabres. Nothing more and nothing less. Brian "I can score in the playoffs" Campbell brings home two goals and 1 assist. then you have Chris "I will lead you to the promise land" Drury who played one hell of a game and had 2 goals and in goal Ryan "It's Mi...
Deke2194 writes...

Game 1 musings.

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Well, the playoffs are still young, but there are still some interesting storylines that have started to develop. [b]Senators and Penguins game 1:[/b] This was not the game that anybody expected. Many people thought that the Sens would take this one, but not in the way that they did. The thrashing that was handed out on Wednesday should not be any indication of how...
I've been waiting for this game since the Sabres dropped Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the RBC Center in North Carolina last summer. Little did I know I would BE at this game. I gambled a bit and bought my first ever Mini Pack last August, with the assumption that the Sabres would be back and have another great season. More than anything, it was good for...
Watching the Sabres vs. Islanders game last night I made an observation about the Islanders that I wanted to share. I don't get to see them play too often, so I'm making this assessment based only on one game (maybe not a fair thing to do). Anyway, the Islanders have a lot of talented players, but too few of them are actually good players. Under the heading of [i]Tale...
God I love playoff hockey. Right before the playoffs started, my wife gave birth to our first child, a baby daughter named Abby (actually went into labor at the Canes vs. Caps game…I am guessing Abby was a bit annoyed at Johnny Grahame for letting in 3 goals on 6 shots, and wanted to give him a piece of her mind)…well, those that have kids know that the sleep is spora...
Local reports in the Buffalo News seem to suggest that the NY Islanders may not have been prepared for Game 1. See Tim Graham's article in the Buffalo News at [url]http://www.buffalonews.com/111/story/52798.html[/url]. To quote the article, "[i]Signs of slapdash postseason preparations were troubling. Star winger Jason Blake peeked at the Sabres morning skate and asked...
erby writes...

start it up!

Posted Friday | Comments 0
I did full-game recaps in the past, so how about bringing it back out for the playoffs? [b]Notable Statistics:[/b] [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270412002]Box Score[/url] Powerplay: Buffalo 2/6, New York 0/3 Giveaways: Buffalo 7, New York 14 Shots: Buffalo 11-11-13 (35), New York 1-9-11 (21) [b]J's opinion:[/b] 1. [u]Rockin' the HSBC pre-gam...
After reading Garth's blog, the Islanders certainly have a problem on their hands. Ricky D, who you'd have to think when healthy, is far and away the better of the two if not a straight up world class goalie. Dubielewicz is a young, upstart guy with a lot of potential: I really like this kid, he's not afraid of anything and challenges the shooter very aggressively. But nev...
SabreFreek writes...

Keeping Zubrus

Posted Friday | Comments 4
The more I see of Dainius Zubrus, the more I like him. I know most of the conversations have involved the playoffs, but looking ahead a little bit, if there's any way they can re-sign this guy after the season I'd love for them to do it. I truly believe they will make an effort to sign both Drury and Briere, but if for some reason they can't get both, I'd be happy with...
Great game by Drury and company last night. A couple points to consider: 1) Following last night's 4-1 victory, Chris Drury made the expected, credit-deflecting comments to the media. As he usually does, he mentioned that the team felt really prepared because of Lindy Ruff's tutelage and how Lindy deserves credit because he has been drilling all of the important thing...
Rick Dipietro, Islanders first overall draft pick, Islanders number one goaltender, and generally all around good guy. Islander Nation was all smiles when it was announced that Dipietro has been cleared to play. That smile, although splitting their faces from ear to ear, was tinged with a little bit of worry. Dipietro suffered 2 concussions within a week of each other...
#30 writes...

Business As Usual

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I believe that some of us, as Sabre's fans, have been spoiled by the most exciting team in hockey and, quite possibly, all of sports. I actually heard some disgruntled people calling into the local radio sports-talk shows complaining about last night's Sabre's convincing 4-1 victory over the Long Islanders in game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarter finals. Apparently, the...
erby writes...

My Take on DiPietro

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Here are how the options stand. (1) DP stands on his head, steals a game for the Isles, and Ted Nolan comes out a hero. (2) DP stands on his head, but Sabres still overpower the Isles as a team, and it's a huge risk with little reward. (3) DP comes out rusty, Sabres run over the Isles, and it's a huge risk with NO reward. (4) DP gets hurt (long- or short- term) and Ted ...
First off, let me say that at the beginning of the season, I said that the Islanders would make the postseason, largely on the coaching of Ted Nolan. What can I say? I love the guy. He coaches a great style of hockey. He put together my favourite Sabres line of all-time in Ray, May and Barnaby the "dog line". Now, I have to question what Nolan, and Garth Snow are thi...
What a game so far. The Islanders have turned up the heat But just when you thought they would turn it up higher..... HERE COME THE SABRES Sabres score late to come within one goal of the Islanders remember [url]sabreschat.com/chat.shtml [/url]
A huge boost of confidents has arose on Long Island after a stunning 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night. Goaltender Rick DiPietro stood his ground after playing in his first game in over three weeks. He was by far the best player on the ice after stopping 32 Buffalo shots. Despite the win, the Islanders were actually outshot by a margin of 34-32. Part of...
It is going on 5 hours after the Sabres lost to the Islanders and I am asking myself the question: Where is the desperation and desire from this team? Perhaps they hurt more than helped themselves by winning so many games early in the season. Did this allow them to coast into the playoffs? This team seems to need a fire to be lit under them to get motivated. It has been sh...
After watching last nights Sabre performance against the New York Islanders, I came away with one theory. People in my beloved city worry WAY too much. Watching the reaction of some people around Buffalo Wild Wings, you would think we just lost Game 5 to Carolina all over again. People swearing up and down cursing their performance and telling the team on the screen to ...
I have been a fan of sports for a long time, and I have seen my share of bandwagon fans…but outside the current day red sox (they couldn’t get a guy without a boston accent to admit they were a fan until they won…now some chucklehead in Indiana is proclaiming himself a lifelong fan, yet cant remember a manager prior to Francona), nothing touches the current day Sabre...
tubbytreats writes...

Sabres and Saturdays

Posted Monday | Comments 0
So here we are with another Saturday loss. (Don't worry, I'm not panicking over a 3-2 loss anytime soon...) One thing I've noticed over the season was the lack of real grit or passion when playing on Saturdays. I went back through all of the games and the Sabres were a disappointing 10-13-3 when playing on Saturdays (including the loss to NYI) I'm not a superstitious...
mojoworld writes...

That other level...

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The premise that I've been hoping for and building on thus far in the Canucks/Stars series is that the Canucks should have another level to play. That came through yesterday in the 3rd and OT period as the Canucks dominated the puck and offensive chances. Shots were 18 vs. 9 in those periods combined. The Dallas Stars are just the Dallas Stars. You know what to expec...
erby writes...

HELP ME!

Posted Monday | Comments 0
So I'm busy AGAIN tonight, and this would mean missing TWO broadcasts in a row, which I don't think I can handle. Does anyone know if a radio station in New York City plays it? Normally, I listen to all the game on internet radio so I can hear Rick Jeanneret's broadcast. If RJ's play-by-play is unavailable, what is the radio station that has the Islanders' broadcast? I...
Here we are, game three of a series some Sabre fans were calling an easy sweep. With the Islanders 3-2 win on Saturday, the brooms are back in the closet and the game moves to the Island. Led by Rick Dipietro and a suddenly re-energized roster, the Islanders know that the battle has only begun. Buffalo is known for exploding after a loss and the Islanders need to be r...
I'm going to try something different and if people like it maybe I'll do it again in the future. Live updates to tonight's Sabres game...highlighting key plays and my thoughts as the game is going on. I would love to hear feedback, so please leave comments. Enjoy... [b]10:14 p.m. EST:[/b] And that's it! Not the prettiest ending, but the Sabres hold on. The Isles po...
The Sabres put forth a much better effort in Game 3, resulting in a 3-2 win and the lead in the series. Finally, the Sabres forwards scored all 3 goals, including goals from Briere and Vanek. Zubrus currently leads the team in points, with 4 (all assists). He was great again tonight, providing good offense and defense along with a strong physical game. Both of the goal...
Well see how long you 2 last in the playoffs.. Your disasater of penalty calls and bogus goal calls against the Islanders, and turning your back on Sabres penalties, you have only you 2 to blame for the onslought of garbage you two got hit with in the last minute of the game. Its a simple thoguht.. either call the Campoli play, or don't call the Robataille play.. By ignori...
The Islanders played their best game of the year last nite. Miro Satan says "We've never played any better. We were flying." It appeard to be that the Isles were trying to play Buffalo's game in the 1st and 2nd. They had speedy forwards and their forecheck was phenomenal. Teddy Nolan is putting together a good game plan. "Captain Canada" was a horse, he was all over ...
One of the things that I always look for in the NHL playoffs is how teams play with the expectations leveled on them. Do the top point getters continue with the style of play that got them into the position they are in, or do they grip their sticks a bit tighter, when they get down a goal? Do the teams that snuck their way in, who may consider themselves to be playing wi...
For all the mistakes former Isles General Manager Mike Milbury made during his tenure — where do we begin? — trading for Yashin is the biggest blunder in franchise history. New York gave up top-ticket defenseman Zdeno Chara and a first-round pick that ended up being Jason Spezza. And on top of that... he turned around and signed him to a 10 year $90 million co...
Beasts. Everywhere. It's a good thing I have my trusty guide with me. We step out of our vehicle and onto the dilapidated lot in Uniondale, Long Island. Nassau Coliseum stands like some archaic ruin, except the ancient Roman and Greek ruins are far better managed. My guide carries our hidden snacks and drinks in her deep-pocketed coat. The rain bleats down like the hammer ...
[img:right]http://www.gramdesign.com/images/bloody.jpg[/img]There are 8 playoff series going on right now, 7 of which are absolutely nasty. Bone-jarring hits, constant scrums, facewashes, blood, concussions, headhunting (allegedly), elbows… you name it, we’ve seen it. EXCEPT in the Sabres/Islanders series. Granted, we did get some physical play last night but this s...
By the power of Grayskull, a few points: 1) If last night was a game of Ice Hockey on the original Nintendo Entertainment System, Lindy must have gotten a hold of a Game Genie because Mair and Zubrus were able to hit like the big, fat players but also, somehow, had the agility and speed of the skinny guys that usually get run over. They were only credited with 8 hits i...
I wrote yesterday about how the Sabres need to ratchet up the “physical” play if they expect to make a serious run to the cup. After watching game 4 of the Pens & Sens… maybe the Sabres plan will work out just fine if they meet one of these teams in the ECF. To put it simply and succinctly, these teams are absolutely KILLING each other. I have to believe that ...
Suedos writes...

Interesting v. Exciting

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
1) What’s better than playoff hockey? In a series that could potentially be labeled “boring” by comparison to past playoff series and those currently underway (especially Ottawa-Pittsburgh), the Sabres and Islanders have, instead, found a way to stay interesting due to an odd debate over “shooting at the goalie’s head”, the ridiculous behavior of Islander fans...
Game 4 between the Sabres and Islanders is tonight at 7:30 in New York. Buffalo currently leads the series 2-1 and could take both away games along with a commanding lead with a win tonight. Games 2 and 3 were very close games, though I thought the Sabres were much better in Game 3 than in 2. If the Sabres come out to play from the start, I don't think they'll have any ...
10 Reasons the Sabres will win tonight 1 – Sabres skate like the wind, Witt and co. is just too dam slow 2 – Islanders have nothing left after giving max efforts in games 2 and 3 3 - Roy, Afinigenov, Vanek line will dominate 4 – Miller is better than Dipeitro 5 – Mike Schopp says so... and Bulldog agreed (imagine that?) 6 - Chris Drury is a hockey god and t...
erby writes...

Straight from the Coliseum

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
6:44 just got off the train and walked one block to the bus station and now I'm heading to the Coliseum. by the time we got to Hempstead, not many people on the train still remained -- most being SABRES FANS, which was amusing, to say the least. on the bus right now, several more. we are packing the arena! 7:07 just got into the arena ... testing it out AND I HAVE ...
briere2112 writes...

Goal or No Goal?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Sabres won Game 4 by a score of 4-2. However, when it was 3-2 Sabres, the Isles put the puck in the net. The refs ruled no goal on the ice and Toronto also ruled no goal. However, was this the right call? I am a Sabres fan, so I want to believe it was the correct call. But there have been too many occasions where the Sabres have been screwed by bad calls for me no...
psycomkl writes...

Islanders 69'd

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Well, goal or no goal, it doesnt matter. The Islanders drop 2 straight at home and trail Buffalo 3-1 headed to friday at the HSBC. Was it a goal? Was Miller pushed in by an Islander? It doesnt matter, does it? They are not going to start up the game again or "make it up" to the Isles in game 5. The Isles lost because they didnt bury their early chances. Hey, remem...
These calls NEVER go Buffalo’s way… EVER! Vanek’s goal – Common sense tells you it was clearly a goal… however I was fully expecting that to be disallowed. The Afinegenov powerplay – Max somehow drew 6minutes in penalties with a hard play to the net that we see over and over again. Again, I live in Buffalo, I expected co-incidentals at best. Game 4 N...
erby writes...

stay classy!

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Okay, I just want to make a few things clear. I have now attended three Sabres games in three different arenas: HSBC Arena, Madison Sq Garden, and Nassau Coliseum. Of course, the crowd at HSBC is unbeatable when you're rooting on the home team, so I'll leave that aside. As for the MSG crowd, they were more than friendly and I struck up a good conversation with the guy n...
B.D. Gallof writes...

Part I: A New Hope

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
My evening started typically enough. Stuck in unmoving traffic to get over to JFK. My future brother-in-law was coming in for the game tonight...taking off from work as a chef in a very highly respected restaurant in Florida. I look up, half expecting to see bats, but instead the sky is thickly overcast in the gray fog which has enveloped Long Island since hockey came to t...
SabreFreek writes...

Upon Further Review....

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
...it appears that the puck was indeed across the goal line before Miller got pushed into the net. From all I'm hearing this morning, it appears the league got this one wrong and the goal should have counted. A camera angle from in front of the net shows the puck across the goal line between Miller's pads. That being said, there's nothing that can be done about that n...
To read Part I: http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=567&post_id=557 [i]We last left our hero, yours truly, with his trusty guide, her brother (the former Islander fan trumpet player) watching Game 4 of the Islander/Sabres series. A man donned in a Ranger jersey has sat in the seats, and bad vibes are back in the Coliseum.[/i] "Leave it all on the ice" ...
Enough crying about how mean the Isles fans are, you would be pissed if you got screwed out of two games too. However, let's look at those two games. For one, Vanek's goal was not CONCLUSIVELY across the goal line. I know it was, you know it was in. However any camera angle did not show it to be conclusive, it was assumptive. Which it does not say in the rule book. Flash b...
#30 writes...

We Get By With A Little Help...

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Before I even get started, I just want to make clear that, even as a Sabre's fan, I feel the Isles got the shaft on wednesday night. Not once, either, but twice; of course, the obvious shaft was the "no-goal" call that, from what I saw immediately, should have been a goal. In all honesty, when they went to the phone, I was sure the referee's call was going to be reversed. ...
Avenged Sevenfold blasts through my apartment, good thing the other half of my life isnt home. I am a bit more optimistic about tonights game, but believe me. . .I dont expect a win. Instead of chewing on old soup about refereeing and no-goals/goals/beer bottles/etc, I am going to recap on what has come of our rag-tag group of boys out on Long Island this season. [b...
SabreFreek writes...

Sean Hill Suspended

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Islander Sean Hill has been suspended for 20 games for violating the league's Performance Enhancing Substance Abuse policy. Hill will not dress for the balance of the playoffs.
Now before I get flamed by every single Sabres fan on Earth this is just an opinion I've formed after watching the Sabres take out the Isles in 5 games. The Sabres are incredibly talented, they are loaded with offense and have a pretty good back end to boot. But, they didn't run away with this series as much as some Sabres fans (and again I''m not painting them all wit...
Heroes: DRURY- Captain Clutch adds 2 more GWG's to his already impressive resume 14 total GWG's in the post season. BRIERE Line- Slow start follwed by solid game 4 & 5 performances. AFINOGENOV- Anther slow starter... Turned disappointing series into a great ending with Series winning goal. Welcome back MAX NATION Zeroes: HECHT- 0 Goals, but an impressive 18 SOG ...
gamma82 writes...

The Battle of New York

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The second round is set and the Rangers will be facing off with the Buffalo Sabres starting this week. I don't know if either matchup was more beneficial for the Rangers as they had a losing record against both of their potential 2nd round opponents this year. They were 1-3 against Ottawa and a sterling 0-4 against the Sabres. To look on the bright side they haven't ...
Ladies and gentleman, a lot of people are looking at this second round series between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers and are claiming that the Rangers are going into this thing without any pressure on them. Of course they are the lowest seed left in the Eastern Conference and they are playing the Presidents Trophy Winners and the #1 seed. If they win, people...
Sabres Fans… Join in for round 2 of the hometeamhockey.com playoff fantasy league. Below is a short description from the site's creator. I've participated for the past few "divisions" and really enjoy it. You should give it a try. [quote][i]Fantasy Hockey for the Home Town Fan. Why a fantasy league with just one team? My thinking is this: I like Fantasy sports, bu...
Anytime you read any blog about this Ranger/Sabre series you hear the same things over and over and over again. The Sabres fan say their depth is amazing and unbeatable and remarkable and the Ranger fans come back with saying that Avery will drive Buffalo into an insane asylum and Jagr is going to net 50 goals in however many games. Thats all great and fantastic except f...
CaptPantalones writes...

Sabres/Rangers preview

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Sabres stay in the New York arean after eliminating the Islanders in a hard fought 5 game series 4-1. While the result is what most expected, the Sabres seemed to struggle at times against the eighth seeded Isles. The Rangers were dominant, sweeping a struggling Thrashers team that lost most of its momentum in round 1. But this will be a much different series for bo...
Tav writes...

Time Heals and Some Predictions

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Well, we're a few days out from the sad loss in 2OT to the Wings and the pain of that night has certainly dulled which is nice. It helps to still be able to go to games as our Jr team, the Calgary Hitmen, are playing in the Conference finals right now - beyond most expectations of the team this year (unlike the Flames). My wish list for the Flames now that we're in the ...
gamma82 writes...

Drop the Puck . . .

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Well the players may like the break to help them recharge the batteries, but I sure am chomping on the bit. I guess when your team beats expectations and sweeps the opening round series the excitement level goes up. I sure can't wait for tomorrow night, I wish they were dropping the puck as I type. I'm looking forward to a good series and pretty much disregard how th...
curiousgeorge writes...

Predictions Round 2

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Again for your reading pleasure.... Sabres over the Rangers in 6 Senators over Devils in 6 Sharks over Red Wings in 5 Canucks over Ducks in 6...maybe a homer pick but you have to follow the heart at times. Rangers will surprise some as they are much better than advertised. Sens will do great as they are crazy hungry for the first time ever. Sharks are a damn f...
Last night, went heavy on the 4.5u and well, the Canucks won and scored TWO frigg'n empty netters in the final minute and down went my money in the drain. That's ok, because I hit a nice $20 five game parlay (won $400) thanks to a few nice free throw's by Yao Ming to clinch the over. (1xNBA + 4xMLBs). Looking at Conference Semi-finals now and the match-ups. My initial b...
[b]Western Conference #2 Anaheim vs #3 Vancouver[/b] [b]Why Vancouver will win:[/b] Roberto Luongo is a candidate for the Hart Trophy, and he was arguably stronger yet in the first round against Dallas. There may be no tougher goalie to face in a best-of-seven series right now. Vancouver’s defense seems to know exactly when to pinch and when to retreat, and they re...
[b]Eastern Conference[/b] [i]New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres[/i] I’m a firm believer in the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres and have been since I realized how incredibly good they are. They have explosive offensive talent running thick through four lines or even six lines depending on how you look at it. The team is only bettered by a solid defensive core that actually doe...
#30 writes...

Let's Get It On

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Well, folks, about 11 1/2 hours until the puck drops to begin game one of the Sabres/Rangers Eastern Conference semi-finals and for two days, already, the poop is being flung with the tenacity of the inhabitants of the primate house at the Buffalo zoo. Sean Avery began the shit slinging with some comments about how his pre-series ritual has included visualizing various (o...
Okay, I know everyone is tired of predicitions but hey, it's my blog!! And if you don't get the blog title, listen to "Everything to Everyone" by the Barenaked Ladies and you'll get it! [b]Buffalo vs. New York Rangers[/b] Buffalo in 6 - they are in playoff mode and I think Miller will be the better goalie. [b]New Jersey vs. Ottawa[/b] Ottawa in 6 - They believ...
CBJ09 writes...

Round 2 --can it top Round 1?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The first round of the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs was very exciting, even with the lack of close series. The matchups we got were outstanding, such as Nashville-SJ, Detroit-Calgary, Vancouver-Dallas, and there was so much passion to go along. How will round 2 pan out? [b]Buffalo vs. New York Rangers[/b] I love the Rangers right now, they're playing with a huge amount of...
Ty writes...

Earth to Buffalo

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
Can someone please notify the Buffalo Sabres and their respected media that they have only won one round so far in the playoffs. Buffalo is a great team and looks destined to continue their current success for many years. Heck, they might even win this year’s Stanley Cup and lay the begining piece of the “New NHL’s” first dynasty. However, heading into game one ...
Sabres de Buffalo vs Rangers de New York Les Rangers ont été surprenant contre Atlanta, mais dans le fonds, si on regarde leurs récentes acquisitions - Brendan Shanahan durant l'été et Sean Avery 1 ou 2 semaines avant la date limite - c'est pas vraiment surprenant qu'il aient battus Atlanta, ces deux joueurs là ont apporté du coeur à cette équipe et le désir d...
mojoworld writes...

Buffalo will sweep the Rangers

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Rangers look so disinterested tonight... Anyways, they don't have enough defensemen to contain the Sabres. I think only the Senators can match. I hope the Rangers win a few games, that way more Sabres players can get more points for my pool :)
#30 writes...

Hey, Rangers, NOW Do You Believe?

Posted Thursday | Comments 1
The No Walk Rangers had much to say before game one of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, but very little to say after it. The Sabres won the opening game handily, 5-2, with two goals from Tomas Vanek, one each by Ales Kotalik, Jason Pominville, & Drew Stafford, and another solid performance by Ryan Miller. The Rangers were clearly outplayed in every facet of the game; f...
erby writes...

Sabres 5, Rangers 2

Posted Thursday | Comments 1
I wish I could kick it back with some old school commentary, but my life schedule has not been kind this playoffs. While I've listened to 90% of the games on internet radio, I had to miss two whole games in the 1st round and I got back in time for the 3rd period, but I fell asleep shortly after Pominville's goal was credited. Hey, what can I say, they took awhile! So,...
Brilliant. No, I'm not talking about Sean Avery. I am talking about the Sabres response to Avery's comments. For those of you who missed it, Avery had the following to say prior to the series, [i]"I'm just going to go out and try to punish their (defense) and make them realize this is going to be a real long series for them. I'm going to try to hurt them and hit them ...
writes...

Who Gets the Hart?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
This season has seen nearly every team develop their unsung hero(es). It's time again to evaluate who means the most to their team. I've always felt that the Hart should encompass the regular season AND the playoffs, but the Conn Smythe isn't disappearing anytime soon. So, let's look at the candidates: [b]1. Roberto Luongo, G, Vancouver[/b] It's a safe bet to say that ...
CBJ09 writes...

Who Gets the Hart?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
This season has seen nearly every team develop their unsung hero(es). It's time again to evaluate who means the most to their team. I've always felt that the Hart should encompass the regular season AND the playoffs, but the Conn Smythe isn't disappearing anytime soon. So, let's look at the candidates: [b]1. Roberto Luongo, G, Vancouver[/b] It's a safe bet to say that ...
gamma82 writes...

Hey Buffalo!!

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
It's one game, talk to me after game 2. The first game of a series is the least indicative of what is going to happen in the series and only becomes important if the result of game 2 is the same. Believe it or not no one is going to give the boys from upstate the Stanley Cup based on winning the opening game of the second round. So enough of the coronating the Sabres an...
Blah. Blah. Blah. So I'm going to get myself in trouble with a lot of other Sabre fans for doing this, but...I've heard enough about how "great" the Rangers are after playing "playoff" hockey over their last 25 games to get into the playoffs. Let's look at those 25 games (only W/L regardless of OT points): (N= non-playoff team, Y=playoff team) Feb 15 W @ CAR -...
The Rangers have NO chance. In addition to the Sabres being the overall superior team in every facet of the game, this series is a terrible match up for the Rangers. Sabres in 5 at most. Since I’m confident that round two is “in the bag” already… Let’s spend a little time looking forward to next season. Here’s how I think the line up will look on openi...
Hey guys . . . [b]Believe it or not[/b] nobody from Toronto is going to come to the HSBC wearing white gloves and carrying the Stanley Cup just because you won the 1st game of the series 5-2. [b]Believe it or not[/b] the Rangers didn't expect your team to roll over like dogs and aren't demoralized from one loss. [b]Believe it or not[/b] they actually intend on showin...
#30 writes...

Less (Net) Filling, Saves Great

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Has Ryan Miller finally come of age as a bonafide post-season goaltender? It's sure starting to look that way after these last two games against the Rangers. I'm certainly not one to count ANYONE'S chickens before they've hatched but, even though the last two Sabre victories were, no doubt, "team wins", Miller is the main reason that the 'bres have come out on top of their...
gamma82 writes...

Attention Sabres Fans

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I get the sense that some of you think the Cup is already in your possession. Believe it or not it's still early in this series and extremely early in the run to the Cup. Would I rather that the Rangers were up 2-0 coming back to MSG, you bet I would. Would I rather that the Rangers were able to a win a game in HSBC, especially Game 2 in which they out played the Sa...
begga79 writes...

Consistancy of officiating

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Did anyone out there notice the frank difference in the way the first two games of the Sabre/Ranger series was officiated? I can't stand to think that a series could be decided on the way certain officials are calling games. The first game, the refs called everything! The second game, the refs were much more leanient. I saw cross checks and punches in game two that would h...
gamma82 writes...

It was a Goal . . .

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I could probably write a pretty long blog about how the Rachunek goal was a goal, kicking motion my ass. I could write lettter and verse on how the refs seemed to miss so many calls on the Sabres and none on the Rangers. Well I could write that blog, but I won't. I will just say [b]Hell Of A Game[/b]. That is what playoff hockey is all about. Same pit in my stomach...
I wished NBC cut into the Rangers-Sabres game to show that Barbaro. that game was god awful. from the miss goal and on top of that the miss hooking call on that play. to phantoms calls Today was an embrassment for NHL. I cant believe two referees on the ice can't make the correct call on ice. I never saw a game inwhich the calls were slided to the Gaybres. Sabres are...
Hire a loudmouth, egotistical, jackanape former head coach, whose sole purpose as a broadcaster seems to be to hear himself talk, and put him by the glass. Why does NBC saddle a very good-outstanding, really-play-by-play and color team of Mike "Doc" Emrick and Ed Olczyk with Pierre McGuirre? Everytime McGuirre opens his mouth he's either stepping all over Emrick or Olc...
SabreFreek writes...

Smoke and Mirrors

Posted Monday | Comments 0
[url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=10402&post_id=714[/url] Click the link above, read that post first, and then come back and read the rest below. I'll wait...... Finished? Good. Congratulations to the NY Rangers for their win yesterday in double OT. I thought game 3 was the most closely contested of the 3 games so far (game 1 decidedly...
The Rangers win. Yes I know, I know. I was jumping for joy too. However the road is far from over. The impressive showing they brought on against Buffalo was great. They played their game. They came on tough and really left everything out on the ice and in so were rewarded by a great Rozsival shot to finally end the game in the 2nd OT. This game had everything. Hits,...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2854004&type=story This is this story that brought about this little rant... Scott Burnside is a good hockey guy, let's get that out of the way. But of course there is a 'but' here. He claims that since players can pass the puck with the skates why not allow them to deflect it with their skates? My first reason on why not ...
Eastern Conference Semi's, Game 3, Madison Square Garden, New York, New York. The Rangers have jumped out to a surprisingly commanding 1-0 lead over the Buffalo Sabres, who have a 2-0 in the series. Jaromir Jagr put the blueshirts ahead earlier in the game, and now New York continues to dominate the game. Marcel Hossa takes a pass from Jagr and neatly gives it to Karel ...
Since the flyers are out of the playoffs and i love to look at stats after games and after brilliant jobs by the refs in yesterday's games i decided to look at one stat that should be alarming. THe Amount of Pentalies called in a playoff game [b]27 Power Plays called in Two Playoff Games[/b] The refs are carrying out buttman's message by continue to call the phantom ...

Soccer On Ice?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
A “watershed moment” for pro hockey in the US? [b]Seriously?[/b] National hockey writers gushed about the Sabres/Rangers game 3 overtime game as a turning point to the TV fortunes of Hockey going forward. I couldn’t disagree more! That game was no more than a pitiful display of soccer on ice. Sure it was interesting because of the stakes…. but the product o...
gamma82 writes...

Need To Hold Serve

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
When the puck drops a little past 7 pm tonight at Madison Square Garden the boys in blue will be looking to hold serve and send the series back to Buffalo all square at 2 games apiece. The first win against 6 losses this season against the Sabres should give a little boost in the confidence of the Rangers. They have played well the past 2 games, playing the style tha...
gamma82 writes...

Best 2 out of 3 . . .

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Here we go off to Buffalo all tied up 2 games apiece. Don't think many Sabres fans thought we'd be looking at a best 2 out of 3 series after game 1. I'm sure we'll hear lots about how it was a goal, what a difference a few days make. Happen to be listening to Briere being interviewed, I guess he doesn't read the Sabre bloggers on myhockeybuzz, because he thought th...
flyershockey81 writes...

Sympathy for a Sabre

Posted Tuesday | Comments 2
Boy, i cant argue with the NO-Goal Call against buffalo. that was a goal. this is a disgrace for NHL on so many levels that i cant explain. NHL needs to replace those overhead camera with HD cameras. BTW, Lindy Ruff should be embrassed for himself foR that tirade after the game instead of doing infront of the media and make ass of himself he shouyld done infront of...
Did Jagr have a heart transplant or what? Maybe he was possessed! Maybe he sold his soul to the Devil. Whatever he did this guy was moving. Jagr has once again proven that when he wants it, he is almost unstoppable. This guy looked like a work horse the entire game. He back checked, forecheck, moved it well, passed, shot, and scored.He led this team by example. Showing why...
GilPerrault writes...

Feeling the Heat

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Since I am from Buffalo and now live in Illinois, you would think I would enjoy the Spring time heat that has finally found its way to the Midwest, but I am feeling the heat due to this playoff season and I am not enjoying it. I am feeling so stressed during these Sabres games, it is incredible. What other Sabres fans feel this? I haven't felt like this in the playoffs unt...
#30 writes...

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I'm with Briere on the Rachunek no-goal from game 3(if you heard his post game comments, you know what i mean); it shoulda counted. I understand why it was called no-goal but i didn't agree with it. Yeah, the call tonight was crap, too, but it should never have come to that. When an offensive threat like the 'bres are giving up 2 goals a game, the series should be over by ...
Strongisland writes...

How does it feel Buffalo?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Talk about bad calls, when it is assumed Thomas Vanek snuck one around Rick DiPietro it was called a goal, although the video was inconclusive. Sabres fans: WELCOME TO PLAYING THE RANGERS! The Sabres are apparently more important than the Isles, and the Rangers are more improtant than the Sabres. The goal that Briere scored, or "was inconclusive" looked pretty da...
begga79 writes...

Briere needs to step it up...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Look, I know he's the Co-Captain, and I know he lead the team in scoring, and I know he was the All-Star Game MVP, but lets be frank: He needs to show up in the 2007 NHL Playoffs! Goal or No Goal, so what! He is supposed to be a leader on this team, and has done nothing but shy away from everything. Every time he touches the puck, I know he's going to do one of two things...
begga79 writes...

Give the Rangers Credit

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I would like to give the Rangers credit here. They have found a way to bottle-up the explosive offense of the Sabres. Of course, most will debate the "explosivness" of the Sabres in this years playoffs. We all know it's there, look at the first game of both first and second round series! The Rangers have found a way to stop the Sabres in their tracks. If you watched all fo...
gamma82 writes...

Defense First?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Who would've thought that the New York Rangers would hold the high flying Buffalo Sabres to 2 goals over 8 periods of hockey at Madison Square Garden to even their Eastern Conference semifinal at 2 games apiece. The Sabres were the highest scoring team in the NHL averaging 3.75 goals/game over the course of the regular season. What many don't realize is the Rangers w...
gamma82 writes...

Anticipation it's . . .

Posted Friday | Comments 1
[b][i]"Anticipation, it's makin' me wait...it's keepin' me wa-a-a-a-aiting"[/i][/b] [b][i]"The waiting is the hardest part"[/i][/b] T minus 2 hours 'til the puck drops and I can't wait, heck I was getting antsy at 9 am this morning. Truth be told I was getting antsy for this game 2 days ago. I hope that the Rangers are as antsy to get this one started as I am, ...
Here is the phone number for Vs. to get them to the hockey games in HD! 1-877-VERSUS-ON 1-203-407-3613
gamma82 writes...

That Hurt . . .

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Yep that sure did hurt.
last night blog was a blog of frustration and being pissed off at the sport i love. plus i had little too much too drink last night in celebatation of cinco de mayo, which explains about everything for last night. Sorry if i oftened anyone. For now on, im only blogging on the finals, Flyers and Ripping gary bettman to help make a change in this league and I’ll release...
With 7.7 seconds to go Drury rifles a shot over Henrik Lundqvist and pass Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi and into the net, tying the game at one. That shot had eyes. With only a few inches of open net about to be closed off by Girardi's glove Drury launched the Sabres to an OT winner and a 3-2 lead in the series. It brings back memories of Valeri Zelepukin's tying goal wit...
It is probably too soon to write how it feels after watching my Rangers team go down 5-4 today, but I don't think time will change my opinion of this team. All I can say is that I'm proud of the 2006-2007 New York Rangers. This team never gave up, not when most counted them out during the regular season and not today down 2 goals to the Sabres. Jaromir Jagr showe...
This Ottawa-Buffalo series is going to be an exciting one. Geographically, Leaf fans could easily get their hockey fix being smackdab in between these 2 towns. At the same time, it's easy for Leaf fans to hate both these teams. Do you hate the team that crushed your Cup dreams some years ago, or do you hate the team who brags about crushing your dreams, yet never has? Dani...
One can assume that as the NHL playoffs progress we will be treated to more and more intense playoff hockey, but that is not always the case. I dont think that will be a problem this year, specifically in the Eastern Conference. I am not a fan of BUF or OTT but I am familiar with the rivalry that exists between these two teams and I can assure everybody that this will be a...
CaptPantalones writes...

Sabres/Sens preview

Posted Monday | Comments 0
It is only fitting that the Eastern Conference will come down to the two best teams. Even better, it is two teams that really, for all intensive purposes, hate each other. The Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators rivalry has grown leaps and bounds in the past 12 months. First it was Buffalo knocking off the number 1 seeded Sens last post-season in 5 games, capped off by Jaso...
nobody cares about the regular season anymore. playoffs is whats up. what happened to the senators last year. they killed us every game. playoffs was a different story. two words... Jason Pominville. sabre fans, no need to worry. this one line offensive team is no threat to us. LETS GO BUFFALO!!
[b]Second Annual Grimmy Award Winners[/b] Note: Since my last name is Grimm, the title of the awards are a take-off on my name and the music awards of a similar name. [b]Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins[/b] Runners-up: Roberto Luongo (Vancouver), Vinny Lecavalier (Tampa Bay) There have been heralded youngsters throughout the history of the NHL. Way...
Your intrepid author has called 4 of 4 Round 2, calling the exact amount of games 3 out 4. So, yes, I am tooting my own horn. Toot! My predictions made back on April 26th [url]http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=7150[/url] My Pick Was: Ottawa in 6 Result: Ottawa wins in 5 I predicted that Ottawa would beat NJ in 6. They did it in 5, NJ completely unab...
This is what we all wanted, right hockeyfans? Arguably the two best in the East, Buffalo and Ottawa, squaring off for the right to face the Western Champs and hoist up that silvery punch bowl amalgamut trophy that brings grown men to tears. On paper, and in pure hockey terms, this couldn't get any better. Two ridiculous offenses, two solid defenses one through six, an o...
In years watching hockey this might be the best final four teams left in the NHL playoffs in YEARS. So lets start out West [b]#1 Detriot Red Wings v #3 Anaheim Ducks[/b] Detriot has been playing great hockey and beat a physical Calgary team and a bottom feeder team in san jose. The ducks beat up on wild and kim johnsson's head. They also had a great series against...
doaftheloaf writes...

Round 3 Pix

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
As promised... [b]1 Buf vs 4 Ott[/b] - Total toss-up. If either team wins, I am not surprised. Buffalo has the speed edge, and they're a bit more spread out in terms of offense. Ottawa has slightly better defensive depth, and their top line has been beastly in these playoffs. Goaltending, imo, is a wash. But I feel the Sens have played better in these playoffs, and...
I'll be frank: I'm surprised how many people are picking the Wings to beat the Ducks. No, I don't think the Ducks are invincible and no I don't think they are guaranteed to advance to the SCF, but you'd have to think they are favorites by a fair margin. Detroit doesn't have Kronwall or Schneider and I doubt that Lebda is at 100%. If the Ducks play physical enough with the ...
Sabres de Buffalo vs Sénateurs d'Ottawa Les sabres on eu un début de séries plûtot ordinaire contre les rangers mais ils se sont bien repris dans les deux dernières parties. ils ont la chance de compter sur 4 bonnes lignes d'attaque, leur seule faiblesse est l'avantage numérique, ils ne font pas grand chose en avantage. aussi il leur manque un jouer de caractère ...
Tav writes...

Thoughts from Cowtown

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
There's almost 36hrs now till the puck drops on the Conference Finals so it's time for some thoughts on life in the off-season for this Flames fan.... [u]Thought #1[/u] It was very disappointing to see the end of the Rangers - they were the last dark horse left in the playoffs and while I didn't really expect them to make it past the Sabres, I just really miss there be...
groome16 writes...

Beasts

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Hockey is that entity that is misunderstood by so many. Is it a game? Is it a sport? Is it mayhem? It is all of those and more and this year it proved to be a beast. Many perennial favorites had great years as expected, some faltered and some just plain failed. Decade long traditional losers became winners overnight, literally in some cases. The losers, the lucky, th...
jamvan writes...

Shaping Up For An Epic Battle

Posted Wednesday | Comments 11
Script writers and media people alike, couldn’t have wished for a better, more exciting match-up, that the one being brought by the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres. Not only is their an obvious dislike for one another, but the match-up will also boast two of the most potent offences in the N.H.L.. The two teams do not need any fuel to light their fires, both teams app...
Sabrefan44 writes...

Are you ready?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Coming into work this morning I was greeted with warm sunshine, a cool breeze, and the comfort of knowing the Sabres are still playing hockey. All should be right with the world, but hanging in the back of my head is a cloud of doubt. The knowledge that this could be the last couple games I watch, the fear that Ottawa will be too much for us, that again we will come so c...
Conference Finals Predictions Oh I wanted the Preds to be here…I really thought they would be. Man when we traded for Foppa I could have sworn I overheard a call from the NHL’s official engraver checking to make sure that Tomas Vokoun doesn’t have an ‘H’ in his name. Now I know it was the tee time manager at the Karlovy Vary Country Club asking if would need...
flyershockey81 writes...

Been there. done that.

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
i love it on VS coverage that they say that buffalo fans invented the idea of having fans partying outside while during game. Well they are wrong. If you buy this dvd http://www.amazon.com/NHL-History-Philadelphia-Flyers/dp/B000M7XR7Y/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4451391-1782410?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1178840045&sr=8-1 and any flyers fan will tell you that the flyers fans wer...
First off, I was at the arena tonight...Another amazing atmosphere for sure. And not the prettiest hockey game in the world (turnovers, barage of penalties in the first two periods, plenty of hits, etc.), but certainly entertaining! Here's to much more to come between these two teams! Now..Credit goes to where credit is due. Congratulations to the Ottawa Senators on ...
Like WTF is wrong with your team. Really, seriously, what is wrong with the line up. Are the four lines just expecting each other to finish things off and score the goals and we're left in limbo land? I've been posting this as a OTT special teams game vs. Buffalo's 5on5 game. And the special teams are winning: OTT PP%+PK% = 22.7+86 = 108.7% points BUF is 15.3%+79...
WILL THE BUFFALO SABRES AND THEIR SPECIAL TEAMS PLEASE REPORT TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS...THE BUFFALO SABRES AND THEIR SPECIAL TEAMS TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS....THANK YOU That's what I heard over the HSBC p.a. tonight following an embarassing showing (or lack thereof) by the Sabres in game 1 of the ECF. Bottom line is, if their power play continues to b...
Sabrefan44 writes...

Game 1

Posted Friday | Comments 1
Going to my car Thursday morning I was greeted with the cold, wet blanket that can be Buffalo spring. My initial thoughts were concern about how this was going to affect the ice. I knew it was going to warm up, but would the humidity lift, and if it didn’t were the Sabres going to have problems dealing with slow, choppy ice. No matter I thought, game time was twelve h...
For those of you who do not recall a fateful night in February, this is all you need to know about the Eastern Conference Finals between Ottawa and Buffalo. These teams do not like each other. Not even a bit. As if it was not enough the Sabres have knocked the Senators out of the playoffs three times, the two teams engaged in a compelling brawl Feb. 22 at the Hot Sau...
I've learned this past week that doing yard work during a Sabres game CAN be accomplished. I had mowed my lawn the day before and I was too lazy to pick up the piles of grass that the mower had thrown across my lawn. It was the end of the first intermission of Game 1 between the Sabres and Senators when I chose to go out and rake and pick up the grass, trying to make it ba...
mojoworld writes...

DAYAAAMMM RRIIGGGHHHTTSSS

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
2-0 Buffalo.... They FINALLY decided to show up.... best start of the playoffs yet, hope they can keep it up!
mojoworld writes...

LINDY -- WE NEED DREW!!!

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Need that Drew Stafford guy back. Like fer sho'. He needs to rip it up with Vanek and Roy again. Gaustad and Mair, pick one and drop him for one. It ain't happening enough. It's not anyone's fault, but you need to mix it up here. It's must wins in OTT because you basically can't afford the split and have Ottawa try 3 times to clinch. Great game. I need more BUF poi...
Well he SHOULD be! In the first OT, Alfredsson lept from his skates and pounded a defenseless Henrik Tallinder from behind. This one of the most egregious/dirty boarding incidents I have ever seen in my life and Alfredsson gets not even a deuce for his trouble. Tallinder nearly broke his neck. Alfredsson should have gotten a major and been tossed from the game. Take...
Gee, Lindy Ruff is a brilliant coach after all......
Anne Hier writes...

O Say, Can You Sing?

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Congratulations Sabres! What a thrill to hear the spectacular voice of [b]Ronan Tynan[/b] before the Sabres/Rangers game on April 27. We don't know if he has opened any games in this current series. If he has, we haven't heard it. Why not? Through the whole long season the team owners and broadcast cognoscenti have seen fit to torture us with countless other so-call...
NHL fans are getting a healthy dose of all possible camera angles this off season as the league takes every possible step to ensure that goals are rewarded properly. By and large, I have to say, they have done a good job. With apologies to Mike Ross of XM Radio, Thomas Vanek's disallowed goal was so blatantly obvious a call that Mick McGeough would have made it-and even...
I love youtube. it has everything you want as a hockey fight fan. i want to share my top #10 fights on you tube #10 Cam Neely TKOs Lindy Ruff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDt8pgmsfV0&mode=related&search= your're not a hockey fan if you dont like cam neely
There is a choking situation in Buffalo.... [img]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/jimmywhite81/choking_1.jpg[/img]
SmokingChicken writes...

Sweet Vindication

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Again, the Sabres' special teams are a collective no-show. Senators were in complete control of what little of the game I saw(about the last 15 minute). And, if you'll remember, I called this plus another win yesterday... ;-) And Thursday night the Buffalo Sabres and Stanley Cup will not be mentioned in the same sentence again until October. With 10:22 left in the fi...
Sabrefan44 writes...

3-0 Sens

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Let’s face facts, the Sabres are getting beaten by a better team. They need to come to grips that the mythical 2nd gear that we have been waiting all playoffs for does not exist. They are not better then the Sens, and do not have the players to beat them on talent and skill alone. This sounds defeatist, but it is just realty. The coach and players need to finally ac...
What in the hell happened here? Three games totally dominated by Ottawa. No “ifs, ands or buts” about it. No excuses. A thorough beating. PERIOD. So… now I have to come up with a few reasons to make myself believe that the Sabres are on the verge of a monumental comeback. Here it goes. [b]They can replace Kalinin. [/b] I don’t think I’ve ever seen a s...
groome16 writes...

Buffalo Wings

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Everyone spoke to how fast, talented and overpowering the Sabres were in the regular season, including yours truly. But, as I have stated before and others before me, the playoffs are a different time of year. Winning the President's Trophy means two things, you get a nice trophy and you get home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Home ice advantage. Who cares?...
nephew23 writes...

Detroit vs. Ottawa?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Wow! Did the Ducks know what time the game started? I realize it is a seven game series, but they responded to the first period like it was a regular season game? There was very little real pressure throughout the game and it looked to me like they could care less to be there...just like their fans! Their one shining moment was the hit on Holmstrom. I hate the fact th...
One thing I'm not seeing in the Conference Finals series is the geniuine hatred between the teams involved. Its not a requirement for a well-played and entertaining series, but it sure would make watching these games a bit more bearable. Every year there seems to be a series or two that is just a venemous battle between two teams, leaving most of the participants with scar...
The last three games you picked Buffalo and you saw the results. Our city has a curse as it is, your picking jinx doesn't help. All kidding aside, the Sabres really are in a huge hole. Let's hope the 3-0 gives them a HUGE wake up call. Here's to the team showing up tonight....here's to Miller doing his stuff again...here's for lots of shots and some goals (dare I...
gamma82 writes...

Is the Fat Lady Singing?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Fat Lady is warming up if not already singing. It's gonna kill the Sabres fans, most of them thought they already won the Cup when they went up 2-0 on the Rangers. What am I saying they thought they had it wrapped up after going up 1-0. It looks like they will be on the Links this weekend. I guess those directions to the HHOF in Toronto will come in handy for...
This is perfect! The stage is set... the Sabres got 'em right where they want 'em! I can already feel the pressure mounting on the Sens for game 6! Keep the faith! Like I said before… the Sabres are on the verge of a monumental comeback! Are there any other teams you would expect to be in this scenario? Buffalo has been known for comebacks all year... Ottawa is known ...
kent writes...

Sens vs Sabres Game 5

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Well, I think most of us would be surprised to think that in this series a team has a 3-1 lead, let a lone the Ottawa Senators. I think its fair to say that most hockey analysts pegged ottawa as the underdogs, but their play in the playoffs, including the buffalo sabres, should have been otherwise. Ottawa was able to deal with Pittsburgh and New Jersey quite easily in 5 ga...
nephew23 writes...

New Hope...For Now

Posted Friday | Comments 0
That is more like it...much better effort all-around! Both game 4's were two of the most fun and frenetic battles of the playoffs...great to watch! I did not want to go back and count...but aside from missing on the Senators wrapping up their series in game 4, I was spot on every other call I made! It took Buffalo all of nine seconds to [b]find the net[/b]. [b]Chri...
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/78531.html A woman and 6 of her friends attended Game 4 of the ECF up at Scotiabank Place dressed in Sabres jerseys and gear. After the game, this lady was pushed down to the ground, punched, and others in her group were injured as someone attacked them. This is absurd and utterly horrible to hear...not just ...
Swede writes...

Drury signs 3-year deal?

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I was talking about the Sabres yesterday at work when another fan told me that he heard that Drury signed a 3-year deal and it wouldn't be discussed until after the playoffs. If this is true, a plus for Buffalo. But who will they let go to free up some money? My money is on Briere. With players like Vanek stepping up this year and Stafford looking like he will be coming up...
You have a third period full of questionable penatlies that won't be called in real hockey game and their Network dumps their sorry asses for horse race. it goes to show how popular NHL is really is and how screwed up this league is.
Well, we had an exciting playoff game, heading to overtime. Good game featuring two skilled teams, that were very evenly matched. However, NBC also owns the TV rights to a horse race, so a brief graphic and one time announcement at the end of regulation sent NHL fans scrambling to Versus. The problem is, Versus is not available throughout the US. In a brilliant move com...
Congrats to Sens. You deserved to Win. You destory and expose the sissies the buffalo sabres are made of. This series proved that old style hockey still regins in the sport i Love. Someone needs to Bettman that phyiscal play is still apart of hockey...... [b]For my Fellow flyers fans let the debate begin.......[/b] [img]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/jimmywhi...
doman430 writes...

Season over

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
This will be a very short post as I am just testing this out. The better team was victorious as much as it hurts to say that but the Sabres will be good for years to come. If you want to read more than go to www.buffalosportstampede.com
doman430 writes...

The Season is really over

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The reality is setting in that the Sabres season is over and they waisted a glorious opportunity. I’m sitting here trying to figure out what went wrong and the only conclusion I can come to is that the Ottawa Senators were better. I guess when put into perspective the disappointment is eased a bit because the Sabres didn’t deserve to win. In last years Conference Fi...
editors note: This is the first of a four part series recapping the Buffalo Sabres season and heading into the offseason. The Buffalo Sabres enjoyed what many would say was a successful 2006-2007 season. A Northeast Division title for the first time since 1997 and the teams first Presidents Trophy were good benchmarks for the Regular Season champions. But the s...
Part 2 of the Sabres season review discusses the progression of the defenseman this season, and where the goaltenders in the organization stand. Brian Campbell (6-42-48) Campbell enjoyed his best offensive season in 2006-2007, finishing tops among Sabres defenseman in points. Earned his first trip to the All Star Game this past season, voted a strter by the fans. His pl...
This blog is in responce to the Game 5 television dabacle on NBC. I am posting the E-Mail I sent to Seth Winter - NBC-Sports SVP of Sprots Programming just in case he decided not to return to work yesterday afternoon from a three martini lunch at Rainbow Room in Lower Manhatten. I did not want my outrage missed about NBC's programming decisions on Saturday. I think my s...
We Buffalo Fans are doing alot of "back of napkin" figuring on the Sabres contracts and salary cap next year but not many are considering the actual dollars they spend compared to their budget. Get out your abucus and follow along. According to [url]http://www.nhlnumbers.com/buf.html[/url]the Sabres spent $45.43 million (actual dollars) on their players salries last y...
For those outside of Buffalo, just an interesting little story.... I called HSBC Arena yesterday. I was hoping to buy season tickets. The response I got: "We're all maxed out for next season. We can take your name down for the waiting list though." What? It's not like I waited til the last minute. Last year I ordered my tix in August and had no problem. You...
sideshowbob492 writes...

Who Will It Be?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
So here we go, another off-season filled with free agents and question marks only fit for the Empire State. This year it comes down to the absolute core of the team, the two captains, Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. I love Chris Drury, he is everything I want my captain to be. If I have a team led by Drury, backstopped by Ryan Miller, and coached by Lindy Ruff, I am ...
doaftheloaf writes...

Round 3: How'd I Do?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]1 Buf vs 4 Ott - Ott in 7[/b] - Didn't take as long as I expected, as the Sabres bowed out in five. I called the goaltending a wash...maybe I said that cuz I was cheering for the Sens. Miller is the better goalie, but not by as much as a lot of people are still thinking. However, Miller was inconsistent in the first two rounds. Of course, in this series, he was the ...
hAbfAn33 writes...

5pm PDT vs. 5pm EDT

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Question for West Coast residents: What is Cup Finals gameday like for Ducks fans when the game starts at 5:00pm? I'm just curious because here in Buffalo if a game started at 5:00pm our city (and many of the surrounding suburbs) would completely shut down approximately 36 hours in advance and there would be about as many people at work that day as there is on Christmas Da...
The 49th parallel has never looked so significant. While Canadian fans were enjoying the standard high-quality broadcast from CBC's Hockey Night in Canada Saturday afternoon -- more on the afternoon part later -- fans south of the border were shut out as the Ottawa-Buffalo game went to overtime. You would think American-based fans would be used to this by now. After ...
doman430 writes...

Sabres season in review

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Despite a disappointing conclusion to the Sabres season it was one of, if not the best season in Franchise history. The Sabres have played in the Stanley Cup finals twice but had never won the Presidents Trophy in franchise history. The Stanley Cup is obviously the most coveted prize but it is equally as difficult to be the best team in the league over an 82 game span. I w...
Let's face facts Sabre Nation, the boys in the suits are not going to spend to the cap next year and it seems very possible they actually spend less then last year. That is why it is virtulally impossible to keep both Drury and Briere. That being said here is what I think the roster could look like next season. This involves letting Briere and Zubrus walk, not offering Num...
SabreFreek writes...

Where Did Hockey Season Go?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
OK, so I leave on this ridiculously long business trip 3+ weeks ago sitting on top of the world. The Sabres had just dispatched the Rangers and were about to face the Sens (hind sight being 20/20, I wish it was New Jersey). Fans in Buffalo were crazed. You couldn't walk into a store without seeing a huge display of Sabres logo merchandise for sale. Stop 1: Las Vegas ...
flyershockey81 writes...

Kicking MOtion Goal

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
i wonder if that was buffalo or any usa team in the same exact situation would they called it a goal? dont nhl offical know how easy to revoke a usa passport
[img:right]http://www.wgr550.com/sabres/top10/media/02_mayday.jpg[/img] Congradulations to Brad May on his first Stanley Cup Championship. nearly 14 years and 2 months ago Brad scored one of the biggest Stanley Cup Ot winning goals in history. Now his name will enter the history books as a Stanley Cup winner. It is nice to see him get his due. With over 900 games pl...
Congratulations to the Anaheim Ducks. An outstanding organization and a tremendous hockey team. They deserved everything they got. And now our lives fall back to normalcy. No more puck. At least not on the ice. It's a terribly sad time of year. At least we have the NBA Finals starting tomorrow, right? Major League Baseball is in full swing. And then football s...
[b]Lindy Phillips? Duke Ruff? You decide[/b] After enjoying the final moments of the Stanley Cup presentation (congrats to the Ducks, someday I hope to enjoy a celebration in Buffalo as well), a friend and I put on a DVD of one of our favorite television shows: The Critic. A long cancelled and mostly forgotten classic, for those of you who don't know. It's a cartoon s...
[img]http://nhl.speedera.net/image-upload/regier_tallAP.jpg[/img] Picture this: It is July 4th in the United States in Western New York and some Sabres fans get together for a BBQ to celebrate Independence Day. And when Buffalo sports fans have an outing, you can bet the house it is only a matter of time before the conversation turns to either the Bills or Sabres. ...
The Sabres’ past season and the final episode of the Sopranos have a few things in common. The Sabres built up the hopes and dreams of the City of Buffalo for its first ever significant national championship. We, Sabres fans, have seen this team develop over the years with big wins, strong efforts and winning streaks that led to the best record in the NHL’s regular sea...
They are both returning for 07-08. Details not known at this time, but they have agreed to new deals with the Sabres. This per WGRZ-Channel 2 in Buffalo, broadcasted during this evening's 5 p.m. news. WGR-550 is also reporting that Ruff has signed this evening. The focus of the Sabres can now move STRICTLY to free agency.
H3 writes...

My Gut Feeling-Drury Stays

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Buffalo has not had a captain as heartfelt as Chris Drury since Pat LaFontaine played here. Any interview you watch, you'll hear "us", "team", "we". Also, it's been a long time since I've heard a professional athlete in Buffalo speak about the city in the way Drury has in his time here. Drury said it's great to see those basketball nets vacant, and all the kids playing str...
H3 writes...

My Gut Feeling-Drury Stays

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Buffalo has not had a captain as heartfelt as Chris Drury since Pat LaFontaine played here. Any interview you watch, you'll hear "us", "team", "we". Also, it's been a long time since I've heard a professional athlete in Buffalo speak about the city in the way Drury has in his time here. Drury said it's great to see those basketball nets vacant, and all the kids playing str...
H3 writes...

My Gut Feeling-Drury Stays

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Buffalo has not had a captain as heartfelt as Chris Drury since Pat LaFontaine played here. Any interview you watch, you'll hear "us", "team", "we". Also, it's been a long time since I've heard a professional athlete in Buffalo speak about the city in the way Drury has in his time here. Drury said it's great to see those basketball nets vacant, and all the kids playing str...
When asked about his approach to signing #1 RFA Tomas Vanek, Darcy Regier held firm. “I don’t believe in operating out of fear,” said Regier. “Tomas is a Restricted Free Agent and will have a market value that we’ll go from there.” Interesting stance by Darcy but I can;’t say I’m surprised. It’s going to take a $4million plus offer to get Vanek ou...
The NHL Awards show has too strong a Canadian flavor to it. We, who grew up on the border appreciate it. But, if the NHL wants the game to appeal more to the casual fan in the states they have to make these events more cross cultural. If I'm someone who knows a little bit about the game, a show like the one last night would keep me following the more American sports like f...
PuckAddiction writes...

SABRES OFF-SEASON

Posted Friday | Comments 0
#1, Re-sign Drury to a 5-year deal at between $7 and $7.5 million a year. #2, Re-sign Vanek to a 5-7 year deal at an average of $3.5-$4 million year. #3, Re-sign Roy (about $1.5 million a year), Mair ($750,000 a year), Michael Ryan (minor league contract), Dan Paille ($750,00 a year), Nathan Paetsch ($1 million a year) to multi-year deals. Definitely lock Paetsch...
I know most of us Sabre fans are upset with the possibilities of losing both Drury and Briere, but I think we will see something happen on the Briere front before Friday. As for the draft and Drury, this is what I'd like to see if it becomes clear the Drury is not coming back (this probably won't happen, but it's fun to speculate). 1) Trade Kalinin and a forward (Kot...
Darryl2981 writes...

Can GM's do this?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Someone please tell me if this can be done. There has to be a way to manipulate the cap. So many times there are contracts given with escalating salaries through out the term of the contract, my question is, can there be declining contracts? The reason I ask is because if there is, what is stopping a GM from signing a player, or players to very long Dipietro like deals, an...
When the Sabres season ended, the speculation started. Would the Sabres sign Drury or Briere? How much money would they command? Questions, Questions, Questions! In the middle of the season we thought Drury might cash in on a $6mil/year long term contract. And with “leading scorer” statistics, Briere might get more. Now, as we close in on July 1, those sala...
With the constant rumors of the buffalo sabres loosing both of their captians who do you pick to be the next sabres captain. do you pick Hecht,Campbell,Afinogenov,Tallinder,Lydman or do you get someone from the outside to become your new captain. i believe that that wont happon because they have stressed the last few years how the core of this team is the most important th...
This by far maybe the biggest week in the history of the Sabres franchise in the post lockout era. Drury or Briere? Which one do you want because you can only have one? Does Chris Drury return back to colorado to where he started his career? Does he go home to California and reunite with his best friend Mike Grier? Where does Briere go? Big big questions surrounding the fr...
The recent lack of information out of the Sabres camp in regards to Daniel Breire, Chris Drury & Thomas Vanek speaks volumes. But what does it say exactly? Everyone knows Darcy doesn't show his hand to often. Are there problems amongst the troops? The brass? Or is simply they don't know what direction this team is headed? This should be the Sabres off-season checklist:...
As July 1st approaches, it is looking more likely every hour that Chris Drury will not be returning to the Buffalo Sabres. While everyone should agree, Chris Drury is an absolute warrior, and he goes to battle for his team every night he hits that ice. He is an unbeleivable leader and a fantastic captain, but putting all that aside, it is not the end for the Sabres if he...
It is very hard for me to rant about Darcy Regeir. I think he has done a very good job considering the mess the Sabres were in last year, and now this year. The one thing I wish I could illustrate to him though, is that it is not always a bad thing to ink a player to a long term deal. Long term not being 3 or 4 years; I'm talking about a franchise player, 5 or 6 years. ...
A few weeks ago (maybe even a few moths ago), Eklund floated a rumor out there about the possibility of Michael Peca returning to the Sabres. When I read it back then, I immediately dismissed it as nonsense (no offense Ek!). Now however, looking through the lens of the Sabres current situation (which doesn’t looks so rosy), Peca seems like a very good option for 3r...
After the great let down that was watching our most hated rival clean our clocks in the Eastern Conference Final it was left to the commonwealth of Sabres fans to figure out what went wrong. Many comparisons to the previous year began to emerge and it gave me the idea of actually watching some taped games to see if their really was a difference between the two teams. Wh...
Today I thought I would talk about the differences I noticed between last year’s power play and the one that faltered for much of the time this season. As I mentioned yesterday, this years Sabres team boasted a highly skilled roster which ought to have made goal scoring on the PP a common occurrence. As we all witnessed, that was not the case. Why not? In 2005 the Sa...
Cup Crazy '07 writes...

Letter to Darcy Regier

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Dear Darcy, I want to preface this by saying I think you have had some very difficult circumstances in which to deal with these past 2 seasons, and I commend you for your hard work and efforts. I think you have done an excellent job at adding great young prospects through the draft and trades. You had a great deal of foresight as it pertained to the rule changes, an...
dkartik writes...

Predators to KC?!?!?!?!

Posted Friday | Comments 1
I admit, when I first saw the headline on TSN this morning my stomach dropped. Not that I have anything against the people of Nashville, or feel a lot of joy out of ripping a team away from them, but I was hoping that the move to Hamilton would work out because it would be good for the game, for the NHL. Nashville has proven, over the last 10 years that it is not a hockey ...
grosek18 writes...

We Were All Fooled

Posted Friday | Comments 1
The NHL announced that the Salary Cap will be $50.3 million this upcoming season. And before we get into the rest of this blog, I say (Sarcasm On) 'good job NHL' for releasing the Salary Cap figure approximately 48 hours before the UFA period begins on July 1st, what a way to provide the teams enough time to determine who they can fit or not fit under the cap! (Sarcasm O...
It isn't officially the end of Danny Briere and Chris Drury's time with the Buffalo Sabres but it seems that the end is near. Briere turned down the Sabres 5 year $25 million dollar offer and Drury turned down an offer that is supposively worth about $6mil per year. I just wanted to post something to thank them for their time spent in Buffalo trying to bring a championship...
Life after death……or in Buffalo’s case, life after Drury and Briere, is it time for fans to prepare for what seems now to be our inevitable fate? Like an Atheist afraid of death Buffalo Sabres fans must now seriously ponder what the world will look like if the two captains leave. As was reported on TSN.ca earlier today Briere looks to be gone. Combine the fact th...
One team that, i think, is going to struggle the most this summer, with the new cap, is Nashville No player want's to sign there, now because of their indecisiveness for a new owner, and the lease running out after the 08 season. When Kariya goes to the market, that puts them in the basement, cap-wise. I heared Home Ice, today, that after trading Vokoun and losing Kari...
Its June 30th, and as I sit here today, I realize the end of an era is dawning. The end of the era of the Captains. 2 men, brought together in seperate trades in 2003 to bring the Buffalo Sabres out of mediocrity and take them to glory. But with the mission not yet completed, although at times it has come very close, it looks like the captains will be making a move out ...
I just got a phone call from my father in WNY saying that he heard that they are planning on have a Sabres/Guins game and Ralph Wilson Stadium on New Years Day. Can you imagine how awesome that would be. If that is truly the case, I need to get my butt home and take that in. 80,000 screaming fans! I guess there isn't much faith that the Bills will make the playoffs...
[b]Buffalo Sabres, you let a lot of us down today. But you can right your wrongs. There is still time. Don't give up our hopes of a Cup. We are not far away, with the current team - in fact we may be the closest ever - even without Drury and Briere. Get some new guys in here; keep us competitive; give us a reason to continue to support this team. PLEASE do the rig...
todays press conference in buffalo was nothing more than when in every election year when politicians go around from city to city expressing the common sense to the "potential voters". today the same thing took place in buffalo, ny when Sabres President Larry Quinn and General Manager Darcy Regier held a press conference today. instead of talking to voters they were talk...
duxown writes...

Free Agency Blah Blah Blah

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Free agency this year is like a hike. You either stay on the trail or you can go into the bushes and risk stratching and clawing your way to where you want to go. Once you're on the trail you're locked in and once you're in the bushes you get lost and are locked in as well. The trail really represent the lucrative contracts that have been handed out to the Drurys and the B...
OK we screwed up not keeping Drury and anyone who could check left the Year Before, Grier, Mckee. So out of whats left of FA pool I will try and salvage a little of our dignity. 1. Sign Shanahan or Selanne. We need people to buy up these new Jerseys and two of the top sellers just left town. SHANAHAN BACK WITH RANGERS ...
begga79 writes...

It's here already!

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
As I sit here, at 4:30 in the morning, not being able to sleep due to numerous reasons, I search my feelings on what has happened over the last 40 hours. "Marketplace, marketplace, marketplace"... I hear it over and over in my head. It's like a bad dream. I have tried, without much success, to look on the positive side of things when it comes to the Sabres situation. As I ...
As I sit here, at 4:30 in the morning, not being able to sleep due to numerous reasons, I search my feelings on what has happened over the last 40 hours. "Marketplace, marketplace, marketplace"... I hear it over and over in my head. It's like a bad dream. I have tried, without much success, to look on the positive side of things when it comes to the Sabres situation. As I ...
SabreCrazy07 writes...

TEPPO NUMMINEN RESIGNED E5

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
Well sabres fans it's confirmed Teppo Numminen has resigned with the Sabres [url]http://wgr550.com/sabres/fullstory.php?id=2491[/url] According to nhlpa.com Sabres vetern Defenceman Teppo Numminen has a 2.6 million Dollar salary for 07-08. Here is a link for the sabres team page on nhlpa.com: [url]http://nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerSearchV2.asp?OIDTeam=9508[/url] ...
As the first week comes to a close in sabres nation Post DB (Drury & Briere) Sabres fans had had to look inside them selfs to see where they stand with this team. The article written by eklund earlier was some good reading i hope all of you sabre fans have a chance to read it. All the points that were brought up were all good points. The Sabres are not dead in the water. T...
gamma82 writes...

Vanek Offer Sheet

Posted Friday | Comments 0
TSN is reporting that the Edmonton Oilers have signed Buffalo Sabre forward Thomas Vanek to a $50 million dollar 7-year offer sheet. Looks like another example of the big market teams going crazy and taking advantage of the small market teams. Oh wait a minute forget everything I just said.
Well it appears we have gotten to the point where I will write a blog on my 2nd favorite team...the Buffalo Sabres. Thomas Vanek has been offered a 7 year 50 million dollar offer sheet by the Edmonton Oilers. If I'm Darcy Regier, I take the picks and run. Why? Vanek is a franchise player you might say. Look at it this way. He's going to get Edmonton's picks not the Anahei...
It seems as though the Sabres franchise knew this was coming. Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe needs to bring in a marquee player, and Thomas Vanek was on his hit list. Buffalo GM Darcy Regier said no way, Vanek is staying in town, and we'll match any offer sheet you throw at him. Well, Lowe tried to call Regier's bluff, but Darcy wasn't bluffing. The 7-year, $50 million pi...
Thomas Vanek will be in a Buffalo uni for the next 7 years and the deal was a must if your Larry Quinn and the Sabres Management. It would have been a PR nightmare at games neat year if you had to come off loosing you 3 best forwards. Is he worth the money only time will tell. If the Sabres had signed vanek to a 2 or 3 year deal vanek would have recieved probably a 8 mill ...
With the recent departures of Co-Captains Daniel Breire & Chris Drury a lot of people have written off the 2007-2008 Buffalo Sabres. Not this fan! Well not anymore atleast. Let’s take a minute to look back at this time in 2005. Many experts and fans around the league didn’t expect the Sabres to make the playoffs yet reach the ECF. The Sabres fought numerous in...
With the recent signing of RFA Thomas Vanek for 7 more years in Buffalo, I think I've turned my prospects so to speak a complete 108 degrees. There was a lot of speculation, especially on my part of whether or not we can be as good as we were the last 2 years without our Co-Captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. After some soul searching I can now see our potential. We...
Lowe is a crazy man sparing nothing to improve his team (in a way I kinda admire that). On the other hand, I get the 'strategy' aspect of what he did and it isn't good for the league. In getting the Sabres to sign Vanek at the average hit of over $7mil per year, the arbitrators will award some crazy contracts to the likes of Parise, Ryder, and Hunter (probably Roy too). Ex...
MVPrice writes...

Habs Grow from Within...

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The habs this year will be a taste of whats to come. Without the arrival of a first line UFA (once again) the Canadiens finally have the luxury of having good building blocks at every position. The lines this year will hopefully involve a rookie or second year player on at least three of four lines, and since these rookies are highly touted prospects, this is an excelle...
Todays rookie camp brought about 300 people strong to the Amherst Pepsi Center to see the future of the Buffalo Sabres. Again today there were two rinks going with about 20 players on each. Lindy was there today running the practice and was having the players go through a lot of puck moving and stick handling drills. Drew Stafford was leading the way through most of the dr...
From Sabres beat writer Bucky Gleason to your normal everyday average Joe, everyone within a 100 mile radius of HSBC Arena has an opinion about Darcy Regier. Some hate him, some respect him, and others just want to question what he is doing. But it goes without saying, if we have learned anything in the past 10 years, it is that Darcy Regier has a grand plan, and you an...
After the Thomas Vanek signing the sabres have a face to build their young core around and the question left is what happens next. Are the sabres willing to sign some second tier free agents, trade, or release current players? I dont know if that right now would be a great time to jump into those situations. I think after the arbitration process has been settled, th...
After the Thomas Vanek signing the sabres have a face to build their young core around and the question left is what happens next. Are the sabres willing to sign some second tier free agents, trade, or release current players? I dont know if that right now would be a great time to jump into those situations. I think after the arbitration process has been settled, the s...
[b]Le Affaire Du Vanek[/b] As we all know, Thomas Vanek signed a seven year, $50 million offer sheet from the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, which was matched in about 13 second by the Buffalo Sabres. The surprise is not the offer sheet, the player, or even the amount, really. The surprise is the team making the offer and the reaction it elicited from the Sabres front o...
[i]In response to Larry Brooks column in the NY post on July 8th; Really Lowe[/i] 9 million dollars for Henrik Lundqvist....wow. Don't get me wrong, Henrik is an amazing goaltender, but 9 million dollars. I can think of about 4 million reasons why he is not worth 9 million dollars. And especially to the Oilers, where reason 4,000,001 is a guy named Dwayne Roloson. S...
[i]EDIT: After reading some comments made, I just want to add that the Sabres are my second favorite team after the Oilers. Most of the reason I became a Sabre fan was because I love Chris Drury as a player, but now I like the rest of the team as well.[/i] That baby of course is Darcy Regier, GM of the Buffalo Sabres, who is mad that some big kid tried to steal his toy...
Larry Quinn made a great point in the press conference when asked whether or not the Sabres considered taking the four 1st round picks as compensation from the Oilers on the Tomas Vanek deal. [i]“In the 37 year history of the Sabres, there haven’t been 4 players picked in the first round better than Vanek.”[/i] I think that’s pretty accurate. The Sabres have ...
Multiple league sources have informed the Sabres as the team chosen to represent the league in an "Ice Bowl" on the first day of 2008. The opponent, most likely,would be the Pittsburgh Penguins as it should. The combination of Sidney Crosby and Malkin copuled with facing an appointent who's fans will fill the Ralph in a matter of hours will be outstanding. The genius be...
Multiple league sources have informed the Sabres as the team chosen to represent the league in an "Ice Bowl" on the first day of 2008. The opponent, most likely,would be the Pittsburgh Penguins as it should. The combination of Sidney Crosby and Malkin copuled with facing an appointent who's fans will fill the Ralph in a matter of hours will be outstanding. The genius behin...
predjoe writes...

Preds Schedule...A Quick Look

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The NHL just released the schedule for the 07-08 hockey season and at first glance it looks favorable for the Preds. - Saturday Night Fever: The Preds have 14 Saturday home games. For a team trying to get butts in seats nothing is better than a Saturday home game. - Never Far Away: The Preds have only tow long road trips...a five game swing in Late October that takes...
FrankD writes...

Outdoor games on New Years day

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As most of you already know, the NHL is setting New Years day as the day for an outdoor game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres. In a league that struggles for tv ratings (although I will admit, beating out the NBA last season was prime) what better way to help these ratings then by putting a game you dub the Ice Bowl on tv the same day colleges arou...
Jon Jordan writes...

Are the Sabres in Trouble?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Before I begin, let me dissuade your urges to assume that I'm just an Islander fan looking to speak negatively about another NHL franchise that is, seemingly, a bit worse off than they were at the end of last season. Quite contrarily, I am not and it remains to be seen just how the Sabres will fare when things play out come October. But the reason for my concern and the re...
[b]I am just curious to know what are the number of back to back games your teams are sentenced to play next year? The Sabres get to play 20 back to back games. Just under a quarter of their schedule. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess the Leafs, Senators and Canadians were protected in this way. I guess this is the way the NHL gets back at certain teams for thei...
After reading all of the Negative Blogs on the Sabres and All of the Press of the Former Captains Whom Will Remain Nameless. I figured I would write about something that could get the fans Smiling again. See We have a Terrific Team, Two players dont make a team and as far as Im concerned this team is headed in the right direction THE FUTURE. So thinking in the future....
A HockeyBuzz Q & A with The Buffalo Sabres Homegrown Patrick Kaleta. INTRO SC07: Patrick do you have a minute? PK: Sure. SC07: I wanted to ask you a few questions for HockeyBuzz. PK: No problem THE PLAYER SC07: What was your favorite team when you were a kid? PK: The Sabres SC07: Patrick how did it feel to be drafted by the team you gre...
Below is a list of notable unrestricted free agent signings (sorted by team) from the 2005 & 2006 off seasons. It’s funny how crazy us fanatics get about signing free agents and how depressed we get if our teams (the Sabres in my case) seem to miss out on the talent bonanza. After a deeper look through this list, I’m pretty happy with the Sabres approach. W...
There are a number of things that are currently annoying me and since misery loves company I thought I’d share them. The Nashville Predators. Yes, they are a hot stove topic. I feel sorry for the fans in Nashville. They seem to be working so hard and getting no where. If you look at the current landscape it makes you wonder exactly what they would have to do to keep t...
A HockeyBuzz Q & A with Sabres Prospect & Hometown Hero Tim Kennedy. INTRO SC07: Tim do you have a couple minutes? TK: Sure whats up. SC07: I wanted to ask you a few questions for HockeyBuzz. TK: Thats fine. THE PLAYER SC07: Who is your favorite player? TK: Vincent Lecavalier SC07: Do you pattern your game after him? TK: Yep SC07: Whe...
PelicanFoul writes...

Prospects and Rumors...

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Reading over Eklund's post, I can only agree of who I think are the top prospects for the Sabres this UFA,RFA season. We need to fill out the team, and soon being that training camp is creeping closer and closer, and who better to do that than Andy Sutton and Martin Gelinas, hell even Daniel Markov would be a catch. The thing is, compared to most teams in this league th...
A HockeyBuzz Q & A with Sabres Prospect Adam Dennis. [img:right]http://www.letsgosabres.com/images/players/photos/adam_dennis.jpg[/img] INTRO SC07: Adam can you spare a couple minutes? AD: Yeah sure. SC07: I wanted to ask you a few questions for HockeyBuzz. AD: Ok. THE PLAYER SC07: Who is your favorite player? AD: Miikka Kiprusoff SC07: Wh...
Through some extesive research I have found 4 games that are scheduled for the Buffalo Sabres this Septemeber. These dates & opponents are official but the schedule is not "OFFICAL" as of yet. I think they may have 1 or 2 more games to add. That is just my opinion though. The reason i say that is they start 4 days later than any other teams i have sound and end 8 days...
Through some extesive research I have found 4 games that are scheduled for the Buffalo Sabres this Septemeber. These dates & opponents are official but the schedule is not "OFFICAL" as of yet. I think they may have 1 or 2 more games to add. That is just my opinion though. The reason i say that is they start 4 days later than any other teams i have sound and end 8 days...
It has been 10 years since Darcy Regier has arrived in Buffalo and what a decade it has been. From the end of Ted Nolan, to the Adelphia/Rigas scandal, to the loss of our two captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, just to name a few obstacles that Darcy Regier has had to overcome as GM of our beloved Sabres. A lot of fans don't understand the "behind the scenes" wo...
With free agency coming to a halt and the remaining few big names being priced outside of Buffalo’s league I thought it is time to look at what’s available on the trade market for potential steals. I define a steal based on an earlier example in Sabres history. That trade being Chris Gratton for Daniel Briere. The Sabres found a kid who had tons of offensive upside bu...
[img:right]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/855832279_cb08a30250_m.jpg[/img] What makes a man cave a great escape form the riggers of everyday life? That is a great question. I have come up with a list: 1. Pick a Theme & go with it!!!!!!! 2. Big Screen TV 3. Seating I went with the sectional couch & Custom Bar 4. Surround sound system 5. Video game sysytem- My c...
Michael Peca yearns to be a Sabre, and the Sabres need a center who can win faceoffs, kill penalties and add leadership. I guess the question is, should the Sabres sign Peca or wait and see if there is a younger, healthier center that can be had later on after the arbitration hearings are complete? Does Darcy Regier believe it is time for the younger players such as De...
begga79 writes...

Money and memories...

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I want to start by saying:I miss playing competitive hockey. From when I was 6 years old and having trouble falling asleep on a Saturday night before the big house-league game at 6 am Sunday. Watching HNIC drove my pops crazy! "How can you watch that crap! The Sabres aren't playing!", but then catching him sneeking peeks at the TV the whole time. Then to watch my pops evol...
A lot of people around the league are waiting with fainted breath as arbitration hearings begin this week. Among the big names up for arbitration are Sabres forward Derek Roy. Roy, coming off a 63 pt season last year, will assuredly get a nice raise from the 650,000 he made last season. But what are players like him really worth? Personally, I feel Roy is worth so...
So Derek Roy's arbitration hearing is set for tomorrow, July 27th. So far this summer, there hasn't been much positive PR coming from HSBC Arena. Locking up Vanek, although a major step, might be the only "positive" thus far. After the initial heartbreak of bad breakups with #48 and #23, I have rebounded to the point of somewhat buying into the "we're going to be allrigh...
It's the end of July and the weather is beautiful outside. The 2006/2007 NHL season ended over a month ago and we are still 5 weeks away from the start of training camp for the 2007/2008 season. This is supposed to be the "Off Season" for Hockey. You wouldnt know that if you came to Hockeybuzz.com. I signed up to be a Season Ticket holder on this site about two weeks...
[img:right]http://www.habsinsideout.com/061209%20habs%2005.jpg[/img] Well Sabres fans another trying time has come for us. Does Darcy step up and give Royzie his deserving multi year deal/ Or do they sit across from each other during the arb hearing and though what might have been? I believe in this case the Sabres have no choice to step up and protect the $50 million...
First of all, let me preface this by saying I don't like the idea of offer sheets to Restricted Free Agents. I think it drives up the price of business in the NHL, I think it is going to force teams to take players to arbitration whom otherwise could have gotten deals made and I think it's going to cause prices to inflate in the NHL once again. The CBA, as it stands in t...
In the 37 year history of the Buffalo Sabres, this city has seen its fair share of dynamic offensive pairs and trios. From the French Connection in the 1970s, to the dynamic tandem of Pat Lafontaine and Alexander Mogilny in the 1990s, we as Sabre fans have been treated to some of the best offensive hockey in years. And now, after the events of yesterday, we may have ano...
Well Lets start be saying that I believe in Darcy, Lindy, Mr. Quinn & Mr. Galisano. They Brought this team back from near expolsion. Back when the Knox brothers brought the Sabres into the NHL, they had a dream and a hope that this team could and would be great. The Sabres were one of the quickest teams to make the Stanley cup finals. They had Great players and a g...
It’s official, Nathan Paetsch will be a Sabre for 3 more years at a reasonable one million per. He’s a nice 4th dman and I said (blogged) repeatedly that he should have been in the line up during last year’s playoffs. To me, this signals one thing. Dimitri Kalinin is done as a Sabre. And thank GOD for that! We’ve heard for WAY too long that this guy has ...
We are currently in the middle of the NHL off season. Instead of looking forward to Camp beginning like we all are. Lets take a moment or two and have some fun bringing back some great Hockey memories. What is the greatest Hockey game you have ever been to? Here is mine: Almost 4 months until my 14th Birthday on April 27th 1994. The Buffalo Sabres were in ...
yankees12233 writes...

Sabres next Captain

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The question that a lot of sabres fans have like myself is, who will be the next captain? In my mind their are five possibilities for the job. First you have Teppo Numminnen who is a good player but i dont think he is vocal enough, second you have Brian Campbell who is a great player and a vocal player. Third their is Toni Lydman who like Teppo i dont think is vocal enogh ...
For aslong as I can remember, The city of Buffalo has been known primarily as a "Football" town. Growing up I was taught two very important rules 1) Do not curse and 2) Hate the Miami Dolphins. From the time I was young to just a few short years ago many Buffalonians would not even recognize Hockey until Football season was over. Times sure have changed!!! The tw...
ChaosCris writes...

Sabres Made Right Moves

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
A month ago when the Sabres lost Chris Drury, Daniel Briere and Danius Zubrus in the span of about a week Sabres fans wanted someone's head. I think now that they have settled down a bit and took a step back, they have realized, the Sabres aren't all that bad. The biggest loss of the three is definitely Chris Drury and he will certainly be the [img:right]http://nyrange...
Metman4040 writes...

"Arbitration is a Farce"

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Mike Cammallari gets 6.7 over 2 years? Derek roy gets 8 over 2. 63 vs 80 pts per season. last year players were gettin truck loads of cash for there hard work and all of a sudden this year players get paid no where near what they were gettin paid last year. Danny Briere and Scott Gomez recieved 5 million and Briere did not even reach the 70 pt mark. Sure he had a pt a game...
Hey everyone, I don't usually do this, but yes, it's the Sabres side of me coming out again. I auditioned for the Sabres Emcee in-game entertainer contest, and well I've moved on to the second round. Yes, yes, this guy went down for a live audition at the Hot Sauce Bleu Cheese arena and got a chance to strut his stuff and apparently, it paid off. At the end of this w...
First and foremost I would like to start out by saying that I attended the New York Yankees/Toronto Blue Jays game last night in Toronto. I am more and more amazing by how incredible Toronto is everytime I travel up north. The people of Toronto are very friendly and helpful if need be and I Thank You Torontonians. (Torontonians sounded good so I went with it) Last wee...
Though I am biased as a hardcore Sabres fan, I think few will debate the fact that Buffalo has one of the best farm systems in the NHL. In the past few years, we have seen guys like Paul Gaustad, Jason Pominville, Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek come up through the ranks and be very successful at the professional level. Buffalo has a knack for developing young talent and the Sa...
First of all thanks to Tim Panaccio for giving us the down low of this article. Is it hard to believe that the Sabres are right up there at the top of the list for jersey sales in July? Yes & no. You would almost think that with the horid begining to July would stall Sabre jersey sales to a screaming halt. Obviously not. The Sabres are represented with 3 of the top 7 se...
ShardZ writes...

How important is the big-name?

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
or, Can "playing the system" work out? I'm curious, what do people think about this? Over this off-season, for example, the rangers spent nearly 20 mil per year on Drury and Gomez alone. Noone can deny that these are premier players, and these additions have caused talk of the rangers being the powerhouse of the atlantic division. The islanders, on the other hand, se...
During the 2006-2007 campaign for the Buffalo Sabres, you knew in the back of your mind the carnage was about to commence come July 1st, 2007. Once Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier stated that he will not talk contacts till after the season was over with potential Unrestricted Free Agents Danny Briere and Chris Drury, the future did become the now in Western New York. T...
With training camp 2007 about a month away lets take a look at some possible line combinations for the Sabres this upcoming season. 1. Vanek - Roy- Stafford 2. Pomminville- Connolly- Afinogenov 3. Hecht- Gaustad- Kotalik 4a. Paille- Ryan- Mair Extra: Peters (Size & Speed) [i]4b. Paille - Mair- Paetsch [/...
Today the Buffalo Sabres have offically announced they are playing a game @ "THE RALPH". But dont get all worked up just yet. This game is at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. on September 24th, vs The Minnesota Wild. The game is a homecoming of sorts for Drew Stafford. Drew played his college puck @ "THE RALPH" for the Fighting Sioux. Below is the OFFICIAL...
I can't delete my old blog from before the playoffs started. I've tried, and confirmed my request. But when I refresh my screen, or click on my profile again, there it is...staring me in the face like a bad tuna sandwich. AArgh Now who is ready for the season to start?
I woke up this morning, and for being August 15th, the air in Buffalo was crisp and cool; Albeit I woke up at 7:30am. I updated my blog, [url]http://www.pelicanfoul.net[/url], and I check the news everyday for my Sabre fix, as that's what Buffalonians do now a days. The Bills... who are the Bills? This summer we have seen anger, disgust, sadness, retribution, joy, and e...
Alright, folks. I've predicted players stats for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. Now I'm going to the Buffalo Sabres, a team I have lots of respect for and holds a distant #2 to my Leafs. The following is a prediction blog of the players on the Buffalo Sabres and how much goals and points I think they will accumulate. *NOTE*: I'm just assuming everyone p...
Another sign that the 2007/2008 National Hockey League season is getting close is that the National TV schedules are starting to come out. The Buffalo Sabres have 7 games on versus which is 2nd most in the league behind Detroit. [b]Versus[/b] Toronto Maple Leafs-10/15 Washington Capitals-11/26 Boston Bruins-12/10 Tampa Bay Lightning-1/29 Philadelphia Flyers-2/...
The Buffalo Sabres continued to stock the farm system this week by adding another young player to the fold, agreeing to an entry level contract with Defenseman Mike Weber. Weber, a 6-2, 199 pound defenseman was a physical force for the Windsor Spitfires the past few seasons, racking up 181 penalty minutes in 2005-06. Weber has been compared to former Sabres defensema...
With the New Jersey devils getting Paul Martin signed to a 3 year, $11.5 million deal this week, the bar continues to be set for the status of next years free agent defenseman. For Sabres fans, that means, what will become of Brian Campbell? Campbell is coming off a great 2006-07, where he had 48 points and set career highs for goals. After seeing the kind of deals defe...
BuffaloMat writes...

Fan Blog for all sports.

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
This blog's story takes place last night at the Buffalo Bills pre-season game against the Atlanta Falcons. As I arrived at the stadium with my friend Shell, I see a few Vick jerseys walking into the area and I start to think to myself that this can get ugly after people get more beer into them. As we get to our seats, we notice that there are 2 Vick wearing Jersey guys ...
A few other wierd functions that I see at games of all different types of sports is the two factors that differ so much from just men going to sporting events. They each contribute their own caliber of uniqueness to them which adds to the equation of the great atmosphere (in most cases) that you pay X amount of dollars to go see. Don't get me wrong, people watching at w...
dagley writes...

The Peca Factor?

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
[img:left]http://mapleleafs.nhl.info.pl/news/data/upimages/Michael_Peca_10.jpg[/img]I don't really have a lot of time to write this blog, I just got back from my grandparents after a long weekend of putting a new roof on the barn here in beautiful Nova Scotia. It was miserable all weekend, it absolutely poored all weekend. I finally got a chance to go for a walk on the bea...
When you think of the word Captain for the sabres, you think without a doubt the likes of Chris Drury and Danny Briere from last year. When you think for this coming season who will be the captain you are left wondering who would be the best to fit the role. Would there be another co-captain duo this year as there was last year? My guess would be as good as yours. However,...
A lot of talk has gone on about how the two cities who should get the expansion teams when they do actually come out with them is Las Vegas and Kansas City. I don't see how either of these cities really should get a team considering they are both considered low in the ratings pools for popular sports cities. Don't get me wrong I know KC loves their Royals and their Chiefs....
This has been a fun debate for the past few months. I know a lot of people say things out of anger but really don't mean what they say. So, what do you really mean? Let's find out how many people support Quinn for the actions he has done this past off season with the Sabres. I could show a lot of facts that might sway someone's decision a certain way, but that's not ri...
I think it would be fun to get together with the Buffalo fans from this site in a offical bar/restaurant Hockey Buzz get together. It would be the place where other HB posters/bloggers could get together if they're not going to that particular game (or an away game) and just hang out and watch some hockey. Bring whoever you want with you that you usually get together with ...
[img]http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/buffalo/MogilnyBuf.jpg[/img] When I think of my childhood with growing up with the Sabres, the best time watching them was when I was about 9 years old. My first memories about watching the Sabres were at a time when they played when I was in bed. My mother would wake me up (Obviously they weren't late games but I was young!)...
Sources tell Channel 7 WKBW-TV in Buffalo that the NHL has completed plans for an outdoor game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on New Years Day. The official announcement will come in early September. http://www.wkbw.com/sports/9345086.html
TJD92295 writes...

The Ice Bowl

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Well, it's official (according to wgr) that Ralph Wilson Stadium will said the Ice Bowl January 1st against Sid and the Pens. Nice for Buffalo to (finally) host a "big" event. It hosted an ASG at the Aud in 78. And don't forget Hull's contraversial Stanley Cup goal.
TJD92295 writes...

The Ice Bowl

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Well, it's official (according to wgr) that Ralph Wilson Stadium will said the Ice Bowl January 1st against Sid and the Pens. Nice for Buffalo to (finally) host a "big" event. It hosted an ASG at the Aud in 78. And don't forget Hull's contraversial Stanley Cup goal.
Now that Drury and Briere are gone, and preseason is less than a month away, let's play a little game to get to know our new team! The 07-08 Buffalo Sabres. We sometimes forget that off the ice, these are real people...people a lot like you and me. Some of us share more qualities with certain Sabres than others. Which Sabre are you most like? Grade yourself in eac...
[img]http://assets.buffalobills.com/images/tickets/stadium_views_map_07a.gif[/img] This is the map of the seating at The Ralph before I get into the tailgating aspect of it I would like to point out that There will be more seats than people think. The stadium field has a lot of potential to be shrunk down to fit more people so it can fit the rink as well. Since ...
Well actually yesterday 8/25/07 marked the 2 year anniverasry of the Buffalo Sabres obtaining defenseman Toni Lydman from the Calgary Flames for a mear 3rd round selection in the 2006 draft (C-John Armstrong) . With this acquisition the Sabres were able to form the #1 tandem of Tallinder - Lydman. Here is a Toni's stats as a Sabre: [u]Regular season[/u] 142 GP 3 G 33...
"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends we're so glad you could attend come inside, come inside" Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP) wrote those lyrics in 1973 - I was 5 - and embedded themselves in our rock and roll consciousness with a 29 minute 37 second exclamation of 1970s progressive rock. Yeah...ok. You are likely saying, "What in the name of R...
[img]http://www.classicbuffalo.com/images/LaFontaine.jpg[/img] If the video doesn't show up click this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TZL4BCePwA EDIT: The video doesn't seem to be working. It's a wonderful video, check it out. This tribute video sums up anyone can say about Pat LaFontaine. However I am going to still say words about him ...
These are some awesome sayings by Rick. He is a legend in Buffalo for everything he says and for being with the Sabres. He has the most animated sayings in the history of commentating in Hockey. Check these out. For some reason video is messing up so here's the link to it. It's great, i'm sure you'll like it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfbyrKnKc0 Also c...
With training camps around the NHL just a couple weeks away, and a new season on the horizon, fans will have their burning questions about their favorite teams. Thus is the same thing in Buffalo, where Sabres fans will have their big questions. Questions such as the new captain, or who forms the new first line. Here are the 4 burning questions likely to be on Sabres' fa...
[img]http://www.sabresalumni.com/2001/playerpics/turgeon-draft.gif[/img] I was going to do Part 3 on Dale Hawerchuk but since it seems appropriate I thought I would do it on Mr.Pierre Turgeon. Turgeon's 91-92 career pretty much was a wash with the Sabres but ended strong with the Islanders since he was part of a trade for Pat LaFontaine........... and since I a...
I bet you're wondering what I am talking about and saying to yourself "No one uses Time on Ice as a strategy for fantasy Hockey...." In my league we have just announced a statistic that will now become a strategy for our hockey team owners. This has been worked out to detail and such but is still actually being worked on to tweak out the bugs. Who played the most in the...
I am a leaf fan, but I am not going to be while I write this article. One of the most exciting divisions in the NHL, the North Eastern division is one the deadliest in the league. All five teams have been in the playoffs the last 4 or 5 years. The Buffalo Sabres, The Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and the Boston Bruins. Last year, the Sabres...
[img]http://bp3.blogger.com/_RV9Gvwc2Eks/RuMpW14j8fI/AAAAAAAAAA0/ohmL0Z6mpQU/s1600/alt_01a.jpg[/img] If you can't see it here's the link. It's showing up on my end, but here's the link. [url]http://bp3.blogger.com/_RV9Gvwc2Eks/RuMpW14j8fI/AAAAAAAAAA0/ohmL0Z6mpQU/s1600/alt_01a.jpg[/url] This is a celsius logo made. It's been criticized to be looking like a goat...
The end of the summer is here for the Buffalo Sabres, and it is time to put away the summer toys and get ready for Lindy Ruff's favorite time of year, training camp. The Sabres opened up the camp season with Day 1 of their rookie camp Monday afternoon at the Amherst Pepsi Center. 17 of the teams top prospects converged for the workouts. Lindy Ruff and his staff put t...
Clint Malarchuk was a candid goaltender that when he spoke the quote stuck with him and they were funny. The Chuk as most of my friends called him when we were growing up was always fun to watch when Darren Puppa wasn't in the net. Of course Darren was always our favorite because we made fun of his last name but when the Chuk would get onto the ice we would make just a...
The Peca Rumors we're constant. The Sabres, Rangers and Leafs were at the top of the list but is seems as though EVERY team was linked to Peca at some point. Evrey team but Columbus that is. At first blush it seems like an odd match. At this point, Peca is the classic "final piece to the puzzle" type player and columbus hasn't even gotten all the piece out the jigs...
Now that all the new jerseys have been released (some officially and other unofficially), this is a good time to take a critical look at them all from a fashion point of view. Of course, these are just opinions, so please do not flame me too badly. My opinion on your team jersey has nothing to do with how much I like/dislike that team, whether I think so-and-so is a dirt...
I was looking over what the capitals have been doing this off-season and just placing it in my mind what is actually going on with this team. You would think that the team would have a better standing with the talent that seems to come out of there don't you? Some will argue that there is no talent... well that's just hog-wash. Alexander Ovechkin is an obvious 100 poin...
Hello all!! Just updating you on a long day @ the arena. My arrival time was a few minutes past 8am and departure was around 4:30pm. It was a long day of autograph hounding & hockey all wrapped into one wirlwind day. I made a few observations and came across some interesting Sabre tidbits along the way. 1. [b]Goose[/b] is an early riser. Paul was the first player to ...
MJCULE writes...

RAV to be intact?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
today after the skate lindy ruff held a brief presser (http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=337685). in this news conference he stared that he intends on keeping one of the most exciting lines for the sabres last year(RAV) together. this article also states that the rest of the forwards will look like this opening night. Vanek...
And no, this is not a very late blog in reference to Briere and Drury. Lindy Ruff told the media yesterday that the 2.5 year pairing of defenseman Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman is no more. The Sabres top shutdown pairing the past two seasons will be split up, at least for the time being. In order to spread out the wealth in regards to the recent heart surgery of T...
With just over a week to go before the season opener against the Islanders and three preseason games in the books, the questions surrounding Sabres training camp are slowly becoming answered. Just before camp, I penned a blog discussing the four biggest questions facing the team coming into camp. At this point, it is probably a good time to see if they have been answere...
It's obvious from the traffic and comments on this site that Sabre fans thirst for good and credible hockey media coverage. Unfortunately, the Buffalo hockey media took a hit this week as Brad Riter was fired from WGR550 in Buffalo. Sabres fans know Riter as the host of the Sabres postgame radio coverage. He was also a long time host for the night shift at WGR. He...
In an offseason full of goodbye's for the Buffalo Sabres, this one may be the most shocking. The team announced today that Jim Lorentz, the Sabres color commentator for the past 26 seasons, is retiring, effective immediately. Lorentz cited an "unwillingess to spend another season traveling with the team" as the reason for his retirement. Lorentz joined the broadcast ...
Sabres Fans... Join the hometeamhockey.com fantasy league. Below is a short description from the site's creator. I've participated for the past few "divisions" and really enjoy it. Give it a try. [quote][i]Fantasy Hockey for the Home Town Fan. Why a fantasy league with just one team? My thinking is this: I like Fantasy sports, but I don't have the time to [img:right...
pensfan17148 writes...

Pens Fall to Sabres

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Hey pens fans, Tonight, the Pens took on the Buffalo Sabres at the Mellon Arena, in a preseason matchup. The Pens goals were: Crosby (Malkin, Armstrong) Staal (Recchi, Crosby) Crosby (Malkin, Whitney) Malone (Christensen) Christensen (Malone, Whitney) Sabourin was in goal. The Pens had a goal just as the buzzer went off at the end of the third, but is was ...
TJD92295 writes...

4-3 Sabres

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Buffalo edges out Pittsburgh in an unusually EXCITING preseason game. Not often are you on the edge of your seat listening to the radio. AND, no Sidney Crosby (boo hoo) and the debut of the new hi-def jumbotron.
Derek Roy must of been listening to some old school Smash Mouth over the off season because the 11 points in 4 games he played is insane. His +/- is sitting pretty at +8. Roy is working extremely hard on the ice and is showing to become a leader this year. I am one to say when I am wrong because it happens and in these cases I am glad I have been wrong so far. ...
As hinted by Garth last week, The Buffalo Sabres will announce HNIC analyst Harry Neale as the Sabres new Color commentator, replacing Jim Lorentz. http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/262121
As some of you may or may not know, long time color commentator Jim Lorentz retired from the Buffalo Sabres last week after 26 years as a broadcaster and 10 years as a player with Boston, St. Louis, The New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres leaving an opening for the seat next to legendary play by play man Rick Jeanneret who has been calling games for the Sabres since the 71...
B.D. Gallof writes...

Today is the Day!

Posted Friday | Comments 0
I walk to work with a kick to my step. Not that it's that great of a day. A foggy murk lays about the morning like a Yashin knee-injury. The air is humid. The city is its usual stale self. I walk outside MSG, home of our dreaded rivals. They won their first game, kicking off two lackluster periods where they were being booed by opening night fans. Chris Drury scored the ga...
As the Sabres drop the puck on their 2007-2008 season tonight at HSBC Arena, I thought I'd share my outlook for this year. I'm a devout Sabres fan, have been following the team since the Mogilny/LaFontaine era (I'm only 21), and I've studied the history of the team too, back to the French Connection days. I've stuck with the team through the really bad, the bankruptcy,...
First off, on my last blog, I lied. The Phoenix Coyotes are not just ready yet for a playoff run. After plenty of thought, I made my decisions. Before I go ranting on about how the season starts, let me publish here and now the season predictions I have going on: Eastern Conference: 1) Ottawa 2) New York Rangers 3) Atlanta 4) Pittsburgh 5) Buffalo 6) Tampa Bay ...
I am sitting in an empty blog box, watching them practice the opening to the Isles home opener. I am jawing with one of the staff, as they work out the kinks with the sequences that includes kid skaters who will be dragging an American flag across the ice. As I sit here, I can see that Eklund, and now Newsday have already reported that Meyer has been put on waivers. An...
Last Year the Buffalo Sabres could not find a way to lose during the first month of the regular season. But A far place from where we have came now. The Sabres finished off a poor opening weekend with two straight losses to the New York Islanders, the final one coming Saturday night 3-2 in Long Island. But if you were talking to most Sabre fans, you would think it wa...
Did the departure of two good hockey players really make the Buffalo Sabres that much worse? After watching the Islanders sweep Buffalo this past weekend, folks are starting to wonder. It is only two games, but that is more than enough for some fans to hit the panic button and start throwing the blame around. The co-captains are gone. The defense is lousy. Miller ...
Some news and notes from this mornings practice at HSBC Arena: Ryan Miller and Toni Lydman both returned to practice today after missing Sundays skate. Miller was gone for personal reasons while Lydman was still recovering from migraine headaches suffered against the Islanders Saturday. Ales Kotalik again practiced today and is likely going to make his season debut T...
SabreFaninNYC writes...

Scrap The Monthly Rotation

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Well the first two games haven't been pretty have they? As Dave Davis on LGS so succinctly titles his column, "Tallinder and Lydman's Play Leaves Something To Be Desired". Scott Wraight in his Power Rankings on SI.com doesn't hold back on the offense: "Offense from the forwards would be a welcome addition -- just four goals so far." Even on the Sabres.com forum, th...
Images have been acting funky on here but here's a try... It's the cover of a magazine I write for which is Under the Scope Magazine. [IMG]http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/Mat_Rex/coveroctober.jpg[/IMG] Well the magazine came out a little less than a week ago. I plugged hockeybuzz in the first sentence. The magazine is called Under the Scope. It's a ne...
Rochester is in Hamilton this week, and that means I get a chance to see Sabres' prospect Adam Dennis play. This is installment #1 of my "Amateur Scouting Report" series. I will also report how Jaroslav Halak does, and list some skaters who stood out to me at the end. [url]http://everythinghockey.blogspot.com/2007/10/amateur-scouting-report-adam-dennis.html[/url] [im...
thechad13 writes...

Leaf Defence

Posted Monday | Comments 0
And so comes the end of another Leaf game.......another Leaf game that the blew in the third period. It's getting to the point where you don't have to watch anymore as you know whats going to happen. The Leafs start the game by getting out played and having the goalie whoever it might be on the given night, followed by the Leafs grabbing a one or two goal lead heading to...
I was deperately hoping this was true but according to wgr550.com it isn't as of yet. Hopefully it gets done soon. They need to get working on these guys. If it isnt a done deal who should they sigh first: Hecht, Cambell or Kalinin. Here is my order: 1. Campbell- The longer they wait the more $$$$$ it will cost them 2. Hecht- If the reports are somewhat true I th...
First off, I guess I should thank the NHL and the Sabres for putting this game on a Monday, and the scalpers and ebayers and stub-hubbers who completely flooded the market for tonights game. I got tickets from a friend desperate to sell for a profit for far below face value. So I thank you all. This was my first Sabres-Leafs, but wow what a game and what an atmosphere. ...
Let us go back to the days of last season before January 1st. The Sabres of yesteryear had their foot on the proverbial throttle. Consecutive win streaks, destroying franchises in a single game (Philadelphia) and generally wrecking havoc. During the month of October, the Sabres scored 53 goals (4.8 a game!) and by the end of the season, won the Northeast Division by 8 poin...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwPpWiQ042E Watch and youll see why.
thehuds writes...

Hockey Moms

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Listening to the talkcast with EK's mom today brought up a great memory of my mom, who was a great hockey mom. Before my brother and I started playing, my mom had no interest whatsoever in hockey. Once my brother and I laced up the skates, my mom became a fan. Well at least a fan of my brother and I. I was more of a rabid NHL fan then my brother was, and actually cheered f...
Since the 2002-2003 National Hockey League season, no team has worn white at home on a full-time basis. Though this will not be permanent, Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn announced that the Buffalo Sabres will wear their road white jersies for 4 home games in November against Northeast division opponents... Wed Nov 7th vs Boston Fri Nov 9th vs Toronto Wed Nov 21s...
After injuries to Spacek and Kalinin, the latter of whom could be out a month or more, the Sabres are considering signing 32 year old Nolan Pratt, according to two sources: http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/193001.html http://wgr550.com/sabres/fullstory.php?id=2772 If Darcy Regier decides to sign Pratt, whom according to the above stories the Sabres were consid...
Well the first month of the season is complete and the Sabres are a .500 team. How do you think the team's Captains for October did? Here are the stats of these players: Player GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% Jochen Hecht 10 3 4 7 1 4 0 0 0 32 9.4 Henrik Tallinder 10 0 2 2 -3 10 0 0 0 6 0.0 ...
Miikka Kiprusoff was born in Turko Finland in October of 1976. He was just rewarded, for his 31st birthday, with a $35 million dollar contract over the next 6 years. [img:right]http://nhlpa.com/Player_Pics/2873.jpg[/img] That's quite a lot of money for a player who: hasn't played in 250 games yet, hasn't won more than 125 wins in the regular season, and hasn't won a S...
http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=341736 I really like this decision in a lot of ways. While Lydman has struggled so far this season, this could be a huge boost to his confidence. He is a vocal leader in the room and really sets a good example of hard work for the younger players.
They need more efforts like the one tonight in Montreal. They played great. The other team was just better. Goes without saying, the Habs have looked great to start this season. And Cristobal Huet played just phenomenal tonight. I've always liked him. I think it's unfortunate the Montreal media and Canadiens' fans can give him so much flack, but maybe that is hel...
Where do we begin with this years Buffalo Sabres? Is it a lack of a couple smash mouth d men? Is it inconsitant play in the goal position? Do we play the injury card again? Here is a few ways to fix the problems: [b]1. Get Healthy on the blueline-[/b] missing Teppo, Kalinin, Spacek & now recently acquired Nolan Pratt. [b]2. Play more physical- [/b]Guys like Mair, Goo...
TJD92295 writes...

Buffalo vs. Toronto preview

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I just played NHL 08 for Sabres vs. Leafs and here's your basic rundown: 1st Mats Sundin scores 1-0 Toronto 3rd Alex Ponikarovsky scores 2-0 Toronto Henrik Tallinder scores 2-1 Toronto Ales Kotalik scores after Tucker just misses empty Buffalo net 2-2 OT Derek Roy scores 3-2 Buffalo
It seems strange to me every time I read a Sabre's blog that in true Buffalo fashion, no one is able to just stay on an even keel. For the last 2 years, most of the Buffalo fans on this site, have done nothing but trash other teams and build the buffalo Sabres into The recreation of the Stanley cup winning Edmonton teams from the past. Including Drury in the part o Messier...
I have an eerie, excited feeling about tonight's game, one I have not felt since last year. I had anticipated the Sabres' slow start to this year, and I even called it in my preseason blog. I also have said they will turn it around, and I truly believe that. Tonight is a big game for them, and as I said, I just have this weird good feeling about it. The Sabres have b...
SabreFaninNYC writes...

I've Heard Enough

Posted Friday | Comments 0
That's it, I have had enough. I have had enough of Lindy complaining about the trap, enough about Garth saying they are working out their issues in practice (4 days off and they looked the same), enough about they would be a playoff team if they didn't hit the crossbar, enough about a turnaround is surely in the works ("look at the standings from last year and this year- a...
Have not had much time to this sort of stuff lately, but lets see if I can get in the hang of this again. For about the 6th game in a row the Buffalo Sabres played a solid game, but the bounces finally went their way as they get a well deserved 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Viewpoints: Best 1st period they have played all season. Guys were flying all ov...
Is it only me or does it seem that the Sabres have "bye-weeks" between games? If the scheduling were'nt enough of an uphill challenge for relevance, the overall interest in this team has all but died a quick two-contract death in Buffalo last summer. Coming into the year, the talk in Buffalo was all Sabres, all the time. The pro-sport attention rival Buffalo Bills wer...
tyler_31 writes...

Sens Lose 4-2

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The first place Ottawa Senators lost 4-2 to the lowly Buffalo Sabres in what was expected by some to be a one-sided game, namely myself. In the first period nothing went right for Ottawa, as turnovers were common and the defensive zone coverage was pathetic. Ray Emery played poorly in the first, allowing 3 goals on 14 shots including a brutal goal from the blueline where R...
After 18 games in the regular season, maybe, just maybe, the old Buffalo Sabres have arrived. The Sabres got off to a hot start, scoring 3 goals in the first period while holding on to beat the NHLs best team, the Ottawa Senators 4-2 at HSBC Arena. The Good: Thomas Vanek was the best player on the ice for the second straight outing. Just physically dominating in f...
After going 1-4 to start their 9 game exercise against their Northeast counterparts, the Buffalo Sabres are right back into the thick of things. You have to love the way they are playing the last 3 games. Scoring first, getting big goals when needed, and a total commitment to solid two-way play has led the team on a 3 game winning streak, all against teams ahead of them...
After beginning the 9 game division 1-4, the Buffalo Sabres climbed over 500 for the streak after a 3-0 shutout of the Montreal Canadiens. Thomas Vanek continued his dominance of the past couple games, netting his second goal in as many nights. Jaro Spacek and Jochen Hecht had the other goals. Andrew Peters had his best game as a Sabre. He was all over the ice, playi...
Before I get into my thoughts on the Sabres, I have to comment on the hit from Scott Hartnell on Andrew Alberts. Once again, another Flyer hits someone from behind. I dont want to call the Flyers a dirty team because I really dont think they are. But once is enough, two is pushing it and three tends to become a trend. I didnt think the hit on Patrice Bergeron was that b...
Sabrefan44 writes...

20+ games in...

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I wanted to wait until the Sabres were at least 20 games into the season before I started writing a blog. My feelings coming into this season were that the team would be fine without Chris and Danny, but that it was going to take about 20 games for them to find their way. I liked the make up of this roster, but knew that some changes would have to be made as the season ...
Players choose their numbers for various reasons. Some may chose a number that pays tribute to a family member, birth year or a favorite player from their childhood. Some players even change numbers because of bad luck, or their number isn't available because of a player already wearing it or it may be retired. That brings me to Jay McKee the former shot blocking expert...
Sabrefan44 writes...

Dear Max,

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
It's over. Time to divide up the china, pick who get's the dog, pack up the stuff and part ways. It's been a fun ride in your time here, but I finally feel you've overstayed your welcome. It's not you it's me. The team has moved on from your freewheeling style, and we don't have room to truly let you grow. In past years we had players here that we could count on to m...
Sabrefan44 writes...

Dear Max,

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
It's over. Time to divide up the china, pick who get's the dog, pack up the stuff and part ways. It's been a fun ride in your time here, but I finally feel you've overstayed your welcome. It's not you it's me. The team has moved on from your freewheeling style, and we don't have room to truly let you grow. In past years we had players here that we could count on to m...
TJD92295 writes...

The chance

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Dear Darcy, PICK UP MARK RECCHI! If you need inspiration, just look at Ilya Bryzgalov. He gets picked up by Phoenix and ends up winning 4 straight! From, Sabres fans
This is for my Sabres followers. I figure I could fill you in on what I think of dropping a game to both the Ducks and Kings: Well, after giving it hard to the Carolina Hurricanes before hitting the tarmac at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, you would think the Sabres being winners in 6 of their last 7 games prior to boarding the plane could carry the momentum...
I wish I did not have to pay for that ticket tonight. The wife was out with friends tonight so I figured I would take one in alone tonight, just me and the rest of the crazies up top. Well what I should have done was watch at home on the couch with the dog. I could have atleast changed the channel and caught some Seinfeld reruns that would have been more entertaining. Unfo...
kram41 writes...

Sharks Stumble 7-1

Posted Monday | Comments 0
It was shaping up to be an exciting night at the Tank on Saturday as there was a buzz about the Sabres coming to town for the first time since the Reagan administration. I was very impressed (change "impressed" to "annoyed" at the second intermission) with the number of Sabres fans in attendance. I'm curious for some insight from anyone reading this, are the Sabres alway...
B.D. Gallof writes...

Return to Buffalo

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Isles return to Buffalo tonight, back to where this season started. Where two teams passed one another from last season's playoffs. Sure, there are only 3 points between the two teams thus far, and the Isles have been Jekyll and Mr. Hyde oft-times. But Buffalo's struggle in lieu of what a strong team they were last year is sobering for all. Buffalo's step back can ...
After 29 games this season, the New York Islanders are just a game above .500, the sheer definition of mediocrity. What's that sound you hear coming from Uniondale, you ask? That collective groan that echoes throughout Islander Nation? It's the big, fat, "[i]Uggggggghhhhhh[/i]!" of being a fan of a perpetually mediocre hockey team. It's what we've come to expect fro...
B.D. Gallof writes...

Falling on the Sword

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
We are not going to rehash last night's game. Most of us saw it. Otherwise, you read about it. Some articles were less harsh, while the Isles broadcast was plenty harsh. But, that all aside . . . What I'd like to talk about is Nolan's demeanor after this loss, and the steam coming out his ears. "We just need more and have to have a better effort." - Ted Nolan Ted...
Somewhere, amid my day, I forgot to upkeep my petulant and crabby laptop. It's been screaming for a drive cleaning. So live blogging is out tonight as my laptop stutters like a 1970's Volkswagen. Instead, we can chat about all the craziness that has gone on. Between the 30 games earned by Chris Simon to now word...confirmed by the Isles...that their blue chipper, Kyle ...
This is the time of year when you see all those warm and fuzzy homecomings. People returning to their roots and where they used to call home. But the most intriguing homecoming may come in Buffalo on Friday night. Daniel Briere and Martin Biron still consider themselves Buffalonians. They maintain a strong presence in the community with their charity work off the ice. B...
Maxim61 writes...

Whiney Flyers' Fans

Posted Monday | Comments 0
WE ARE TOUGH...LET US PLAY THE GAME...LET THE PLAYERS POLICE THE GAME... then we hear... Look what they did...give them a suspension...why me? WHYYYYYYYYY...???? In the latest reach for getting someone else suspended, Flyer fans lead by one Tim P accuse Max Afinogenov of 1.) slew footing and 2.) kicking Scott Upshall. If you are an objective hockey fan, you can ...
BUFFALO -- To nullify any advantages or adversities created by weather conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium during Tuesday’s AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic (1 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS, NHL Radio), the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins will switch ends halfway through the third period – ensuring each team would spend the equivalent number of minutes attacking or def...
Metman4040 writes...

My Captains for Janurary

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
C J. Spacek A J. Pominville A A. Kotalik or J. Hecht Spacek has turned into a complete player. he asked for more playing time and when lindy ruff gave it to him he responded by being the best defencemen on the team. he has had big hits and big goals in my opinion there is no one else that deserves this honor more then him. Pominville has been on fire. hes scored 15...
John Jaeckel writes...

The Bowman Connection

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
During the 90's, Scotty Bowman, Barry Smith and the rest of the Detroit Red Wings were the nemeses of a crumbling Blackhawk organization. Some 15 years later, it can be argued the Scotty Bowman, himself, is a small part of the Blackhawks' rebirth. How so? Well, a few years back the Blackhawks hired Bowman's son, Stan, to their front office. A graduate of Notre Dame...
Hey pens fans, Last night, the Pens took on the Sabres in an Ice Bowl preview and emerged with the win. The Pens were up one to nothing with the goal by Armstrong. At the end of the game Crosby worked for the puc and brought it into the zone to setup Malin for the empty-netter. Ty Conklin played a solid game to earn the shutout. Winter Classic I will be there to ...
[img]http://cdn.nhl.com/penguins/images/upload/2007/12/wc2008_wide.gif[/img] It ended with Sidney Crosby as the sixth shooter to fumble the puck toward the goalie through the bad ice, slush and snow that was the rink at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It was history, or so said the NHL, as the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first outdoor game in the U.S. It ...
My vote is either Montreal, Detroit, or Toronto. It has been suggested in other media that Montreal would be a great tie-in to celebrate the organization's 100th anniversary. Great idea to highlight Original Six in any form. Another floater has been to tie the Winter Classic to the All-Star Game. I like that idea even better if the All-Star Game is held in a norther...
7:30 AM : Get up from an easy going night of not drinking too much. I get my four layers of clothes on, check to make sure I have everything I need and run out the door to our meeting place for our limo. 8:30 AM : Arrive at my waiting destination, we start to celebrate with a few glasses of Champaign and Orange Juice which is also commonly known as a Mimosa. After ...
The Winter Classic or Ice Bowl, as it was called here in Buffalo, will be one event I will remember forever. It was something anyone who has the chance to go see should not miss! The NHL really scored with the game in Buffalo. I had a great time and this is how it went all day. I met up with a swimming teammate of mine at around 8:30am in our favorite tailgating spot fo...
The Winter Classic or Ice Bowl, as it was called here in Buffalo, will be one event I will remember forever. It was something anyone who has the chance to go see should not miss! The NHL really scored with the game in Buffalo. I had a great time and this is how it went all day. I met up with a swimming teammate of mine at around 8:30am in our favorite tailgating spot fo...
The Buffalo Sabres D Core is soft.... I know alot of people are going to not like what was just said but its true. the only one thats doing their job is Spacek. They dont hit and play a finese defence. players are allowed to go right in on goal and do what they please. Please get me a player that clears the front of the net. Lydman and Tallinder are shadows of their old...
Raise your hand if you saw this one coming? The Buffalo Sabres are at the halfway point in this 2007 season, mired in a season long 6 game winless streak. The offense is struggling, the D has been bad, and Ryan Miller has been good, but not good enough. Today we look at the forwards, while tomorrow we'll look at the defense and goaltending. Centers: Derek Roy (...
Well we have another exciting match up between these 2 division rivals, even with Buffalo being ravaged with injuries, sens can’t look past this game to Saturday night's tilt against the wings. Its going to be Gerber in nets for Ottawa and kind of surprisingly we are going to see Thibeault, or T-Bonz as the buffalo faithful like to call him (and I will now be calling him...
sideshowbob492 writes...

Turning Point?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Ok, this is my first post in a very VERY long time, so let me shake off some rust. The Winter Classic aside, this last game against the Senators has been the first time I've liked what I've seen on the ice in a long time. Yes, the Sabres did lose when they had many chances to take this game and Vanek and Pominville are still struggling to finish easy chances. But Pomm...
Game tonight versus #23 and the Rangers. Interestingly, Drury has the worst plus / minus on the Rangers, and is 4th on the team in scoring. Talk radio this week was all about how the Rangers were apparently disappointed with Drury so far. Of course, they probably don't realize that the little man only scores when it matters or they're in the playoffs (see his Antonym, Miro...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
As i look on the TV and see #23 in red and white i get frustrated to think about 12 months ago when he agreed to 5.3 mill a year. It frustrates me because this team is soft. Last years was soft as well but this team is beyond soft. from the management to the players this team is a shell of what it used to be. They can beat the trap and they cant play defence. Way to many g...
With Timmy Connolly, Jarsoslav Spacek, Derek Roy, and Maxim Afinogenov still out on injuries the Sabres fall to 0-5-5 after a loss in Madison Square Garden to the Rangers. The first period seemed to be owned by the Rangers without a doubt. The boys couldn't get the puck out of their own zone. This time no one can blame Ryan Miller for the loss considering he let two int...
Yes, we just lost 4-2 to Toronto, but I'm not speaking on emotion. I'm speaking as someone who has watched this team closely all year long, their trials, triumphs, and tribulations. This team is close of being a playoff team, but it's just not there at the moment. [b]It's one or two players short.[/b] Look at the Sabres' recent losses to Atlanta and the Rangers, w...
BuffaloMat writes...

Hawks looking at Campbell

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The Blackhawks are looking at Brian Campbell as a possible trade. Willing to trade are Tuomo Ruutu and Cam Barker and also Nikolai Khabibulin. I see nothing impressive with the people they are willing to give up. I would love to take David Bolland off their hands. Besides they have Byfuglien as their offensive defensemen.... Hawks are also trying to go for Liles from C...
All the attention of the Hockey World, it seems, is on the Toronto Maple Leafs, but there's now a disaster just two hours southwest. Someone told me it's the Curse of the Buffalo Bills that has inflicted this team. The moment they stepped on the ice at Ralph Wilson Stadium, they got a heavy dose of "We find ways to lose" injected into their bodies. Now I don't know if...
Some of us are on the verge of conceding this year as lost cause for the Sabres. If this is the case, it's time to start thinking about putting up the "For Sale" sign at the trade deadline. Here's a look at our tradable assets and potential trading partners. Our tradable assets (and their approx remaining cap at the time of the deadline) Maxim Afinogenov (1.3m) Tim ...
Buts16 writes...

Saturday Morning Coffee

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Have a great weekend and thanks for reading. http://flyerflies.com/blogs/Buts/ Some hockey Pool advice and some crazy quotes and ideas.
John Jaeckel writes...

Who cut the cheese?

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
OK, maybe not in the best taste as far as a headline. But it is time to "clear the air" on a range of subjects and misperceptions surrounding the Blackhawks. [b]"Tallon should be fired. He isn't acquiring the players we need to compete."[/b] FACT: There are roughly 25 teams in both conferences "in the hunt" for playoff spots right now. Most of them, by the way, are m...
The Sabres HAVE to use this weekend off as a method to cleanse thier system of the first half of the season. If they get their act together quickly, they can climb right back in the playoff hunt. After losing 12 of their last 14 games, they can climb to the 8 spot by THIS FRIDAY if they take care of their own business (at Tampa, florida and Atlanta) and things break ri...
Well, I've been quiet all year long on the blog site, and now that I've had time to reflect, and some sleep, here are some things that need to be addressed, IMO. 1. Team doctors screwing up with misdiagnosises Well, it's kind of hard to knock a Dr. on his/her practices if you are not in their shoes. People have been saying the team doctors have dropped the ball w...
FLAMESTR writes...

Sabres

Posted Friday | Comments 1
The Buffalo Sabres have one of the best young forwards crops in the league. They are a enigma as to why they don’t have more points in the standings. Their defense is led by super star Mr. Campbell. The goaltending is solid; that will have to continue to improve to help this team make the playoffs. The Sabres' strengths are their age, speed, and strength. Their for...
Toni Lydman and Dimitri Kalinin have at least one thing in common. When they're bad... THEY'RE BAD! If you see either of them have a bad giveaway in the first period, it's a "lock" that you will see each of them have 3 or 4 more turnovers over the course of teh rest of the game. Miller must [i]LOVE[/i] this. Coming into the season, Lydman seemed to be much more sol...
Sitting up in the 300 level for a sabres game at the HSBC arena lets you see everything. When Richard Zednik was hit in the neck with a skate out of the corner of my eye i caught Ryan Miller and Brian Campbell waving there hands and what looked like them to be yelling their heads off for a trainer to get to Zednik ASAP. Earlier in the night Miller had called for the refere...
With the NHL trading deadline 2 weeks away, and the Buffalo Sabres sitting one point out of 8th in the Eastern Conference, its about the time for Darcy Regier to begin looking at how to add to a team just beginning to hit their stride after a rocky season. here is my list of guys for Regier to go out and look at it in the next 2 weeks, along with the guys who could draw...
SabreStalker writes...

Zednik Upgraded!

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Just read a report on WGRZ.com in Buffalo, NY that Richard Zednik has been upgraded to Good Condition and will be moved from ICU to a private room sometime this afternoon. I am thrilled to hear that news and wish him and his family the best! -Sabrestalker
millertime writes...

Live Blog: Sabres-Leafs

Posted Wednesday | Comments 4
10:07 p.m.: Some quick post-game wrap-up...Big win for the Sabres. Miller 1st star with 35 saves and Gaustad with the GWG. Other updates since Buffalo's game ended, the Habs win in OT 2-1, Boston holds on to win 2-1 and they actually pass the Rangers in the process, at least for now, as they have one more win and two games in hand. Updated Eastern Conference standings l...
So Marian Hossa has decided to openly announce that his chances of re-signing with the Atlanta Thrashers are "slim". I'm here to tell you that I've had enough. If I'm a general manager and my player openly says something like this, c'est au revoir mon ami! GM's and fans alike don't need this kind of attention around their team. The Thrashers are in the heat of battle fo...
Attention Real Estate Agents. Soupy's can will soon be ready for showing. ( Bad pun, oh well must be tired) Lets face it Sabre fans Campbell is as good as gone. Did anyone catch his comments today after practice?[url]http://eod.liquidviewer.com/wgr-od/wgr/20080219_campbell.wma[/url] He is truly a dejected individual. He has been a roller coster of emotions for the past ...
I’m not Darryl Sutter, though, so I’m just having fun and you can read and comment all you like. Sure, most are wishful thinking and maybe even a bit far-fetched, but have fun anyway. 1) [b][i]Trade Matthew Lombardi, Anders Eriksson, Andrej Taratukhin, and 2009 #2 Draft Pick to Florida for Olli Jokinen:[/i][/b] Flames get the #1 Center they’ve been wanting for yea...
Papaduke writes...

Learning to win

Posted Friday | Comments 0
One thing is clear this season, the Sabres are inconsistent. They won 2 straight after dropping a pair. They get points in 10 straight just after not winning in 11 straight. The positive and negative streaks this season are plentiful. Why did this happen, sure we can blame the losses of Drury and Briere or the loss of Teppo on the blueline. Those are valid arguments but no...
John Jaeckel writes...

There Will Be Blood

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Actually, there will be "deals" between now and February 26. And there will be red all over some of them, as in Chicago road red. Look for the Hawks to make some moves beyond the typical "trade Zyuzin, Perreault and a box of tape to Carolina for a conditional late round pick in 2012 and the rights to Wayne van Dorp." Look for the Hawks to potentially make some big mo...
With two days remaining until the NHL's version of the Swap Meet (aka Trade Deadline day), Sabres GM Darcy Regier, like 29 other GMs around the league, is busy looking around the league for the right pieces. Sitting in 8th place in the East at the moment, The Sabres could only be one or two more players from a serious run at the top half of the East. And with a bargaining ...
For Alex Picard (D) & a conditional pick................. A Potential Sabre gone.................. I think the Sabres could have matched or beat that offer.
Round and round the ball goes...where will it stop? Nobody knows! Brian Campbell is for sure a hot commodity on the trade market. There's an interesting feeling in Buffalo right now with the whole situation...Most of all, it's the desire for RESOLUTION. The Campbell saga has plagued its ugly face on the team the last several days, especially recently as the Sabres ba...
So another trade deadline has come and gone, with alot more trades then was expected on my part, now we will select 3 teams that we see as winners and 3 teams that we see as losers based on todays trades not on what picks might bring you down the road. [b][u]WINNERS[/u][/b] [b]Dallas[/b]- The Stars picked up one of the bigger names at the deadline picking up Brad Ric...
I've been hearing a lot of "sorry to hear about Campbell," "I feel for you guys," "it's got to be a tough night for you," etc. from many of my hockey buddies across North America. I'm sure other Sabres fans have heard similar sentiment. But please, don't feel bad for us. No reason to. Let me start by putting it this way, this day is NOTHING, NOTHING compared to tha...
Flyers quiet on Tuesday... Were in talks with Buffalo about D Brian Campbell and the Islanders about Ruslan Fedotenko, notable among other possibilities. Holmgren balked at both because the price was too high and confirmed both asked for Jeff Carter in return. Being that Holmgren kept Carter, you figure he wants to sign the kid in the summer. Campbell would have fit a s...
hmansfie writes...

A long way to go

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Note to Sabres fans: There is too much time left. A rash of negative phone calls hit the WGR-550 AM airwaves yesterday in Buffalo as fans voiced their disapproval with how contract negotiations with D Brian Campbell were botched, forcing a trade. It appeared that many fans were pointing the finger directly at GM Darcy Regier. This wasn't Regier's fault. This time yo...
predjoe writes...

Mother Said...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Mother always said 'if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.' Well that does it for my recap of the Sabres and Preds match up...next up a trip to Dallas to face the new and improved Stars on Saturday.
"Vulgare proverbium est, quod nimia familiaritas parit contemptum" [b]Familiarity breeds contempt[/b] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee162/JHRIV/crystal_ballcopycopy.jpg?t=1204518503[/img] It doesn't take a medium or a seance to know that coming away with points on a nightly basis during the final six weeks of regulation games is of paramount importance. The...
[u][b]Don't blame Marty Biron for this one. [/b][/u] Yes, the Flyers are a walking MASH unit. Yes, John Stevens has had to patch lines together with duct tape and bailing wire. Yes, Biron has issues with stopping breakaways and in shootouts. All of the above are true. But the simple fact of the matter is this: [b]The Flyers defense stunk out the joint toni...
As we enter mid March the Toronto Maple Leafs have once again put together a run that has seen them tease their fans with the thought of playoff hockey in 2008. Since February 2nd The Leafs have managed to put together a run of 10-5-0-1 and as of the end of play tonight sit six points out of the eighth and final playoff spot with thirteen games left to play. With that b...
KellyFaith writes...

A Love of the Game

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Do you remember when you used to follow hockey as a kid? When there was nothing like the pure excitement of going to a game? The indescribable smell of the fresh ice and the crisp chill of the air when you step into the rink? When your love of the game was simple, as was your honest support of your team, win or lose? One night's loss was easily forgotten in the anticipatio...
WOW! I just watched the end of the Montreal-New Jersey game on Versus, and how about those Habs? I wish I would've seen this whole game, but ending up with 38 saves, obviously Carey Price had to be sensational. I personally have had some concern about Carey but he stepped up in a big game in a big way and I'd officially like to say I'm on the Carey bandwagon. This gu...
Alright, so with 10 games left in the season and Sundin possibly on the shelf for at least one game, this is how I figure things will come down. I have read the predictions. Everyone thinks the Leafs will miss, all be it slightly, but still miss the playoffs for a franchise first 3rd straight year. I believe the common oppinion is a 9th place finish. CBC is cancellin...
rwrusso writes...

9 to go

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
9 games left in the regular season. Popular opinion among Sabre fans seems to be if they could just play with some conistency in these games they have a shot at finishing 8th, or even 7th. I like what I saw Friday and Saturday. Totally different team than the one who showed up (or didn't) against Pittsburgh. I like the lineup, I hope things keep rolling and Ruff decide...
rwrusso writes...

Garth & the Buffalo Blog

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Yeah, yeah, I know this is being a homer, but the consistently HUGE number of comments made on practically every post by Garth is impressive. Nice showing by Philly and Pitt fans as wel, not only on their boards, but the Buffalo boards too. I think it says a lot about the passion each city's fans have for their team, and hockey in general. I know there are some other gr...
rwrusso writes...

3/19/08 vs. TB: Need this win

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I don't want have to rely on help from Atlantic and Southest division teams down the stretch here to get ahead of Philly and/or Washington. I need to see a continuation of the weekend's games tonight. 2 must have points before finishing up with 8 division opponent games. We'll find out exactly how much heart this team has. It's Lindy's job to have these guys motivated ...
Big game, have to have these 2 points. Need Chicago to shut down AO and the surging Caps. Buffalo might have to get 15-16 points of these last 18 to grab a playoff spot. No time to let up. Can't take this one for granted, TB on a 3-game win streak Lines: Paille-Roy-Bernier Hecht-Gaustad-Pominville Vanek-Kotalik-Afinogenov Kaleta-Mair-Stafford Sekera-Weber Ly...
After watching tonight's 7-4 win over Tampa Bay, I am convinced of one thing: The Buffalo Sabres are schizophrenic. The Sabres managed just two - that's right, two - shots on goal while giving up a pair of second-period goals to one of the worst teams in the league (last in the Eastern Conference with 66 points, or 15 points behind the Sabres). They left the ice fo...
What does the Boston loss mean tonight? If the Sabres win out - each of their last 8 games - they are in the playoffs. Period. Nobody behind them can catch them if they win out and they would leapfrog Boston for a playoff spot, regardless of what currently-eighth-place Philadelphia does. Buffalo will have tallied 16 points for those 8 wins and would finish with...
D-Man Michael Funk has been sent back to Rochester. Nathan Paestch is ready to return to the lineup. Who would you rather have in the lineup Patches or The Funky Cold Medina?
Well, if there was any doubt on the fate of the Sabres - I called this weeks ago -, they proved tonight why they don't deserve to be one of the 8 Eastern Conference teams left standing for the 2008 NHL postseason. But beware of the spin! In the coming days and weeks, these are the things you'll be hearing from Sabres management, head coach Lindy Ruff, and general manag...
rwrusso writes...

Ryan Miller

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Often a topic of conversation among hockey fans here in Buffalo, along with local media, and possibly throughout the league as well, I have a few thoughts about Ryan Miller. First off, I like Ryan Miller. For the most part I think he's done a solid job in net for the Sabres. I will do my best to detach myself as a Sabres fan and look at the realities facing this team in...
The Sabres proved that there is no way that they can be a playoff team last night. Two blown two-goal leads in three games. Pathetic. I don't understand how they can ALWAYS break down when they are GIVEN freebie points by playoff teams. I say, sit Miller down, put in Thibault. Miller has had concistency problems and always chokes come playoff time. How do you know if...
shameus.burp writes...

Any Hope?

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
In our frustration over the Sabres not making the playoffs just remember the 70's NYI's. They were the same team as the Sabres are now. Tons of talent and scoring but couldn't get over the 'hump'. Going to the semifinals a few times and losing for in the playoffs for multiple years. Al Arbour was considered in the same vain as Lindy is now that he couldn't win the big one....
TJD92295 writes...

Teppo Cleared

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
WGR and WKBW are reporting that Teppo Numminen's suspension has been lifted and he could play as early as Thursday. I say, as a fan, I want to see him back and playing. Especially with the current injuries, the Sabres could use some veteran presence (and a right-handed d-man) on the blue line. Teppo gives a team just that. I am not saying that this will give us a smoot...
We're all getting riled up for playoffs and every now and then I still see people whining about the physical style that is hockey. This is hockey people. Hockey players get hurt, it's an outcome a physical game brings. This isn't a new growing problem, checking has been there since the beginning. NHL teams made a mistake when they figured they no longer need tough guys...
What costs the Sabres nothing but goes a long way to keeping players happy? Communicating. Communicating with the players, understanding their gripes and being able to listen to them. Do you think that Larry listens to the players? My answer is no. Drury, Briere and Campbell all took the contract laundry out in the media. I'm sure Ryan Milller will be doing the same on...
Today the NHL announced its finalists for the Lady Byng Award. And to be honest I was first shocked to see Pominville's name listed as a finalist. But then I realized that it isn't that far fetched for Jason to be nominated. Do you ever see 29 complain? He is a true professional on the ice. He lets his skill and hard work tell his story. I think he has a legitimate shot a...
millertime writes...

How good is Pittsburgh?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
After watching game 3 against the Rangers, I'd say pretty good. But seriously. 7-0. In all likelihood about to be 8-0. I wouldn't have predicted it, not in a long shot, but the Pens are proving why they're the cream of the crop in the East, and they're rising to the top at precisely the right time. Their confidence is SKYROCKETING after this win at MSG. Not onl...
burn writes...

NHL Player in Tournament!!!

Posted Sunday | Comments 1
I played in a tournament this weekend called the Wally Cup in Fort Erie, On. In our last game today we had a surprise opponent. Buffalo Sabre Dan Paille played on the other team. We were all shocked. You could really tell that he was going easy, he played defense and didn't take a shot. But he did make a couple amazing passes. I got my Picture taken with him after the game...
According to Eklund, theres a chance that the Florida Panthers may be making Jay Bowmeester available. He is in RFA who could command about 5.5 mil on the market. The Sabres have not had a true Number 1 d-man since the days of Mike Ramsey. With the glut of forwards the Sabres have, especially on the wings, I propose this deal: Jay Bouwmeester for Jason Pominville. ...
So Im a huge hockey fan and i support my hometown Buffalo Sabres. Now what will the sabes do this offseason? Thats a question ive been pondering a lot lately, I have seen many players linked to the sabres and im wondering who will Buffalo get? Whether its Gaborik, Jagr, or even Shannahan...the Sabres nees a little change. They were pretty streaky last season. Especially M...
So the Latest from the NY Post has the Rangers walking away from Sean Avery. Are we missing something? Does Aves have pics of Sather in Marv Albert gear? Did Sather have his heart set on dating the Olsons? Well it looks like the closest Glen will get to one of them, is watching his Full House DVDs on the plane. What makes this situation even worse is that it looks Long Is...
After watching Sundin accept the Messier Award yesterday,I couldn't help but realize why the Rangers aren't mentioned in the " Mats sweepstakes". They will lose a few vets in Shannahan and possibly Straka. Malik and Mara could walk and the cap will increase. After reaping the rewards of the first award recipient ( Shanny) ,maybe the Rangers should follow up with the seco...
While this is based squarely on potential, the talent in goaltending that could belong in the North-East Divison is both impressive and worrisome. It's very possible some of these prospects fall through the cracks and endure disappointing NHL careers compared to what was expected of them, but the prospect of having four star goaltenders in the same division is an enticing ...
[img]http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Video/080613/n_russert_specialreport2_080613.vsmall.jpg[/img] If you haven't heard yet, Tim Russert, the host of NBC's Sunday morning political show, [i]Meet the Press[/i], and a Buffalo Sabres fan, died today at age 58. Russert collapsed at work whilst working on this Sunday's edition of the show, and couldn't be saved....
Jimmert44 writes...

RIP Tim Russert (1950-2008)

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
As most of you know by now, Buffalo's own Tim Russert passed away Friday afternoon from what is being described as a "sudden cardiac death". The 58 year old South Buffalo born was best known for his 17 year stint as host of NBC's "Meet the Press" while serving as NBC News Washington Bureau chief. He was also a distinguished author with two best selling books "Big Russ a...
CAPMESS11 writes...

MALKIN TO THE RANGERS?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Ok,Ok this is just speculation but the Rangers and the Pens have a deep history of making trades. So no one can respond that the Pens would never move one of the best centers in the game to a division rival. But with hints in the air that Malkin may become expendable if Hossa signs back on in the Steel city,it's got to be explored.Looking back on past trades,the two teams...
Olli Jokinen could be just what the Buffalo Sabres need. While everyone is focused on Buffalo's biggest, glaring needs this offseason - at defense and back-up goalie, with the forwards stocked up - the Sabres should do all in their power to acquire O.J. When I read that Florida is looking for a first round pick and two young players, my interest intensified. Buffalo...
nylawdog writes...

Asta La Bye Bye Max

Posted Friday | Comments 0
I believe this weekend, perhaps even today, will be the last of Maxim Afinogenov in a Buffalo Sabres sweater. Now, don't get me wrong, I am a Sabres fan of the utmost degree. My first game, albeit only six years ago or so, January 12, Sabres v. Islanders and Satan had put in his first goal in a long time ending a what came to be the norm - a slump. I have watched and li...
So if these latest reports hold water, I will officially want to quit my job and stand in front of all local media outlets looking for a gig. My blog a few months ago had Mats Sundin on the list and many people felt that NY was not in the mix. Now the NY Post has expressed that the Rangers are his first choice to land this summer. If the Rangers are kicking the tires on ...
Yet another UFA day is rapidly approaching, now just a measley week away. As usual, hockey fans across North America are gaining excitement as this day approaches and the calendar is about to flip July. And from a personal point of view, I couldn't be more excited - as usual - to see what my beloved team, the Buffalo Sabres, will do. A year of disappointment, only...
In addition to Eklund's rumor today that the Sabres are extremely interested in Brian Rolston - and why wouldn't they be based on the veteran leadership the team has lacked since Chris Drury departed - I found an interesting tidbit. What do he and Thomas Vanek have in common? Same agent. Steve Bartlett of Rochester, N.Y., just down the Thruway from Buffalo, repres...
That's right. Forget about tomorrow (Tuesday July 1st) as a day that your team will get better. Darcy might try to make a splash by signing a UFA, but his bid will fall far short of what other ravenous teams out there will be offering. Wait for Wednesday and Thursday to arrive, when the big money is off the table, and the Tier 2 UFA's are still around. I'm forecastin...
Cusejetsfan83 writes...

first posting

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
hey ya'll my name is ryan and i am from syracuse, ny i will be blogging on my takes about columbus bluejackets and the buffalo sabres.... also i will pretty much be exclusively giving my takes to the syracuse crunch of the AHL (minor league affiliate of the columbus bluejackets)
So far, this "Free Agent Frenzy" has been more like a free agent bore. But there was no lack of re-signings before noon, including Aves Defensemen Liles. I personally was hoping the Sabres would pick up Liles and Orpik. Plan C is prabably Striet of Montreal. Only time can tell, but I can tell you one thing. If they do nothing HSBC Arena will be up in Flames. By the way, go...
Yesterday the Sabres signed goalie Patrick Lalime to a 2 year 1 million per deal. Lalime played for the Blackhawks last year, but is mostly known for being the starting goalie for the Senators before the lockout. As for defesemen, the Sabres only chance is Orpik. With Striet signing with the Islanders, Rozival back to the Rangers, and and Commodore to Columbus, ...
Over the last few years the Rangers have made excellent moves in signing veterans.They signed Shanahan and his leadership had proved to be key in the development of the forwards. Shanny also took some of the pressure of Jagr in the locker room,allowing Jagr to concentrate on his Einstein books. The Rangers brought Jason Strudwick back in to the fold last year and his o...
Let me clear something up. Now that Brooks Orpik has signed with Pittsburgh, some Sabres fans have looked back to Andrew Orpik's comments to the Buffalo News a few days ago and shaken their heads, comments they thought all but assured Buffalo was a likely destination for the d-man: "Buffalo is a place he'd definitely want to come," Brooks' brother Andrew told the Buf...
Hello to all during a summer in which the news has been filled about rising fuel costs, job losses, flooding, a declining home market, forest fires, and a war that still will not end. But in these times, there has been plenty of wonderful and fantastic news to all who are either die-hard fans or slight fans of the San Jose Sharks. The moves Doug Wilson has made have ...
So for those of you who get lost sometimes in trades, I've tried to compile a good list of what Buffalo has given up and then gotten through trades in 2008: [i][b]Trade Deadline Day 2008:[/b][/i] [b]Sabres give up:[/b] [20 Games of service from Brian Campbell] 7th round pick in 2008 Entry Draft [later became Drew Daniels (RW)] [b]Sabres get:[/b] Steve Bernier (...
BuffMAN74 writes...

The never ending problem.

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[i]Sabres fans, hockey fans, and all others:[/i] This is my first chance to impress you with my opinions or bore you with my stupidity. UFAs and RFAs will come and go, and that is what you have to expect. It is no fun when its your favorite player (Drury, Grier,...ect.) and some times you just want to get rid of a guy (Kalinin). Its the busin...
Bernier was offered a 2.5m 1yr offer sheet by St. Louis, just mere days after Vancouver acquired him for a 2nd round pick in 2010 and 3rd round pick in 2009. Since the offer sheet was in the 2.0mil to 3.0mil range, Buffalo (should St. Louis have filed the offer sheet) would have been entitled to St Louis' 1st and 3rd round picks in 2009. Kinda stinky to see what coul...
Metman4040 writes...

Its Miller Time!

Posted Friday | Comments 0
With the news that Ryan Miller has signed for a 5 yr deal i am sitting here excited for the upcoming season. people all over town have been going Enroth this Enroth that saying that we have no chance to sign miller, hes good as gone. Well to those people shame on you! hes here for 5 more years after this one at a reasonable 6.25 a year. Miller is smart to resign here becau...
TJHockey writes...

Awinagainov Anyone?

Posted Monday | Comments 0
It was just a few years ago when Maxim Afinogenov was loved by many in Buffalo. "MAX NATION" was a craze! You heard a loud "ahhhh" take over the HSBC (Hot Sauce, Blue Cheese) Arena every time he touched puck. Now Max is fading in popularity with his in-ability to play defense which tends to lead him to the BOX. And his mis-conception of how big nhl defensemen really ar...
Sure, Jason Pominville is no Eric Staal, but the timing of this 7-year extension for one of the NHL's brightest young stars could not have been worse for the Blue and Gold faithful. 7 years, $57.75 million is a lot of dough. That's $8.25 per season. You might say that this deal is the opposite of a hometown discount. I like Eric Staal, but I think that's a bit steep,...
Reed17 writes...

Nathan Gerbe

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[b]Basic Quick Facts[/b] [i]Position[/i]: C [i]Shoots[/i]: Left [i]Height[/i]: 5-6 [i]Weight[/i]: 160 lbs [i]Birth date[/i]: 1987-07-24 [i]Hometown[/i]: Oxford, Michigan [i]Acquired[/i]: 5th round (142nd overall), 2005 NHL Draft Nathan Gerbe, gives inspiration to small athletes every where. Here is a player I can't wait to see wearing a Sabres jerse...
[u]Depth Chart[/u] C Tim Connolly Derek Roy Paul Gaustad Adam Mair Jochen Hecht Nathan Gerbe Marek Zagrapan LW Thomas Vanek Daniel Paille Patrick Kaleta Clarke MacArthur Philippe Gogulla RW Drew Stafford Jason Pominville Ales Kotalik Maxim Afinogenov Andrew Peters Mark Mancari D Jaroslav Spacek Toni Lydman Henrik Tallinder Craig Rivet Andre...
Update, 3:30 p.m. EST: The entry I had posted here before is meaningless now! Pommer signs a 5-year extension this afternoon, reportedly between $5 and $6 mill per season. Thoughts? I think it's a great deal and I'm ecstatic to hear the news! No more distractions going into Camp. Let's get the season started, Sabres fans! Sabres fans on pins and needles...Just wait...
It's Sunday morning and you spent all of last night basking in drink after drink. You were the life of the party, from what you remember anyway, and even that's a blur - almost seems like a lifetime ago. You're still gaining your senses this morning and you have a horrible feeling in the gut of your stomach. You don't want to do a THING today. Now you know what the S...
stromie writes...

Random Sabres Thoughts......

Posted Sunday | Comments 2
Max Afinogenov is in the ultimate contract year. Not only is he in the last year of his contract, but he was shopped around in the offseason and is auditioning for all 30 other teams in the NHL either via trade during the season, jockeying for line placement on the Sabres or for his free agent contract following the season. Right now, it looks like we are going to go be ge...
In a text received from the Buffalo Sabres they have named the newly aquired d-man as their newest captain. Also releaed was the news that Pominville, Hecht, Spacek & Numminen will all be named assistant captains. Probally they will be rotated. Since i believe that the league only allows 3 players to wear letters. So Sabre fans what do you think? Me myself am relieved ...
C4LL4W4Y writes...

Northeast Division Preview

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[b]Northeast Division[/b] [i]Canadiens[/i] After a difficult 06-07 that saw the Canadiens barely miss the playoffs, GM Bob Gainey sat and did nothing in the offseason...and he was vilified for it. The Montreal media couldn't understand why Gainey wanted to put his youngsters in positions to make plays. Well it worked, and the Habs grabbed the #1 seed in the East last...
Friday marks the beginning of a new season for the Buffalo Sabres when they face off against the Montreal Canadiens at 7:30pm at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo. The two divisional rivals kick off the 2008-2009 season with a lot of questions open for discussion for both squads after disappointing finishes last year. The Sabres are attempting to rebound from a season that foun...
I always enjoy playing out big Sabres games just before they take place on my PS2...sort of "predicting" if you will. I set the rosters up so that they match the Game Day rosters, and I go at it. Historically, I'd say I pick the winning team about 75% of the time whenever I do this, so it's pretty accurate. In fact, I've done playoff games in the past in which I get the...
One day while bored at work I was thinking about hockey and wondered if it made much difference if we weighed point production from a per minute basis. I decided to check the top 40 scorers last year and compare them by how many points that they produced by actual playing time. Of course there is always the debate about who is better, Ovechkin or Crosby. Lets see who is be...
The Eastern Conference 1. Pittsburgh 2. Washington 3. Buffalo 4. Montreal 5. Philadelphia 6. NY Rangers 7. New Jersey 8. Carolina 9. Ottawa 10. Toronto 11. Tampa 12. Boston 13. Florida 14. Atlanta 15. NY Islanders Western Conference. 1. Detroit 2. San Jose 3. Edmonton 4. Vancouver 5. Calgary 6. Chicago 7. Anaheim 8. Dallas 9. Colorado 10. ...
Welcome to the first live blog of the season by yours truly, but certainly not the last. Tonight's edition is brought to you by green grapes and a game unfortunately not in HD due to Time Warner Rochester's general incompetence. The game starts off with one of my favorite lines Vanek - Roy - Stafford that showed some serious potential when all the participants are healt...
10/13/08 It was Kids Day on Long Island, and fans came out as the Isles tripped, clutched, held sticks, grabbed, fought, slashed, roughed, hooked, cross checked and probably did about 80% of it all over again. Buffalo worked hard with their 7-1 drubbing of the Islanders, but perhaps not as hard as the refs. The refs called a total (at this time..it might still not...
erby writes...

Sabres at Islanders, 7-1

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I can't catch up with the last year and a half of non-blogging with all the Sabres news, but I will always have faith in this team, especially in Ruff's decisions and the Regier management, despite on the flak they get. With that said, welcome to the Buffalo Sabres 2008-2009 season of awesomeness. I mean, is it bad to have expectations for the team? Ahhh well, playoff...
The Sabres are coming off a convincing 7-1 win against a lackluster, DiPietro-less New York Islanders team, though a pro hockey team nonetheless who was embarassed on their home ice and there's no excuse for that. The Rangers are coming off, well, one of their best starts in franchise history. 5-0 out of the gate ties their best all-time feat, and with a win tomorrow n...
erby writes...

Sabres at Rangers, pre-game

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
If there's any game to watch tonight, it would be this one. [img]http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7535/drurytu7.jpg[/img] If it all pans out, this should be a glimpse of the level and competitiveness of play we're going to see in the Eastern Conference playoffs in a few months. The Sabres are motivated by a) playing Drury and b) by virtue of being the Buffalo Sabr...
airtsabes writes...

Does it matter who scores?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I did a little breakdown of the Sabres lineup from last year to see how we did when our big guns score. Last year we had 5 players that broke the 20 goal mark. Vanek-36, Roy-32, Pominville-27, Kotalik-23, and Hecht-22. I figured it by percentage of points secured in games that were scored in. 1. Roy - 25 games 19-4-2 80% 2. Kotalik - 20 games 14-5-1 ...
erby writes...

Sabres at Rangers, 3-1

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
VANEK I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUU. [img]http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/9230/vanekyb5.jpg[/img] Oh HECK YES Buffalo Sabres. I had to catch this game throughout a meeting and would burst out cheering randomly while everyone else looked at me; and to them, I'd say, "VANEK!!! SHORTHANDED!!!" And then they'd say, "What is wrong with you?" Damn it feels good to be rocki...
millertime writes...

Forget my prediction

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Earlier I posted this....and the Sabres are already up 3-0 with 6 minutes left in the first. Can't be right all the time! I'll chalk this up to my Vancouver bias described below in my earlier entry. I'm going out on a weird limb tonight, and I'm predicting a 4-2 Vancouver win for this evening's game at HSBC Arena. I say Steve Bernier will be pumped and fiery for th...
What a game What game. Sabres Fab Five is not on: Thomas Vanek continues to dominate this opposition. One Goal and One Assist. That makes 6 goals in 4 games. Well on his way to the 50 Goal Campaign and leading this team back to the playoffs. The power play i was tough on them during the first game. Well so far they have been very good in the last couple games. ...
erby writes...

Sabres vs Canucks, 5-2

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
[img]http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4100/vaneksz1.jpg[/img] Four games. Four wins. Vanek as top star for all four. [b]Quick stats:[/b] 1. Buffalo out-hits Vancouver 25 to 17. Kaleta is the pounding machine, with 8 hits by himself. 2. Faceoffs are tied for both teams at 24. (I seriously believe this is one of those forgotten-but-important stats, like blo...
Boy, what a game! Our boys came out a little flat and undisiplined. Their legs were laboring a bit and not to mention they ran into eachother a few times but WOW; what a way to gut out a point! This team showed a lot of grit last night! The first 20 minutes couldnt have gone worse. ATL peppered Lalime with shots from everywhere, and he absolutely stood on his hea...
Boy, what a game! Our boys came out a little flat and undisiplined. Their legs were laboring a bit and not to mention they ran into eachother a few times but WOW; what a way to gut out a point! This team showed a lot of grit last night! The first 20 minutes couldnt have gone worse. ATL peppered Lalime with shots from everywhere, and he absolutely stood on his hea...
Boy, what a game! Our boys came out a little flat and undisiplined. Their legs were laboring a bit and not to mention they ran into eachother a few times but WOW; what a way to gut out a point! This team showed a lot of grit last night! The first 20 minutes couldnt have gone worse. ATL peppered Lalime with shots from everywhere, and he absolutely stood on his hea...
Boy, what a game! Our boys came out a little flat and undisiplined. Their legs were laboring a bit and not to mention they ran into eachother a few times but WOW; what a way to gut out a point! This team showed a lot of grit last night! The first 20 minutes couldnt have gone worse. ATL peppered Lalime with shots from everywhere, and he absolutely stood on his h...
airtsabes writes...

Sabres week 1 report

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Hats off to the Buffalo Sabres for starting the season 4-0-0-1. Many people were predicting the Sabres to finish anywhere from 7th to 12th in the standings this year and this team is trying to prove all of them wrong. In the first complete week of the season (Monday-Sunday) the Sabres finished 3-0-0-1 and had some individual dominant performances. I took the liberty of...
[b]First, I must share this with you:[/b] [img]http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3847/hockeylolhh8.jpg[/img] [b]Second, Sabres at Thrashers post-game:[/b] I only caught the first half of this game on radio, so I had a friend text me the final score. Color me surprised when I heard that the game went to a shootout, albeit a loss. The main thing to note is how Lal...
[b]Post-game: Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins, 3-2 (OT)[/b] [img]http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8959/milleruy9.jpg[/img] TWO BUNNIES FROM THE HAT!!! If Lalime pulled a bunny from Saturday's game, Miller one-upped him with last night's performance. After another [i]slug[/i]gish start, it was again up to the goalie to keep his team in the game. Then when the s...
brianwiz writes...

Sabres Fab Five OT time

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Buffalo Sabres looked dead for most of the game but they found a way to win. Checking: Most say the checking by the Sabres has been very good this season so far Vanek: 8 Goals now.... Lets keep counting them. This would make I believe every game he scores in Regulation that this team wins.. correct me if im wrong Roy: Great sacrifice in front of the net during OT ...
[img:left]http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20081024/capt.738c262e1cf3423496b1292413cdaaa0.sabres_wild_hockey_mnpb103.jpg[/img] Rising like a phoenix from the ashes, the Sabres came back from two goals down inside the last 5 minutes of the 3rd period to defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime. The Sabres one line was the story of the night after scoring 3 out of the...
erby writes...

Sabres at Minnesota, 4-3

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Sabres win it in OT, with a late third period run and a quick goal in the OT period to take down one of the last two undefeated teams in the league. [img]http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7260/millerqf2.jpg[/img] [b]Quick stats:[/b] 1. Buffalo was excellent at staying out of the penalty box, with only three 2-minute minors. However, Miller's mistake happened on t...
The current playoff teams if the season ended today are: The Eastern Conference 1. Buffalo 2. NY Rangers 3. Carolina 4. Montreal 5. Pittsburgh 6. New Jersey 7. Washington 8. Boston The Western Conference. 1. San Jose 2. Minnesota 3. Detroit 4. St. Louis 5. Edmonton 6. Colorado 7. Chicago 8. Calgary Buffalo over Boston NY Rangers over Washingto...
I'm going to play off of the infamous "Ek Factors" for this one, and give you the "Mill Factors" for this game. BTW, before I get started, Ek and his family remains in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Get well soon Ek! [b]Senateurs d'Ottawa[/b] (2-5-1, 14th in conference) at [b]Buffalo Sabres[/b] (6-0-2, 2nd in conference) Monday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m....
airtsabes writes...

Sabres week 2 report.

Posted Monday | Comments 1
Another week finished, another 5 pts. The Buffalo Sabres go 2-0-0-1 this week. This team is off to a hot start in the still young season and that is without many key players. If I told you before the season started that Hecht, Connolly, Gaustad, and Rivet would miss 24 man games to injury in the first 8 and we would still go 6-0-0-2 who woulda laughed. I probably would o...
erby writes...

Sabres vs Ottawa, 2-5

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Sabres hockeybuzz fans have been sort of quiet since the loss to Ottawa on Monday, and I don't blame them. The only good thing for me is that Teppo is on my fantasy team, but then again, I also wagered that it would take him a lot longer to score his first goal of the season. Spezza is also on my fantasy team, so I am conflicted as to whether I should be happy or sad...
airtsabes writes...

Sabres / Lightning preview

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Sabres are back in action tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are looking to rebound from their pathetic perfomance aginst the Senators. How the Teams Stack Up: [b]Power Play[/b] Buffalo: 21.6% - 7th in the league Tampa Bay: 10.8% - 29th in the league [b]Penalty Kill[/b] Buffalo: 90.2% - 4th in the league Tampa Bay: 84.3% - 11th in the league ...
erby writes...

Sabres vs Lightning, 2-5

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
After a stressful week (and another stressful week coming up), I was ALL SET for this game. I got back to my apartment at 4pm, made some food, drank some wine, and put on my Miller tshirt. Yes, I'm a bit of a hockey geek, but I look forward to Sabres games, especially like tonight when I was able to catch the whole game. Things couldn't be better. I listen to the pre...
bagasome writes...

Next Stop: Buffalo

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
http://capsstop.blogspot.com The Washington Capitals, minus Alexander Ovechkin, head to Buffalo for a Saturday night match-up with the Sabres. The Sabres (6-2-2) come into Saturday nights game having lost three straight. The Capitals (5-3-1) will try and build on the win against Nashville, a 4-3 shootout victory, from Tuesday night. This will mark the second straight ...
erby writes...

Sabres vs Capitals, 5-0

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
YAY, A WIN! AN ACTUAL WIN IN REGULATION! [b]Quick stats + notes:[/b] 1. Giveaways are horrendous. Buffalo had TWENTY-SIX, while Washington had seven. If anyone was watching the sluggish PP, I'm sure you saw several of the 26 giveaways then. 2. Speaking of PP, Sabres went 1 for 8 (Caps were 0 for 5). I know Roy slid one past Theodore on the 5-on-3, but for a go...
airtsabes writes...

Sabres week 3 report:

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Week 3 started pretty rough for the Sabres. 2 dismal 5-2 losses to the Senators and Lightning. They looked like they did not deserve to be playing in the NHL. Then when you get down on them they throw you a 5-0 domination over Washington. Lindy got them back to basics with the defense first style and it paid big dividends. So they finish the week 1-2 with Gaustad and Conno...
erby writes...

Sabres at Devils, 2-0

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
I ACTUALLY WENT TO THIS GAME! Admittedly, not the most exciting game ever. The penalties in the 2nd made the game slow down considerably and the 3rd period was an overwhelmingly defensive period for the Sabres. [b]Quick stats:[/b] 1. Craig Rivet is back after missing 5 games. This means the last person left on the injury list is Jochen Hecht, who did travel with t...
[img]http://www.sabresfans.com/images/Roster/aleskotalik.jpg[/img] Last year Ales Kotalik scored 43 pts in 79 games. This put him in 63rd place in the league among wingers. His salary for the season was 2.5 million which was tied for 56th for wingers tied with 8 others. Does this mean he was overpaid for his production and is he worth this much or more in a contract ex...
airtsabes writes...

Sabres week 4 report:

Posted Monday | Comments 0
8-3-3 19pts H(4-2-1) A(4-1-2) Week 4 started great and then got ugly. 1-1-1 with Miller starting all 3. He started the week with shutout and it all went downhill from there. Our guys decided to revert to their lazy defensive play of last year and it cost them. One can say that Lalime should have started one of the back to back games but I do not think it would hav...
Buffalo Sabres 8-3-2 6th in East St. Louis Blues 5-7-1 15th in West Last week: Sabres - 1-1-1 Blues - 0-2-1 Powerplay: Sabres: 21.6% 5th Blues: 27.1% 2nd Penalty Kill: Sabres: 88.7% 5th Blues: 81.0% 15th Goals per game: Sabres: 2.93 t-16th Blues: 3.00 t-10th Goals against: Sabres: 2.21 t-3rd Blues: 3.38 25th Team leaders:...
airtsabes writes...

Sabres

Posted Monday | Comments 0
[b]9-5-3 21pts H(5-3-1) A(4-2-2)[/b] [img]http://www.letsgosabres.com/images/players/photos/ryan_miller.jpg[/img] Week 5. What a disappointment. 1-2 with Miller making an appearance in all 3. What happened to Patrick Lalime? 6 goals against on 23 shots. Miller was not a lot better. 7 goals against in just over 2 games. So we picked up 2 more points in the standings...
stromie writes...

Sabres slide reaches 5

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The Sabres continued their slide after a torrid start in a 4-2 loss Saturday night against the NY Islanders at home. The Islanders were out shot by 11 in the game, but came out on top with a good performance to bring the Sabres to a five game losing streak. Andy Hilbert had 2 points for the Islanders and Mark Streit played a great game on the numerous power plays for th...
They've paid all the bills, and they've given some key personnel hefty raises, but at the one-quarter mark of 2008-2009, it's not paying dividends for the Buffalo Sabres. It has to be highly disconcerting for Tom Golisano, Darcy Regier, and Co. to witness this promising young core underperform. They have to be scratching their heads, and as the Sabres' losing streak ha...
airtsabes writes...

Sabres week 6 report

Posted Monday | Comments 1
9-8-3 21pts H(5-5-1) A(4-3-2) Week 6. Wow, just where are the Sabres headed? 0-3 this week, and I do not know what to think of this team anymore. We gave up 14 goals and only scored 6. The lone bright spot of the week was AHL callup Mark Mancari. Scored a goal and was a +/- of 0. We pick up 0 points in the standings and now sit at 9th place in the East, out of the playo...
erby writes...

The Buffalo Sabres: A Review

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
No, I haven't fallen off the bandwagon. For three weeks in a row, the games have fallen on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. I have weekly meetings on Wednesday nights and have been travelling for three weekends in a row. I come home to a box score and a lot of disappointment. Because I haven't watched or listened to a single game in so long, I felt it would be unfair...
After watching the second-place team in my Yahoo fantasy pool catch up to within mere points of my team ( "erby's Dance Party" ), I've widened it back to a 50-point lead (1202 to 1152). Not bad. Looks like Semin is in for the long-haul (his injury, I mean), but given the fact that it still isn't being reported as anything "too serious," there's no way I'm dropping him....
airtsabes writes...

Sabres week 7 report!

Posted Monday | Comments 0
11-9-3 25pts H(7-5-1) A(4-4-2) Week 7. Riding a 5 game slump coming into the week who would have thought we could win 2 out of 3 from Boston, Pittsburgh, & Montreal. 2-1 this week, and they looked a lot better as of late. We gave up 8 goals and scored 9. We pick up 4 points in the standings and sit at 9th place in the East, still out of the playoffs but only by 1 p...
I stumbled upon a site that breaks down NHL statistics in some very interesting ways. I have decided to use some of these formulas to decide who this team needs to get rid of. For anyone that’s interested and a source for my breakdown. http://hockeyanalytics.com/Research.htm Offense: Offensive Engagement (OE) measures the degree to which players are involved in t...
Before I even begin talking about the Sabres: THE BUFFALO BILLS WON THE MAC CHAMPIONSHIP, BEATING THE UNDEFEATED BALL STATE TEAM!!! It is seriously the most uplifting story I've read in the longest time. [url]http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2008/12/06/2008-12-06_university_of_buffalo_goes_to_bowl_after.html[/url] [i]Willie Evans was the starting halfback...
stromie writes...

Sabres @ Pens --> Live Blog!

Posted Monday | Comments 2
This live blog is brought to you by the top two scorers in the league on the Pens , Malkin and Crosby, and a squeaked out victory against the Bolts. Also by pink lemonade.........I don't care that it is pink and quite possibly the most feminine of all drinks, I likes it and it is delicious. First Period The Sabres are in a tough spot but get a little bit of a break s...
13-1-3 29pts H(7-6-1) A(6-5-2) Week 8 + Monday. (Added Monday because I was not at work yesterday and had no opportunity to do my report) Well, they let the first 2 games get away but came back strong in the second half of the week. 2-2 this week, and it seems like they might have some scoring touch back.. We gave up 10 goals and scored 9. We pick up 4 points in the sta...
airtsabes writes...

Sabres New Season recap:

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
2-1-0 4pts After the first loss of the season the team bounced back rather well with 2 wins against Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh on the road. Vanek, Roy, and Kotalik are tied for the team lead with 2G each. Roy, Stafford, Mair, and Gaustad each have 2A. Roy leads the team with 4P. Stafford leads the team in +- with a +4, meanwhile upcoming star Gerbe has a +3 after m...
erby writes...

Fantasy and post-game

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
First, fantasy hockey. 1. 1480.30 - erby's Dance Party (me!) 2. 1405.40 - Bomb Squad 3. 1378.40 - Jamaican Me Crazy 4. 1245.50 - Downward Spiral ... (9 teams total) Look at that lead! Heck yeah!!! New switch-ups: Kuba is back in (Kronwall was the problem, not him) and I traded in Arnott for Dubinsky. Semin is back and racking up points already. Zherdev ha...
erby writes...

Sabres at Devils, 4-2

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
[b]The numbers:[/b] 1. Special teams: The Sabres went 2 for 2 on the PP and gave no PP opportunities to the Devils. Unbelievable! 2. Faceoffs: Devils 35, Sabres 21. Zubrus won 88% (15-2) for the Devils while Hecht was 25% (4-12) and Gaustad was 28% (5-13) on the draw. The only Sabre abve 50% was Derek Roy (8-5). 3. Shots: Sabres 34, Devils 22. Buffalo reall...
airtsabes writes...

Sabres: Where do they stand?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
We are now 31 games into the season and still struggling to find an identity. Our record is now 15-13-3, tied with Carolina at the 8th spot in the East(we have 15 wins to their 14). It is interesting to know(at least to me) that after 31 games last year we had exactly the same number of points, 33. It seems to me that we almost the same team as last year and it will pro...
TJD92295 writes...

Two Points- the wrong way

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Two points. That's the stat that matters here. But, as Harry Neale put it, "The Sabres got two points the hard way, when they should've had them the easy way." Everyone at the HSBC Arena thought that Clarke MacArthur was the hero with his goal in the third period, as it gave Buffalo seeming insurance and a 3-1 lead. Key word: they [b]thought[/b] he was the hero....
Today Sabre Prospects Nathan Gerbe & Tim Kennedy were named to the Planet-USA AHL All Star team. In fact Gerbe was named a starter. [b]Gerbe [/b]currently has 25 points in 23 games for the Pirates so far this season. That total is good for fifth in the league amongst rookies. [b]TK [/b]also has been named to the Planet USA team. He currently sits second in the "A" ro...
Record 9-5-2 H 4-3-1 A 5-2-1 GF – 52 3.25/g GA – 42 2.63/g Leaders: Roy 21pts Vanek 9G Roy 13A Stafford +7 Mair 29PM Vanek 4PPG Roy 5GWG Lydman 34Hits Against current playoff teams we are 2-3-1. Against non-playoff teams we are 7-2-1. Tallinder has 1pt in 16 games. If we extrapolate our current record out over the 58 game schedule we will fin...
For comparisons to the rest of the league I took the highest scoring center on each team for a total pool of 30 rather than the top 30 highest scoring centers in the league. So how does Derek Roy stack up? 14G t11th 24A t11th 38pts t8th +2 t18th 21:45/g 4th 49.7%fo 19th 20PIM 20th 43Giveaways 29th 25Takeaways t15th So in 5 categories he is in the top...
BuffMAN74 writes...

Darcy DO IT, Just Do it.

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[b]What do we all think about these Sabres?[/b] The game as a general manager is complicated for sure. We can all bag on Darcy all we want, but hopefully we can be entertained by the next couple of months. We have a situation though, and hopefully it can be resolved by March 4th. Max and Kotalik both need to be gone. We have to get something in...
[b]RING of FIRE[/b] [img]http://www.tuthq.com/images/fire-1.jpg[/img] #1 I was trying to think of the best way to do my first blog. I mean, what is a blog anyway? Its a bunch of words on the internet, right? WIKI says [i]A blog, a contraction of the term "Web log", is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, des...
erby writes...

The Fifty Game Report

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
(Okay, technically 52 games, but let's not get too technical.) I've been away from blogging mostly because I haven't been in a blogging mood in awhile. However, now that I'm back home, I can catch all the games on tv and it's woonnddeerffful! I planned on doing a mid-season report before the All-Star Game, but because that didn't happen, you get my Sabres rambling n...
erby writes...

Sabres vs. Canadiens, 3-2

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Huge huge huge huge huge awesome win for the Sabres. No, they didn't play outstanding, but their ability to get through the 1st period, score a couple goals in the 2nd, and hold on to the win in the 3rd against a division rival? Good enough for me at this point. Yes, I think Canadiens really outplayed the Sabres. They seemed to have better control of the puck and wer...
Sorry for the delay to anyone who was holding their breath in anticipation of the next division analysis, because I'm sure there were plenty of you. I continue my team by team analysis by focussing my attention on the North East division. Once viewed as the most dangerous in the conference, and perhaps league, it has provided two of the worst teams, to date, league wid...
icedog97 writes...

The Biggest Test So Far

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Check out Saturday's scoreboard... Panthers...7-2 losers to the Devils Sabres...2-0 losers to the Islanders Hurricanes...5-3 losers on 4 goals by the Thrashers in the 3rd period Aside from the Rangers crushing a reeling Avalanche team 6-1, just about everything that could go right for the Penguins did go right for the Penguins. Tomorrow the Pens face a Dallas St...
DamageInc95 writes...

Who'd of thunk it?

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Miller who? Of course, I say that facetiously. Ryan Miller is the key to the Sabres hopes if they can pull it together to get into the playoffs. But who would have expected Patrick Lalime to step up the way he has in Miller's absence? He's done exactly what you want from your backup goaltender - step in and give your team a chance to win every single night he pla...
And yet, so accurate. I freaking HATE the Flyers. This isn't your garden-variety hate, like your 8 year old who hates peas. It's a deep-seated hatred, as in when the Flyers plane crashes at the end of my block on their way out of Buffalo, I immediately run down to the end of my block to: A....make sure it really happened, and B.....dance on the wreckage. And ye...
I fail to understand how a team with its collective backs against the wall can show as little interest in competing as they did tonight. After their loss at Ottawa on Saturday, where they may have executed poorly but at least battled throughout the game, one would think they would come out fired up for a must win game tonight. And yet, it looked like the Sabres were ...
I think I have finally reached my breaking point... It's time for people to be held accountable and there is plenty of blame to go around... I think [b]Lindy Ruff[/b] is a good coach, but clearly after the last two years, he isn't getting the message through. You could argue that the talent isn't there, but these players don't even seem to care that they are losing....
Obviously not literally......but it kind of feels that way. This Sabres team that looked to have found themselves last week in wins over the Canadiens and Coyotes has looked nothing like a playoff team in the last two outings. They've fallen to four points out of eighth place, currently held by tonight's opponent, the Florida Panthers. And with each of the teams ahead...
I just can’t figure the Sabres out. 13 shots? A 2-0 lead turns into a 4-2 loss? I think what disturbed me more than anything was watching this team suddenly decide with about two minutes left and a 4-2 deficit that it was time to play desperate hockey. This team apparently has no heart or leadership - I can’t imagine how they can seem as disinterested as they have t...
Momadukes writes...

Buffalo

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
This is the first time I am posting a blog so forgive me if I offend anyone. First and foremost I am a rabid Sabres fan. I get anxious every summer waiting for Hockey to start again. I have been to HSBC to watch the the pre-season practices all the way to playoff games. Sadly those days are gone. Now the closest I can get is TV or WGR Radio online. BTW- WGR is the best...
The Buffalo Sabres are in desperate need of an upgrade in talent and Lecavalier or Heatley would be the perfect fit. Derek Roy, Jochen Hecht, and quite a few other players as well as any future first round draft choice should be on the table. It is time to shake things up and move forward.
Any other Sabre fans felling uneasy about what is about to go down @ high noon on July 1, 2009? Well first off I think it is a complete joke that this week's guest on Sabres Lunch Express is none other than GM Darcy Regier. My first thought probally like most Buffalo Fan's is $#Y%@&%$#. You gotta be kidding me. Shouldn't this guy be earning his paycheck? NHL GM's h...
Yet again we find ourselves four days beyond the start of the NHL Free Agency period, and yet again Sabres fans find themselves with very little encouragement to purchase tickets for the next season. The story in previous years was that the Sabres need to not only make it to the playoffs, but also go multiple rounds for it to be possible to break even or potentially pro...
This is the second in a series of NHL Off-Season Progress Reports. Today I look at the Northeast Division and assign grades based on what has already been done and what still needs to be done. Of course there is still plenty of time for teams to plug holes so I’ll analyze what still needs to be done and how much cap room the team has left to fill those holes. Boston ...
andydrmm writes...

Enough is enough

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
There are certain times of the year that I dread. Everyone has them. Unfortunately, mine coincide with hockey every year. The first time of year i dread is the NHL trade deadline. The second, came one week ago today, free agency in the NHL. Being a loyal fan of the Sabres, I always get my hopes up. I think that the Sabres will do something to improve the team. However, ...
andydrmm writes...

Matt Ellis

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
As I looked at NHL.com to check the free agent tracker, and with anticipation, saw that Buffalo had made a move. Then I saw, that it was Matt Ellis who had returned to Buffalo for another season. I was impressed with Ellis last season. When he was on the ice, he gave 110%. He may not score a ton of goals, but no one can argue the effort he puts forth on the ice. Ellis ...
Do we even have one....I mean common were going to be way under the cap.....with all these rumors going aroun....frankily I'm getting sick of it.....do something....we have holes fill them
I just want to start by saying that some of you sabre fans should really be ashamed of yourself. People are being very critical of the Sabres Brain trust which is very understandable, but you really look at everything that has Transpired since the Lockout, the Sabres have had a plan. they established a team out of the lockout that was structured for the new NHL and play...
Sabre4life writes...

TEN YEARS AGO

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Does it really Feel like Ten Years ago When our Hearts Were Broken by a Foot. Even Though it was Game 6 it just Felt if the Sabres were Able to Stave off Elimination that the Cup would have been ours. Brett Hull- two words NO GOAL Many people say that sabres fans should quit making such a big deal about this, well Im going to revisit this Fiasco. If in fact th...
For the many faithful readers (maybe 2 or 3 in all) of my blog posts I apologize for not reacting to the monumentally critical signing of RW Ales Kotalik by the Rangers immediately upon the announcement. If this addition doesn’t guarantee a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals then I don’t know what else Glen Sather can do as President/GM. This is the player who will set up ...
andydrmm writes...

Ghosts of the Past

Posted Monday | Comments 0
On May 13, 2006, during the first overtime of game 5, Jason Pominville sped past Daniel Alfredsson while Jay McKee was in the penalty box, and scored on Ray Emery to send the Sabres into the Eastern Conference Finals. However, disaster loomed for the Sabres, as 4 of Buffalo's 6 starting defensemen would become injured during that the series against Carolina. Now, I'm no...
KevinJames writes...

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[img]http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs130.snc1/5573_660449596708_15724929_38449161_3910193_n.jpg[/img] Rule #1: Success Breeds Success This seems to be a rule that Sabres GM Darcy Regier has forgotten. For the past two seasons, Regier has failed to recognize that veteran leadership is so crucial to the success of a hockey team. The Sabres are a prime ex...
A few years ago Darcy Regier faced some important decisions when addressing his pending unrestricted free agents. The first test was Drury and Briere then a season later it was Brian Campbell. The final test came when he matched the Edmonton Oilers offer sheet for Vanek. Looking at back at all the scenerio's Darcy paid the one guy that was worth the money he signed ...
KevinJames writes...

VANEK: A HUNGRY SUPERSTAR?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[img]http://www.thehockeynews.com/imgs/dynamique/photos/original/article_12553_2.jpg[/img] Someone asked me a fair question the other day: Is Buffalo Sabres #26 Thomas Vanek a superstar? After 4 years of NHL play, can Vanek be considered in the same league as Ovechkin, Crosby, Datsyuk, Malkin, Zetterberg or Iginla? To that question, I'd have to say, "No". But can he g...
Checked out the Sabres development camp last week, here's some quick thoughts: -Myers and Weber were a defensive pairing throughout camp, and both played like, you guessed it, "men among boys". Calm, cool and collective, they looked NHL ready. -Butler also played very well, and after his call up last season, looks to be an obvious lock for a roster spot next seaso...
KevinJames writes...

Darcy's Final Season?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[img]http://www.darcyregiersucks.com/images/tx.regier.jpg[/img] Two weeks of free agency now completed! Buffalo has done little to improve their chances of making the playoffs this year. General Manager Darcy Regier has made two moves since the free agency period has started. While all the other teams are making numerous moves and acquiring all of these big name playe...
andydrmm writes...

09-10 Schedule

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
All fans anticipated the release of the 2009-2010 season schedule. Again, the Buffalo Sabres have an intriguing schedule ahead of them. Numerous exciting match-ups lay ahead in the upcoming months. There are a few clutch points in this season that will make or break Buffalo's season. The months of December and March contain the most games for Buffalo. This will test Bu...
KPE18 writes...

Derek Roy anyone?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
This is from my blog at hfboards...... "I don't know why the Rangers aren't considering this...... How about Derek Roy? The dude puts up 30 goals a year and has a set of wheels. How about this.... Rozsival, Zherdev, Anisimov, Sauer to the Sabres for Derek Roy(4 mil) and Nathan (1 mil)Paetsch. The Rags shed about $7 million and take $5 million, leaving $6million to si...
Many Sabres fans are wondering these days, who if anyone is running (ruining) the Buffalo Sabres team. After another dissapointing free agency period, Buffalo came away with no names worth getting too excited about. Trades can still be possible, in fact I can almost guarantee the Sabres will make a move or two. Probably soon. But for right now, this is the Sabres line...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Schedule Outlook

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I figured I would be like everybody else and talk about the schedule. So, for all of the Sabres fans, here is a quick look at the upcoming year. The Buffalo Sabres will open the regular season on Saturday, October 3rd against Montreal. Buffalo will quickly get to see Jaroslav Spacek back at HSBC arena. The first road game of the season will be the following Saturday whe...
BUFFALO — This October the cold, brisk air will surround HSBC Arena. The 2009-10 Buffalo Sabres will be on the ice in front of their typical sold-out crowd. All 18,690 will be in their seats while viewers across Western New York and beyond will be tuning in to Rick Jeanneret. The whistle will blow, the puck will drop and Sabres hockey will begin again! But not yet. ...
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7Ukm-B3o-WI/ReR310YSOMI/AAAAAAAAAks/x-Gg9gWv0So/s320/MartinBironAction.jpg[/img] Biron Signs With Islanders, 1 YR at 1.4 M. Sabres Management Caught With Their Head In The Sand Going into the summer, the Sabres had two glaring issues to deal with: First, the Sabres desperately needed to acquire a few veteran defenseman. The Sabres took...
[u]Inching Along[/u] [img]http://www.thehockeynews.com/imgs/dynamique/photos/original/article_16260_2.jpg[/img] It's been a slow, rainy summer this year in Buffalo. That mood has seemingly set the tone for the Sabres this off season as well. On Saturday, the Sabres signed former Colorado Avalanche center Cody McCormick to a one year deal worth 550K. McCormick is a...
There's been a lot of grumbling in Sabretown. Granted, a trip from a President's Trophy-winning season to two consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs - without major free agency splashes - would reasonably cause even the most diehard of Sabres fans to wonder what in heck Regier is doing to earn his paycheck. At least, it seems reasonable. What free agent moves ar...
andydrmm writes...

Is this a playoff team?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I recently read the article about the Sabres building the team they have to be competitive. The pieces are there, according the Darcy Regier. There is a comfort level of the roster. I don't deny that the team has talent. It's there. However, for the past two seasons, the team has missed the playoffs with these players. Could a piece be missing? There is the ability to d...
falkan writes...

The DiPenta Effect

Posted Friday | Comments 0
174 games in the NHL. 23 points. 110 PIM. Hardly the statistics you'd see on an all-star player - but that's what Joe DiPenta is: a locker-room all-star. The 6'2" 202 pound defender - who won a Cup with Anaheim in 2007 - is still fondly remembered in Anaheim not for his presence on the ice, but off it. Even after leaving the Ducks, he continued to do charity work for...
There's really no way this can end well. The drama surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes has been going on for months. It's almost certainly hurt the morale of the team, and it's been terrible publicity for a league that already struggles to maintain credibility outside of the Canadian market. Part of establishing that credibility has been trying to prove that hockey is a...
With the departure of Jaroslav Spacek, Max Afinogenov, Teppo Numminen, Al Kotalik, and most likely Dominic Moore and Andrew Peters, and the addition of Mike Grier, Cody McCormick, and Steve Montador, the Sabres will surely have a "new" look this coming season. The past 2 seasons have left us fans asking "Where is the grit?", and finally Darcy has addressed the issue....
one14four writes...

Another Jeanneret?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Buffalo Sabres and AHL-affiliate Portland Pirates announced the name of the Pirates' new play-by-play announcer today. Mark Jeanneret. Sound familiar? If you call yourself a Sabres fan from the Buffalo area it should. Mark Jeanneret is the son of the Sabres' play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret. Mr. Jeanneret came to the Sabres in 1971 after doing color and play-by...
SensArmy writes...

The Heatley Rumors

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
As a die hard Hockey fan, i've been looking at all the trade rumors out there. Some of them Make no sense and some arent that far fetch. So what I wanted to do is look at all those rumors and see which one would be best suited for the Sens... First off the find out what would be best for the sens, we would need to know what is the biggest weak spot in the Sens lineup......
Looking at the rankings for this coming season, I'm surprised at how lowly ranked the Sabres are by the people who are doing it. I, by no means, believe that the Sabres are a Stanley Cup contender, but I do see a playoff team in the current roster. This team has the potential to finish anywhere as high as the 6th seed and is 100% capable of winning a playoff round. By t...
hplayer11389 writes...

2009-2010 Predictions

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Eastern Conference: 1. Washington Capitals 2. Pittsburgh Penguins 3. Boston Bruins 4. Philadelphia Flyers 5. New Jersey Devils 6. Montreal Canadians 7. Buffalo Sabres 8. Tampa Bay Lightning --------------------------------- 9. Ottawa Senators 10. Carolina Hurricanes 11. Toronto Maple Leafs 12. New York Rangers 13. Florida Panthers 14. New York Islanders 1...
I know many people disagree with this statement, but I fully believe it, and will vehemently defend it; the Buffalo Sabres are a playoff team. They have the scoring depth, they have the goaltending, and they have right system. Again, many people do not agree, and see the Sabres as a two player team depending on the success of Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek. This is an uneduc...
andydrmm writes...

Time for Hockey!

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
That time is here. Face off is almost 48 hours away between the Habs and the Sabres. What awaits for the loyal fans of Buffalo this season? After looking through what happened in the off-season, I feel that Buffalo is yet again, not prepared or ready for the season to start. Looking at the final roster, I don't feel this team is any better than the team last year. There...
The Sabres behind Ryan Miller's 25 saves shutdown the Preds 1 to 0. Rinne on the other end made 41 out of 42 saves, but gave up his only goal with a little over 3 minutes remaining in the 3rd on a rebound goal by Grier. Notabales from the game: No Offense (D) - Every line really didn't produce many scoring chances. Just overall a bad night offensively. Erat with ...
[img]http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091011/thumb.bed21253d478472186ec7ad266d65949.sabres_predators_hockey_tnmh121.jpg[/img] Buffalo has began their season by scoring four goals in the first three games of the season. For most teams, this would be a huge problem. The Sabres managed to escape with five out of a possible six points to start the year. Buffalo's real test wil...
[img]http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20070420/sabres_77895.jpg[/img] The day Buffalo wins the Stanley Cup.....will shock the hockey world. The loyal fans of Buffalo have been waiting, and still are, for the Sabres to win their first Stanley Cup. It has been almost 40 years, and the team has yet to win it all. They have come close a few times over the years: ...
andydrmm writes...

Wonderous Offense

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
It's finally happened. The Sabres have scored more than the Buffalo Bills in a single 60 minute game. The scary thing is, the Sabres are still playing. Unfortunately, I was unable to actually sit down and watch the Sabres play up until tonight. Aren't weddings wonderful? I saw bits and pieces of the Coyotes game. Other than that, I haven't been able to see a game. T...
[img]http://www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Buffalo+Sabres+v+Philadelphia+Flyers+JuXj3BdrXvTm.jpg[/img] [i][u]Question[/u][/i]: Should Ryan Miller have played for the Sabres last night in Atlanta? That question is on everyone's mind after a 4-2 loss against the Thrashers Saturday night at the HSBC. While it's important for Miller to get his rest, and for backup goaltende...
andydrmm writes...

Weekend Recap in Buffalo

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Finally this season, I was able to get to a Buffalo Sabres game. What's even more incredible is that I talked my girlfriend into going to two games, back to back. I'm not sure she liked me taking notes on my cell phone. SO, here is a recap of two very different games played at HSBC arena this weekend. New York Islanders, 10/16/2009 This was a great effort by the Buff...
mslepp writes...

Week 3 Power Rankings: Top Ten

Posted Thursday | Comments 1
What have we learned so far? Let's face it, in order to thrive in the "new" NHL, you have to do a number of things well. This week, the top team's show us how important it is to draft (or acquire) young talent that can start and make an impact right away. This has been a key for teams that have won the cup in each of the last 4 seasons and by the looks of it, this trend...
andydrmm writes...

Florida recap and Paille Trade

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
As I fought the stomach bug that has been traveling through, I wasn't able to comment immediately on Paille's trade. Now that I bring up his trade, my gut is starting to gurgle again. I find this trade rather surprising. Now, I'll be the first to admit that Dan Paille has been a minor disappointment for a first round draft pick. However, Darcy Regier's explanation of ha...
andydrmm writes...

Lucky Win

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
As I sat down last night thinking that I would mainly be watching baseball. I was surprised to find out that the ALCS game was rained out, and I'd have to wait another night. This meant, bring on the Sabres. However, the Sabres game was a little scary. I noticed numerous things against Tampa. I'm amazed I have made it this far without saying this, I was disconcerted wit...
After 8 games of NHL play, the question surrounding Tyler Myers' future with the Sabres this season needs to be decided after the next contest with New Jersey. I will admit that, in the beginning of the season, I believed that the best thing for Myers' growth would be to have a test run with the Sabres until his time limit expired and then to rejoin his junior team in Kelo...
andydrmm writes...

Unity of a City

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Almost two weeks ago, I was at Galleria Mall with my girlfriend, killing time before the Buffalo Sabres game. As I stood looking at something in a store, I heard a voice behind me saying "There must be a Sabres game tonight." I replied that there was. "I know," she stated, "I see a lot of Sabres jerseys. What that young woman may not have understood, is that it didn't n...
mb30andthedevs writes...

Sabres 4, Devils 1

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Devils looked horrible tonight in all possible ways. The score could have been worse than 4-1, as the Devils never got it going tonight at home. They are now 1-4 at 'The Rock'. Some observations from the loss: -I don't think the Devils were awake when the puck dropped. Buffalo, from the get-go, poured shots on Brodeur, as the Devils struggled to even touch the p...
andydrmm writes...

Disgrace

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I sat down Friday night to watch the Sabres pound Toronto. On paper, it looked very simple. Buffalo, vs Toronto. Buffalo should have run away with this one before it began. Surprise, it didn't happen. Buffalo had fairly good pressure all night long. However, Gustavsson was impressive, but Buffalo couldn't put it home. Numerous attempts failed, and the evening culminated...
[img]http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sp/v/nhl/teams/1/50x50w/buf_2.jpg[/img] The Sabres shutout the Islanders last night 3-0, avenging their 5-0 loss at the Island Saturday night. My partner Kevin already gave a recap of the last night's game, but here are some quick thoughts on the game, and some insight on a few key players: [b]Thomas Vanek: "On Switch" Has Been Flipp...
Last night the Islanders completed a trade with the Buffalo Sabres. A swap of shut-outs between Ryan Miller and Marty Biron as the Isles lost 3-0 in their visit up north. The Islanders did not play their best game. As a matter of fact, you can see the expression on Okposo's face in the post-game that he was very disappointed with his play, as well as the rest of the te...
[img]http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091119/capt.c966f6e06a1e4aa783d698acfbb82b8b.panthers_sabres_hockey_nydh103.jpg[/img] Buffalo (12-4-1) vs. Florida (7-9-2) The score did not resemble the game at all. For about 50 minutes, it was a one goal game. Here is how it happened: Drew Stafford scored the first goal of the game late in the first period, his sixth of the seaso...
cpbender writes...

The All-Time Sabres Team

Posted Sunday | Comments 9
This column will cover topics that may not typically be discussed on this website. My purpose is primarily twofold: to discuss topics in hockey (mainly Buffalo Sabres) history, and for the writer’s own pleasure. If you want to find quality cutting-edge commentary, read Mike Augello’s Maple Leaf blog. The articles that will be found in my column may not be everyone�...
cpbender writes...

A SABRES QUIZ

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
All of the following questions in part one of this quiz have four correct answers. In part two, there are more than four correct answers, but only four are necessary to answer each question correctly. In both sections give yourself 2 points for 2 correct answers; 3 points for 3 correct answers; and 5 points if all 4 answers are given. Knowing only 0 or 1 answer does not...
All of the following questions in part one of this quiz have four correct answers. In part two, there are more than four correct answers, but only four are necessary to answer each question correctly. In both sections give yourself 2 points for 2 correct answers; 3 points for 3 correct answers; and 5 points if all 4 answers are given. Knowing only 0 or 1 answer does not wa...
TJD92295 writes...

Buffalo Disaster

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
It is absolutely astounding that the Buffalo Sabres were even able to sneak a point out of their usual kryptonite, the Senators. Right from the opening puckdrop, the effort was simply not there from most of the Sabres, the exception being the guy in the blue paint. It took 18 Ottawa shots and 17 1/2 minutes of game time for the Sabres to get a puck through to Pascal LeCl...
#36 Patrick Kaleta He is known as one of the biggests agitator's in the NHL. He was drafted by the Sabres in the 6th round (176th overall) in 2004. The Buffalo native is becoming known for his hits on opponents. In Buffalo, the company "Carubba Collision" sponsors the hit of the game: they have for years. Due to Kaleta's physical play and since he has the hit of the gam...
Sabres shutout Habs, Capitals, are the Kostitsyn brothers good to go? http://www.HabsAddict.com
Thomas Vanek was drafted by the Sabres in 5th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, making him the highest draft pick in Austrian history. Vanek signed a three-year deal with Buffalo on September 3, 2004, and began playing for the Sabres in 2005-2006 after a season with their AHL affiliate. He had a promising rookie season with 25 goals and 48 points in 81 games for the ...
Rick DiPietro made his first return on Coliseum ice last night against the Buffalo Sabres, the second placed team in the East with 64 points and a 29-11-6 record. It took Overtime and a shootout for a decision to be made, but DP shined in a 3-2 win and a shootout that lasted 8 rounds. It only took a matter of 20 seconds or so before Ricky made his first save of the gam...
All I hear in Buffalo is, "Why do the Sabres keep losing?" The answer, folks, is not because of poor play. Sure, coming home after the team's lengthiest road trip of the season every fan, including myself, would like to have come out with more than 6 of a possible 14 points, but when you look hard at the trip, specifically the tail end, it's really not as bad as the record...
thomas_vanek26 writes...

Sabres Down the Stretch

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
So here we are as hockey fans in late January. There are only a few short months of hockey left, and shortly we'll be able to tell if our teams are poised for a playoff run, or for golf season. It's this time of the year that teams must make a good run in order to establish prime playoff position. The Sabres, for the past couple weeks, have not looked like the playo...
1/20/10 Hello Sabre Nation, this is a guide for our trade deadline possibilities. I will do this blog for potential forwards only. Many are very similar, but here are some minor descriptions of their game. Thanks for viewing and I hope you enjoy. It is more than likely the Buffalo Sabres will look to improve their roster at the trade deadline on March 3rd or bef...
andydrmm writes...

The Downfall of the Sabres

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I went into HSBC Arena Friday thinking that the Sabres were going to turn around their bad luck. I mean, they were playing Carolina, tied for last place in the East. In the end, I was surprised, and extremely disappointed. Early in the week, Buffalo did play some powerful teams in the Penguins and the Senators. Brief periods of lackadaisical play killed them in the end....
So I spent about 4 hours today (seriously) obsessing over the playoffs and clinching scenarios, etc. and thought it would be an even worse waste of time if I didn't post a summary of my conclusions. Here's the dealio, Sabres are at 88 points with 11 games left and can possibly achieve 110 points with a clean sweep of the rest of the season. Ottawa, 81 points, 9 games ...
The Montreal Canadiens came out with guns a blazing tonight, unfortunately for them NHL games are 60 minutes long. The Sabres didn't look too bad in the first, but had trouble getting pucks to the net. Montreal on the other hand scored just 41 seconds into the game, as Kostitsyn managed to flick the puck over Miller's right pad off of a pass from Plekanec. The Sabre...
When the Ottawa Senators were ahead of the Buffalo Sabres going into the Olympic break, everyone was very upset. After two straight losses to Pittsburgh and Washington along with a somewhat, disappointing trade deadline people started to panic. Questions like, “Is Raffi Torres enough for what this team needs? Is the defense falling apart? Are Pominville and Roy still ...
When the Ottawa Senators were ahead of the Buffalo Sabres going into the Olympic break, everyone was very upset. After two straight losses to Pittsburgh and Washington along with a somewhat, disappointing trade deadline people started to panic. Questions like, “Is Raffi Torres enough for what this team needs? Is the defense falling apart? Are Pominville and Roy still ...
[img]http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/02/17/alg_olympics_ryan_miller.jpg[/img] [quote][u][b]That is the question![/b][/u][/quote] For the first time since 2006-2007, the Buffalo Sabres will reach the post season. They are on their way to clinching the Northeast Division (albeit a weak one), and Olympic All Star goalie Ryan Miller can pass the 40 win mark for ...
stashu writes...

2010/11 Buffalo Sabres

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The playoffs are about to start, but it is never too early to look ahead to next year, especially depending on what happens in the playoffs, so here's my take on what to do with the Sabres roster next season. [b]NOTE:[/b] [i]There will be no speculation of trades in this post, just salary figures on who is committed to contracts and assumptions of what some Free Agent r...
For the first few games of the Sabres-Bruins series (besides on NESN, man those guys can't say anything positive about other teams) things were relatively quiet when it came to coaches, players, and commentators taking shots back and forth at each other over scrums and other things that hockey players tend to be involved in. Then, game 4 happened. Yes, officiating was horr...
After a dissappointing finish in the first round, it is apparent that the culture of our team needs a bit of a shake. I think we have a very skilled team, but there are quite a few changes that need to be made. Mostly we need more players that will be more accountable and play a leadership role. We have a team of boys but we need a team of men. In making this blog,...
After a dissappointing finish in the first round, it is apparent that the culture of our team needs a bit of a shake. I think we have a very skilled team, but there are quite a few changes that need to be made. Mostly we need more players that will be more accountable and play a leadership role. We have a team of boys but we need a team of men. In making this blog, I t...
On a Toronto radio station earlier this week, Leafs GM Brian Burke indicated that defenseman Tomas Kaberle is generating some interest throughout the league. Local Toronto radio is reporting that Buffalo was one of two teams that have contacted Brian Burke about acquiring defenseman Tomas Kaberle. This is a move by the Sabres that makes a great deal of sense. Kaberle i...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Schedule Released

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The NHL and the Buffalo Sabres have officially released their schedules for the upcoming 2010-2011 season. The Sabres will begin its campaign on Friday, October 8 in Ottawa. Buffalo will then return home the next night to host the New York Rangers. The Sabres longest home stand of the season will take place in February. Buffalo will host six teams in ten days, including...
6/24/10 - This time of the season is the most exciting to me. It’s where champions are built. Darcy Regeir always says that he will build his team in the off-season. Darcy Regeir’s time to make a move is NOW. We have some key ingredients, including an all-world goalie, a number 1 defenseman, and a 40 goal scoring winger. We have some very important third and four...
Darcy Regier may have surprised many fans with this signing. Rob Niedermayer has agreed to a one year, one million dollar contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Niedermayer has been in the league for 16 seasons, and is playing for Buffalo in this next one. Although he has a career plus/minus of -115, Niedermayer brings in more grit and experience to the team. He has 450 poin...
If you're a Sabres fan, you probably find yourself predicting the outcomes of games before they start. Well, now you have the chance to submit your predictions and win prizes based on how well you do. Sabreshockeycentral.com has introduced a Buffalo Sabres prediction challenge that will test the knowledge of many fans. All you have to do is predict the winner and sco...
Necharsian writes...

Possible Souray Trade

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I believe the best oppurtunity for the Oilers to trade the disgruntled Sheldon Souray is to the Buffalo Sabres for Tim Connolly. That would be the core of the trade. The Sabres have over $8million in cap space, so taking Souray's $5.4million would not be disastrous. Souray also gives Buffalo something they desperately need; a top 4 defender, who can play significant pow...
I grew up in the Buffalo NY that was hard working and proud of it. The city was overcast gray from the smoke emitted out of the huge stacks from a busy Bethlehem Steel and the Ford Plant was rolling with 3 full shifts a day. The Queen City had life. The Bills were the only game in town until the Knox family brought the Sabres to Buffalo for the 1970-71 season. Right fr...
BuffaloBobZ writes...

Shared Disappointment

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
Hello Hockey Buzzers! Being as as this is my first blog and all, i thought that i would write about something that i am infinitely familiar with: Sports disappointment. After another summer of (mostly) lackluster moves, the Sabres (and dont even mention the Bills) are seemingly not much better than they were last year. I suppose i should prefice this with the following ...
The Sabres lineup has not seen many moves since the beginning of the off-season. The loss of Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman didn’t surprise many fans. The addition of Jordan Leopold and the expected call up of Mike Weber will replace the openings those openings. The Sabres have depth at forward but do they have enough scoring power remains the question. The team is ...
It’s no secret that Tyler Myers had a terrific rookie season last year with the Buffalo Sabres. He recorded 11 goals and 37 assists and played in all 82 games. To complete the phenomenal season, he was awarded with the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. The 20 year old towering defenseman played just as big as his height as he lead the team in ice time per game. Mye...
andydrmm writes...

Free Agency Failure

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I've been fairly quiet for quite awhile. I sat and watched Buffalo exit the playoffs in the first round with a lackluster effort against the Bruins. I thought to myself, "Well, at least we made it to the playoffs, and won the Northeast Division". I thought back to the Sabres who got into the playoffs, got eliminated in the first round, reassessed what needed to be done, an...
According to Regier's latest press conference, the Sabres may head into training camp with a 22 man roster instead of the allotted 23 man roster, which most teams opt for. There are many things wrong with this picture, both explicitly and implicitly. Now, it's understandable to do this for a few reasons, mostly financially speaking. However, when you have that extra sp...
The Sabres and Oilers had nearly identical records when they played each other for the lone meeting of the 2008-2009 season. Thomas Vanek was the only Sabres player to go to the all star game, with much thanks to his 28 goals. This game got out of hand early and it remained that way for the rest of the night. Just ten seconds into the game, Drew Stafford took a shot the...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres 40th Anniversary Team

Posted Saturday | Comments 1
Since the Buffalo Sabres are coming upon its 40th anniversary season, I decided I would reflect on the past 39 years of the team's history. The franchise began in 1970 and the Sabres have made two Stanley cup final appearances, but lost both of them. The Sabres have given the fans in Buffalo great entertainment. However, fans are becoming restless as Buffalo remains wit...
Long story short, nothing. And everything. Nothing because there is not a single chance in the world that the Sabres would do something as ridiculous as sign Kovalchuk. The Sabres already have 2 contracts like that: Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville. On a quick aside, I would be very inclined to say that dumping either of those at the right price would be a very intell...
andydrmm writes...

Another Jersey?!?!?!

Posted Wednesday | Comments 5
As expected, I figured Buffalo would come out with a new third jersey this season. However, what I do find a little disconcerting, is all the talk about how starting next season, Buffalo will be switching jersey's, again. Over the past 14 years, Buffalo has had, well it's hard to count. At the end of the 1996 season, Buffalo switched from the classic jerseys of the blu...
After reading Jon Walters’ 40th anniversary team on Sabreshockeycentral.com, I was inspired to walk down memory lane and design my own. While many players that I loved made the list (like my all time favorite: Donald Audette) I found myself wondering where players like Rob Ray, Ric Seiling and Gerry Korab were. So I came up with an idea. Why not make a 40th anniversa...
[img]http://ryannellis.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/nhllogowallpapers.jpg[/img] Instead of annoying board-posters, I will now post my own hockeybuzz blogs. If you'd like to catch up on what we've been talking about over at sabretake, you can visit us at http://sabretake.com Now, onto our latest article: Now that our “Down the Road” segment is out of its misery(...
thesportsbuff writes...

Reason for Optimism

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Now that the anger and confusion surrounding the latest Tim Kennedy arbitration fiasco has begun to subside, I think it’s time for the team and city to move on and forget about the whole ordeal. It stings to see a young, home grown player with such a feisty game be thrown to the curb, especially in the midst of an uneventful off-season that saw no major changes to a team...
When news broke out that the Sabres would be unveiling a new alternate jersey this upcoming season, it left fans wondering what could be the next marketing scheme that Golisano and company had in store for us. We’ve seen our share of new jerseys in the past. From what I can gather, the goat head was generally accepted. “The Slug”, although ranked at the top in sales ...
[img]http://www.portlandpirates.com/photos/news/Pirates-logo-on-black.gif[/img] As the season draws near for us crazy Sabres fans, we tend to forget that another season of Pirates hockey is about to unfold as well. Then again, can you blame someone for forgetting about a farm team in Portland, Maine(apologies to all our Portland, Maine visitors)? It was this question that...
Why Guerin? -Veteran player to help the likes of Roy/Vanek become better all around players. Learn to better professionals on/off the ice. -Stanley Cup winner. Adds another veteran player. -Help the power play. Prove PP performer. -Plays right wing. A position in the Top 6 most feel the Sabres need. -Cheap signing. 1 year- 1.5 mil Why not Guerin? -Old. I agr...
Slovakian blueliner Andrej Sekera has played parts of four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, but has yet to prove anything to anyone. Sekera is a talented skater and passer and could be the offensive defenseman the Sabres have needed since Brian Campbell left in 2008. Sekera is currently penciled in as the Sabres’ 6th and final defenseman, but it is in his hands to mainta...
KevinJames writes...

Is This Buffalo's Year?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
As Sabres fans look at this year’s team after the offseason moves (or lack of them), most likely they will be disappointed. Fans have been very critical of the management’s moves over recent years. With a deeper look at the team, has the team improved? A quick comparison may not look better, but even with the lack of acquisitions, the Sabres may be set for a deep run ...
KevinJames writes...

Northeast Division Preview

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Northeast Division is expected to be close once again this season, but the Sabres won’t have an easy time repeating as division champs again. The Northeast saw many changes and will be as competitive as ever as Toronto is attempting to return back to the playoffs. The Northeast is considered one of the toughest in the NHL and this year should prove that statement...
KevinJames writes...

To "C" Or Not To "C"

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
There has been a lot of criticism of Craig Rivet’s play over this past season, and let’s be honest: most of it had merit. There has also been some recent unrest in his captaincy and leadership of the team. Should Rivet be the Captain? How has he done so far? And who could take his place? Let’s take a look. Craig Rivet came to the Sabres in the summer of 2008 after...
We all remember how this season ended, but many may not be aware of how the Sabres actually got to the finals during the 1998-1999 season. The Sabres were not expected to do well at all that year. Just one year prior, Miroslav Satan led the team with just 46 points. The Sabres draft picks before the start of the season didn’t fare too well, either. They included Andre...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Prediction Contest!

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
If you’re a Sabres fan, you probably find yourself predicting the outcomes of games before they start. Well, now you have the chance to submit your predictions and win prizes based on how well you do. Sabreshockeycentral.com has introduced a Buffalo Sabres prediction challenge that will test the knowledge of many fans. All you have to do is predict the winner and s...
KevinJames writes...

Center of Attention

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The summer of 2010 may not have seen much head-turning activity on the part of Sabres management, but they still managed to make plenty of moves to shake things up in the roster. Changes made to the defense have garnered the most interest, as certain veteran players were put on the market, while fresh faces were brought in to fill their roles. The combinations of defens...
Sabres are looking to do some good stuff this year. Got a pretty kick ass kid in Myers. Miller is good too. They play in Buffalo where Patrick Kane is from.
With rookie camp opening on Monday it is the right time to take a look at the battles that will be taking place this September. Much of the roster is set and there will probably be few surprises. However there is a chance for upsets and underdogs. There is a top-6 forward spot up for grabs. There are also 2 defensive spots and 2 bottom-6 forward roles open for competiti...
KevinJames writes...

Top 20 Sabres of All Time

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
#20- Chris Drury- He only played in Buffalo for three seasons,but he was a true captain on and off the ice. He scored that goal when it was needed most. His timely, clutch goals, are why he is on the ice in the last few minutes of a game. The hit that he received against Ottawa a few years back is what sparked the Sabres/Sens brawl . His biggest goal in Buffal...
Micheal Aldred writes...

Preview: Buffalo Sabres

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
[b]Primary Staff:[/b] Darcy Regier (GM) Lindy Ruff (Head Coach) [b]2009-10 Stats:[/b] 82GP 45W 27L 10OTL 100PTS [b]Place:[/b] 1st Northeast, 3rd East, 11th NHL [b]Top Scorer:[/b] Derek Roy – 80GP 26G 43A 69P [b]Captains:[/b] Craig Rivet (C) [b]OFF-SEASON MOVES OUT:[/b] Henrik Tallinder (Signed with New Jersey) Toni Lydman (Signed with Anaheim) Tim Kennedy ...
The preseason has already started, and we are two weeks away from the Sabres regular season opener. If you’re a Sabres fan, or just an NHL fan, you probably find yourself predicting the outcomes of games before they start. Well, now you have the chance to submit your predictions and win prizes based on how well you do. Sabreshockeycentral.com has introduced a Buffa...
Is it just me or am I starting to hate Drew Stafford less on this roster? Stafford had his struggles last year. They are well chronicled and frequently talked about. I was ready to throw in the towel on the much maligned power forward. He just couldn’t seem to get it together and bring a consistent effort every night. I did however, have a addendum to my surrender. Th...
Frazier writes...

Around the NHL

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Last night I got to watch my first hockey game on TV for this season. I was excited. I watched Sabres vs Sens @ the Hockeyville, in Dundas, Ontario. The Sabres came on strong. Even when on the PK. The newly signed grey beard Rob Niedermayer scored about halfway throught the first, while on the penalty kill. Nieds put on great offensive pressure, and ended up stripping ...
KevinJames writes...

October Desktop Wallpaper

Posted Friday | Comments 0
This is our first of many Sabres monthly wallpapers that we will be releasing. One of our designers, Chris Downey, has created this one for October. The Sabres will play face Atlanta, Ottawa, Chicago, and New Jersey twice during the month of October. The Sabres have four sets of games on back-to back nights, and have three games in four nights three times. This is no...
Hey there, stranger. Long time no see. Yes, we’ve been M.I.A. for quite a while. Mike, Trevor and I have been busy with life, so we haven’t been able to keep this blog as updated as we would like. However, on my day off, I’m going to give my prediction for the Buffalo Sabres this year. Hopefully, they see this post and decide to contribute their own predictions as...
The 2009-2010 season wasn't a very good year for rookies. No star breakouts. Being a Buffalo fan, I love Tyler Myers. And I believe he did deserve to be the rookie of the year. However, I think that someone that could really have given him a run for his money is (*Cough* Tyler Ennis *Cough*) the NY Islanders' own John Tavares. Let me break this down into why he's an...
KevinJames writes...

If Grier Says So

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
For a summer that included no transactions involving superstar hockey players, fans are showing a lot of interest in how the revamped Sabres roster will perform this year; just ask the near 17,000 that showed up at HSBC Arena for the first preseason game. There has been plenty of impressive work done by the Sabres in the exhibitions thus far, but like in most profession...
Another highly anticipated NHL season is just a couple of days away, and once again, the Buffalo Sabres are not favored to win the division. The Sabres haven’t changed too much from last year. A few players came and left, but for the most part, they are relatively the same. Many experts have already submitted their predictions for the 2010-2011 season, and many have f...
BluemanGuruu writes...

My Picks

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Western--- 1)San Jose 2)Vancouver 3)Chicago 4)St. Louis 5)LA 6)Edmonton 7)Nashville 8) Colorado Eastern--- 8) New York Rangers 7) Carolina 6) Buffalo 5) Toronto 4)Pittsburg 3)Philly 2)Boston 1)Washington
Frazier writes...

Buffalo Tops the Sens 2-1

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=77834 Roy with 2 goals, Ennis with 2 assists. 'Nuff said. Follow me on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/The_Frazier
Welcome to Hourihan 27's Blog. This week I will give you early season noticables about all 30 NHL teams. Here are the first 5 (Teams in Alphabetical Order): [b]Anaheim[/b]: The Ducks are not winning games so they are banging skulls. Interesting fights between their two games with the Wings and Blues are Perry vs Datsyuk and Ryan vs Perron. Ryan manhandled Perron....
KevinJames writes...

Blindsided

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
It’s not very often that a building containing 18,000 people will almost go silent for a few minutes, but the injury to Jason Pominville made that happen at HSBC Arena on Monday. Thankfully, Pominville is in much better condition than what many expected after watching him lay in a crumpled heap on the ice after Nicklas Hjalmarsson’s hit from behind. Pominville was a...
The Sabres dispatched Kovalchukless Atlanta by a final score of 4-1. Buffalo completely dominated the Thrashers, pouring 42 shots on Steve Mason. Atlanta could only whimper back, putting up a paltry 18 shots on Mr. All Star Ryan Miller. Here are some quick thoughts on tonight's game: -Butler may have played his best game as a Sabre tonight. He was excellent. Fantast...
The gm Darcy Regier and the coaching staff keep on saying that the sabres are going in the right direction to win the stanley cup. The question is When ? Because so far the play of this team this season from the start right now has been inconsistent, sloppy, and non physical play. Oh and a powerless powerplay . When is the time going to come when theyre going to make a blo...
KevinJames writes...

Baby Steps

Posted Friday | Comments 0
If there’s one criticism that probably won’t apply to Sabres fans this year, it’s the idea that they’ll be harboring unrealistic expectations for their team; not after what occurred in the first month of the regular season. Loyal followers of the blue and gold have likely realized that this current Sabres team has plenty of struggles to still overcome. After a t...
KevinJames writes...

Some Sabres Surprising

Posted Friday | Comments 0
This NHL season has been unpredictable so far to say the least. Here are some thoughts as to what has been going on with the Sabres. Buffalo are currently ranked 27th in the NHL with just seven points through 10 games. Derek Roy has been the hottest player on the team, scoring 11 points (5G, 6A) to begin the season. Thomas Vanek has recently picked up the pace. It fe...
There it is again. The Sabres had one of their betterperformances of the season, but in the end, it’s just another loss. Another one goal loss, too. Buffalo fell to 0-6-1 at home this year, losing 3-2 to Montreal at HSBC Arena on Friday night. Mike Grier scored his first goal of the season and Jordan Leopold added his fourth. Buffalo had two separate one goal leads, b...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Fall to Rangers in OT

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Jhonas Enroth became the first goaltender in NHL history to have his first two wins decided by a shootout. He came close to making it three, but the Sabres were defeated 3-2 in overtime by the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The Sabres never had the lead, but were able to earn a point in the second game of a back-to-back set. Former Sabre Martin Biron rece...
KevinJames writes...

Rink Observations

Posted Friday | Comments 1
1. There’s a lot of ways to make sure you come out as the victor in a one-goal decision; but one guaranteed strategy is to maintain strong special teams. Prior to the game in Toronto, the Sabres were 3-9-2, with a lot of those losses being by a single goal. A lot of those losses also featured a miserable penalty kill, which at one point was ranked 27th in the NHL. It ...
KevinJames writes...

Defense: It Takes Time

Posted Saturday | Comments 1
A few weeks ago I remember reading an article on WGR’s website about how the Bills keep mismanaging running backs in the same way every few years. It reminded me a little bit a about how the Sabres have functioned with their defensemen, so I did a little digging. Patterns are pretty simple to find when you know where to look. I will be examining several defensemen ...
KevinJames writes...

Leopold Finding His Way Home

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
“I’ve been on a lot of different teams the past few years” – Jordan Leopold The exact number of NHL teams is five in the last eight years, if you count this season with the Buffalo Sabres. Jordan Leopold first broke into the NHL in late 2002 with the Calgary Flames, where he played for three years, including an especially strong 2003-04 campaign during which the...
TPiddy writes...

Time to Nut Up or Shut Up!

Posted Friday | Comments 1
[url]http://www.sportsblognetwork.net/its-nut-up-or-shut-up-time-for-the-leafs/[/url] This could possibly be the biggest weekend of the year in Leafs Nation. The pressure is mounting, expectations are growing and the blue and white have their biggest test of the season ahead of them: Back to back road games against divisional rivals, while missing their captain and thei...
The Sabres came out of the locker room sporting their vintage third jerseys, but as the players looked up in the stands, there was a good chance they were seeing just as much blue and white as blue and gold. The Sabres put on a solid performance for their fans, defeating Toronto 3-1 Friday at HSBC arena. The fans were easily drawn into the game early on due to the hi...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Fall Flat In Montreal

Posted Saturday | Comments 1
After a solid performance and a 3-1 victory over the Leafs on Friday, the Sabres were unable to win their second straight games against a division opponent on Saturday. Brian Gionta’s two goals led Montreal to its third victory over Buffalo this season. The Sabres looked flat, and the Canadiens took advantage of it, outshooting Buffalo 20-8 in the opening period. Buff...
A five day break between games may be just what the Sabres need. Now is a good time for them to fix up all the problems on and off the ice. With a slow start to the season, the Sabres have a lot of work to do in order to make the playoffs. There are quite a few problems that need to fixed before the team goes anywhere. Here are their biggest concerns as they head into D...
Did anyone see that fight at about 10 minutes or so left in the 3rd period in the Sabres and Blue Jackets game? Talk about a beating. Kaleta literally made contact on pretty much every punch he took and then after the fight he dusted off his hands and the crowd went CRAZY. Let's just say Buffalo had a good night. Now if anyone has seen my last blog than you know I am...
KevinJames writes...

Rivet's Captaincy...

Posted Tuesday | Comments 2
Two years ago Craig Rivet arrived in Buffalo and was given as daunting of a task as there could be for a professional hockey player; Captaining a timid, lost Sabres club that was still reeling from the loss of Daniel Briere and Chris Drury. It didn’t help Rivet any that he spent the last couple of seasons beforehand on the back lines of the San Jose Sharks, and was ye...
One night after the Sharks rallied to win from a 4-1 deficit, San Jose found themselves in a similar position. Buffalo took a 3-0 lead over the Sharks Thursday night at HSBC arena, but the Sharks didn’t have enough to come back and win it. Paul Gaustad and Thomas Vanek put Buffalo up 2-0. Jason Pominville upped the lead after scoring shorthanded on a breakaway. Toward...
The Sharks worsened their HSBC Arena record to 1-13-1, losing to Buffalo tonight by a final score of 6-3. Flukes and turnovers mixed with a tired San Jose squad to spell a loss to end their road trip. The scoring was opened at 12:18 of the 1st period with a fluke goal off a faceoff being shot by Cody McCormick, deflecting into the air off Paul Gaustad's skate, and hitt...
KevinJames writes...

Lack of Respect

Posted Monday | Comments 6772
After their performance against Florida last week, I thought about writing an angry article, ripping the team and explaining how they are going nowhere. But then I reconsidered the fact that they came back from three goals down. That was the biggest thing I took out of that game. It wasn’t the fact that there was no call on the Myers trip or that Buffalo couldn’t ma...
The Flames are on a roll – sort of. Winners of their last two games, and four of their last five under the Dome, the Flames climbed to within six points of 8th spot in the western conference. Let’s just ignore the fact that the Flames have played more games than pretty well everyone else in the conference save the Ducks. Olli Jokinen has six goals in his last ni...
nfph writes...

What would ya say...ya do here?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 6611
[img]http://www.thehdcrowd.com/screenshots/office_space_25.png[/img] With the anticipated passing of the scepter, er sword, whatever, from TommyG to Terry Pegula, Sabres fans are licking their chops at the prospect of ditching our itinerant king for one that will give a flying you know what about the affairs of state at the foot of Washington Street. Thanks for the save...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres 7, Bruins 6 (SO)

Posted Saturday | Comments 65
What a way to start the new year. On a night when the Sabres honored two greats into the Hall of fame, Buffalo put on a show. (Alexander Mogilny and Jim Kelley were inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame.) The Sabres and Bruins put on quite an offensive performance, but the Sabres came out on top. Drew Stafford was easily the star of the night as he scored three goals (...
Sabres Hockey Central now features text alerts to keep fans updated on the Sabres action. They are free of charge and can be customized to your liking. You can even be notified when there is a new post on the site. Click below for more information [url]http://sabreshockeycentral.com/2011/01/07/text-alerts/[/url]
It’s no longer December but we’re all still recovering from our various food induced comas over the holiday break. Why not sit back and do what Sabres fans do best, look toward the future. I mentioned it was December because Mike Weber turned 23 on December 16th and it looks like he can celebrate that birthday as a honest-to-goodness NHL defenseman. Weber entered...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Hit Halfway Point

Posted Sunday | Comments 14
18-18-5. Probably not where most fans thought the Sabres would be halfway through the season. Buffalo is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Once Derek Roy was ruled out for the season, many fans were expecting a collapse or a panic mode, but the Sabres scored 11 goals in the next two games and have earned nine out of ten points since. Despite going 4-0-1 in the pa...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres/Penguins Flashback

Posted Sunday | Comments 3
Christmas came a week or two early for the Buffalo Sabres and Thomas Vanek on December 8th, 2008 in Pittsburgh. The Sabres were paying a visit to the Penguins inside Mellon Arena, a stadium where Buffalo had not won in three trips to. For the first half of the game, it seemed that the streak would extend to four losses in a row at Mellon. Ruslan Fedotenko opened the sco...
The Sabres are on the outside looking in. They sit 10th in the East; 8 points out of 8th place. They have lost Derek Roy for the season. Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller are having disappointing seasons and the veteran leadership has been deemed unfit to play. How can the Sabres possibly make the playoffs? There is a way, but it isn’t pretty. A start with the look at th...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres- A Work of a Art

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Although residents of Buffalo are proud of their city being one of America’s big hockey towns, it’s still rare to see visitors at an art gallery dressed in any kind of hockey apparel. But from November of 2010 through early January 2011, that became a regular sight at the Albright Knox Art Gallery on Elmwood Avenue as it hosted Forty: The Sabres in the NHL, an exhib...
Tim Connolly was born on May 7th, 1981 just outside of Syracuse in Baldwinsville, New York. He was selected 5th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1999 Entry Draft. Connolly had played two years for the Erie Otters of the OHL, where he produced at well over a point-per-game pace before being drafted. After two mediocre (but not terrible for a rookie, by any means)...
Paul Byron scores first NHL goal in Sabres 2-1 victory over Ottawa The Sabres have entered the All-Star break on a high note, winning four of the last five games, and moving to within four points of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite falling behind 1-0 in Ottawa on Tuesday night, Buffalo battled back and came away with two points. With his family in t...
BlueAndYellow writes...

State of the Sabres

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As President Obama was finishing up adressing the nation, the Buffalo Sabres were putting the finishing touches on the Ottawa Senators. the 3-2 win in Kanata Tuesday night put the Sabres at 51 points, 4 behind eighth place Atlanta. We have reached the All-Star break, which marks the half way point of the season for most of us. Buffalo can easily catch Atlanta, who has p...
KevinJames writes...

Pegula's Impact

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Ding Dong, the witch is dead! The Sabres have been sold and all will be right with the world! This is the current sentiment in the Sabres fan base. Change is coming, this is undeniably true. But when, who and how much has yet to be determined. Many believe new owner Terry Pegula to be a mythical owner from heaven sent to overspend and create a new Stanley Cup dynasty ...
Well, Terry Pegula did it. The Buffalo Sabres newest owner acquired the team from Tom Golisano and will take over on February 22nd, less than one week away from the NHL trade deadline. This should be an interesting situation. Pegula may try to make a splash and please the fan base. He may be content to play Darcy-puck and sit still at the deadline. Only time will tell...
tjkanejr writes...

Darcy vs. the Deadline

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The Sabres have 57 points and are just 3 points back of the eighth and final playoff spot heading into this Sundays afternoon game vs. the Islanders. They have 2 games in hand on Carolina who sits 9th and play them three times. Atlanta now sits 8th at 60 points after beating the Rangers 3-2 Friday night. We have 4 games in hand on Atlanta and the Rangers who hold 7th wi...
“Terry-Terry-Terry!” was the chant being uttered by the sold-out crowd at HSBC Arena prior to the contest. The same man that Sabres fans were cheering for, Terry Pegula, then stepped out onto the ice with his two sons, and the crowd hollered even louder. An appearance by the French Connection- Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Rick Martin- also thrilled the Sabres ...
The Sabres improved to 2-0 under new owner Terry Pegula with a 4-2 victory over Ottawa on Friday. After a 47 save shutout performance in his debut with Ottawa, Craig Anderson earned his first loss as a Senator. Mike Grier put Buffalo on the board six and a half minutes in, converting on a breakaway. The Sabres went up by two midway through the second period when Cody Mc...
andydrmm writes...

Quiet Long Enough

Posted Monday | Comments 0
As new ownership presented itself in Buffalo, I like all Buffalo fans, sat in anticipation as to what was to come on February 28, 2011. However, I was extremely disappointed, and now it's time for me to say what no one else is... Buffalo is currently smack in the middle of the playoff race, a place that not many expected them to be in, including myself. Buffalo had nume...
The Sabres acquired for Blues forward Brad Boyes late Sunday evening for a 2nd round pick in next year's draft. The move has garnered quite a bit of attention in both markets involved. It's obvious the Sabres were in need of a top 6 forward who can score, skate hard, and check harder. Boyes can backcheck and forecheck with the best of them. He skates with intensity that I ...
With the addition of Brad Boyes in the roster the Sabres appear to have a very good chance to make the playoffs. Buffalo are just two points out of the eighth spot with two games in hand. The Carolina Hurricanes are the team that the Sabres are chasing and were pretty quiet at the deadline. The Hurricanes made one move to acquire a solid defenseman in Bryan Allen, but g...
Sabres Sabremetrics: by Joey Pezzino Here is my thesis to the Buffalo Sabres in 2010-11: I believe that for this current Buffalo Sabres team to have maximum success moving forward, that we will need to see Paul Gaustad and Andrej Sekera step up and play more consistently. I really do believe that their success will equal overall team success and I have some stats to p...
Brad Boyes had a powerplay goal and logged just under 15 minutes of ice time in his Sabres debut; and Ryan Miller recorded 29 saves on 31 shots to earn his 27th win of the season. Tyler Myers scored first, late in the first period on the powerplay to put the Sabres up 1-0. Thomas Vanek was planted in front of the net and Tyler Myers took a snapshot from the point that b...
KevinJames writes...

Destination: Playoffs?

Posted Friday | Comments 0
With the Sabres’ overtime loss Thursday night, coupled with a New York Rangers loss, the Buffalo Sabres not only have recorded at least a point in their last five games, but they remain two points out of eighth. Don’t worry, the news gets better from there. The New York Rangers currently sit eighth with 70 points and they have played three more games than the Sabres...
Brad Boyes and the Buffalo Sabres proved how much they wanted to win with a comeback victory against the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres rallied for five goals in the final two periods to defeat Philadelphia 5-3. Andrej Sekera and Brad Boyes each collected two points on the day as they continued their hot streaks. Thomas Vanek and Paul Gaustad both had a ...
Drew Stafford used an individual effort early in the overtime period to give the Sabres a 3-2 win over Minnesota. The Sabres finished off an impressive weekend with two monumental road victories over the Flyers and the Wild. Despite giving up a two goal lead in the second period, Buffalo battled and came away with the victory. With the win, the Sabres moved past Caro...
Rob Niedermayer scores his 2nd is as many games after going scoreless for the entire season and the Sabres have gone up 1-0 against the Pens. Goal was eerily similar to Stafford's OT winner on Sunday. Sabres are driving hard to the net and fore-checking like madmen. Strong start for the newest Eastern Conference 8th seed. More to come from Pittsburgh.
Sabres just wasted away their first power play of the game by taking a careless penalty after struggling to establish a good shot or scoring chance in the first minute. They can't get the puck into Pitt's zone efficiently, nor can they get off a good shot once they are inside the blue line. This must change before the playoffs begin. Addendum: Niedermayer takes a pen...
Just like that, Neal and Michalek score back to back within 3:17 of each other. Neal's goal was the result of good passing and the inability of Millsy to cover the far side of the net. Michalek's was the result of a deflection of his point shot off of a Buffalo d-man's leg. End result: 2-1 Pens lead. On a side note, Buffalo just took a penalty at 5:54 in the 2nd. A...
The Buffalo Sabres, who reached the 8th playoff spot in their last game versus the Minnesota Wild, will have to push a little harder to sustain their position, earning zero points tonight after a loss against the Penguins. With key players such as Thomas Vanek, Jochen Hecht, Mike Grier, and Patrick Kaleta out with injuries (minus Vanek who has the flu) the team made the...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres/Devils Flashback

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
It was February 6th, 2008, and Western New York was stilllocked in the grip of Winter. Weathermen predicted that a storm would pass through Buffalo that night, but instead of snow, the city was pounded by a blizzard of sheer ice. While most residents chose to stay off the frozen streets, there were a few that found it better to make their way to HSBC Arena. Rather than ...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Top Bruins in OT

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Sabres entered the night with a 3-1-1 record on the season against division rival Boston. It looked bleak at times, and it took a serious gut-check at one point, but Buffalo improved that record to 4-1-1 at the end of the contest. A rather uneventful first period started out on an exciting note with a fight between Cody McCormick and Boston’s Gregory Campbell. The...
KevinJames writes...

The Power of Pegula

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Nine games into the Terry Pegula era and the Buffalo Sabresboast a 6-1-2 record under new ownership. Coincidence? I think not. Ever since Pegula officially took over the ownership of the Sabres, they have been a different team. If you remember correctly, one of Pegula’s first quotes as the owner was, “Winning is not a goal. It is a belief.” The Buffalo Sabres h...
The Sabres were unable to finish off the road trip with a victory, losing 4-3 to Toronto on Saturday night. Buffalo, who were 17-1-2 leading after two periods, allowed the Maple Leafs to score two goals in the third period to win the game. Buffalo outshot the Leafs 42-29 on the night, but were unable to tie the game in the latter half of the third period. Despite the lo...
Former Buffalo Sabres forward and “French Connection” line member Rick Martin was killed in a car crash on Sunday, according to a source. The accident occurred at Main Street and Salt Road in Clarence around noon Sunday. Eyewitnesses say Martin’s car crossed a lane of traffic and hit a pole. State police responded to the scene and are expected to provide more det...
Despite playing their second game in less than 24 hours, the Sabres didn’t show any signs of fatigue. The Sabres saluted the fans before leaving the ice, pointing their sticks toward the No. 7 banner. The Sabres honored Rick Martin as all the team wore stickers on their helmets. Ryan Miller got a day of rest on Sunday as Jhonas Enroth received the start in net against...
KevinJames writes...

Farewell, My Captain

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The Sabres have had a busy month. With the change in ownership, the addition of Brad Boyes and the current race back into the playoff picture there has been a lot of optimism. I hope, though, that fans are taking just a moment to stop and look back at one of the other big moves during deadline week. Captain Craig Rivet was claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jacket...
It was just that kind of night for the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres dominated most of this game blasting shots from everywhere but Cam Ward stood his ground and led his Carolina Hurricanes to a 1-0 shutout victory. Entering tonight’s game the Hurricanes were four points behind the Sabres and wasted no time as they were far and away the better team in the first eight min...
The Buffalo Sabres were in the midst of one of their most successful seasons in franchise history, and were looking to tie a historical achievement on this night at HSBC arena. The Sabres jumped out to an early lead on a goal by Derek Roy at 2:14, which was followed by a score for the Islanders by Jason Blake to tie it at one.Thomas Vanek, two goals by Chris Drury and one...
KevinJames writes...

Having a Devil of a Time

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Many Sabres fans, including myself, were a bit premature after Buffalo moved into 7th place last week. I was already thinking about who the Sabres should play in the first round. Well, after a 1-0 loss to Carolina, Buffalo is the team that everyone is looking to beat. It’s not over until it’s over. New Jersey knows a little something about that this season. Former S...
KevinJames writes...

Playoff Momentum

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
As the NHL playoffs are approaching, many teams are still in playoff contention and are battling to move up in the rankings. 16 of the 30 teams will make the postseason, but is it better to be battling for one of the lower spots? Sabres fans saw what happened during the President’s Trophy-winning season in 2006-2007. Although they had a great team, they were upset by ...
After three days of rest and a visit from Dominik Hasek, the Sabres came out with an offensive mindset. A three-goal first period would be all the Sabres would need as they went on to frustrate the Thrashers all game long. Buffalo defeated Atlanta 8-2 at HSBC Arena on Saturday night. Jason Pominville opened the scoring with a goal just 24 seconds into the game. Evand...
It’s that time of year again. The snow begins to melt, the leavesbegin to grow and in the NHL the dash for the final few playoff spots intensifies as teams look to scrap together as many points as they can in the few remaining games of the NHL regular season and the Buffalo Sabres are no exception. With Sabres up by two points over the Hurricanes for 8th place the Sab...
KevinJames writes...

Predators Stun Sabres

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
After a 1-0 loss to Carolina last week, the Sabres earned a pair of much needed victories against Atlanta and Nashville this weekend. A three-goal second period would be the only scoring for Buffalo, but it wasn’t enough. Despite falling behind 3-1, Nashville put together a late comeback and scored three unanswered goals to win the game, 4-3. The Sabres came out wi...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Week in Review

Posted Monday | Comments 0
With another week of Buffalo Sabres hockey in the book, it is time for the Buffalo Sabres week in review! Games Played: - 3/15/11 – Sabres fall to the Carolina Hurricanes, 1-0. - 3/19/11 – Sabres defeated the Atlanta Thrashers, 8-2. - 3/20/11 – Sabres fall to the Nashville Predators, 4-3, in overtime. Points Earned: - The Buffalo Sabres earned three out of ...
Raise you hand if you figured the Sabres were dead in the water by the end of December. Excuse me while remove my hand from the air, as I find that many fans are probably eating their words right now, as the Sabres are just a good 12-game stretch from making the playoffs. Watching the team before January 1st was a maddening experience. Cruising to a record of 14-19-4 i...
The Sabres collapse against the Nashville Predators on Sunday is always going to be a nasty memory for the players and the fans. But if there’s any guaranteed way to alleviate that pain, it’s the complete stifling of a bitter division rival two nights later. A loud and passionate crowd filled Montreal’s Bell Centre, which cheered whenever the Habs initiated any so...
When the Florida Panthers rolled into Buffalo, they had the 29th ranked power play in the league, had gone two full games without scoring a goal, and were essentially out of contention for a playoff position. But a desperate team with nothing to lose is just as dangerous as one racing for a postseason berth, as Lindy Ruff will always attest to. The Panthers must have...
It is safe to say that the Sabres have recovered from a poor start to the season. Sabres Hockey Central took a look back at what the viewpoints were during the first half of the season. In an article earlier this season, Sabres Hockey Central stated the following: Last year, Montreal finished in eighth with 88 points. If that holds true this season, the Sabres would ...
The role of the enforcer in the NHL is a tough one. It has all the benefits of boxing and you’re still expected to do all the other things that good hockey players are supposed to. Cody McCormick is one of the men who has taken this road to the NHL and now he is in a battle to prove that he’s still useful. On Thursday night against Boston McCormick fought Gregory...
KevinJames writes...

Derek Roy Debate

Posted Monday | Comments 0
There are rumors going around that Derek Roy will be ready to play if the Sabres go deep in the playoffs. While those rumors may be true, do the Sabres want him back at that point in the season. The team has improved significantly since he went down, but would brining him back help or hurt the team? What if Roy does come back and further aggravates his injury, forcing h...
KevinJames writes...

The Rise of Andrej Sekera

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Andrej Sekera was drafted in the 2004 Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, with the 71st overall pick. Being a third-round pick, there were some expectations for Sekera to develop into a decent NHL defenseman. Sekera signed a three-year entry level deal with the Buffalo Sabres after posting 55 points in the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack , while boasting an impressive plu...
airtsabes writes...

Who is the best goalie?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
There is a lot of differences of opinion on who the best goalies in the league are from year to year. I dug deep into the numbers to see who the cream of the crop really has been over the last 5 years. Most of these will be expected but there may be a couple that surprise some. I pulled the stats for GAA and SV% for the last 5 years and averaged out their numbers to find t...
Does Tim Connolly deserve a contract extension? I am pretty sure that there are few Sabres fans that believe Timmy is worth the $4,500,000 we are paying him for his 36 pts this season. So if he is not worth that much money how much is he worth? Using player stats collected before last nights games I compared other centers in the league that have within 7pts(20%) of Connoll...
Since Martin Biron’s departure, the Buffalo Sabres have struggled to find that ideal backup goaltender to support franchise star Ryan Miller. The first replacement, Ty Conklin, wasn't with the team for even ¼ of a season and played only three games. Next up was Jocelyn Thibault, who was about as wildly inconsistent as they came and lasted just one year. Patrick Lalim...
On a night where Washington had its 100th consecutive shutout, a sluggish start had the Sabres in a 2-0 hole less than five minutes into the game. Mike Knuble put home his 22nd goal of the season just 37 seconds into the game. Alexander Semin banked in a rebound for the Capitals second goal, which Alex Ovechkin recorded his 50th assists on. Lindy Ruff had to settle thin...
Perhaps the biggest game of the season for both teams, Carolina and Buffalo were set to battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. However, earning at least one point would have propelled the Sabres to 7th. Jhonas Enroth’s 35 saves were a career-high as he led Buffalo to a 2-1 overtime victory at the RBC center in Carolina. Chris Butler scored his...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres Week in Review

Posted Monday | Comments 0
With another successful week of Buffalo Sabres hockey in the book, it is time for the Buffalo Sabres: Week in Review! Games Played - 3/29/11 – Sabres fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3. - 3/30/11 – Sabres defeated the New York Rangers, 1-0. - 4/2/11 – Sabres fell to the Washington Capitals, 5-4, in overtime. -4/3/11 – Sabres defeated the Carolina Hurricane...
airtsabes writes...

Stanley Cup contenders

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Who is the favorite to win it all this year? In the last 5 years the cup has been raised by, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Anaheim, and Carolina. What do all these teams have in common? Defense: GA (reg season) for these teams ranged from 184(Detroit) to 260(Carolina) Offense: GF (reg season) for these teams ranged from 257(Detroit) to 294(Carolina) With the ...
A hat-trick by Thomas Vanek would prove to be the difference as the Buffalo Sabres ended the Tampa Bay Lightning’s hopes for a South East division title with a 4-2 victory. The Sabres started the game off as planned as they applied tremendous pressure on the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning. The chances piled up early and none better than when Stafford picked up a juicy r...
KevinJames writes...

Flashback: 3/25/2009

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
This was a game in which most people thought was the turning point for the Buffalo Sabres in the 2008-2009 season. With just a handful of games remaining and the Sabres sitting six points out of a playoff spot, it was do or die against the Florida Panthers. The Sabres were originally thought to have solidified the 6th spot in the East until goaltender Ryan Miller went d...
Thanks to Terry Pegula, 80 former Sabres were in thebuilding as the Sabres were looking to clinch a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. In order to do so, Buffalo would have to find a way to get past the Flyers, who are second in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres were caught standing still as Philadelphia opened the scoring with Scott Hartnell’s 22nd goal...
Well, after a last game collapse by Carolina, then Chicago, then Dallas the playoffs are set. Time for predictions! QUARTERFINALS WASHINGTON over NY Rangers in 6 BUFFALO over Philadelphia in 7 BOSTON over Montreal in 6 TAMPA BAY over Pittsburgh in 7 VANCOUVER over Chicago in 5 SAN JOSE over Los Angeles in 6 DETROIT over Phoenix in 7 ANAHEIM over Nashville in ...
If there was ever a time for Ryan Miller to come back from injury and earn a shutout, this was the perfect night for it. Miller looked liked the Vezina winner he was a year ago, as he led the Sabres to a 1-0 shutout victory. Patrick Kaleta scored the lone goal of the game and it was all the Sabres would need as they were able to keep the powerful offense of the Flyers o...
KevinJames writes...

Flashback-4/22/06

Posted Friday | Comments 0
April 22nd, 2006 was one to remember in the history of the Buffalo Sabres. After three losing seasons by the Sabres and a year-long lockout, HSBC Arena finally hosted an NHL playoff game. 18,690 fans sold out the building in downtown Buffalo to see the Sabres take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the first game of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. They would get the...
Here are some thoughts on the 1st game of the playoffs: The Sabres should not have won this game. There were several factors that gave them the edge they needed to capture home ice advantage in this series. Ryan Miller is back, I missed him. He was the goaltender we saw last season and in the olympics. He was a stablizing presence, coving his angles and not letting r...
All of Buffalo woke up this morning elated after the Sabres stole Game one away from the Philadelphia Flyers last night in the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals series. It was a game in which Philadelphia dictated much of the tempo for the majority of the game, forcing Ryan Miller to stand on his head time and time again in front of a typically raucous, sold out crowd a...
KevinJames writes...

Flyers Even It Up

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Game 1 of Buffalo and Philadelphia in the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals was pretty tedious. In fact, it got downright boring at times. Game 2 was neither. It began as exhilarating, and, at least for Sabres fans, eventually degenerated into something infuriating. The first period took over 51 minutes to complete between a bevy of scrums, ten minor penalties an...
The good news is there is plenty of hockey to be played in this series. The earlier you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up. The bad news is the Flyers have taken control of the series, and have regained their home ice advantage. It was the first home playoff game in the Pegula era and the Sabres had a chance to go up 2-1. Despite the home fans rockin’ ...
KevinJames writes...

Don't Count Buffalo Out

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I, like many other Sabres’ fans, was disappointed with the result of the team’s playoff game against the Flyers. I was not expecting a 4-2 loss in the third game of a playoff series, especially after the Sabres stole one of the first two games in Philadelphia, bringing home a split. The atmosphere in and outside of HSBC Arena was great. Fans inside were excited f...
KevinJames writes...

Deja Vu, Series Tied at Two

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Remember when Ryan Miller had a dominant 35 save shutout to steal game one? Well, his performance on Wednesday night may have even been better as the Sabres tied the series at two game apiece. It was a must win for Buffalo and they came through. Even though it looked like the Flyers were going to tie it, the Sabres found a way to survive, with Miller doing most of the w...
KevinJames writes...

Miller Quiets His Critics

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
HSBC Arena erupted Wednesday night as 18,690 fans rose out of their seats in complete unison, awestruck by Ryan Miller’s phenomenal performance. Chants of “Ry-an Mil-ler, Ry-an Mil-ler” rang out amongst the electric crowd who had once again witnessed brilliance as their franchise goalie stood on his head right before their very eyes. The sound that roared throu...
The Sabres came out and controlled the first half of the opening period, and Tyler Ennis began the scoring spree with a shot that he banked off Philadelphia goaltender Brian Boucher. Just a couple minutes later, Thomas Vanek did the same thing from behind the Flyers’ net and Buffalo were out to a fast 2-0 lead. Fans in Philly were already beginning to turn on their te...
"Sorry Mom, I won't be able to make it this Sunday." A sentence that has today become all too familiar for the mothers of hockey fans all over Western New York. Today is a very special Saturday, not because it is Easter Eve, but because Buffalo Sabres fans are ecstatic following a Game 5 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers -- a huge win which puts the Sabres up thre...
killTHEnight writes...

Faith in the Team.

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I saw a joke the other day on the internet; a bar graph titled: WHEN AN ATHEIST BELIEVES IN GOD. And it showed bars with various categories like: in an argument, running late to work, didn't study, etc... with various percentages. The only category with 100% was 'Watching a Sporting Event'... I feel like, as far as jokes go, this couldn't be truer. I won't get into ...
There’s no reason you shouldn’t be excited for Game seven on Tuesday in Philadelphia. Yes, the Sabres had a chance to finish off the Flyers Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, but blew yet a another two goal lead this season. Flashback to December, when the Sabres were 10 points out of a playoff spot and struggling to string together wins. If you would have told me that th...
Many of us, including myself, have recovered from the devastating loss that took place in HSBC Arena on Sunday evening. From what I have gathered, it sounds like Lindy Ruff and the Sabres are more ready than ever to disappoint Flyers fans on Tuesday night. Derek Roy expects to play, and says he is 100 percent ready. “Its great. I’ve put in a lot of hard work. Its...
I imagine a giant map on a wall in a secret NHL room, probably somewhere near the "War Room" in Toronto where the geniuses gather to review goals (seemingly without the aid of HD). On this map is a representation of a recent national broadcast's viewership. The brighter spots on the map represent high viewership, and you can guess where they are. In between are thousan...
Ok here we go…….. When I look at the Sabs I see potential for a great, great team. One like Boston has now. We have the parts of a team that are the most difficult to obtain (goaltending, a number one d-man, depth forwards who can add scoring, coaching, and sniping wingers). The main thing we need is centers (duh). So here is what I would try and do today, this ...
icedog97 writes...

JVR: The New Giroux?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
During the 2009-10 playoffs we saw the emergence of Philadelphia Flyers forward [b]Claude Giroux[/b]. Giroux scored 21 points in 23 playoff games after scoring just 47 points in 82 games during the regular season. [b]Seeing a player jump from .57 points per game to .913 during the playoffs, when scoring is usually at a premium, is like a red light going on behind the...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres' Future Looks Bright

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Sabres’ season was not all for not, even though they The future looks bright for the Sabres' young squad. did not reach their final prize of winning Lord Stanley, there were many positives throughout the season. The Sabres are expected to have one of their busiest summers in years. With the recent re-signing of Lindy Ruff to a multi-year extension,we know that t...
For many Sabres fans, a sense of disappointment may still linger after the Sabres dreadful Game 7 exit to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the playoffs. And rightly so. It was as if the Sabres had left their starting lineup back in Buffalo and instead dressed a band of junior-league misfits to take their place. Either way, it was apparent the team had...
Well, it was inevitable. Any legit Sabres fan knew our biggest flaws running into these playoffs. Sure, we didn't have our "#1" center in Derek Roy, we had an injured Tim Connolly, Brad Boyes; who shouldn't ever play center, Robbie Neidermeyer, and Paul Gaustad up the middle. Compare that to Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Danny Briere, and Blaire Betts (a less talented Goose)...
KevinJames writes...

Sabre of the Year

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Over the next week, Sabres Hockey Central will be releasing the staff selections for the seven categories making up the 2010-2011 Sabres year in review. The posts will be published here at 8 a.m. every day through Thursday the 19th. The first award is “Sabre of the year”. Saturday morning’s post will feature the staff’s selections for “biggest surprise player ...
As the NHL playoffs continue without Buffalo, the Sabres and their fans are already looking forward to next season. Watching the San Jose vs. Detroit series, I realized that there is no way the Sabres could compete in a game, or series, of that intensity, which may be a key factor in why they lost to the Flyers in Game 7 and have won only one in the history of the franchis...
KevinJames writes...

Sabres' Goals of the Year

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Sabres lit the lamp 245 times this past regular season, but here are a few that are worth taking another look at. These are not ranked or posted in any particular order. Click below to check out the videos: [url]http://sabreshockeycentral.com/2011/05/18/goals-of-the-year-2010-2011/[/url]
Looking back on the season, there are so many memorable moments, but we’ve created a list of the top 10 games of the season for your viewing pleasure. Take a look and let us know what you think. Click below to continue reading: [url]http://sabreshockeycentral.com/2011/05/19/top-10-games-of-the-year/[/url]
KevinJames writes...

Sabres' Saves of the Year

Posted Friday | Comments 0
With the goaltending of Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth, they helped provide some great saves during the regular and post-season. Compiled, is the top 10 saves from this past year, Starting with #10 then working down to #1. Enjoy! Click here to check out the countdown: [url]http://sabreshockeycentral.com/2011/05/20/saves-of-the-year/[/url]
Dropping the gloves in the NHL has become somewhat of an art-form in today’s game. Whether it be the endless marathon, total beat-down or even the occasional all-out brawl, nothing gets the blood of hockey fans pumping better than two players tossing hay-makers. The Buffalo Sabres racked up 30 fighting majors this season — many of which resulted in a Sabre skating t...
With the Western Conference Semi-Finals now in the books, the NHL’s final four is set in stone. And while the remaining 26 franchises who weren’t as fortunate as their counterparts witness the conclusion of the postseason from the tee box, their respective fans are left with nothing to look forward to — aside from viewing what is likely to be some great hockey – ot...
Hockey season came to a halt sooner than most Sabres fans probably would have liked this year. While the NHL Playoffs rage on, the Buffalo Sabres are anticipating one of the most eventful off-seasons in recent memory as new owner Terry Pegula brings his winning attitude and deep pockets to the table. And so I thought: while we're stuck watching the remainder of the tour...
KevinJames writes...

Lovers or Fighters

Posted Monday | Comments 0
This coming summer is going to be a big one for the Buffalo Sabres. With many fans expecting big changes due to the ownership change and a year that fell short of expectations it will be interesting to see what Darcy Regier has up his sleeve. With a bigger bankroll and a somewhat improved team image, the idea would be to draw some bigger name free agents. Fans are also ...
Mr. Pegula should take note on the recent news that True North will NOT retain Rick Dudley as their GM. I truely believe Duds would be a great asset to the Sabres Organization. He has ties to the community as a former player & coach. He also still resides in the area. But the ties to the oraganization is not the main reason to hire him. Here are just a few reasons he sh...
Richards... Well, as many of you know, Drury will likely be bought out by the Rangers to make room for Richards. And yes, the Rangers are the team that will sign Richards. I say there is 90% chance that that will happen. So good for the Rangers, another soon to be overpaid player on their team. On the Sabres... Now that means that Drury would beco...
Hey! I’m Justen and yes, I spelled my username wrong haha. I’ve been visiting HockeyBuzz.com for years now. Mostly to look for the newest GARTH blog to get my Sabres fix, and/or rummaging through the forums. I love talking Sabres hockey and I’m here to do just that. After a Dismal 1st half of the year due to a Tallinder-less Tyler Myers, a Lydm...
I doubt very many will see this blog as it is my first on hockeybuzz.com. All the same i want to get my opinion out there in the cloud so to speak. Eklund himself is on record as of this morning proclaiming the Sabres are one of the secondary teams in the Brad Richards extravaganza. This isn't the first time that notion has been intimated, but i guess this time it h...
[img]http://i54.tinypic.com/64kvn8.jpg[/img] I just finnish-ed(get it?) watching the Sabres recent first round draft pick Joel Armia of the Finnish Elite League, meet the media. A few answers to questions he had really kind of irked me: Q: “Do you get much exposure to the NHL in Finland? JA: “No, not much” Q: “Do you know much about the Buffalo Sabres?”...
The draft came and went a bit more anti-climatic than expected. The Sabres did well for themselves adding the agile Finnish winger Joel Armia (though i would have preferred Mark McNeill) and the exciting Daniel Catenacci but to expect either of these players to have in impact in the 2011-2012 season is unrealistic. This years draft was to continue stocking the cupboard ...
With the handcuffs off Darcy Regier is proving to be resourceful and more aggressive than myself and most Sabres fans have ever given him credit for. Signing Ehrhoff was a great move to add a durable blueline presence who can command the Sabres PP until Myers or Gragnani is ready and chip in 30-35 assists for the next decade. People are complaining about the term of the ...
The buffalo sabres entered this off season with two goals, strengthening our defense, and finding a first line centre. I think Darcy did an excellent job at building us one of the best D collections in the league. Regher and Ehrhoff along with Leopold and Myers will without a doubt make Ryan Millers job a lot easier. But as happy as I am about our defence being strengthene...
Assuming they re-sign Enroth, Weber, Gragnani, and bring up either Kassian or Adam to fill the final roster spot: Vanek - Roy - Stafford Ennis - Leino - Pominville Gerbe - Gaustad - Boyes Hecht - McCormick - Kaleta Kotalik, Kassian/Adam Regehr - Leopold Ehrhoff - Gragnani Myers - Weber Morrisonn Miller Enroth
Before I begin I would like to preface this post by saying a sincere to thank you to the Pegula Family, as well as the entire sabres organization for arguably one of the most exciting off seasons in team history. The future of this franchise is brighter than it has ever been. With that being said. It seems for now that the Buffalo Sabres are re-enacting an old slogan...
Before I begin I would like to preface this post by saying a sincere to thank you to the Pegula Family, as well as the entire sabres organization for arguably one of the most exciting off seasons in team history. The future of this franchise is brighter than it has ever been. With that being said. It seems for now that the Buffalo Sabres are re-enacting an old slogan...
Before I begin I would like to preface this post by saying a sincere to thank you to the Pegula Family, as well as the entire sabres organization for arguably one of the most exciting off seasons in team history. The future of this franchise is brighter than it has ever been. With that being said. It seems for now that the Buffalo Sabres are re-enacting an old slogan...
Before I begin I would like to preface this post by saying a sincere to thank you to the Pegula Family, as well as the entire sabres organization for arguably one of the most exciting off seasons in team history. The future of this franchise is brighter than it has ever been. With that being said. It seems for now that the Buffalo Sabres are re-enacting an old slogan...
Making the assumption that Darcy Regier has stopped tinkering, and by tinkering I mean doing it with a sledgehammer, the Sabres have their team set for the 2011-12 NHL season. The only exceptions to this being signing Enroth, Gragnani, and Weber. The final spot on the roster I probably foresee being designated to bringing up one of the forwards from Rochester. Luke Adam ha...
Most have lauded the Sabres organization over the past few days for recognizing they weren't going to land Brad Richards and immediately snatching the next best playmaker on the open market in Ville Leino. In terms of ability the Sabres are upgrading their forward corps by adding a solid two way player with soft hands, great vision, and proven playoff performance. Howeve...
Justendrumer writes...

Regier Gets Re-Geared

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
[img]http://oi52.tinypic.com/scrjvm.jpg[/img] February 22nd will be remembered by Sabre fans as the day the Terry Pegula bought the Buffalo Sabres. Tom Galisano turned over the key to HSBC arena along with a key for a cage that held his poodle, Darcy Regier. Pegula unlocked the cage and out came a charging, foaming from the mouth, Cujo. Mr. Pegula then gave his new pet...
Miss11 writes...

Happy French Connection Day!

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
It’s 7-14-11, and to Buffalo Sabres Fans, that can only mean one thing – It is FRENCH CONNECTION day. The numbers 7, 14, and 11 hang grouped together in the rafters of HSBC arena in tribute to three hockey players who were arguably one of the greatest line combinations in NHL history. With the late Richard Martin (#7) at left wing (Rest in Peace, Rico), Re...
With Jhonas Enroth signed the Buffalo Sabres should have their first steady backup since Martin Biron and Ryan Miller split the twine post lockout. Gone are the days of Brodeur, Fuhr, Belfour, or Kipprusoff playing 70-75 games a year. Recent history has shown goaltenders wearing down over the course of the season and faltering in the post-season. In fact only 3 goalies ...
Sink. writes...

Buffalo, Washington Over Cap

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Not sure if some of you realize this but Buffalo and Washington are over the NHL's cap limit. Buffalo is over the cap by $3,595,357. Already an exorbitant number, it will more than likely go up since they still have yet to sign defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani. Gragnani made $500,000 last season so you could expect some sort of raise. This would put Buffalo above $4 milli...
Now that the initial adrenaline rush of free agency is behind us we can gain perspective on the off-season thus far. Now of course every signing and trade comes with a measure of risk, but these are the 5 that i have identified to be the riskiest. Without further ado: [b]Buffalo Sabres sign Ville Leino for 6yrs/27$mil (4.5mil annual cap hit)[/b] If you read my Vill...
One thing I love about Baseball is how much time you can spend dissecting the statistics. No sport lends itself better to be broken down by the numbers than baseball. Not that statistics ever tell the whole story, far from it, but they sure give us plenty to talk about between games, and during the off-season. The other great thing baseball has done is add newer statist...
In my last blog i wrote about how i feel the NHL needs newer more innovative statistics and introduced my first new stat of the year the Shift Impact Percentage or SIP%. I'm not going to recap what the statistic is composed of, for that see my previous blog. Instead i'm going to delve right into the numbers and start applying the stat so we can start to gauge what is a g...
SabreHess writes...

Are We Spending Money Wisely?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Read any hockey articles on the internet from markets outside Buffalo and you'll notice a common trend. Yes the rest of the league has taken notice that Buffalo is improved from last year, but they also are quick to point out the folly of the Sabres new-found spending prowess. I'd like to debunk that myth right here and now. Let's get the 800lb gorrilla in the room o...
Looking for sleeper picks in your upcoming fantasy draft or interested in who to look for as possible up-and-comers next season? You've come to the right place. After hours of statistical analysis, I have compiled a top-10 list (featuring video evidence) of rookies/prospects who are likely to breakout next season as bonafide NHLers or even superstars. For the purposes...
Over the Next 30 days I will be Previewing each of the National Hockey League Clubs heading into the 2011-12 season starting from the Anaheim Ducks. Day 3 of the series belongs to the official AarifDeenReport Buffalo Sabres Preview. Please resort to myhockeybuzz page for previews of teams falling before this team. [b]Follow me on Twitter @AarifDeenReport please.[/b]...
Last season the Vancouver Canucks ran away with their division, earning them the presidents trophy in the process, and rode that momentum all the way to game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals where it was promptly halted by Tim Thomas and the boys from Beantown. Though you could make the argument that momentum died the moment Aaron Rome cheap shot Nathan Horton. The Buffalo Sa...
SabreHess writes...

Pre-Vacation Ranting

Posted Friday | Comments 0
I hadn't gotten into the blogging game until after this season has ended. But I have had a lot of NHL opinions bottled up inside for many years. Though most of my blogs have been (and will continue to be) based more on statistics, I figured since I leave for vacation tomorrow let me just pop the cork and let some bottled NHL rants come flying out. No stats, just unfilte...
You'd be hard pressed to find a Sabres fan who wasn't enamored with Chris Drury during his tenure, and I'm no different. Sure he left on bad terms, as he did with the Rangers but looking back I give him a ton of credit for bringing the Sabres back to legitimacy and teaching the young guys (Pominville, Roy, Vanek, Gaustad) what it takes to win. Many of you recall his ...
The Sabres have had the busiest off season in recent memory. The question is who is packing their bags now The Feel Good Summer is almost over. Morrison has already asked to be traded and Kotalik, part of the Regher trade, has been widely seen as the other logical choice. Where will they go? I will suggest Phoenix for Kotalik. They have become experts in reclamation pro...
Mathwil3 writes...

Sabres Calling

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The Sabres have had the busiest off season in recent memory. The question is who is packing their bags now The Feel Good Summer is almost over. Morrison has already asked to be traded and Kotalik, part of the Regher trade, has been widely seen as the other logical choice. Where will they go? I will suggest Phoenix for Kotalik. They have become experts in reclamation pro...
Mathwil3 writes...

Sabres Calling

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Sabres have had the busiest off season in recent memory. The question is who is packing their bags now The Feel Good Summer is almost over. Morrison has already asked to be traded and Kotalik, part of the Regher trade, has been widely seen as the other logical choice. Where will they go? I will suggest Phoenix for Kotalik. They have become experts in reclamation pro...
Mathwil3 writes...

Sabres Calling

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Sabres have had the busiest off season in recent memory. The question is who is packing their bags now The Feel Good Summer is almost over. Morrison has already asked to be traded and Kotalik, part of the Regher trade, has been widely seen as the other logical choice. Where will they go? I will suggest Phoenix for Kotalik. They have become experts in reclamation pro...
Mathwil3 writes...

Sabres Calling

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Sabres have had the busiest off season in recent memory. The question is who is packing their bags now The Feel Good Summer is almost over. Morrison has already asked to be traded and Kotalik, part of the Regher trade, has been widely seen as the other logical choice. Where will they go? I will suggest Phoenix for Kotalik. They have become experts in reclamation pro...
Mathwil3 writes...

Sabres Calling

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Sabres have had the busiest off season in recent memory. The question is who is packing their bags now The Feel Good Summer is almost over. Morrison has already asked to be traded and Kotalik, part of the Regher trade, has been widely seen as the other logical choice. Where will they go? I will suggest Phoenix for Kotalik. They have become experts in reclamation pro...
Mathwil3 writes...

Pommer on the Move?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Calgary and Buffalo, Buffalo and Calgary just another match made in heaven. Whether trading for Drury or just recently trading for Regher these two teams have come to accommodate each either. Whether it is a mutual hatred for Edmonton or long lost sister cities they getter done. Now it is rumored that they are not finished. What could they be up too? Everyone in Buff...
SabreHess writes...

History Against Ruff

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
There is much optimism in Sabreland right now. Though the team is not without holes, the off-season additions have fans chomping at the bit for the season to start and I'm sure the players are anxious to get back on the ice and make a run at dethroning their division rival Bruins. Are they the deepest team in the league? Probably not, but at this point the Sabres are cl...
Havic03 writes...

First Post

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
First a little bit about me... My name is Brad, made this account some time ago but just currently got to a place in life where i might be able to contribute to it regularly. Born just beyond the south towns of Buffalo in no mans land... Had no real loves in life till i caught my first sabres game in the colored rows of the old Aud been hooked ever since. Moved to florid...
I'm new here...JUST registered. I've always had this thought...not sure if it's new or not, and I have no idea how a person would go about getting an idea like this to the league, but.... I always felt that a player who just won the Stanley Cup should be recognized for it for the whole year. I know they all get rings, but I mean [u]on the ice[/u]. So...let's take ...
andydrmm writes...

2011-2012 Here We Come

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
It's been a wild and crazy off season... It's taken some adjusting to, especially as a Buffalo fan. I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong, I'm just not used to it. Buffalo signing players they should, trying to improve the team? FINALLY!!!!! Now, I've seen a lot of people making predictions as to what is going to happen with the upcoming season. I stand by this right ...
IceSage writes...

Things I miss!

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Welcome to my first blog! Hopefully I will bring a fresh perspective to your Buzz experience. Here is what I promise. I will spell check my blog. I will speak from experience, in what I know and not how I can impress you. I am not an insider, don't pretend to know all the players nick names and if I don't won't disrespect the player by giving him a new one. I won't ...
IceSage writes...

We've been had!!

Posted Friday | Comments 0
As die hard Buffalo Sabres fans, we have certainly had to suffer through our share of disappointments. Beyond that, we have also hung on every word of hope sent to us from owners and managers. Who could forget John Rigas standing before a crowd in downtown Buffalo, declaring that he was going to supply the tools to "get the job done" Looking back, I am not quite sure ex...
hi im a new blogger and wanted to start with something sabres related. Thanks to Terry Pegula's buyer mentality the sabres have a situation that we havent seen in years, competition. Every year the returning players of the sabres have been able to come back and reclaim their previous role on the team because there was never a surplus of players, young and mid-aged that we...
SabreHess writes...

NHL 12, Expectations

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
With today being the release of EA's NHL 12, and amidst everyone's "top 5 hockey games" lists I'd thought I'd put my 2 cents in as well. For those of you not into video games, skip the next paragraph. The most underrated hockey video game of all time was NHL Stanley Cup for SNES. Everyone says that about whatever their favorite game was growing up, but that was mine. ...
SabreHess writes...

Northeast Division Hardware

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Preseason predictions and rankings are about as much a guessing game as the weather. Until we've seen 30+ games of regular season action it is impossible to accurately predict how teams will perform. Yet it seems that as much as I cringe when I read everyone elses' rankings and playoff projections, I can't resist following suit. I'll try and check back on these mid-sea...
Mathwil3 writes...

A Much to Do About Nothing

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
To Whom It May Concern, This is a forewarning to all GMs, owners, and fans who enter the perils of "Player Holdouts". Prepare yourself for a giant letdown. History dictates the player will always win. Not the team or it's fans, the player and his agent always win. Why does this hold true? The player has the least to lose. He may not have a salary ...
SabreHess writes...

Winter Classic, Brad Boyes

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I'm sorry but this year's Winter Classic is a joke. It's all about the marketing and nothing to do with the hockey this year, and I hate to see the NHL waste one of it's few opportunities to rope in casual hockey fans by overexposing the same U.S. media markets. What does the state of Pennsylvania have on Gary Bettman? I mean 4 Winter Classic appearances combined betwee...
There was quite a controversy here in the Capital Region (Albany, NY) in the past week. On last Thursday, 9/22, a writer for the largest local paper, the Albany Times Union, decided to step out of her normal job as the writer of a parenting guide, and into the shoes of a sports writer (and debatable into her Patriots footie pajamas). As I read it last week, I thought...
I rushed home from work to catch today’s Sabres game. How often are the Sabres going to start their season in Finland? Plus, OPENING DAY!!! As I’m sure everyone knows already, the Sabres won their opening contest 4-1. However, as one of my counterparts on this site stated; “Sabres dominate for 60 minutes”, I will strongly disagree. Like every game, there’s numero...
icedog97 writes...

Nobody Asked Me But...#2

Posted Monday | Comments 0
...The Tomas Vokoun signing in Washington appears now to be about as much like the Ilya Bryzgalov signing in Philadelphia as their two salaries are for 2011...which is to say "not much". Initially people compared the two with the idea being that both clubs were obtaining "top" netminders to make them legitimate cup contenders. Washington seemed to get the better deal becau...
SabreHess writes...

Sabres Conquer Europe

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Well that went about as well as could be expected eh? Not only did the Sabres return from their European business trip with a valuable 4 out of 4 points, but they did so in a dominating fashion. I liked the fact that despite the distractions of sightseeing in Europe, when that puck dropped in Helsinki on Friday night the Sabres were focused on hockey and nothing else. ...
andydrmm writes...

Value of Miller

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I've heard a lot of bad talk about Ryan Miller. I think that he may be one of the most undervalued players in the NHL. I've heard a lot of predictions about how Jhonas Enroth will be taking on a larger role in Buffalo, and Miller may be out the door soon. I think this would be one of the biggest mistakes made for the Sabres. Ryan Miller is as good as the team around hi...
SabreHess writes...

Northeast Numbers volume 1

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Welcome to my first Northeast Numbers column of the season. We're only a few games into the new year, but I figured it was the right time to take our first glance at the numbers and gauge these teams. [u]Records:[/u] Toronto[b] 3-0-1[/b] (3 ROW) Buffalo [b]3-1-0[/b] (3 ROW) Boston [b]2-3-0[/b] (1 ROW) Montreal [b]1-2-1[/b] (1 ROW) Ottawa [b]1-4-0[/b] (0 ROW) ...
andydrmm writes...

3 Game Recap

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The past few games have been an interesting combination for Buffalo’s pride and joy. They’ve struggled at times, but have pulled 4 points out of 6 possible. So far, things look good. A little inconsistent, but good. Carolina (10/14/11) The arena was electric for the opening of the season, and the first game ever at the First Niagara Center. As I walked through t...
So with the off-season signings by Buffalo, the general attacks around Hockeybuzz has been that Buffalo is going the (failed) route of the Rangers and other teams and is trying to "buy themselves a title". I decided to look into the team to prove how inaccurate that accusation is. Of the 20 players who have played for Buffalo this season, 14 of these players were d...
The word is out that Lindy Ruff has decided to mix things up with his top lines. Leino will be skating alongside Vanek and Pominville, while the rookie Luke Adam will play on a line with Roy, and Stafford. The changes shouldn't come as a surprise, given the slow start by nearly every top 6 forward not named Thomas or Jason. Yes Luke Adam got off to a hot start, but he h...
Sabres42 writes...

In Jhonas We Trust

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Lindy Ruff did say he would follow the "schedule" the goalies were given in the beginning of the week before the Philly disaster. So turns out Enroth gets the 4 x 6 tonight and Miller gets the cage in Ottawa tomorrow night. I think this is the right move here by the Sabres bench boss. He may not say he meant for it to go this way but none the less putting Enroth in toni...
I went into this weekend of Sabres hockey rather skeptical after the past few performances of the team. Despite only losing by one goal in a lot of their games, it was not a accurate depiction of the game as a whole. Buffalo was not playing good hockey, and there was no reason to think this weekend would be any different. However, 2 games and 4 points later, I was plea...
Sabres42 writes...

Thoughts of a Good Weekend

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Sabres rebounded with 4 points over the weekend with a goalie duel win against the Flames on Friday and a exciting shootout win in Ottawa. To my surprise even though I would have done it that way, Jhonas Enroth played both games over the weekend and played well. He is now 4-0-0 with a 1.41 GAA and .952 SV %. I'll get to the Miller vs Enroth debate later. First I want t...
Sabres42 writes...

Win is a Win

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Last night in Pegulaville City Hall the FN Center the night started with an emotional induction of Dale Hawerchuk and RJ into the Sabres Hall of Fame. The Sabres however didn't come out motivated and resulted in the worst possible start for Miller with a qucik 2-0 Jets lead. I give Lindy credit for sticking with Ryan and not oulling out the quick hook. Buffalo pulled ou...
Sabres42 writes...

1-3-1 Good for the Game?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
With things all quiet in Hockey Heaven I figured today I'd talk about some other news around the league. First I will touch on the events in Tampa last night. Someone finally stood up to the defensive tactics that are destroying the game. NJ started it and were successful with tactic the Lightning use and so were the Bruins last season. What does the NHL do from here? ...
andydrmm writes...

Deserved To Lose

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
There is no nice way to say this after the Sabres vs Bruins game from TD Garden Place tonight. The Buffalo Sabres deserved to lose. Just about anytime that the Sabres made a turnover, anywhere on the ice, the Bruins capitalized. Buffalo’s passing was lackadaisical throughout the course of the game. The team lacked energy, despite having scored the first goal of the n...
Well I had a blog half way done and then the Lucic no suspension word came out and I scrapped the initial plans. What a choke job AGAIN by Colin Campbell, I mean Brendan Shannahan. As far as I'm concerned there's no difference in the two. Shanny started off on fire suspending any questionable and deserving hit, but someone got into his ear. Someone reminded Shanny that...
Right now the Buffalo Sabres remind me of Cerberus the three headed hound from Greek mythology. In this case however, instead of a menacing multi-headed beast guarding the entrance to the Underworld, the Sabres have their own triple threat in Vanek, Roy, and Pominville. Thomas Vanek (11g, 11a, 22pts) is tied for second in the NHL in scoring, despite averaging less time...
Sabres42 writes...

Wait a Second...

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
A night after I was killing my team for 40 minutes of uninspired and awful play in the Bell Centre followed by 20 minutes of dominance and a W via the shootout, I took a look at the standings this morning as per usual. Wait a second...the Buffalo Sabres are in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference 1 pt behind Philly and first in the NE Division. Now raise your hand if you ...
andydrmm writes...

No More Soft Hockey

Posted Sunday | Comments 11
I had the perk of sitting in the 200 level on Saturday during the Sabres game, just behind the Sabres goal. As I watched, I noticed that while Buffalo got some very good opportunities throughout the game, Buffalo’s defense needs to stop holding up “Welcome All” as their opponents are on the rush. Plus, I noticed very few odd man rushes for Buffalo, last night, and al...
SabreHess writes...

Darcy For a Day

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Let's re-enact the plot from the seminal classic "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd. I have a full day ahead of me as the Sabres new head honcho and while the very confused Darcy Regier spends the next 8 hours trying to find my car keys and navigate the rough and tumble Jersey neighborhoods, I have some phone calls to make. [b]8am- [/b]I just entered the...
This morning Ruff announced Tyler Myers will be out about a month due to surgery on a broken wrist. A big blow to a D-core who wasn't playing all that well as it was and the big bad Bruins coming into a hyped up matchup Wednesday. Once I noticed Myers missed the entire 3rd period Saturday night I went and took a look at the Amerks roster. Two D-men caught my attention, ...
andydrmm writes...

REALISTIC Boston Preview

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I read Garth’s blog earlier about the upcoming matchup with Boston (See Chowds Have Another Thing Coming). Dear God, I don’t know what else to say to this. I don’t know if he’s been watching the same games as the rest of us, but it was pretty presumptuous. Buffalo should not be worried about extracting revenge on Lucic. Will someone take a run at him? I’d lik...
andydrmm writes...

Not a Time For Revenge

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Apparently, some people (Garth) didn’t get it when I wrote my blog yesterday looking forward to the Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins game tomorrow night. Let me try, one more time. First off, I see that Garth feels the Sabres should “run Seguin or Bergeron”. Then, he writes in that Shanahan, “God” of NHL discipline, will be watching the game very carefully. To...
andydrmm writes...

A Solid Loss

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I watched an extremely entertaining hockey game last night. Buffalo showed up to play, and meant business as well. I think Boston was probably surprised at Buffalo’s style of play last night. Despite the fact that Buffalo lost in the shoot out, it was a good loss for Buffalo, and should be a boost to their confidence. Last night, Buffalo started to show the type of po...
Sabres42 writes...

Jackal and Hyde Weekend

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The tale of two different teams showed over the last weekend. Nobody showed up in Columbus per usual in that building, but Saturday the Sabres/Amerks were responsible for getting Boudreau fired after a 5-1 beat down. With 9 regulars out of the line-up the kids came to play and took it to the underachieving and uninspired Washington Capitals. Kassian got his first NHL go...
Sabres42 writes...

Getting Healthier

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Stafford, Regher, and Kaleta will return tonight leaving the Sabres with only 6 regulars out. Ennis should be back Friday, Miller will take part in his first full practice tomorrow probably meaning another week or so for him, Weber and McCormick both skated today. As the Sabres get healthier will they start to climb the eastern conference again? I think they are startin...
Inconsistency seems to be theme in Hockey Heaven these days. After another home loss to the struggling Islanders, with the Sabres putting up 1 goal on Al Montoya it may be time to worry. Roy, Stafford, and Leino continue to be ice cold and struggle. Roy had 2 point blank chances to tie it on a 5 on 3 and was stoned once and missed the net on the second chance. Leino ha...
andydrmm writes...

Trade Talk

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
There’s been a lot of trade talk recently, and the Sabres have been mentioned. How accurate these rumors are, I have no idea. However, I definitely think that a move or two may help Buffalo out. As I’ve said, Buffalo needs to be aggressive in their own end. The recent call ups for Buffalo have done really well, and are playing excellent physical hockey. I’ve love...
It's December 1st and all the Bobby Ryan chatter over the last few days I couldn't help but notice the NHL Deadline is less than 3 months away. Another intriguing factor of this year's deadline is all the potential stars that could be on the move. Parise, Ryan, Iginla, Luongo, Nash, Carter, Weber, Suter, Hemsky, Alfredsson, Spezza, Stastny, Lecavalier, Semin, Bouwmeester...
andydrmm writes...

4-1 Final- Red Wings Win

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Hey All, I'll be back here ready to go for the Sabres game tonight. Get my take on the game as it unfolds tonight. Stay tuned! In order to win here, 5 minutes prior to puck drop, Buffalo needs to defend their end aggressively. Zetterberg leads this offense, and pose a serious threat if Buffalo gives them the blue line. Hopefully they have fast break outs of their own...
I understand the frustration fans are having with the way the season which began with so much promise is starting to get away from them, it begs the question, should the sabres trade Ryan Miller? And if so, to whom and for what? It is a soft goalie market, I dont think you could get close to market value, but what does this Sabres team need to right the ship?
Buffalo--Sabres writes...

Damaged Goods

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Your're reminded of it every time you go to a Sabres home game. They play it loud and clear over the P.A. system. "From this day foward, the Buffalo Sabres reason for existence is to win the Stanley Cup". Minutes later the puck drops and the action begins. Not long after that it becomes obvious that you've been duped into thinking this home game would be any differen...
As I write this article, I’m still debating what will happen due to the hit from Jordin Tootoo on, that’s right, Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller... Tough to say what will happen. For those who missed it, Tootoo went into the Buffalo end, followed closely by Christian Ehrhoff. Ehrhoff poked the puck from Tootoo and had his hand on Tootoo’s back. Ehrhoff followed the pu...
SabreHess writes...

Northeast Numbers Vol. 2

Posted Monday | Comments 0
We're just beyond the one third portion of the NHL schedule, and the divisional races are beginning to take shape. The Northeast Division is as tightly contested as they come as the entire division is separated by a mere 6 points. The next closest division races in the league are both 12 point margins in the Southeast and Pacific divisions. Here's where we stand in the ...
andydrmm writes...

Inconsistent Hockey Kills

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
The title of this blog, pretty much sums it up. If you can’t play 60 minutes, you will lose. Every. Time. I’m starting to run out of excuses for Buffalo’s bad play. I’m holding off on the coaching... for now. Tonight, it was the fact that Buffalo couldn’t play 60 minutes. Buffalo had a simply excellent first period. I haven’t seen Buffalo play that well in ...
andydrmm writes...

Stop. Blaming. The. Goalies

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
So, much to my surprise (insert sarcasm), I logged on to write a blog recapping the weekend, and again, Garth has amazed me with his... “wisdom”. Again, Enroth has seen better days, however goalies are as good as the team in front of them. Regardless of who is starting in net, the team in front of Enroth and Miller is pretty pathetic. I didn’t get to watch Friday...
andydrmm writes...

The Excuse- Injuries

Posted Monday | Comments 0
For once, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, Garth has a decent point. Buffalo brass does need to sit down and have a nice long evaluation of the direction that the Sabres are headed in at this point in the season. However, I can already tell you the excuse that the brass will use to explain the recent play of the Sabres. Injuries. Thats it. I can hear Da...
At least Buffalo got a point. However, they should have gotten 2 points and again, Buffalo displayed their inability to play 60 minutes of hockey. Buffalo started out playing very well. Why? They had a fantastic forecheck. Their forecheck alone forced Ottawa to make turnovers in their own end, and Buffalo cashed in early. Despite the early deficit against the Senators ...
I'm taking another shot at the live blog. Tonight, Buffalo takes on the Leafs. If Buffalo wants to win, they need to play 60 minutes. This Maple Leaf team will eat them alive if they don't. As one of my counterparts pointed out on here, Buffalo is ahead of their pace from last season point wise. However, what I don't think he's looked at is the fact that Buffalo co...
andydrmm writes...

Pathetic 12/17/11

Posted Saturday | Comments 3
Amazing, last night Buffalo comes out with a great effort against the Maple Leafs. Buffalo almost looked like a team that could make the playoffs last night. Tonight, is not the case, and Pittsburgh is doing to Buffalo what I said would happen if Buffalo continued to play soft, weak, pathetic hockey. I’m going to break down Buffalo’s defense and offense, and in ton...
Since there is a lot of talk on our threads regarding the horrendous play of our D (this and most every season), I thought I'd break down 2 of the biggest offenders on the team who seem to be the goats all the time. Andrej Sekera: 32 Games, 8 Points (2G, 6A), +2, 20 Hits, 46 Blocks, 19:11 TOI/G Marc-Andre Gragnani: 30 Games, 9 Points (1G, 8A), +11, 7 Hits, 20 Block...
andydrmm writes...

Time For a Change

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I’ve been slowly subtly pointing out what I think the root cause of the Sabres sloppy play this season in my past blogs. However, tonight, I’m going to just say it, point blank, what the problem is. The problem is... Coaching. Again, to Lindy Ruff fans, I apologize. I’m a huge fan of him. He’s done great things for Buffalo hockey. But at this juncture, it...
It is the time of year to give and receive gifts from friends, relatives, and Santa. It is no exception for NHL teams. The following provides the wish lists that all 30 NHL teams have given Santa. [b]Anaheim:[/b] Where to begin here? Anaheim is going to have an Eric Cartman sized Xmas list this year. Getting the RPG line on track, getting Visnovsky in the lineup re...
andydrmm writes...

Not Just Bad Luck

Posted Saturday | Comments 1
First and foremost, happy holidays everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday season, culminating tonight with the start of 2012. I took a brief hiatus from writing over the holiday season, but continued to follow the boys in blue and gold closely. So now, back to business. In his last blog, Garth posted a video with the heading of “Jason Pominville is at a loss f...
I wasn’t going to write this... But after seeing what one of my counterparts once again has said, I feel a realistic viewpoint needs to be taken regarding Sabres hockey on this site. “Decent effort against Ottawa. Yet again, not enough scoring in the end.” That’s from Garth. What game were you watching? As I watched the game from the First Niagara Center,...
andydrmm writes...

Coach Upgrade

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I’ve been asked a few times as to where Buffalo would go with a new coach. Personally, I think there is only one answer to this, as for this season. Ron Rolston, as interim coach, to finish the season. One of the benefits I have is living where I can get to both Sabres and Amerks games on a regular basis. I’ve watched Rochester numerous times this season. They ...
GoinFiveHole writes...

Crazy Talk

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Fire Ruff? Come on...I love these people who think by firing one of the best coaches in the NHL you somehow make Derek Roy a better player. We have seen these guys sell us "next year" and excuses for how many years now? It is time for Pegula to make good on his promise and make the necessary changes to get this team closer to a Stanley Cup. And he has to do so by t...
GoinFiveHole writes...

Crazy Talk

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Fire Ruff? Come on...I love these people who think by firing one of the best coaches in the NHL you somehow make Derek Roy a better player. We have seen these guys sell us "next year" and excuses for how many years now? It is time for Pegula to make good on his promise and make the necessary changes to get this team closer to a Stanley Cup. And he has to do so by t...
I breathed a sigh of relief as the horn sounded at First Niagara Center tonight and Buffalo finished the game on top, for a change. However, this was far from perfect. Buffalo played a bipolar style of game. There were moments during the game when Edmonton was in control, despite having played in Chicago last night. Most importantly, Buffalo crawled away with 2 points. ...
This game, was almost painful to watch. I can’t describe it any better than that. Carolina, the worst team in the Eastern Conference, takes out Buffalo 4-2, in a game whose score indicated it was a lot closer than it actually was. “Mark this date, 1/4/12, down as the day that the fortunes of the Sabres, and for that matter, the remainder of their season season, has...
andydrmm writes...

Time To Fire Darcy

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
You know, lately I’ve done a lot of harping on the system in Buffalo. I still stand by it. Buffalo’s system isn’t working as Buffalo continues to spiral out of control towards dead last in the east. However, the person in charge with shaking things up on a higher level is Darcy Regier. This is from John Vogl, reporter for the Buffalo News. Everyone’s read i...
Again, I wasn’t going to write this until I saw another unrealistic view of the Sabres portrayed on here. Come back to us Garth... Here’s his excuses for why Buffalo is sinking fast, and again, I quote 1. Lack of scoring 2. Injuries 3. Goaltending Ok, I can go with the lack of scoring part. I know, me agree with him? I’m scared too. However, I come bac...
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want to really build on something that Garth wrote about before. I back Miller as well. Let’s be honest about how hockey works. How to assess blame in hockey? On average, 12 forwards are dressed a night, 6 defensemen, and 2 goalies, 1 of which starts. Now, throughout any given night, numerous defensemen can make bad brea...
scherico writes...

Current state of the Sabres

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I'll be honest. The Sabres more than concern me. They scare me. I remember back on July 1st, the post I saw most often was "drop the puck already". I have not seen that much excitement in Buffalo since Gilbert Perreault or Pat LaFontaine. No one would have predicted that they would be 18-19-5 at this point in the season. Can they turn it around? I have no idea. S...
mfreedman writes...

Leafs Game Day! +Rumors

Posted Friday | Comments 0
[b]Pregame:[/b] Toronto is about to step into HSBC Arena for the 2nd time this week. There is no doubt in my mind that Buffalo is going to be craving for a win against the Leafs considering the recent slide they have seen in the standings and the fact that the team they used to be able to write off as a win in their schedule, has finally started showing up to play. ...
There’s a lot of rumors circulating regarding trades, especially one that would send Tyler Myers to Anaheim, and bring Ryan Getzlaf to Buffalo. However, unfortunately, this deal isn’t as simple as that. If it was as simple as Anaheim giving Buffalo Getzlaf, and Buffalo giving Anaheim Myers, given the current state of things, that’s simple; Do it. Pull the trig...
ZacKrell writes...

Flat Out Flat

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
First off I'd like to introduce myself as this is my first blog ever on this site. My name is Zachary MacKrell and I am a die hard Sabres fan from Youngstown, NY. I've been a Sabres fan all my life, all 19 years of it. It may not seem long compared to the longevity of a lot of other fans, but I assure you I am every bit as emotionally committed to this team. Now lets ge...
ZacKrell writes...

Who Should Take The Heat?

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I took last nights loss extremely hard. After getting a much needed win against the division rival Toronto Maple Leafs I felt it was time for the Buffalo Sabres to finally right the ship and make a push towards the playoffs. I was hoping for the awakening of Derek Roy, Drew Stafford, Ville Leino, and Marc Andre Gragnani. All players who we have seen be productive in the pa...
Something neeeds to be done to this buffalo sabres hockey team. I myself have always been a Lindy supporter, but if he believes that this core of players can take this city to the promise land, then i believe that it is time for a change. Rumors have been swirling around this Sabres hockey team of potential trading partners and trading for certain players (all of which w...
Tonight marks a chance for the Buffalo Sabres to try and get back on track. Ryan Miller will be back in net tonight. If he plays like the Ryan Miller of old the Sabres could steal one tonight and lift the burden of this road losing streak off their backs. Now Miller can play as well as he wants but the forwards and the defense need to give him the support he needs. They...
andydrmm writes...

What Should Buffalo Do?

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I’ve written about this debacle in Buffalo for many weeks now. The Sabres are spiraling out of control, and nothing seems to be happening to fix the situation. I loved Jerry Sullivan’s article in the Buffalo News from today, tearing into Terry Pegula and the Sabres. He points out how Buffalo is 5 points out of 8th place, but also 5 points out of last place... Le...
First off, hats off the the Detroit Red Wings for setting a franchise record 15 straight wins at home. Now down to business. As the old saying goes, "When it rains it pours." I'd say at this point it is flooding for the Buffalo Sabres. A 5-0 dismantlement of a Sabres team who is finding it impossible to find itself. And by that I mean this Sabres team just doesnt have a...
SabreHess writes...

Roenick Isn't Wrong

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Even a broken clock is right twice a day, a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut...there are a million colloquialisms that could be used to describe Jeremy Roenick's broadcast career. However in this case, I'm going with he hit the nail on the head. Read the full article on prohockeytalk.com here: [url]http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/17/trade-talk-makes-f...
Figured I'd right a quick blog about what happened with Ryan Miller before I head off to work. Miller got pulled after allowing 5 goals through roughly 25 minutes of play in front of his friends and family who were in attendance. After the game we saw the same type of fire and emotion from Ryan Miller when he got ran by Milan Lucic. When asked about if the Sabres player...
I just read Garth’s... “rebuttal” to the Jeremy Roenick and Mike Keenan interview from last night on NBC Sports Network. I agree with the part Garth said about blaming Miller. Plus, as I listened, I don’t think I heard them blame Miller. The main focus was that things need to change in Buffalo. They aren’t on the same page, just like Roenick pointed out. I d...
The Chicago Blackhawks face one of two possibilities tomorrow night when they host the struggling Buffalo Sabres at the United Center- Either they recognize and capitalize on the recently unfortunate play of the Buffalo Sabres... Or, they shrug off the Sabres as any kind of real challenge, come out flat and succumb to the dreaded "trap game" against their unfamiliar ...
ZacKrell writes...

The Truth Comes Out

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
It has now been made public that the Sabres GM Darcy Regier is shopping forwards Derek Roy, Drew Stafford, and Brad Boyes around to many teams. Which teams, we do not know, but this information comes per ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. Regier is reportedly shopping these top 6 forwards in hope of getting another top 6 forward in return. Derek Roy is the player I would be the most...
Gunner Staal writes...

Hockey Purgatory?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
February 3, 2011: “Starting today,” Pegula said, “there will be no financial mandates on the Buffalo Sabres hockey department,” in their effort to fulfill his dream of winning multiple Stanley Cups. “There is no salary cap in the National Hockey League on scouting budgets and player development budgets.” “A clarion call should go out to the league and t...
ZacKrell writes...

Time To Evolve

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
According to Lindy Ruff he is the one that needs to start leading this Buffalo Sabres team. It sounds to me like the leadership in that locker room is at question, and that this team is obviously not all on the same page. What Lindy Ruff needs to do is go all Ted Nolan on this team. All bets are off now, this team is spiraling out of control. If Lindy Ruff is going to l...
sabres4730 writes...

What Are the Options?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Buffalo Sabres are spiraling down into a pit of despair. They can’t score goals and they can’t stop goals. The defense gives the puck away constantly, like that’s what they’re paid to do. The goaltender has little to no confidence in himself and the players in front of him. The coach has run out of answers for the terrible play that we fans watch every single g...
jymie writes...

The Buffalo Sabres; woe is me

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
On paper this Buffalo Sabres team should be challenging for the top spot in the league. After starting the season with two wins in Europe, This team looked like it could not be beat. Then on November 12 the Bruins Milan Lucic slammed into Ryan Miller giving him a concussion. Simply put Ryan has not been the same since. Jhonus Enroth stepped in to take over for him whil...
ZacKrell writes...

From Heaven To Hell

Posted Thursday | Comments 1
How long ago does October feel with all the hype for the coming season? It feels like an eternity if you ask me. From those two convincing wins in Europe to whatever this is you want to call it now. The Sabres have quickly become one of the weakest teams in the league, and the boys on NBC Sports Network did not hold back when they spoke about the struggles in Buffalo. F...
So I'll be the first to admit that I have never been a huge fan of Blake Wheeler. He just never seemed to do anything that truly impressed me - until last night. After missing a couple of games due to taking a puck in the throat Blake Wheeler returned to the line up against the Sabres. Boy did he return. Wheeler was a force all night long and made not only the Sabr...
andydrmm writes...

Dire Straits

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
As I sit here in my Taro Tsujimoto jersey (hats off to those of you who get the reference), my thoughts have been stuck on the Sabres and when they will pull themselves out of this slump they are in and get back into playoff contention. I’ve been looking at the conference standings all morning, and slowly another question has been trickling into my mind... [b]CAN[/b] ...
Defina writes...

Operation Parise

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Word on the street (New york Post) is that the New Jersey Devil are in talks with the NHL to get a cash advance if you will because they are losing money and losing money fast. [quote] "Vanderbeek, who owns 47 percent of the team, does not have the money to fund losses, while billionaire Ray Chambers, who also owns 47 percent, no longer wants to fund the team. Las...
Defina writes...

Dancing With The Devil(s)

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Sabres rolled into New Jersey losers of 5 in a row and 12 straight on the road. Advantage Devils right? But low and behold something we Sabres fans have all be yearning for quite sometime a big much needed W. Leopold got things started by being Johnny on the spot to tap in Gerbe slapshot that ricochets off the glass and bounced right in the crease for an easy ta...
andydrmm writes...

Moment for Reflection

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
As everyone knows by now, Buffalo finally won a game on the road on Tuesday, squeaking out of New Jersey with a 2-1 shoot out victory. This game may have just cost Buffalo getting back into the playoff race this season. This win, as nice as it was to see Buffalo have more points than their opponent when it’s all said and done, gave management the excuse not to do ...
Defina writes...

Looking Ahead

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
A look at the Sabres next five opponents Montreal Canadiens: The Habs shocked everyone by rag dolling the Detroit Red Wings in the last game before the All Star Break, 7-2!! That snapped the Red Wings win streak of 7 in a row. The Habs are 9-9-7 at home while the Sabres who will finally be completing what will ultimately be a long disappointing road trip are currently 1...
Defina writes...

Habitant Soup

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Sabres rolled into Montreal refreshed and raring to go after the All Star weekend. Sabres defeated the Habs 3-1 The Habs jumped into a 1-0 lead at 4:09 mark of the first period courtesy of Pacioretty, Sabres responded early in the 2nd at the 4:01 courtesy of the man we have all been waiting for to step up and put the puck in the net Ville Leino, just the 4th of the seas...
Defina writes...

CAL-astrophic

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Sabres in search for another win tonight versues the Rangers but didnt get exactly what they wanted although it was fisty hard fought game. Things got off to a rough start for Kelly Sutherland who took a puck to the face http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe3kABCdWmY&feature=youtu.be 1st Period: Miller was clutch in goal stopping everything that came his and bai...
andydrmm writes...

Jury Is Still Out

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The final score from tonight, shockingly, is 1-0 Rangers, but Buffalo did play a solid game. Last night, good effort against the Habs, but again, it’s the Habs, and they aren’t exactly setting the world on fire this season (sorry Montreal). Ryan Miller has been a god send. He has looked simply stellar and back on his game lately. He has stood on his head. Also, the...
andydrmm writes...

Good Win, but Soft Defense

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Buffalo surprised their fans last night with a dramatic comeback on the Isle to walk away with 2 points. Over the last 4 games, Buffalo has 7 of a possible 8 points. Things are looking up, but a real test comes up on Wednesday against the Bruins. Buffalo was in an early hole, due to sloppy defensive play, which, continued all night long. As Garth said, “Miller made 3...
HOCKEYDOGS64 writes...

Some Reasonable Trades

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I have decided on a trade that would work pretty well From Buffalo: From Tampa Bay: Ryan Miller Victor Hedman As we all know, Tampa Bay is in need of a goalie very badly. Ryan Miller is obviously someone who can pay the bill. And with Hed...
Everyone who watches hockey loves Saturday night hockey, there is just something special about it. What could be better than Saturday night hockey, with the potential of a record being broken. This Saturday night was no different, and Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres reached a milestone in his career with the Sabres. In a 4-3 Shootout win over the New York Islanders, Mill...
andydrmm writes...

Shocking the Bruins

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I came home from work tonight and expected to watch a decent hockey game. To be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for the Sabres tonight. I personally think the Bruins have the best chance at the Cup this season. Don’t get me wrong, I want Buffalo to win every game during the season. And I'm always in one of my many jersey's come game time. But, I’m also a realist, an...
After two demoralizing losses for the Tampa Bay Lightning, nobody is going to fault the odd fan or two for falling off the bandwagon here. In all likelihood, the Lightning will be sellers by the February 27th with their playoff dreams shattered, but, my name is Mr. Optimism and positivity is my game. The Bolts aren’t out of this race quite yet. They have games in hand...
Only in the NHL is it possible to be one of the best teams over a ten game stretch and not make up any ground. That’s exactly what’s happening to the Tampa Bay Lightning right now. 7-1-2 in their last ten, the Bolts have been playing some inspired hockey. Whether it’s players fighting for jobs, looking to get traded to a contender or just simply fighting for a pla...
andydrmm writes...

Moving Forward

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Sabres put together a little hot streak after the All-Star break. However, the past 2 games, they have gone right back to where they were before. Can Buffalo make the playoffs? Yes. Is it a long shot? It doesn’t have to be, but the way Buffalo is playing, [b]yes[/b]. Which now begs the question, what should Buffalo do over the next two weeks with the trade de...
andydrmm writes...

When Is Enough Enough???

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
This is, plain and simple, unacceptable hockey from the Buffalo Sabres. I can’t reiterate this enough, but [b]NO LEAD IN HOCKEY IS SAFE[/b]. I don’t care if you’re up by 2, 5, or 20. All it takes is a split second, and boom, someone’s back in the game. Now, certain people on here are blind to this... Let’s just be honest. I can love line combinations too, but...
vona24 writes...

Sabres Sink In Philly

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Pre-game I was talking to a good friend of mine, we both agreed. Buffalo could win tonight. They have been playing fairly well. Philly is banged up. Enroth is well rested. Let's get a W. We were reassured in the first twenty. Buffalo jumped ahead to a great 2 nothing lead off the stick of our best two players. Our ONLY two players who can score now a days. Pommer. From ...
This Sabres script has been written before and the story, for me , is getting very old. Since 1997 the Sabres have made the playoffs or just missed them 12 out of 13 years. And I, for one, don‘t want them to win more then 10 games over the next 2 months. It in no way helps them to just miss the playoffs a 5th year. In fact, losing the rest of our games gives us a g...
This Sabres script has been written before and the story, for me , is getting very old. Since 1997 the Sabres have made the playoffs or just missed them 12 out of 13 years. And I, for one, don‘t want them to win more then 10 games over the next 2 months. It in no way helps them to just miss the playoffs a 5th year. In fact, losing the rest of our games gives us a g...
andydrmm writes...

Good Teams Find Ways to Win

Posted Friday | Comments 0
This game can be summed up as a game that Buffalo should have won. Don’t look at the stats, don’t look at the standings... Buffalo should have won this game. Montreal is struggling this season, and is right next to Buffalo (well they were) at the bottom of the East. Again, I don’t care about whether Myers played in his 200th game, and got his 100th point with a g...
Ive been holding out hope for the Buffalo Sabres to make a run at the playoffs this season but with this weekends loses to the Flyers and Canadians that hope is all but gone. Lets look at the numbers, Toronto currently sits in 8th with 64 points. That is 9 points ahead of the Sabres who sit in the 15th and final spot in the east. The Maple Leafs are on pace to finish this ...
andydrmm writes...

Shocking Win in Buffalo

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
If someone had walked up to me and my fiancé as we walked into First Niagara Center Sunday and said that Buffalo was going to win, I wouldn’t have believed them. I was pleasantly surprised, and pumped as time expired, and Buffalo had disposed of the Penguins. I was very pleased with the effort today from the Sabres. This was the balanced scoring attack that Buffalo ...
Dishtank writes...

Derek Roy to Chicago

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I could be a long shot but a failing Buffalo Sabres team could be looking for a shakeup before the playoffs. Chicago is in need of a 2nd line center and Roy could be a nice fit for the Hawks 2nd line. If the Hawks were interested it could take Frolik, Pirri/Morin, pick, and then something.
As I watched the game last night, I was extremely worried towards the end. For a moment, it looked like Buffalo was going to be able to hang on to the victory. The Isles should have been an easy 2 points, especially since the Isles got creamed against the Senators the night before. However, Buffalo just got out of First Niagara Center with 2 points. Buffalo played a me...
andydrmm writes...

Realistic Quick Hits.

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
After I wrote my blog this morning, I realized that I had just scrapped the surface as to what is bugging Buffalo fans. So, let’s talk about this realistically. I think everyone knows that Buffalo can make the playoffs. However, will this team go anywhere? Sure, Buffalo has beaten the Bruins and Penguins pretty badly recently. But in a best of 7 series? I don’t thi...
Everyone in Buffalo is currently wondering what the Sabres status is going to be heading into the deadline on Monday. Rebuild? Push for the playoffs? Cup run possible? Let’s look at what’s apparent right now. This current Sabres team has played inconsistent hockey all year round. They string together some good games, and then look like a team who would lose to a pee...
I'm doing something a little different tonight. After each period, I'm going to do a period recap as the game goes on... Talk to you after the first! [b]0-0 End of 1[/b] That was a pretty boring period. Both teams seem to be playing very cautious hockey. Yes, there are scoring chances for each team, but I wouldn't really call them exceptional. This seems to be the op...
andydrmm writes...

Creating Hockey Heaven

Posted Saturday | Comments 2
There’s been a lot of talk lately as the Sabres (and fans) assess their organization. Again, the idea of creating a so called “Hockey Heaven” in Buffalo is pretty vague. Management thinks that it is making it a great place to play hockey. The idea of selling Buffalo of as a great place to raise a family is fantastic too. The new locker rooms and upgrades to the a...
I’ve thought about this long and hard since I heard of the 2 trades that Buffalo has made. After some careful consideration, and looking at all of the stats, I’m not entirely sold on the deals that Buffalo has made. I’ll break it down to the two trades that were made today. [b]Gaustad to Nashville[/b] We all accepted this. I’m actually shocked that the Sabre...
[img] http://welcometothe716.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/darcy-regier.jpg[/img] Trade deadline day. One of two days a year where people in the hockey community will actually alter their work and education schedules to take in all the happenings on TSN, NHL Network, and Twitter. A big day from a fans perspective to get something done, anything. Trade deadline day is...
andydrmm writes...

Looking Up???

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I’ll be 100% honest here, I didn’t really have high hopes for the Sabres as they headed towards the West Coast. I didn’t really expect Buffalo to do too well, and kind of figured that the playoff hunt was going to get a lot more difficult come Monday. HOLY $^#$ AM I GLAD TO BE WRONG!!!! I mean, who honestly saw this coming? I wasn’t as shocked with the wins ...
andydrmm writes...

No Excuses

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I could do a few things with this blog tonight. I could talk about how turnovers are a hockey teams worst enemy. I could say how Buffalo has been on a hot streak, and were due to lose. I could talk about how certain Buffalo players need to step up in a game like this. I could talk about how Buffalo is completing a pretty long road trip, and that they just si...
I think that the most entertaining part of tonight’s game against the Bruins, was watching Boston miss the empty net a few times in the past 2 minutes. Poor play and questionable decisions, and Buffalo has now dropped 2 of their last 3. Buffalo made the mistake of playing the wrong goalies, in the wrong games. Carolina is the game that Enroth should have started in....
andydrmm writes...

No Sacrifice, No Glory

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
One thing really stood out to me tonight in Buffalo’s win against Ottawa... Ennis’s goal in the dying moments of the 2nd period. For those of you who missed it, Buffalo gets the puck into the Ottawa end in the last 30 seconds of the 2nd period, down 2-1. Ennis is camped in front of the goal creating the screen on Bishop. Leino gets the puck back to Leopold who lets...
I went with my fiancé last night to take in an Amerks game. Luckily, since the Sabres are now re-affiliated with the Amerks, I can talk her into going a lot more. Buffalo’s farm team is playing very well at the moment, and right now in the middle of a playoff race in the AHL, in case you're not following the Amerks closely. If the playoffs started today, the Amerks are ...
andydrmm writes...

Words Escape Me

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I just don’t get this. Words can’t explain what Buffalo has just done the past 2 games. Yes, I understand 3 points out of 4 the past 2 games. But blowing the game, in 3 seconds or less, in back to back games... [b]UN-@#%ING-ACCEPTABLE!!!!![/b] It’s great that Foligno is playing well. I’m glad for the kid. Stafford has also picked up his game lately. As for Ho...
How can we find excuses? How can the team, or anyone for that matter, find an excuse for continued losses, at this point in the season? You can’t. No one can. Tonight was another example of a game that Buffalo had to win, and should have won. What needs to happen for this team to move forward? Let’s be honest. This team can’t move forward. If I hear how great...
Wow, tonight was just what the doctor ordered. Buffalo controlled just about the entire game tonight against the Lightning. Everyone got involved tonight and several players joined in the scoring frenzy in Tampa. The Stafford, Ennis, and Foligno line... unbelievable. This team has been in need of some serious chemistry this year. This three seem to have found it. Right...
andydrmm writes...

Biggest Game of the Year

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
No I’m not talking about tonights game. Another solid effort tonight from the Sabres. It’s good to see that they aren’t laying over and dying and are playing like they want to make it to the playoffs. I’m glad that Hodgson is starting to find his way in Buffalo. 2 great goals from him tonight. Very impressive to see him starting to play to his potential. Miller...
[img]http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/getty/79/fullj.953db0c6ffe5f772bda1229576988201/953db0c6ffe5f772bda1229576988201-getty-141679603.jpg[/img] [b]Shots from around the league[/b] The battle for the top seed in the Eastern Conference is heating up between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers. The Rangers gutted out a 2-1 overtime victory over the Det...
andydrmm writes...

Hockey Filled Weekend!

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Quick hit here on my end... I spent tonight in Rochester watching the Amerks, and plan on having an update on them by the end of the weekend. I'm also going to do a recap of tomorrow nights game against the Wild on Sunday. That being said, tomorrow night, I will be in Buffalo hopefully watching Buffalo squeeze into 8th place (and maybe even tie Ottawa with points)....
Wild weekend of hockey for me the past 2 days. I spent Friday night in Rochester with my family taking in the Amerks vs Binghamton game. Saturday, my fiance and I ventured off to Buffalo for the Sabres vs Wild game, as Buffalo makes a push for the playoffs. [b] Rochester Amerks [/b] The Amerks are still looking like a solid squad. They may not have won on Friday nig...
andydrmm writes...

Control Your Fate

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Buffalo has finally done it. They are finally in a position that a lot of us would like to see them in. They’re in that spot that I have been anxious about them getting into. With 5 games left in the season, Buffalo is now in charge. As of right now, Buffalo is in complete control over whether they make the playoffs. Buffalo and Washington each have 5 games left. Buf...
icedog97 writes...

Tonight's Game is Huge

Posted Friday | Comments 0
When the Penguins face the Sabres tonight (3/30/2012), there's a lot on the line. And due to a couple of stinkers against the Islanders, the Penguins have more at stake in this game than some may realize. For the Sabres, a win keeps them in the 8th playoff spot in the East (at least) and moves them 2 points ahead of the Capitals with both teams having 4 games remaining...
andydrmm writes...

Heart Wrenching Loss

Posted Friday | Comments 0
I’m not ok with this loss. Buffalo needed this win, and needed to stay ahead of the Capitals. With a loss, Buffalo goes back into a “tie” for 8th. I’ll hit on what’s wrong with calling it a “tie” later. Buffalo had a great game plan early in the game. Buffalo played Pittsburgh with a phenomenal physical manner. They attacked them hard, fought them in the ...
Tuesday night, playoff fever had hit Buffalo. Buffalo didn’t just beat the Capitals, they ran them over with a 5-1 win. Buffalo was in sole possession of 8th place, 2 points up on the Caps, with 5 games left for both teams. Buffalo was in control, and just had to keep playing solid hockey to get into the playoffs. The Caps won on Thursday, making it clear that Buffal...
Holy cow. I mean, who saw this happening after the 1st period?? What a game and what a motivation booster for the Sabres going into the final 2 games. After the first period, down 3-0. I had Buffalo pegged for going down, but then after 2 quick ones for the Sabres, I started to think that they had another chance. Then, Buffalo went to sleep, Leaf’s capitalized again,...
I’m still sticking to the fact that Buffalo didn’t really want to make it this year. Look at the effort tonight, didn’t really strike you as a team that was playing desperate hockey, did it? I waited to write this until the end of the Capitals game. It’s done, it’s over. The playoff race goes to Florida and Washington. Buffalo can’t catch either team now. Th...
andydrmm writes...

No Title Needed.

Posted Friday | Comments 0
It’s easier just to write something new than try to respond to comments. First off, thanks for all the readers. It is always appreciated (negative one’s included). These are all opinions that are written on here, and we’re all entitled to them, and yes, I do read everyone's comments. I, in good conscious, can’t blame injuries for the poor results this season. I...
If you're a fan of Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier, don't click on the link. It's not pretty nor pleasant for a fan of either. I do like Ruff, but his time in Buffalo should be done... Still Here? Great, go check it out, and enjoy. Most importantly, thanks for reading!! :) http://betweenthebenches.com/?p=1244
It is often said that the most important position in sports is that of the goal-tender. While not every sport has a goal-tending position, you’d be hard pressed to find a player, coach, or member of management in sport’s like hockey and soccer that would disagree with the above. In the NHL, General Managers looking to build their team from the ground-up will agree that...
Now that the draft is less than a week away, it’s time to start looking at the needs of the Buffalo Sabres. 2011-2012 was a disappointing season for the Buffalo Sabres. To say that the pieces were there for the Sabres, is an understatement. We can try to find excuses for why Buffalo didn’t deliver, but in the end, Buffalo was worse than in the season before, moving ...
Before anyone freaks about the title of my blog, don’t worry. My goal with this, as I sit down at 7:50 pm (all times EST), to watch the NHL draft, is to throw my thoughts out about the draft as it unfolds. Unfortunately, you the reader will get to read it after the draft is over. Sorry! So, here we go, enjoy… And yes, I will be focusing my thoughts on the Sabres. Le...
ATrainAllDay writes...

Hello Hockey Fans...

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I am new to the site, and plan on giving a different perspective on Buffalo Sabres hockey. My knowledge of the Sabres is extensive as my 20 year hockey career. Today is as fitting a day as ever as it was 5 years ago today that the Sabres lost Briere and Drury. New ownership, a different looking team, but the same diehard fans. Here is to a great 2012-2013 season! Don't ...
andydrmm writes...

Buffalo Free Agency To Date

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Happy 4th of July everyone. I’ve been waiting and stalling on writing this in hopes that there’d be more to look at. However, I’m going to play the card that’s been dealt to myself, and the fans of Buffalo. First, let’s look at the signings for Buffalo to this point. John Scott, 6’8”, 270. Perhaps he can play defensive line for the Bills as well. There is ...
Spectre writes...

Where do the fan favorites fit?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The sabres fanbase, myself included, has attachments to many players on thw current roster for reasons other than talent. Being from Angola, NY and going to the same high school as patrick kaleta, I obviously love seeing him on the squad. Nathan Gerbe is the personification of perseverance and is known for giving his all every night. But do they fit on the newly minted ros...
andydrmm writes...

Will New Players Help?

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I’ve been thinking about this past season for the Sabres. Namely how and why things went wrong (if someone says injuries, I’m going to scream). I do really like the new players that Buffalo has brought in, and I’m anxious as to what will happen next. But my question is, will it matter? I like the additions so far, and I get the feeling that there’s more in the w...
b-dizzle writes...

Moving Dmen

Posted Monday | Comments 0
When I look at the Sabres roster for next year, the one glaring thing that sticks out is the number of d-men they have. As it stand right now they have Ehrhoff, Regher, Myers, Leopold, Weber, Sekera, Sulzer, McNabb, and Pardy. Thats 9 NHL Dman. Somethings gotta give, somebody's goina get moved out. The big question is who, and for what? First of all, let's look at w...
According to a Twitter hockey insider there is a possibility of Darcy Regier going after Shane Doan to possibly replace Thomas Vaneknif he's used in a trade which looks like it would be for Paul Stastny. Buffalo has talked to Doan's agent and has also had multiple talks with the Avalanche. In my eyes, Buffalo should do whatever it takes to grab Stastny with giving up a to...
According to a Twitter hockey insider there is a possibility of Darcy Regier going after Shane Doan to possibly replace Thomas Vaneknif he's used in a trade which looks like it would be for Paul Stastny. Buffalo has talked to Doan's agent and has also had multiple talks with the Avalanche. In my eyes, Buffalo should do whatever it takes to grab Stastny with giving up a to...
andydrmm writes...

What if, Ott is it?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The title of this blog says it all. What if… Ott is it? I’m looking at a couple of things with this blog. First, what if Buffalo’s only move this year is the Ott move. After all of this time, and with Darcy Regier’s track record, everyone’s thinking it, I’m just saying it. Second, game plan for if Ott is it, and prep for the oncoming 2012-2013 season for Buffal...
msimoes writes...

Ville Leino breakout year?

Posted Monday | Comments 0
By the title I know most Sabres fans will think I'm crazy but let's look at Leino for a second. I'll admit when I heard that Buffalo had signed him I was excited and thinking he might do good in Buffalo, then I heard the price. A 6-year deal for $27,000,000 with 4.5M cap hit. That's the definition of overpaid, he had one good season putting up 19G 34A 54 PTS +14 but to me ...
msimoes writes...

Buffalo and Bobby Ryan?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The past few days on Twitter have been crazy about the possible moves that teams are making for Anaheim forward Bobby Ryan. The one thing I hate about twitter is you never know what deals are actually true and which are fake. I've heard Philadelphia , Buffalo, and Boston have all made offers to Anaheim for Bobby Ryan, Lets go more in depth on these possible trades. Let...
[quote]BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 31, 2012) --- Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced the team has signed forward Patrick Kaleta to a new, multi-year contract. Kaleta (6’1”, 206 lbs., 6/8/86) led the team in 2011-12 with 116 PIM and led all forwards with 139 hits. Through 63 games played last season, Kaleta recorded 10 points (5+5). A Buffalo nativ...
jc-13 writes...

A Quick Fix to the NHL CBA

Posted Sunday | Comments 1
The NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement will soon expire leaving both NHL owners and the NHLPA (NHL Players' Association) scrambling to get a new deal done that satisfies both parties. The first proposal showed the serious issues between the owners and the players and while the initial proposal is clearly one-sided, it can be worked out in time for the next NHL season. T...
[b]For everything hockey - 24/7 news updates, scores, humour, blogs, and everything else in between, please follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind.[/b] LINK TO PART ONE: [url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=13838&user_id=131735[/url] LINK TO PART TWO: [url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=131735&post_id=13858[/url] [b...
Crazytrades writes...

Edmonton/Buffalo Rumor

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Today Eklund made my day by saying the Oilers and Sabres were working on a major deal. As an Oilers fan this summer has been a big let down. Other than the signing justin Schultz the only other thing I could look forward to was 2 more months and then the season will hopefully start. So onto the rumor Eklund stated that the Oilers would want a significant D-man and right aw...
Makeitknown15 writes...

Darcy's waiting game

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Rumors have been floating around for a while on Different players Buffalo is chasing. Names like Stasney, Ryan, and most recently Gagner have all shown up in rumors. It turns out, Buffalo could be setting up something a little better than most would have thought. Recently the Flyers lost another D due to injury. The Oilers and Ducks are in desperate need of a good ...
Just going to start by saying that this is my first blog so hopefully I dont make a mess of this. :) Well as im sure we are all aware, Eklund reported a possible rumor between the Sabres and the Oilers. Ill attempt to break it down here. Sabres: The Rumor suggests that the Sabres would be sending a "significant defenceman." Lets start by saying it wont be Myers or Eh...
Just going to start by saying that this is my first blog so hopefully I dont make a mess of this. :) Well as im sure we are all aware, Eklund reported a possible rumor between the Sabres and the Oilers. Ill attempt to break it down here. Sabres: The Rumor suggests that the Sabres would be sending a "significant defenceman." Lets start by saying it wont be Myers or Eh...
Ok, here we go!! There's been lots of speculation of a major deal between the Oilers and the Sabres. Most bloggers are insisting the main parts involve Gagner from Edmonton and Sekera from Buffalo. Now this is an interesting deal but I would not consider this "major" as stated by Eklund on this site. I think any major deal involving these two clubs will obviously involv...
I finally found out that the Sabres minipacks were going on sale right before my wedding. Just one more thing to stress about the week I lose my freedom (kidding!!!). Traditionally, My fiancé (soon to be wife) and I go in on a minipack with my parents. While we would like to get season tickets, it’s tough not living in Buffalo. However, we’re always watching the ga...
Overall, Buffalo Sabres general manager Darcy Regier is playing it smart as the NHL is amidst the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement. Only 2 players on the roster have a higher salary cap hit than $6 million for the next season (Ryan Miller-$6.3 M, Thomas Vanek-$7.1 M). In the case the $58 million salary cap is agreed upon, player movement to Rochest...
After a little traffic delay on the I-490, my wife and I have made it home from the Amerks season opener vs the Syracuse Crunch. Needless to say, it was a great game, but there are a lot of concerns regarding the Amerks. Due to the high amount of traffic coming to the arena (Thanks Gary, thanks for the lock out), we missed the first 3 minutes of the game. Corey Tropp st...
There’s a lot of buzz right now about there being a deal on the table between the NHL and NHLPA. I’ll believe it when they announce “There’s a deal we both agree on, and that we’re starting the season on _______ date.” For now, I’ll leave the speculation to everyone else, and write about something different (as well as a quick hit on Corey Tropp). I’m no...
andydrmm writes...

Frustration With No Hockey

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I normally write a lot more. I just have been having a real difficult time coming up with topics right now due to there not being NHL games. A lot of the topics that I’m ready to dive into, I’d rather write about during the season. Plus, there’s real examples there to use, instead of just going back to the past. It’s tough to write when there’s a lockout goin...
andydrmm writes...

Lament of a Hockey Fan

Posted Friday | Comments 0
It’s Friday night, I’m at home watching... nothing. Well that’s not true. My wife is playing a Wii game while I sit here with a beer typing my blog. I’m reminded once again of the fact that there’s not NHL hockey on my TV, and the pain that it brings hockey fans. I’m seriously concerned of the long term impacts that it looks like this lockout will have. I�...
As I sit and think about what I should be watching on a Tuesday night, (Sabres vs Senators), I’ve been scrolling through pictures of games that I’ve been at. I got to thinking about what games I’ve been to, and what games I wish I was at. I figured I’d break this up into 2 questions. 1. What’s the best hockey game(s) that you ever went to? and 2. What game(s)...
With Eklund breaking the news that the amnesty clause is back in the lastest proposal offered by the NHL, it's time to play who gets the gate. This is not just for Sabres fans, as it's for any teams fans. Which player would you amnesty from your favorite team? You can give two choices, ranking them 1. and 2. There are going to be obvious choices, like Gomez with ...
andydrmm writes...

My Goals for Sabres Coverage

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Forget my initial opening for this. I’m currently hiding with my father, from the baby shower (for my sister), which is taking place beneath our feet. We currently have plenty of beer in a snow bank outside to keep it cold because the fridge is in the middle of the party, and there’s no way that we’re going down there. Why am I here? Few reasons; playoff football...
I wont believe that Derek Roy isn't a Sabre anymore until I see it Sunday 1/20/13 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Sabres didn't make any moves for a true NHL caliber number 1 center, but I do like the moves that they made in the off-season (a very long off-season.) Buffalo Sabres traded Derek Roy for tough guy Steve Ott and dman Adam Pardy. They also acquired enf...
andydrmm writes...

Sabres 2013 Season Preview

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Well, I’ve waited until the day before the season starts. I’ve thought about this a lot this week, and I’m sure my wife is tired of listening to me, but alas, the time is here. Sabres season preview time for 2013. I’ve got one thought before I look at this season, that needs to be highlighted before I get started. Everyone already knows it, but still; This s...
andydrmm writes...

Regier Extension- False Hope

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I wasn’t going to initially write today. Take a day off, get ready for the season opener tomorrow. But then this happened; Darcy Regier was awarded a [i]lovely[/i] little contract extension this morning. Note the sarcasm. Now, I’m not saying this out of maliciousness. Seriously. I have several reasons why Darcy should have been gone a long time ago. Let’s ...
andydrmm writes...

Sabres 5- Flyers 2

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Well, I’ll be completely honest; I am pleasantly surprised today. I really am. To be honest, I didn’t see the Sabres winning today. It wasn’t the best win in the world, but I, like every other Sabres fan, will take it. After taking a frigid hike into the arena, we started scrounging for food, and realized that the arena couldn’t sell beer until noon. So, after ...
andydrmm writes...

Amerks Recap- Sabres Recap

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I started my day off in Rochester at Blue Cross Arena to take in a Martin Luther King day matinee. The Amerks took on the Hamilton Bulldogs and while it wasn’t perfect, they walked away with a 6-3 win. While the game was entertaining, most of the highlights were in the first period. On the first shot of the game by Kevin Sundher, the Amerks had a 1-0 lead only 13 sec...
Giroux writes...

Flyers: 2 Games Down

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Well, the Flyers have played, and dropped, two games to start the season: the first against Pittsburgh and the second against the Buffalo Sabres. All in all, even though they lost both games, they didn’t look as bad as the record shows. They got some pretty rough calls by the refs especially in the Sabres game. Two Flyers goals were called back simply because the refs...
SabresOfBuffalo writes...

Sunday Funday

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The Sabres play their 2nd of 11 Sunday games this season today at 3. They come into a Capitals team that is just as lost as they are. The sabres need to use their speed to get open looks and put pucks on the net. The Capitals are 0-3-1 in their first 4. Sabres need to find their stride and get more scoring from other lines. As mentioned in my previous post the new ...
Again, Buffalo finds themselves going up against a team who hasn’t managed to win this season. While they are without Thomas Vanek today, keep in mind that’s not an excuse. They lost the last 2 games with him in the lineup. I like what I see offensively from this team. I really do. However, that’s only when they use their speed, and when they make smart decisions...
I’m getting to the point where I’m having a difficult time starting these blogs. Yes, the season is still young. Yes, a lot can still happen over the next 42 games. But there’s one problem with all of this. We have all watched this style of play from the Buffalo Sabres before. I saw Buffalo do this last year, and the year before that. There’s been elements ...
andydrmm writes...

Using Grigorenko and Brennan

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I was amazed at Buffalo’s win on Thursday night against the Bruins. I would have written sooner, but I was about ready to fall asleep after I watched it, so I went to sleep. I won’t focus on that game, lets just leave it at that Buffalo beat the Bruins, and picked up 2 much needed points. What I’d rather do is take a look at the use of Grigorenko and Brennan in B...
andydrmm writes...

Weekend Woes

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Yesterday’s game... Wow, what can I say about that game in Montreal for the Sabres? Nothing good. It was an abomination, and too be completely honest, this was a long time coming. How can I say this? Easily. I’ve been watching the Sabres play this lazy style of defense for a long time. When Galchenyuk waltzed between all 5 Sabres on the ice, slid a pass to Eller...
andydrmm writes...

Fan vs Owner

Posted Monday | Comments 0
We all remember Terry Pegula’s emotional speech after he took over the Buffalo Sabres on February 22, 2011. We all know that he started his speech with “Who am I? I am a Sabre fan and have been since 1975.” He continued to go on with this speech by thanking Tom Golisano for “Saving my hockey team.” Then, he went on to turn to the great Gil Perreault and told him ...
andydrmm writes...

Players vs Coaching

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I’m seeing the debate rage on amongst Buffalonians as to what the problem seems to be with the Sabres. Currently, they’re in the bottom 5 of the entire NHL, and 14th place in the Eastern Conference. However, most people are mystified as to what the problem is. The number 1 question; [b]Is this on the players or the coaches?[/b] I’ll admit, and I’m sure if you...
andydrmm writes...

How Long Will Miller Last??

Posted Sunday | Comments 1
This isn’t your typical “they’re over playing Miller” blog. The way the Sabres are currently playing, there’s a different element in play here. There’s a huge mental element that I feel may come back to bite Buffalo in the rear. While I missed last nights game, I saw the highlights as well as how Miller bailed out the team last night, big time. After gettin...
andydrmm writes...

Lack of Excitement

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
I’ve felt for awhile that there’s something missing this season. Normally, our home feels very tense come game day. I’m ready for the games, edge of my seat, and pumped up when the game starts. Once the game starts, generally there’s a lot of cheering for when Buffalo scores, and a lot of profanity for the rest of the game. As I watch the Sabres games this year...
Before anyone starts reading this, I have to add that this is not a rumor. This is strictly opinion, and I have no hard facts backing this up. I will state stats on various players, and that’s the only fact that’s here. I keep hearing trade talk surrounding the Buffalo Sabres. Yes they won last night against the Bruins. Too bad they can’t play them all year round...
We can talk all day about how great it was that Buffalo bounced back. We can talk about that phenomenal save that Miller made on Neal. We can look at how the Sabres gave the Penguins a serious run for their money today. I personally am going to choose to look at this... [b]Buffalo lost.[/b] Oh no, don’t say “They came close”, don’t say “They played their b...
When the Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier traded for Cody Hodgson on trade deadline day of the 2011-2012 season, he was planning to fill the void at center. It was awhile before hitting the scoresheet but in the 2013 season, he has produced regularly while centering the top line between a hot Thomas Vanek (LW) and steady captain, Jason Pominville (RW). The consistency in sco...
andydrmm writes...

End of an Era

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
This was written at around 5:30 on my dinner break. (Can’t post while at work). I wrote it, e-mailed it home, and am posting now. It’s finally happened. Those of you who read my blogs regularly know that I’ve been calling for this for quite a long time. Recently, the question “Will this day ever come?” has crossed a lot of people’s minds. However, it’s fin...
It is fair to say that anyone expecting a brand new performance from the Buffalo Sabres after the firing of Lindy Ruff would be unreasonable. Remember, the same players, especially those who are underperforming (Stafford and Myers primarily), remain on the roster. Does this mean these players are done for? No. It means that Rolston had less than 12 hours to intill ...
Let’s do a little free association shall we? I’ll say a word, and then you say the first thing that comes to mind. No hesitation ok? Let’s give it a try. Awful- “Sabres” Sloppy- “Sabres” Lackadaisical - “Sabres” Passive- “Sabres” Hmm, you seem to be preoccupied with the Sabres, and you seem to have a negative view towards them at the m...
stashu writes...

Inability to control games

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
First off, it's been a while since I've written an article (here or anywhere), so I thought I'd go for it again. Hi to all those I don't get the chance to "chat" with anymore! With that out of the way, I went back to check the box score of all of the games so far this season to check out how the Sabres have been playing from a period-to-period perspective.In looking ba...
Several issues are facing the Sabres today. There’s so many disasters in Buffalo right now and there’s several voices looking at this. I figured instead of doing a “Here’s another night of disappointment” blog after the Sabres game (1-1 right now), I’d look at some of the issues facing the Sabres. [b]Power Play[/b] Say what you will, the power play again...
andydrmm writes...

Season High 3-Game Win Streak

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I’ve really had to wrap my head around this blog. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve had something even remotely positive to write about with this team. Well, the Sabres finally delivered something mildly positive to bring a glimmer of hope to the fans of Buffalo. Remember, it’s just a glimmer. Buffalo has gotten 6 much needed points the last 3 game...
andydrmm writes...

Kaleta Suspended

Posted Monday | Comments 0
First and foremost, this isn’t going to be an article complaining about how Kaleta was suspended. He deserved the suspension, to a degree. I’m also going to look at Kaleta’s roll with the Sabres, because despite arguments, I wouldn’t want to see him on another team. We all saw what happened, and I don’t think anyone denies that Kaleta was going to be suspende...
slickshotsabre writes...

Kaleta got a 5er!

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
Im sorry but what?rnrnhow the hell did kaleta get a 5 game suspension for a nudge? that hit was barely a hit, Richards fell more than he was pushed, especially the day before the air jump on lundin was only a 4 gamer. to me this makes no sense
slickshotsabre writes...

The Leino Question

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
What will happen to Ville Leino? well Regier needs to figure out what is going on with his 2011 off-season flop. Leino had a stellar career high 53 points with the flyers before he came to buffalo but can he repeat it? no i dont think so nor do most. last year he missed 11 games due to injury and played a mediocre season being demoted to the 3rd line. Ruff trie...
slickshotsabre writes...

Do or Die!

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As the Sabres have hit the half way mark of the regular season they currently sit on the outside looking in. They have underachieved during the first 24 games and now making the post season seams almost impossible. The rangers currently hold the 8th spot with 4 points but contain a 3 game in hand edge over dull sabres. [u]whats the issue?[/u] -Well Miller has be...
slickshotsabre writes...

Do or Die!

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As the Sabres have hit the half way mark of the regular season they currently sit on the outside looking in. They have underachieved during the first 24 games and now making the post season seams almost impossible. The rangers currently hold the 8th spot with 4 points but contain a 3 game in hand edge over dull sabres. [u]whats the issue?[/u] -Well Miller has be...
andydrmm writes...

If I Were a GM

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I’ve been asked a lot what moves I would make if I were GM for the Sabres. So, I’m finally putting this blog together after much thought. I’m basing my philosophy on one of my favorite movies, [i]Miracle[/i]. For those of you who haven’t seen it, it’s the Hollywood version of the 1980 Miracle On Ice. About 10 minutes into the film, you see tryouts for the 198...
OGAR91 writes...

OVERHAUL

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The time has come for the Sabres to commence an overhaul. No more waiting for that breakthrough year from team-drafted players. No more counting on primary offensive players to provide secondary scoring. No more patience with veterans who simply do not perform. The core of this group will simply not get it done. The needs and shortcomings of this team have been glaring...
First, my disclaimer, I have been a Sabres fan since as long as I can remember. My first phrase as a child, as far as I've been told, was "I wanna watch hockeysabres" Yes as one word. I do live in Maryland now as I had to sadly move from Buffalo to pursue my career. The Sabres efforts have been lackadaisical as of late. Everyone from as high up as Pomminville all the w...
I apologize for the brief moment of silence recently. I was battling some illness this week and I’m finally feeling back up to par. So in getting back into this, I figured I’d delve into the trade deadline, and what the Buffalo Sabres approach should be. I’ve seen a lot of trade rumors circulating this team. Emphasis on rumor. I don’t put much stock in these th...
tomkob11 writes...

The Looming Deadline

Posted Friday | Comments 0
I realize this may sound a little bit like andydrmm's recent blog which I had not read until I wrote this: The Trade Deadline approaches! [img]http://www.nickmendola.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Darcy_Regier_325x183.jpg[/img] Let's look at this glass half full. The young kids, or "585 line", are tearing it up. Brian Flynn has 3 points in just 3 games! Foligno has f...
andydrmm writes...

Darcy Regier Fired

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Now that I have your attention... It’s only in my dreams that this were real headline. Several moves were made today by the Buffalo Sabres, and it’s just simply mind numbing the way that these things went down. I would have written this sooner, but I decided that I needed to watch a good hockey game tonight. So my wife and I went to the Rochester Amerks game. Discla...
Tonight, due to injury of Sabres defenseman, Andrej Sekera, would have normally seen extra defenseman, T.J. Brennan, as the replacement. That has all changed as Brennan was traded to the Florida Panthers for a fifth-round pick of the 2013 draft. And as Brennan scored in his first game with the team, seeing over 22 minutes of ice-time, Sabres fans have been critical of the ...
tomkob11 writes...

The Plight of Buffalo

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The Plight of this team This season has been nothing but horribly sad for us fans in "Hockey Heaven". Last night as I sat screaming in the Verizon Center next to fellow Sabres fans in the D.C. area...it hit me. This team is horrible. From top to bottom. Watching a team that was behind us in the standings, who also played the day before, dance around us in our own zon...
The Sabres should look into a trade with the St.Louis Blues. The Blues have alot of young great talent, both on offense and defense. They also hav alot of players who will be restricted free agents after the season, while the Sabres have some assets that the Blues could use for a deep playoff run this year. Darcy should look into a trade that sends [u][u]Stafford and Re...
frigsy writes...

Oh no, not another power play!

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I don't even know where to begin when it comes to the Sabre's power play this season, I mean as a Sabre's fan, I am no stranger to a poor and streaky power play, but what the hell is going on here? The Sabre's are dead last in the NHL converting just 13 of 108 opportunities, while also allowing a league leading 5 short handed goals. I could deal with a bad conversion ...
Not looking for an answer here. So don’t try to give me one (“Too late”, says my wife as I proof read it to her. She answered “no” for those of you who were curious.). I’ll admit that it’s very tempting to get caught up in the rush of the past 2 Sabres games. Winning in Montreal and then beating Toronto in what may have been the best game Buffalo’s played t...
stashu writes...

What has changed

Posted Monday | Comments 0
We're now 15 games into Ron Rolston's time as coach, and I grabbed some numbers to see some form of comparison between he and Ruff's tenure this year. I thought I'd start with goaltending and get a sense of our overall defensive numbers. Let's start with the 2 coaches' records: Ruff: 6-10-1 Rolston: 7-5-3 Rolston started rough, 0-2 start from a lousy team who cou...
I know that there’s a lot of buzz surrounding the Sabres right now. Personally, I’m a little miffed by this. However, I can understand why Sabres fans are very excited with the upcoming games. There’s thoughts of adding to the Sabres win streak with their next 3 opponents. They may even hit the season high win streak of 4 games! Sabres fans are starting to get excite...
shauntyler writes...

BUFFALO GM FOR A DAY

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
If I was in charge of the Buffalo Sabres, I would take a wrecking ball to the team and start over. The dream has vanished. Playoffs are not happening people. Ever since losing Briere and Drury, this team has struggled year after year. The drive and skill are lacking in the locker room. Ron Rolston's comments last night proves that coaching is not the issue, it's the b...
andydrmm writes...

The Trade Deadline Approacheth

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Last night, my wife and I were out to dinner after a day of errands, and we began discussing the Buffalo Sabres and the trade deadline. Over dinner, I laid out a revamp for the Buffalo Sabres. Long story short, Buffalo has a terrific opportunity in front of them right now. And Darcy Regier at the helm to get it… [b]Yeah right[/b], won’t happen. Regier is the indi...
tomkob11 writes...

Trade Deadline Moves

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Alright so definitely an interesting trade deadline day in Buffalo. Moving Pomminville, Regher, and Leopold was a great idea without a doubt. Am I completely happy with the return on those players? Not yet. I know that getting two prospects and a first rounder and a second rounder for Pomminville seems great. The problem is do we trust Darcy and this administration ...
andydrmm writes...

3 Good Sabres Games

Posted Monday | Comments 0
2 weeks ago, I wouldn’t have thought that the Buffalo Sabres would lose to the Panthers, Lightning, and Capitals, and then beat the Penguins, Senators, and Devils. It’s like we’re in opposite land or something. Not that I’m complaining, but it is nice to see the Sabres beat some good teams for a change. There seems to be something different about this Sabre...
tomkob11 writes...

Don't Silence the Boo Birds

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Don't silence the boo birds For years now we have paid thousands of our meager incomes to pay the salaries of this mediocre group of hockey players. Although I do understand that players, like Steve Ott, are frustrated because the booing is demoralizing to the young players and the veterans. I also feel the need to tell him to shut up and play hockey. He has been a pol...
andydrmm writes...

Game Over

Posted Friday | Comments 0
How many times have we seen the Buffalo Sabres do what they’ve done this week? The Sabres came up with 3 great wins against the Penguins, Senators, and Devils. They pulled themselves into a great position, having gotten within 4 points of the elusive 8th place seed in the Eastern Conference. Hope, for the fans of Buffalo, had been restored. Heading into Tuesday ni...
First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers to the families impacted by today’s tragic events in Boston. In moments of tragedy, hopefully people can find inspiration in the actions of those who didn’t run away from disaster, but ran towards it in an effort to help. [b]Those individuals truly are heroes. [/b] My family and I attended the Sabres vs Flyers game on Sa...
The Top Five Most Emotional National Anthems in Buffalo Sports HistoryrnShaun Chojnackirnrn#5 NHL All Star Game 1991rnJanuary 19th 1991rn• The Gulf War had just begun and emotions were incredibly high.rn• The game was broadcasted worldwide and drew the highest television audience for an NHL All Star game at the time.rn• The uncertainty of war was looming as the build...
When the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres meet at First Niagara Center Friday Night the Buffalo Sabres will look to do something they have attempted three times so far this season and have failed to accomplish. That which has eluded them all season is four wins in a row. This team may not make the playoffs, but one has to believe that they may have turned a corner. Afte...
andydrmm writes...

Another Season Wasted

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Yes, I know I’m a week early. I know that Buffalo’s final game of this season is next Friday against the Islanders. But that matters not, since the Sabres have lost to the New York Rangers tonight. Another must win game for the Sabres that they failed to rise to the occasion for. And doesn’t that sum up the Buffalo Sabres for the past few years? The past few s...
Those of you who have read my blogs for quite sometime know that I’m not a fan of Darcy Regier, and I haven’t been for quite some time. There’s a lot of talk about his future in Buffalo, especially as the Sabres will once again miss out on the playoffs. 2013 has seen Lindy Ruff leave the Buffalo Sabres organization, and it’s time for Darcy to leave too. Let’s...
Well, we finally got to the end of this season. I have 4 words to say as the Sabres season comes to a close. [b]Thank God it’s over. [/b] There’s not many things that went well this season for the Sabres. It’s pretty painful thinking back on it. Let’s take a look at the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Buffalo Sabres 2013 season. All stats I use in this...
tomkob11 writes...

The End Has Finally Come

Posted Monday | Comments 0
In breaking news....It has been made official that Darcy Regier will be the GM next season. Well that kills my hope for change. Darcy remains GM to fix his own mess of a team. After a second straight season with no playoffs, looking worse than before, and the same lousy excuse for a general manager the Sabres organization sees it fit to raise ticket prices...THIS IS MAD...
I think my title speaks for itself. I was convinced that today was the day that Darcy’s reign of terror in Buffalo came to an end. I was wrong. However, I didn’t think that things would take the turn that it did during the press conference at First Niagara Center. There’s one direction that the Sabres are headed in right now. Straight down. The fans don’t even ...
andydrmm writes...

Ron Rolston Hired

Posted Tuesday | Comments 4
After an [i]exhaustive[/i] search for a head coach, the Sabres have named their man. Ron Rolston will remain behind the bench for the Buffalo Sabres in the upcoming years. However, some individuals seem to be up in arms about this. I don’t know what all the fuss is about. Let’s look at this team that he had to coach. They weren’t exactly a team of all-stars. ...
This is the start of my off season assessment of the Buffalo Sabres players. I figured I would start with two on again, off again line mates in Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno. On paper, these are 2 completely different players. Ennis is 5’9”, 157 lbs while Foligno is 6’3” and 226 lbs. However, both of them can add a lot to the Sabres. Before I kick this off, I�...
andydrmm writes...

Tyler Myers- What Happened?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Tyler Myers. I already know that just by saying his name, a lot of people’s attention just caught this blog. He’s been with the Sabres his entire NHL career, and after having a dazzling rookie career, he seems to be struggling. Prompting the question... What happened to Tyler Myers?? First off, his point totals have significantly decreased since his rooki...
There’s one name that has been surrounded with controversy this past season with the Buffalo Sabres. That man, is Mikhail Grigorenko. The number one draft pick for the Sabres had very high expectations placed upon him. The way [i]some[/i] people wrote about him, I have expected him to show up in a cape, looking like a super hero. He could do no wrong according to some. ...
andydrmm writes...

Sabres Goalie Conundrum

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I figured, since I keep hearing trade rumors about the Buffalo Sabres goaltenders, it was about time to address it. Buffalo has a huge issue when it comes to goalies, but I think it’s a good issue; They’ve got a LOT of goalies in their system. As I’m sure a lot of you have figured out, I’m going to be focusing on Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth. I’ll also st...
There has been WAY too much going on in Edmonton. Basically, EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING. Here's part one of the week that was in Oil Country. It was announced yesterday that GM Craig MacTavish has fired Head Coach Ralph Krueger. A bit of a surprise, considering that MacT gave Krueger a vote of confidence when hired in late April. At the press conference, MacT adm...
There has been WAY too much going on in Edmonton. Basically, EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING. Here's part one of the week that was in Oil Country. It was announced yesterday that GM Craig MacTavish has fired Head Coach Ralph Krueger. A bit of a surprise, considering that MacT gave Krueger a vote of confidence when hired in late April. At the press conference, MacT adm...
There has been WAY too much going on in Edmonton. Basically, EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING. Here's part one of the week that was in Oil Country.rnrn It was announced yesterday that GM Craig MacTavish has fired Head Coach Ralph Krueger. A bit of a surprise, considering that MacT gave Krueger a vote of confidence when hired in late April. At the press conference, MacT adm...
Before I get started here, I'm going to apologize for my last blog. for some reason, it didn't register any paragraph separation when it posted. I will try to make sure the format of this one is proper before I post it. Again, my apologies. On with the show. Oilers GM Craig MacTavish has wastes no time making his mark on this franchise. He has already re...
Some random hits on the Oil. [b]On Kristians Pelss[/b] A very unfortunate story out of Latvia yesterday and today. In case you haven't heard, Oilers prospect and former Edmonton Oil Kings forward Kristians Pelss was reported as missing. Some media outlets in Latvia reported he had drowned after falling/jumping off a bridge into a river near Riga, while the offici...
As the Stanley Cup Finals reminds us that the shortened season of 2013 is coming to a close, thoughts turn to the draft in New Jersey. However, as Buffalo fans, we were looking towards the draft about halfway through the season when it was apparent that the Sabres just wasn’t that good. Now, we sit a mere 2 weeks away from the 2013 NHL draft. This year promises to be...
As we approach the start of free agency and the draft, a lot of people are up in the air as to what is going to happen with the Buffalo Sabres. Despite how some of my blogs come off, I’m a huge fan of the Sabres. I always have been, and I always will be. Regardless of what this team does, I’m still rooting for them. However, there has to be a certain disconnect wit...
Well, the weekend of doom, I mean draft weekend is upon us. Sorry for the doom comment, being a Sabres fan, you kind of get used to it being a difficult week/weekend (especially with Darcy in charge). There are certain does and don’ts with this draft/free agency/trade period. Personally, this is how I would handle things were it me. Let’s address the don’ts first...
Sunday, my wife and I ventured off to Buffalo for lunch with her mother, and then for the ever popular Sabres Draft Party. This blog is going to cover the Sabres draft, and the atmosphere in First Niagara Center as the day progressed. Like many others, we arrived at FNC and I was on my phone following up on every rumor that I could find. I had donned my Taro Tsumimoto ...
Brayton writes...

Free Agency: Who to target?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Free agency begins tomorrow around the National Hockey League. The Buffalo Sabres have begun their offseason by making a couple small moves. First, the Sabres drafted a couple of talented, young defenseman in Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov. Overall, they had one of the best drafts for any team in the NHL. Also on draft day, the Sabres traded defenseman Andr...
Sabres1211 writes...

Buffalo Sabres

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Rumors are vanek and miller for Niklas Backstrom and a first round pick from Washington.
Sabres1211 writes...

Big Buffalo Trade

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Hearing Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek for Niklas Backstrom and a first round pick from Washington
With the news today that the Sabres have resigned Alexander Sulzer it raises the question is the blueline too crowded? Assuming no further trades happen, the defense stacks up like this: Ehrhoff-Sulzer Myers-??? Weber-Mcbain If Mcbain does make the opening night roster he will be a #6/#7 defensmen. So that leaves 1 possibly 2 spots to fill. With only 2 spots ...
Brayton writes...

Game Plan?

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Darcy Regier was not kidding when he said he would remain quiet during the free agency period. The only news the team made was signing AHLer, Drew Bagnall, and re-signing defenseman, Alexander Sulzer. Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek are still members of the Buffalo Sabres, for now. Talks between Buffalo and the St. Louis Blues ended when the price for Ryan Miller was ...
I have been waiting to discuss free agency/trades for something to happen with Buffalo. Alas, I can wait no more. Yes I know free agency is still on going, and trades can happen at anytime. However, the initial excitement has come to a close. The Buffalo faithful have been wondering where Darcy Regier has been. There was even several tweets on Twitter with the hashtag ...
Since it's the most recent development, I'll start off by saying that I think bringing Tallinder back into the fold was a great move by Darcy and the Sabres. Not only has he had a solid career as a defensive defenseman, but he is exactly the kind of hard-working professional that the young Sabres need as a role model. The most interesting aspect of this move, however, is w...
Brayton writes...

Vanek before Miller?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
In stunning news today, Ilya Kovalchuk retired from the NHL. He is leaving the Devils with 12 years left on his current deal and $77 million left on the table. Kovalchuk will go back to Russia and now probably play in the KHL. So where does that leave the Devils? Their leading scorer is now gone, they re-signed an aging (but still very talented) Patrick Eli...
It seems the Sabres may be done with free agency and trades for the upcoming year. Honestly I am ok with that. I wish we could have picked up a veteran forward to help score goals and help the youngers guys but all in all I am looking into the season with optomism. Do I think the Sabres have a contending team? No. Do I think they are a borderline playoff team? No. To me th...
Salutations, First off, I’d like to give a little background about myself in order to allow you all to either consider my thoughts coming from a valid source or choose to ignore me right off the bat. I am a twenty-eight year old male who was born in raised in the Rochester area. I have been a Buffalo sports fan for as long as I’ve been alive. I have never played org...
For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Sabres will be playing a full 82 games. The schedule was released yesterday afternoon, just hours after the NHL had announced that NHL players would be allowed to play in the Sochi Olympics in February of 2014. Here are some of the dates to look forward to this season: Oct. 2 @ Detroit Oct. 4 vs. Ottawa Oct. 12 @...
sabresdibi61 writes...

Sabres: The Grand Plan

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Many in Buffalo are still wondering, why in the world are Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek still on this team? Well it's not an easy question to answer. There is little logical sense to keeping to aging stars with only a year left on their contracts for a team that has publicly said that it is time for a rebuild. Time for a rebuild means tearing down the core that you previous...
For those who did not attend, I got a huge problem with top prospect Mikhail Grigorenko after what I saw at the scrimmage at First Niagara Center. Mikhail Grigorenko, last year's 12th overall pick, centered the top line on Team Gold and had the chance to stand out amongst the other prospects. That is not what happened. Fellow first rounder Zemgus Girgensons centered the to...
Brayton writes...

Can Miller Make Team USA?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
Remember almost 4 years ago when Ryan Miller was probably the world's best goaltender? Not only was he the Vezina Trophy winner that year, but he was also the MVP of the Vancouver Olympics and almost led Team USA to the gold medal over Team Canada. It seemed like Ryan Miller was unstoppable and was gonna lead Buffalo to glory. Almost 4 years later, Ryan Mill...
andydrmm writes...

The 2013-2014 Season Approaches

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I know I’ve been quiet for awhile. I have been racking my brain as to what is going on with the Sabres, and whether anything is even taking place at First Niagara Center. Unfortunately, not much is going on aside from a few signings of restricted free agents. However, as July comes to a close, a sense of hockey is in the air. The Sabres development camp has come to a...
The Sabres are in a difficult spot with Vanek and Miller. First things first what is Darcy doing right now? I think we all agree that it is a time to rebuild in buffalo but with a team stacked in defensive prospects and players why would he draft two defensemen and then add tallinder? On my count we have 12 blueliners that will be NHL ready in 3ish years. On the other side...
For the first time the other day, I took the 10 minute drive from my house to Rayzor's Hot Dog Stand in Springville, NY. Rob Ray has done an excellent job with the place and the food was pretty good as well. Inside, Rob has his own "penalty box" gallery with many pictures of himself as a Buffalo Sabre. There he had a picture of one of his memorable fights against B...
andydrmm writes...

Definitive Sabres Moments

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
It’s tough being a Sabres fan these days. There’s not a lot of hope or optimism surrounding the team. The Sabres website did a great job the other day playing up the NHL.com article on Rick Jeanneret’s infamous “May Day” call. I started thinking about some of my favorite memories watching the Buffalo Sabres. Now I have to emphasize this, these are 2 of my fav...
Brayton writes...

Evaluation: The Top 2 Lines

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The Buffalo Sabres season is upon us once again. This time, no lockouts and no stalling. 27 days until the preseason begins, and 44 days until the first game of the year in Detroit. There are still a lot of questions on who is going to play and who is going to make the roster. I will be evaluating the roster for the Sabres and giving you my take on who will play w...
We're now only 39 days away from the start of the Buffalo Sabres season! Training camp is days away and the preseason begins in another 22 days. As I drove past the First Niagara Center on the I-190 yesterday, seeing the construction of the Harbor Center as well, I started to feel the anticipation of the season coming. I'm really eager to see how this young group o...
Brayton writes...

Evaluation: The Defense

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
It's official! September 12th is the day training camp begins for the Sabres! Now there are 15 days until training camp, 18 days until the first preseason game in Montreal, and 35 days until Buffalo opens the season in Detroit. The Sabres defense is stock-piled again like last year. Last year there were many questions on who will play and who will be in Roc...
andydrmm writes...

Middle Ground

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
It’s been awhile since I’ve written. Part of the struggle right now, for just about all Sabres fans, is things don’t look too good for the Sabres at this point in time. It’s not a good position that they are setting themselves in for the upcoming season. Buffalo is in the same position they find themselves in just about every year- stuck in the painful middle p...
I completely understand peoples views on the buffalo sabres. what direction are they going in? what is to happen to our stars? who are able to step up? how good can our prospects play? how well will rolston do in his first full season as an nhl coach? this is the issue with this team, wayyyyyyy too many questions. But i am here to try to answer most of them On m...
slickshotsabre writes...

Trading Miller

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Now this subject has been talked about a lot this summer but not until recent news this might actually be legitimate. buffalo has inquired about players on the Colorado Avalanche, Patrick Roy is apparently interested in acquiring Ryan Miller. This seams to be growing and growing with certainty. why this can work? well the avs currently have way too many skilled ce...
Let the talks heat up again as Ryan Miller is, apparently, back on the trading blocks. Eklund first reported that talks between the Sabres and Avalanche involving Ryan Miller were heating up once again as training camp quickly approaches. Then another outlet reported the same thing that Miller talks in Colorado were beginning to brew. Then, Garth told us yesterday ...
Brayton writes...

Buffalo Sabres 3rd Jersey: Um...

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Today the Sabres, well, Steve Ott, revealed the new 3rd jersey to the public via Twitter. After two months of sneak peaks and clues about the 3rd jersey, the jersey has been unveiled to some harsh criticism. When I saw the jersey, all I thought was, "um..." Here's what they look like: [b]http://sabres.nhl.com/club/gallery.htm?id=37853&navid=DL|BUF|home[/b] ...
NewEraAvs writes...

In Varly I Trust

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Now on Twitter, follow me @NewEraAvs Mark Kiszla says the Avalanche has no shot at making the playoffs this year without Ryan Miller. Adrian Dater says there is nothing to the rumors of a Stastny-Miller swap. Seems like there’s an internal feud at the Denver Post. The trade on paper makes perfect sense. Both are position of needs on each team. Both have expiring contr...
Brayton writes...

Evaluation: Goaltending

Posted Monday | Comments 0
I could not wait any longer, and I believe that the situation will remain the same. With two days until players begin reporting to Buffalo, and three days until training camp begins, the Buffalo Sabres' goaltending position is solid. Even with all the speculations of Ryan Miller being traded, Miller is still a member of the Buffalo Sabres. So this is what I have fo...
first off. Our captaincy. i think it is really down to two players. Ott and Vanek. they are both one of the oldest on the team. thye have experience and are both leaders. Now it all boils down to if Vanek is staying or not. if he leaves so be it, Ott gets the C, if not then its going to be a tough choice. I personally think Regier feels he has screwed up with the huge...
first off. Our captaincy. i think it is really down to two players. Ott and Vanek. they are both one of the oldest on the team. thye have experience and are both leaders. Now it all boils down to if Vanek is staying or not. if he leaves so be it, Ott gets the C, if not then its going to be a tough choice. I personally think Regier feels he has screwed up with the huge...
In a six second Vine yesterday, Cody Hodgson addressed the Buffalo Sabres fan base that he was going to be a Sabre for six more years. Hodgson and the Sabres have been talking for months about a new deal, and finally came to a deal yesterday afternoon. The terms of the deal are six years at $24.5 million, which is an annual base of $4.25 million a year. That shrink...
Brayton writes...

Camp Notes

Posted Friday | Comments 0
It's early in the morning here at Sabres training camp, day number three. Since being a college kid does not allow me time to enjoy what I want to enjoy, I missed part of the second day yesterday. Made it just in time to see the scrimmage between Team Gold and Team Gray and for session three. Session three included players such as[b] Tyler Ennis, Drew Stafford, Joh...
[b]Rasmus Ristolainen[/b] got his first shot at the NHL on Sunday against Montreal. In the game, Ristolainen had two shots and an assist in 23:22 TOI. The defensive group in Buffalo is stacked, and it would be a tough road for Ristolainen to make the Sabres. The Sabres are giving the 18-year old every chance they can for him to make the NHL roster. So does Rasmus ...
Brayton writes...

Sabres vs. Hurricanes-9/19/2013

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Tonight is the first preseason game at the First Niagara Center since September of 2011. The lineups are set, and once again more young talent will be displayed tonight in Downtown Buffalo. The lineup looks like this: [u][b]Forwards:[/b][/u] [b]Vanek-Hodgson-Armia[/b] [b]Ennis-Grigorenko-Flynn[/b] [b]Tropp-Larsson-Leino[/b] [b]Gillies-Porter-Adam[/b] [u][b...
The Buffalo Sabres are now 3-0 in the preseason with an impressive 5-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. In front of 17.626 fans at the First Niagara Center, there was a lot of good things to take from the game last night. Some players took a step back, but some players made a statement with their performances. Carolina got the first goal of the game with...
andydrmm writes...

Another Season Approaches

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
We’re officially less than 2 weeks away from hockey season starting. Buffalo Sabres hockey starts with a lot of huge questions and there really aren’t a lot of answers. The roster is slowly getting trimmed down, and the next thing we know, Buffalo will be taking the ice at Joe Louis Arena for their opening game against the Detroit. While there are a lot of concerns...
Many users have already written about the Scott/Kessel ordeal, here are some of the most important facts to keep in mind before stating your opinion on the matter: - Scott was on the ice already during the Tropp fight and stayed on the ice - Carlyle put Kessel out on the ice, knowing Scott was already out there - Scott was going to fight whoever was put n...
Today I got the Sports Illustrated NHL Preview Edition. The Sabres were ranked 14th out of the 16 in the east with New Jersey and Florida being the only two teams below. Considering the fact that no NHL regular season games have been played this seems like a fair assessment. The question Sabres fans are asking is where will these ranks be in the coming months. Personally I...
The heat will be turned on high for every Sabre this season. Looking through the roster in the midst of the Sabres’ overhaul reveals a melting pot of players from different stages in their careers. Every player has a lofty set of individual challenges to face this season, and while the same can be said about all players at the beginning of a new NHL season, the effects a...
andydrmm writes...

Sabres Hockey; 24 Hours Away

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
After what seems like forever, a new season for the Buffalo Sabres is finally here. I don’t need to tell you what everyone is saying about the Sabres chances this season. Right now, many of you may agree with those saying Buffalo doesn’t stand a chance. To be honest, I don’t see Buffalo as being cellar dwellers in the Eastern Conference. There are several questio...
Catch the highlights as the Detroit Red Wings as they hosted the Buffalo Sabres on October 2, 2013. Who will come out on top? Find out in today's featured game of the National Hockey League on EA Sports NHL 14 - play-by-play calling by Eric Munter. [url]http://youtu.be/hA_GWhRIuWQ[/url]
There are 2 games in the books for the Buffalo Sabres. 2 games, 2 loses. To be honest, it hasn’t looked pretty despite the close scores. Buffalo made it look close last night against Ottawa, but a lapse in the dying moments cost them at least a point. As predicted, Ryan Miller keeps Buffalo in games, to give everyone that glimmer of hope. The opening 2 games of the s...
andydrmm writes...

Sabres Reality Check

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
By the time that I finish writing this blog, Buffalo will have lost their 5th game in a row. It is 4-1 Columbus at this time, 5 minutes into the 2nd period. Before reading this, I offer a disclaimer; [b]I am not going to sugar coat this.[/b] No matter how much I hate having to write this, I’m keeping this grounded in reality. I have heard a lot of dissent over...
tomkob11 writes...

The Suffering Has Started..

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Did they mention there would be suffering? Never a good thought going into a season. Looking at the very young roster, however, one can think that suffering is not inevitable. Players like Armia, Gigrensons, Grigorenko, Ristolainen, Foligno, Larsson, and Porter are a fine display of young talent that should make this team a top contender for the East, or at least a te...
As many of you already are doing, I’m sitting here watching tonight’s Sabres vs Islanders game. We all know the record that’s on the line tonight. It’s not one that any Buffalo Sabres fan wants to see. I don’t need to do an analysis of any of the first 7 games. We all know that things aren’t good in “Hockey Heaven” right now. The ruler, Terry Pegula, no...
Watching the Sabres this year has been akin to having a 3 hour root canal on most nights, especially in the first few games when coach Rolston's 'system' of choice was to sit back and hope nothing would go wrong rather than being proactive and trying to make something go right. There seem to be two styles of play employed league wide, and I would always rather the attac...
Patience is a word that sits like a an oversized lump of rock stuck in all Sabres fans throats. Would it be an easier digestion if that word was not coming from the mouth of one Darcy Regier? Most certainly, however, it's the sad reality for all Buffalo fans this year, and most likely for the next one to two years on top of that. Feel free to throw up at any second. ...
andydrmm writes...

The Sabres Fan's Conundrum

Posted Saturday | Comments 1
Another night of Sufferin’ with the Sabres is underway at First Niagara Center. We all knew that this season wasn’t going to be pretty, but we didn’t think that it was going to be this bad. I’m editing a quote from the movie [i]“Moneyball”[/i] to sum up the Sabres season at this point; “There are good teams, and there are bad teams. Then there’s 50 feet ...
Brayton writes...

Paging Mr. Pegula...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Paging Mr. Pegula, where are you? Your team is a wreck right now, your fans are getting relentless, and you are 1-9-1 in the first eleven games. The last time we had no clue where our owner was with this team was the last owner, who you bought the team from! First thing is first, eleven games in and firing the general manager would not be the end of the world....
andydrmm writes...

The Sabres Gamble

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Last night was just another example of the Sabres failing to rise to the challenge of a “rivalry” game. There’s no love lost between Buffalo and Boston. I’d have hoped that Buffalo would have at least risen to the occasion, and played Boston hard. They even had a chance to win with the game 3-2 heading into the 3rd period. Instead, they failed to generate shots, an...
It is long past time for Mike Milbury to wear clown shoes whenever he is on NBC covering a hockey game. Last night, the great bastion of all that is holy in hockey suggested that Ron Rolston should be fired. Upon hearing that, I was immediately overwhelmed by a queasy feeling as I thought the world might be ending due to my being in agreement with Mike, until I heard...
kingcong39 writes...

The Mythos of Tyler Myers

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Never have more words perhaps been written on a daily basis about a player by a teams fans than have been about Tyler Myers. To that I thought, why not add more. Makes sense, right? Tyler Myers burst upon the Sabres scene as a 19 year old playmaking force. For a player that was not even expected to make the team, let alone stick around, he had a tremendous year, scor...
Tonight, the Sabres actually held the lead for almost a full 30 seconds as time dwindled away in the 3rd period after a nice 4 way passing play that ended with Vanek depositing the Foligno pass for a 2-1 score late. Within 25 seconds, it was back to business as usual. Vanek, instead of attempting to hold the puck in off the offensive zone faceoff, instead did nothing...
As I was getting ready to leave my parent’s house, celebrating my dad’s birthday, my phone starts blowing up. I start researching and immediately am greeted by Twitter blowing up with news that Thomas Vanek is no longer a Buffalo Sabre. Let’s take a look at the actual deal that was made. Buffalo Sabres send Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders. New York ...
I'll start this first ever blog by saying that I like Pat Kaleta. As a goalie for 14 years, the guys who throw their body around to block shots and give everything up on the PK tend to be my personal favorite teammates. It's no wonder him and Miller are such biffs. However, it's about time he was sent down. Kaleta, another leftover of the Ruff era, does not have what i...
As I sit down for yet another episode of “Sufferin’ With the Sabres”, I look back on a week of rather painful hockey. Yes, I know that can be said for any week of Sabres hockey. The Sabres looked abysmal against the Rangers, and lost a tough battle to the Stars in Lindy Ruff’s return to Buffalo. Plus, the week started with the Sabres sending Thomas Vanek to the Isl...
Always Mighty writes...

Ducks defeat Sabres

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The Anaheim Ducks faced the Buffalo Sabres tonight and came away with a 6-3 win. The thing is, for whatever reason, Buffalo has been a mess all season. They have 2 wins and 5 points, they have yet to win at home, and they have only scored the 1st goal in a game only once. To me, that is the perfect recipe for a desperate team that could come out and beat the Ducks if they ...
andydrmm writes...

Ron Rolston- Sabres Scapegoat

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
There’s a lot of rumblings right now about Ron Rolston, and how he needs to be fired, even after last night’s surprise victory in San Jose. At this point in time, I really can’t jump on this bandwagon, nor do I plan on it. Rolston is starting to look more and more like a scapegoat to take the blame. Why, you ask? I’ll get to that. I’ve got several reasons...
The Drury-Briere era Sabres team has long become folklore in hockey heaven. This extremely short period of Sabres history saw a team that never gave up and made a habit of tying games in the waning seconds of playoff games and going on to win it in overtime. Not only has the dominance and never-say-die attitude disappeared from Buffalo's beloved hockey team, but also has...
The Drury-Briere era Sabres team has long become folklore in hockey heaven. This extremely short period of Sabres history saw a team that never gave up and made a habit of tying games in the waning seconds of playoff games and going on to win it in overtime. Not only has the dominance and never-say-die attitude disappeared from Buffalo's beloved hockey team, but also has...
The Drury-Briere era Sabres team has long become folklore in hockey heaven. This extremely short period of Sabres history saw a team that never gave up and made a habit of tying games in the waning seconds of playoff games and going on to win it in overtime. Not only has the dominance and never-say-die attitude disappeared from Buffalo's beloved hockey team, but also has...
After defeating the Phoenix Coyotes, the Ducks had 2 games left on their 3 game homestand against the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks. They came away with victories in both games, extending their home record to a perfect 8-0 and extending their league leading point total to 31 with a record of 15-3-1. Frederik Andersen played in both games and improved his record ...
[b]Ryan Miller[/b] has been the franchise goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres since the 2005-06 season. He has become the winningest goaltender in franchise history, and has played 495 games as a Buffalo Sabre. His name has been the talk of the town for numerous reasons in recent years, but this year it is has not been will Miller be traded, it is when will he be traded. ...
I’m not used to getting up the morning after a Sabres game, and seeing them with another tally in the win column. I’m sure a lot of people in Buffalo aren’t used to that. I return to my normal mantra, the Sabres didn’t win that game last night, Ryan Miller did and as much as I hate saying it, Jonathan Quick’s injury late in overtime helped as well. Scrivens, ...
This morning, I went to get my medical treatment and got plugged in for my infusion. I had just written my morning blog, which I normally do during my treatment, and had started watching Netflix. Suddenly, my phone went off stating that the Buffalo Sabres were having a “major” news conference at 10:30 am. My mind of course starts racing as I hop on Twitter, which h...
kingcong39 writes...

Hope Against Home Types

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
To the surprise of nobody, the Sabres and Pat LaFontaine have asked for permission, and received it, to talk with two of the hottest Gm candidates in the market: Jason Botterill and Jim Benning. Both have strong resumes, have been building their skills by working their way up the hockey ladder the proper way, and are widely considered by all involved with the league to ...
andydrmm writes...

Sabres Playing With More Heart

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
It seems like distant memory since the announcement came that Buffalo Sabres fans were done with Darcy Regier. I am still lobbying for November 13 to be a paid holiday across Western New York. Unfortunately, the scoreboard still says that the Sabres are losing games. I said this on my Twitter account earlier in the week. Every time Ted Nolan comes out and makes a state...
Buffalo_Boy writes...

On the Edge of the Sabre

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Although this season was somewhat predictable when it comes to how the Sabres would finish, last nights win against the Maple Leafs was a step moving forwards. The Sabres finally started playing with life and emotion. Ted Nolan has really changed the culture here, regardless of his record as Head Coach. He promised back at his first press conference that the culture in Buf...
andydrmm writes...

Sabres Continue to Struggle

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I know I’ve been quiet lately. I blame it on the holiday season being in the full effect. That and my job is a nightmare. The same can be said with the Buffalo Sabres to be completely honest. Despite the new leadership, the team continues to struggle. The Buffalo Sabres may be playing with a lot more heart now, but they still can’t manage to put the puck in the back ...
Yesterday was another long arduous day at work. I watched the snow fall outside my office and accumulate on the cars in the parking lot. Finally, 5 o’clock came, and I booked it for home where my wife was waiting. She was decked out in her fleece, and several layers, she continued to bundle up. I quickly shed the shirt and tie, and threw on my long johns. After grabbing ...
First and foremost, Happy Belated Holidays to everyone. I know it’s been quite awhile since I was on here. Due to my work situation, and the Holidays which proved more interesting than normal, caused my absence. However, that hasn’t kept me from staying on top of the Sabres, and watching what has appeared to be an improved team attitude. A lot has happened througho...
andydrmm writes...

Conditioned Sabres Fans

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Today, the Buffalo Sabres took a step towards the rebuild and hired the GM that Pat LaFontaine feels can lead the Sabres out of the darkness. Tim Murray has been brought in to assess talent and build the Stanley Cup champions that the Buffalo faithful deserve. I was at work this morning when I received my notification stating that the press conference was scheduled for...
MLew65 writes...

Buffalo Sabres

Posted Thursday | Comments 2
Believe it or not it is exciting to be a Sabre's fan. I have been all my hockey life and so much I named my daughter after the team back in 1999! It's exciting because for the first time since the drafting of Thomas Vanek we will get to pick hiiiiiigh in the draft with a chance of getting the number 1 pick in the draft. Right now it's hard to say who to pick or if to tr...
When looking at the standings coming out of the Olympic break, there are only a handful of teams that are considered to be sellers at the trade deadline. With so many 3 point games many more teams are in position to make the playoffs, 5 teams in the east 3 points out or less and 4 teams within 4 points in the west . The only teams that are sellers at the moment are the Sab...
So first off, this is my first attempt at sports writing, so please be constructive in the comments. Little bit about me, I’m only 13 and have had a passion to get into sports writing for a year or 2 now and I`m a die-hard Sens fan. I like to write about trade speculation, players "values", and other things like that because that is one of my favorite aspects of professi...
This afternoon, WGR's Jeremy White has posted that Buffalo Sabres general manager, Tim Murray, "let slip" that he is discussing a deal with Ottawa Senators GM, Bryan Murray. No specifics on who it involves on either side but Sabre fans may want to review young players in the Ottawa organization. Tim Murray has stated that he is looking for young prospects amongst all the t...
This afternoon, WGR's Jeremy White has posted that Buffalo Sabres general manager, Tim Murray, "let slip" that he is discussing a deal with Ottawa Senators GM, Bryan Murray. No specifics on who it involves on either side but Sabre fans may want to review young players in the Ottawa organization. Tim Murray has stated that he is looking for young prospects amongst all the t...
Friday, February 28, 2014 (or March 28, 2014 if you read the Buffalo News), marked the end of an era in Buffalo. It was an era that a lot of people didn’t necessarily want to see end, but we knew was coming, even if we didn’t want to admit it. [b]Ryan Miller, is no longer the goalie for the Buffalo Sabres. [/b] Miller has been haunted by trade rumors for the pas...
With the recent resignation of Pat LaFontaine being shrouded in almost total mystery with an over abundance of theories flying around the internet (mine is that he was merely a figurehead and when that reality hit, with the lack of power he had relative to the new GM, he decided being a rah-rah free agent recruiter wasn't the job for him), I thought the best way to leave t...
As many know, the Ryan Miller/Steve Ott trade yielded a conditional draft pick for the Sabres. If situations arise where GM Tim Murray can use the Blue's 2014 first round pick, the scouting staff better be prepared. As there is a dire need at the wing position, Alex Tuch, a winger in the U.S National Develpment Program, should be on watch. I have not seen much of what he c...
I'm just going to come out and say it; Tim Murray is the man! Its bordering on a man crush. I love everything he did surrounding the trade deadline. WGR morning radio show host and fellow Syracuse alum Jeremy White hit the nail on the head: "everything he did I would have done." I could not agree more. He moved most of his expiring contracts for future assets, both pr...
****3/9 Edit. Ah, the lovely readers of hockeybuzz. The lack of reading comprehension on this site never ceases to amaze me. At no point did I say that either say that either team [i]should[/i] make this trade. I merely thought it was an interesting concept as in some ways each team has what the other needs. I don't even know that either team would want to make the tr...
As a sabres fan I was very pleased with how Tim Murray handled his first trade deadline with the Sabres. Over past years fans would watch the trade deadline come and go without the team making a splash (with the exception of the Hogdson trade). However this year it was different Murray was very active in the days up to the deadline, dealing miller and ott to the blues for ...
Brayton writes...

Pegula should not be blamed

Posted Monday | Comments 0
“Winning is not a goal, it is a belief.” Does that saying ring a bell? Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula said that in his press conference after he bought the franchise from former owner Tom Golisano. At the time Pegula bought the team, he had faith in his general manager Darcy Regier and his head coach Lindy Ruff. They signed some free agents and made some trade...
Rudder17 writes...

Sabres' Future Outlook

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Let me start my first post by first giving you a bit of background on myself...rnrnI am a 25 year old recent graduate living in Tonawanda, NY and have been a diehard Sabres/Hockey fan for as long as I can remember. Watching the Sabres of the early 90s and a certain Goaltender named Dominik Hasek inspired me to begin playing myself.rnrnI remember being merely 10 years old ...
Rudder17 writes...

Sabres' Future Outlook

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Let me start my first post by first giving you a bit of background on myself...rnrnI am a 25 year old recent graduate living in Tonawanda, NY and have been a diehard Sabres/Hockey fan for as long as I can remember. Watching the Sabres of the early 90s and a certain Goaltender named Dominik Hasek inspired me to begin playing myself.rnrnI remember being merely 10 years old ...
Rudder17 writes...

Sabres' Future Outlook

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Let me start my first post by first giving you a bit of background on myself...rnrnI am a 25 year old recent graduate living in Tonawanda, NY and have been a diehard Sabres/Hockey fan for as long as I can remember. Watching the Sabres of the early 90s and a certain Goaltender named Dominik Hasek inspired me to begin playing myself.rnrnI remember being merely 10 years old ...
Rudder17 writes...

Sabres' Future Outlook

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Let me start my first post by first giving you a bit of background on myself...rnrnI am a 25 year old recent graduate living in Tonawanda, NY and have been a diehard Sabres/Hockey fan for as long as I can remember. Watching the Sabres of the early 90s and a certain Goaltender named Dominik Hasek inspired me to begin playing myself.rnrnI remember being merely 10 years old ...
notalent writes...

Darcy was right!

Posted Monday | Comments 0
[b]"[i]It may require some suffering."[/i][/b]--Darcy Regier, April 2013. Truer words were never spoken than those uttered by our defamed, former General Manager last spring. Still it was a bitter pill to swallow for the beleaguered fans in our crusty post-industrial city, especially coming from the captain of the ship who, while not exactly crashing the franchise into...
[i][b]The Elusive Finn[/b][/i] Building on the success of the [b]Where's Waldo[/b] franchise and catching on like wild fire across Sabres' Nation is the [b]Where's Leino[/b][b] Drinking Game[/b]. The elusive Finn has been rumored to have made appearances in various Arenas across the U.S and Canada and has accounted for a substantial Salary hit for the Sabres, but can...
Brayton writes...

NHL Mock Draft #1

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
It is coming down to the wire in the NHL regular season. Many teams have already clinched playoff births, other teams are fighting for their lives in the playoff hunt. With the end of the regular season coming, some teams are already looking ahead to June for the 2014 NHL Draft in Philadelphia. The Buffalo Sabres currently hold the number one pick in the draft followed ...
I know not everyone is an Oilers fan but few are fans of teams picking high this year. Now saying that Buffalo or Edmonton (who combined have a great chance on getting the first pick in the lottery) win. Does Edmonton trade down? Ekblad is an amazing dman. He is huge and will be great one day. Many scouts put him as a number two guy that plays an amazing shut down role....
As the end of one of the worst seasons in the history of the Buffalo Sabres comes to a close, once again I start to wonder what the future holds. Like many other Buffalo fans I am optimistic in the offseason. It’s a chance to dream of a brighter future. One where the possibility of winning the Stanley Cup is attainable. After witnessing the struggles of this past year, a...
Hey guys, to commemorate this crazy season I will be doing a few top lists. First addressing the obvious problems. I'm running them 10-1 but they aren't necessarily in that order. Just doing them as they come to mind.................[b]10[/b]. [b]The absence of Terry Pegula.[/b] We've become of accustom to Mr Pegula being absent when the team isn't playing well. But for a ...
Flash4 writes...

Is It Really Miller Time?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Ryan_Miller_skating_2011-10-15.JPG[/img]rn[img]http://twopadstack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/nhl_g_miller01jr_576x324.jpg[/img]rnrnrnrnRyan Miller has a reputation of being an all-star goaltender, and was part of a trade this year that sent him from Buffalo to St. Louis. St. Louis wanted better goaltending in an ...
The NHL Playoffs are back again! Wednesday night kicks off the start of the playoffs once again in the NHL. The new NHL format has created some very good match ups in the first round of the playoffs, and are likely to create more great match ups as the playoffs move on. Sixteen teams have earned their spot in the playoffs with one goal in mind: to win the Stanley Cup. H...
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Ryan_Miller_skating_2011-10-15.JPG[/img]rnrn[img]http://twopadstack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/nhl_g_miller01jr_576x324.jpg[/img]rnrnrnRyan Miller has a reputation of being an all-star goaltender, and was part of a trade this year that sent him from Buffalo to St. Louis. St. Louis wanted better goaltending in an ...
Hello everyone, before I begin this blog I'd like to introduce myself before I start, as this is my first time blogging on the site. I'm Joey and I would consider myself a big fan of the Sabres and of hockey in general. I do have season tickets to Buffalo Sabres' games so I (should) know my stuff. Enough about me for now. I'd like to thank Eklund and all of the...
Brayton writes...

Welcome to the NHLol

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Welcome to the National Hockey League! Where our inconsistencies make our league a laughing stock in sports! The NHL are up to their usual antics of throwing random suspensions at players for their illegal actions during hockey games. It has been a reoccurring event for the NHL to be doing this ever since the Department of Player Safety was created. The latest string...
DWE-74_29 writes...

Saving Cody Hodgson

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Might as well join the onslaught of Sabres bloggers! The gents at WGR raised a fine point last month about moving forward with Tyler Ennis and Cody Hodgson. They raised a very valid point that continuing with both simply wouldn't be possible. The Sabres need at least one better centericeman than either of them are or can become (some may say we need two). This would lea...
DWE-74_29 writes...

Saving Cody Hodgson

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Might as well join the onslaught of Sabres bloggers! The gents at WGR raised a fine point last month about moving forward with Tyler Ennis and Cody Hodgson. They raised a very valid point that continuing with both simply wouldn't be possible. The Sabres need at least one better centericeman than either of them are or can become (some may say they need two). This would l...
nmaving writes...

The Sabres Rebuild

Posted Friday | Comments 0
The Sabres have many roster questions going into the 2014-15 season. As a college student going to school out of state it was very tough to watch such a bad team play all season. I am proud to say though that I stuck with this team all year, and hopefully will be rewarded this year and next year with some electric prospects. The question of Reinhart or Bennett is one I can...
Hello to all who are reading, I'd like to introduce to you my series of Buffalo Sabres Report Cards for any prospects who have played int he 13-14 season. I won't just be covering players who played for the Sabres or Amerks but I'll also do it for juniors or college leagues etc. So, let's get started now... I figured I'd start with probably the best prospect in the orga...
Brayton writes...

Mock Draft 3.0

Posted Monday | Comments 0
We are officially less than one month away from the 2014 NHL Draft from Philadelphia. The NHL Combine has come to a close with some of the best draft prospects making some headlines. Tope prospects like Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad stood out from the other players at the Combine. Now it is time to evaluate and prepare for the NHL Draft on June 27th. With ...
First and foremost, my apologies from disappearing from the world for a bit. I With having my original job privatized, then getting a new job immediately afterwards, been a bit busy. However, I’m back for the 2014-2015 with renewed vigor. We’re now officially a week away from the 2014 NHL draft. There’s one way to look at the past season; You can’t get much ...
SabresNHL writes...

Sabres Make Big Splash in FA

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
     Tim Murray and the Buffalo Sabres made big news on Tuesday, the start of the NHL's Free Agency period. To kick it off they made a trade with the Montreal Canadiens to acquire defenseman Josh Gorges. Gorges, 29, was a former alternate captain on the Canadiens and was being actively shopped. Not many saw this one coming at all, including myself. Gorges had rejec...
DWE-74_29 writes...

Buffalo Sabres - The X Factor

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Attitude. This should be the word trending in Buffalo this coming NHL season and it already has been a little. Savvy Sabres fans have either recognized the moves by Murray as mindset changers or at least they are trusting what the GM is saying. Whatever your position is on the moves made this offseason, this season has a different feel to it. No question. The real qu...
With the rumored hiring of Bryan Trottier, another chapter between Sabres and the Islanders is added. So much to review between the two teams, especially with the upcoming season, where as a Sabres fan, we are rooting obviously for the Islanders to be stale potato chip bad....to keep it limited to the Trottier hire.....by this logic, would Trotts be enemies or neutra...
[b]Follow me on Twitter @DailyNHLGRIND[/b] Last year’s newly formed Atlantic division was headlined by the 2012-13 Eastern Conference Champion Boston Bruins and the finally-turned-east Detroit Red Wings. The Bruins did in fact lead the pack but trailing right behind was the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. The Red Wings were able to inch into the playoffs l...
Buffalo-Sabres writes...

Beautiful Disaster?

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Beautiful Disaster?: The Sabres re-organization plan Its been five games into the Sabres 2014-2015 campaign and Sabres fans and people around the league are talking. Many people are saying "I told you so". Others are surprised at how similar the Sabres resemble last years historically bad squad. For me this begs the question, is Tim Murray is in control of this rebui...
MLew65 writes...

Sabres western swing

Posted Saturday | Comments 8
The Sabres certainly didn't perform like they had jet lag flying out west to take on the Kings, Ducks and Sharks. Coming back to Buffalo 1-2 is a good thing for this team. Over-all for this team it was a successful road trip. We saw out west is what we haven't seen previously from Buffalo, a team doing the little things that count like winning battles along the boar...
MLew65 writes...

Sabres pieces to rebuild with

Posted Friday | Comments 0
When rebuilding a team you also have to include coaching and management personnel in that equation. I believe we have the right pieces in place in Tim Murray, Ted Nolan, Zemgus Girgensons and believe it or not, the Sabres goaltending. The team also boasts one of the best prospect pools in the NHL right now to train and rebuild their roster from. Some of these players wi...
The NHL's next potential superstar could have a serious injury following a fight that took place on Tuesday night in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters are the league's best teams this season with a 16-1-0-1 record after 18 games this season in the OHL. Their top player on the roster, and potentially the top overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, i...
This is the center of most importance when it comes to winning the Cup in the NHL. Teams that are deep at center, even if they do not have what would be considered a true number 1, elite level player, are the teams that are most often in the final 4 and competing for the Cup. Certainly it helps to have that elite top of the line player, but it is not mandatory when you are...
The Buffalo Sabres having won six out of their last seven games are now 9-14-2. This could mean two things. 1. the team if buying into Ted Nolans system and are playing with confidence and will continue to win games, and maybe, just maybe ( but probably not) playoffs are in sights. 2. this is just a phase and it will soon pass. The question is which one is best for...
Just for fun. Here is my early season Sabres mock draft for the upcoming 1st pick (2nd overall)- [b]Jack Eichel[/b] (Center); The Sabres get their franchise centerman. Eichel will immediately step in and produce for one of the leagues worst offenses. The Sabres may be crowded at the center position but there is no doubt Eichel immediately jumps to the top of the dep...
This would be the barren wasteland of positions for the Sabres with regard to their prospects, their depth, and their current LW's with the big club are nothing fantastic either. Overall, the LW position for the Sabres consists of two solid but unspectacular ancillary players at the NHL level, two hopeful prospects whose top end may only be in bottom 6 roles, a total wi...
[b]Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b] The Avalanche is turning a corner. With John Mitchell and Patrick Bordeleau both returning to the lineup tonight, the Avs are as healthy as they have been in a long time. Colorado completed its second game of a three-game road trip tonight at the First Niagara Center and came away with a 5-1 victory. It w...
Right Wing is perhaps the position with the most intrigue when it comes to the Sabres, unless you count the cold war era espionage level shroud of potential surrounding their goaltenders. If you ask those that watch and evaluate prospects professionally, they will tell you that Buffalo has no less than 5 interesting to intriguing Right Wing prospects. If you ask the ...
Admittedly, the title of this blog was meant to mislead. There have been more words wasted on the idea of trading Tyler Myers from a range of a bag of pucks that Sabres fans should be happy to get for him to nothing less than the three best players on the opposing team. There is one, and only one, way in which you trade Tyler Myers if you are the Buffalo Sabres. T...
Buffalo, NY The Buffalo Sabres, currently 8th in the Atlantic Division with a record of 14-26-3 are down but certainly not out. At roughly the halfway point of the 2014-2015 season, Buffalo center Tyler Ennis and Coach Ted Nolan are confident that the team can still turn things around and make a run for the Cup this spring. Despite a seven game skid, the team's scorin...
Playoffs is definitely overstating it for the 25th overall Ottawa Senators, who might not be overly upset with a regulation loss tonight. They've gone 3-6-1 over their past 10 games, and a top 5 pick is certainly starting to sound pretty good to the Senators, whose playoff hopes are all but gone. A regulation win for Buffalo would still leave them 2 points behind the depre...
To Buffalo: Evander Kane Zach Bogosian Kasdorf To Winnipeg: Tyler Myers Joel Armia Brendan Lemieux 2015 1st rounder Drew Stafford This trade makes me angry. I don't understand why Buffalo would risk so many great, young prospects for Kane and Bogosian. Kane is a proven offensive force, don't get me wrong. Every team in the league could use a guy like K...
Tim Murray, please stop making me so angry. I just don't get it. This team had all the pieces, all they had to do was wait for them to come together. Enroth was only 26 years old, 27 this summer. A top goaltending prospect, drafted 46th overall in the 2nd round. Enroth was the smallest goalie in the league playing for the worst team in the league. Getting drafted ...
There has been a lot of trade rumors about Evander Kane this season. The Vancouver native became a real problem for the Jets and it was only a matter of time before he’d be shipped off to another team. That team just so happened to be the lowly Buffalo Sabres. Sitting at last place in the NHL, Buffalo is king of the hill when it comes to trade rumors. Their most valuable...
kingcong39 writes...

Buffalo Sabres 2015-2016

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
It is clear that Tim Murray is not going to simply continue making picks and the team being terrible during the rebuild. He made that obvious with the trade that took place yesterday, however, there are two options the team could take regarding the 2015-2016 season. There is the slow but sure approach, and then there is the aggressive approach, like what he did with the tr...
[code]Welcome, I have been reading every blog about the end of this season and the beginning of hope, along with all of you and thought I would throw my own hat in the ring. I will start at the Trade Deadline. ...
In another bold move by [b]Sabres GM Tim Murray[/b], this one coming ahead of the [b]April 1st Mascot Trade Deadline[/b], longtime Mascot "[b]SabreTooth[/b]" has been traded to the [b]Florida Panthers[/b] for a [b]7th round pick[/b] in [b]2019[/b]. Initial reports by [i]SteelOpus[/i] from '[i]diebytheblade[/i]' have been confirmed, sending the beloved Cat to Florida ahead...
The contracts the Sabres have on the books for the 2015-2016 season, by position. LW – E. Kane $5.25M, M. Moulson $5M, Foligno $1.875M, Deslauriers $.6375M (the only full position) [b]TOTAL $12.7625M[/b] C – Z. Girgensons $.894167M, J. Larsson $.950M, C. McCormick $1.5M [b]TOTAL $3.344167M[/b] RW – T. Ennis $4.6M, C. Hodgson $4.25M, B. Gionta $4.25M [b]TOTAL $13...
kingcong39 writes...

Ghosts of the 2013 Draft

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Seeing the highlights of the Calgary Toronto game last night and the tremendous performance (amid the embarassment that is the Maple Leafs this season) of Sean Monahan and his line, it had me thinking back to the 2013 draft. The Buffalo Sabres needed forward help in the worst way. The situation was dire, although in hindsight, dire would only be an applicable word to th...
Johan Larsson’s career in the NHL had mimicked a yo-yo since the Buffalo Sabres traded for him from the Minnesota Wild. At the time of the trade, he was thought of on a wide ranging scale, from quality prospect destined to make an NHL impact to a pseudo throwaway with the Wild fans laughing that he wasn’t Zucker or Coyle. What was once thought of as a haul for Jason Po...
In the middle of true panic and hysteria setting in during the 3rd period of the Sabres Stars game last night when it looked like the Sabres were going to gain more useless points in their quest for a guaranteed top 2 pick, amid the joy of the Stars pulling out the regulation win, the Tyler Myers dead horse was revived and then beaten again. Two important notes before I...
Hello HockeyWorld, ScottQ32 here. It's true tank nation is over and my Sabres have not won. The Edmonton Oilers will draft 1st overall. The Sabres will pick at second and will still get a generational player in Eichel but from my standpoint you can't help but think what could of been. I tried to see Connor in Erie at my birthday in November but he was injured. I also tried...
There are two paths the Sabres could take this offseason, and which one of the two is correct is up to the individual. Path A is one of immediacy which consists of the Sabres looking to upgrade their top 6, specifically the right win position, ASAP. There are targets the team could make outside the almost endlessly mentioned obvious candidate who shall not be named to s...
gipper0073 writes...

The Rebirth of the Sabres

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
For a die-hard Buffalo Sabres fan living in the hockey mad metropolis of Edmonton, Alberta…it couldn’t have gotten much worse than April 18th, 2015. I figured suffering through back-to-back seasons of utter ineptitude resulting in two straight 30th place finishes…and knowing full well I would witness the Sabres also lose out on the 1st overall pick in the NHL entr...
It’s been a wild weekend for the Buffalo Sabres franchise and fans, and things don’t look to be settling down anytime soon. All of these additions to the team have lead to many people creating starting lineups. Of course, these are just speculations, as it’s likely head coach Dan Bylsma will try out new lineups at training camp later in the summer. But with all of...
Hey Hockeyworld, Happy free-agency eve! I'm just getting around to this now because it's been weird to process all the big moves Murray made for us this past weekend! Darcy never made huge moves like this so it's really amazing to see what Tim Murray has done for us in such a short period of time. For July 1st I think these are some guys we could go after: Johnny Oduya ...
Cyras18 writes...

GM Mode - Buffalo Sabres 2015

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Welcome to the GM Mode[code]Today I will be taking a look at the Buffalo Sabres and analyze a series of “hypothetical” moves that the Buffalo Sabres should make.Buffalo Sabres GM; Tim Murray is faced with many decisions since after the NHL Draft of 2015. He may not have had the first overall pick but the second pick (Jack Eichel) is a great starting point for a team t...
In a strange twist of events these past five months, the last place Buffalo Sabres have made drastic changes to their lineup. The Sabres went from having no true first-line players to having now two in Kane and O’Reilly, with a third and fourth (Reinhart/Eichel) on the way. Add in swift sniper Matt Moulson and speedy work-horse Tyler Ennis to the list and the Sabres have...
With all the jubilation Buffalo felt after the first few minutes into the the first night of the draft on June 26th. Buffalo finally made the selecting of generational talent Jack Eichel official with the 2nd overall pick. The Sabres selection of Jack Eichel made the last 2 very painful and stressful years worth it. Additional to the selection of Eichel prior to th...
First and foremost before I begin . I should introduce myself. No I'm not a writer . Maybe the more I type the more it will become obvious . Iam a union ironworkers so I am usually breaking my back instead of breaking a fingernail typing . Iam however a hockey fan . Like most fans of the game Iam constantly seeking anything to read , watch or listen to that relates to hoc...
[img]http://1.cdn.nhle.com/nhl/images/upload/2015/02/EVANDER_KANE_672_BUF_PC.jpg[/img] Check out more like this in the Fantasy talk section of my website! [url]http://lazarbeams.com/?cat=2[/url] This is one of the first of many players I'll be recommending as potentially very good picks that will often be available in later rounds of fantasy hockey drafts this season. ...
The last game of the home stand is tonight for Columbus as they take on a young and struggling Buffalo Sabres club. With the trade deadline being 10 days away, both teams have similar approaches at the deadline as both teams are sellers; however, the difference is how each team will deal the players they wish to rid themselves of. These two teams last played in early O...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets were blanked by the Buffalo Sabres by a final score of 4-0. Buffalo got goals from Jamie McGinn (2), David Legwand, and Sam Reinhart. Other players with points include Jack Eichel (2), Evander Kane, Zemgus Girgensons, and Rasmus Ristalonen. Robin Lehner stopped all 38 shots faced. The Jackets were just off their game, but they ...
The knock on the current Sabres from the fanbase has been happening due to the team's record. In prior posts in the Sabres thread, it was brought up how much better they're doing than last season, just to show a year-over-year improvement. I decided to break down the team's record in comparison to not only last year, but also the last time the Sabres were "good The ra...
gipper0073 writes...

WHERE MY SABRES AT?

Posted Sunday | Comments 2
We are less than four weeks away from the 2016 NHL Entry Draft...and the rumours are starting to fly! There is a refreshing air of mystery around what Tim Murray and the Buffalo Sabres are going to do at this year's draft. The past two seasons saw the team, despite back-to-back last place finishes, drop to the number 2 spot. Last season, the Sabres surprised no one ...
gipper0073 writes...

If I Were Tim Murray

Posted Saturday | Comments 2
The job Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray has done since taking over the reins has, in my opinion, been largely underappreciated. Rebuilds aren’t easy. They often times can take a long time, with many wrong turns…ill-advised attempts to short-cut the process. But just two years in…Murray’s got the Sabres flying back into contention. The roster is young, fast, a...
Rella writes...

NHL Rumors

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
- Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba are both receiving offer sheet interest from Bruins, Oilers, Leafs and Habs. - The Minnesota Wild are a team that could be very busy this off-season as they want to add a forward. - The Edmonton Oilers could make a big splash this week. Yakupov and RNH could be on the move in Edmonton. - Several Teams are interested in David Perro...
Last evening the Sabres won what I consider their most exciting game in close to 10 years with a 3rd period comeback win over a very good NY Rangers team. I felt a level of excitement I haven't felt about the Sabres in about just as long and I know I'm not the only one. Through the TV could hear the crowd roar at the Key Bank Center(aka downtown arena) like they had in the...
MLew65 writes...

Sabres burn leaves

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
PEEEE- EWWWWW!!!! OMG! the stentch ! what's that NASTY skanky smell? I'll tell you what it is, it's the Tonto Mable Leaves and their crappy pants fans after Robyn Lehner made save after save even fooling the goal judge who got fired. I don't care if you made the playoffs, this is about tonights game in Buffalo. Your leaves stunk up the ice like an unbathed Tonto hooker...
MLew65 writes...

The Specter returns!

Posted Wednesday | Comments 2
Last we heard reports of an eeeerie presence serenading in the halls of the Key Bank Center and locker room of the Buffalo Sabres....turn out the lights the parties over. Now, the ghost of Jim Morrison has appeared before head coach Dan Abysmal in his office, effectively causing a nasty stink and a brown wet patch on Dan's pants. (that's not from him falling on the ice)...
Sabresfan4 writes...

Sabres Woes

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Buffalo Sabres are sitting at 0-2-1 and seem to be in a down spiral to start the season. The team is turning the puck over way to many times and the top players excluding Evander kane have failed to produce thus far. Goaltending has been suspect and the lack of big saves is troubling especially for a team playing a high tempo, high risk high reward game. The Sabres see...
With just two games to go until the Buffalo Sabres officially hit the halfway mark of the 2017-18 season...they find themselves in familiar territory. Competing with the Arizona Coyotes for the rights to highest odds in this springs NHL Draft Lottery. And while it seems like the same old story (something I wrote about earlier), it also feels slightly different. Yes,...
gipper0073 writes...

At last...again

Posted Monday | Comments 6
“The Buffalo Sabres are a dumpster fire! How can you cheer for that team?” Says the guy who is currently a “die-hard” Tampa Bay Lightning fan…fresh off his two-year run as hardcore Penguins backer. We all know those guys. And while they are seemingly basking in championship glory year-after-year. Johnny Bandwagon will never get to experience the highs and th...
gipper0073 writes...

Patience Please

Posted Saturday | Comments 5
With one single flip of a card...seven years of disappointment and ineptitude were seemingly washed away. Now...less than two months later. Common sense has also seemingly been washed away. With the anticipated addition of super-prospect, Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres appear to have a bona-fide #1 defenseman on the horizon. For many, it seems as though the Stanley Cu...
To all of my fellow HockeyBuzz people... I have been visiting this website for close to 8 years. I have created an account today out of pure disgust for the blogs that the head writers/sabres writers have been passing off as journalism for the past x amount of years (except Pachla, he's good). Please stay tuned, I hope to start writing more and more as the season ...
cas(e5)y_mitts writes...

Sabres Trade Targets

Posted Friday | Comments 0
For the first time in a very long time, the Buffalo Sabres could possible be BUYERS at the trade deadline. No you read the correctly, I said Buyers... At 12:00am on Thursday December 20th, the NHL will begin its Holiday Roster Freeze, and before that happens we have a lot of NHL teams that will either commit to salvaging their teams season, or commit to the race for ...
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 45 Philly Disaster and Bye Bye Berglund$ The Philadelphia Flyers are not in the Christmas spirit as they fire head coach Dave Hakstol. The team is in disarray and Brad Burud and Blake Frairs have their opinions, and they are not very nice. It seems like Philadelphia forgets how to be professional sometimes. Then Patrik Berg...
In no particular order: I notice goalies have been getting much taller lately; I also notice that the "slap shot" is going away. Is this all a result of those mega flex sticks that do the work for the player? If there was an insane reversion to the wood sticks, would the goalies get smaller again and would the slap shot make a comeback? The Sabres looked really good...
Nine years. If you think where you were nine years ago...how much your life has changed...and how much you know now, that you didn’t know then...it really brings into question the [i]actual[/i] sanity of those who have called themselves a fan of the Buffalo Sabres since before that time. - 691 games - 431 ending in defeat - 7 different coaches - 4 different ...
When the 2021 Sabres team finally hits the ice mid-January, at minimum, 310 days will have passed since the last time they stepped off as 3-2 SO winners over the Washington Capitals. That team was just trying to get to the finish line of yet another playoff-less campaign. Eichel had done all he could to try and drag them into relevancy...but he would again come up short...
Tanking for the first-overall pick has cursed the Buffalo Sabres, which landed them with second-overall. Sabres fans have seen great talent come and go because of Buffalo's player system, draft, destroy, tank. Players like; Nikita Zadorov, Brendan Lemieux, Tyler Myers, Ryan O'Reilly, Robin Lehner, Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian, have found themselves in the Sabres organizatio...
This morning, it was announced by the Buffalo Sabres that Jack Eichel will not be available due to an upper-body injury. With this injury possibly being longer than originally expected, the media is now all over the possibility of Eichel being traded. There is no clarification at this time whether or not Eichel might've played his last game in a Sabres jersey, although I h...
Under normal circumstances, a long-term injury to captain and franchise centre Jack Eichel would be disastrous for the Buffalo Sabres – especially heading down the stretch run to the playoffs. Unlike the Edmonton Oilers (who have Leon Draisaitl to fall back on if Connor McDavid winds up on the injured reserve) or the Toronto Maple Leafs (who can turn to Mitch Marner, Joh...
I have been thinking a lot about the likely inevitable trade of Jack Eichel (Jack) out of Buffalo. So having invested that time, This was initially written last week and posted only on Facebook (with a couple different versions) but I felt like telling someone whom might care about the proposed deal that I came up with after investing so much time coming up with it. Why no...
MLew65 writes...

Who was Phlying tonight?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Buffalo Sabres. That’s who. Even though it’s preseason I’d like to say it sure is good to have both the Sabres and Bills playing. Both teams help me forget what winter weather lies ahead. Ok let’s talk hockey. The Buffalo Sabres put on a preseason clinic on puck possession, passing, defense and special teams in the form of a great penalty kill. Buffalo...
MLew65 writes...

Who was Phlying tonight?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Buffalo Sabres. That’s who.rnrnEven though it’s preseason I’d like to say it sure is good to have both the Sabres and Bills playing. Both teams help me forget what winter weather lies ahead.rnrnOk let’s talk hockey. The Buffalo Sabres put on a preseason clinic on puck possession, passing, defense and special teams in the form of a great penalty kill.rnrnBuffalo...
Well, it’s great to see the Sabres name on a league record. Well, it’s great to see it coming from the uncontested leader of this team, Ras“Bobby”Dahlin. So tonight “ Bobby” potted another one. 5g, 3a. I believe Dahlin wants to see his name stand on league records long after he’s gone. If you want to try to break his record, Dahlin’s not going to mak...
Well, it’s great to see the Sabres name on a league record.rnWell, it’s great to see it coming from the uncontested leader of this team, Ras“Bobby”Dahlin. rnrnSo tonight “ Bobby” potted another one. 5g, 3a. rnI believe Dahlin wants to see his name stand on league records long after he’s gone. If you want to try to break his record, Dahlin’s not going to mak...

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