Bleacher Report - Articles by Brandon K.

TSN: Leafs Reach Deal With Bruins to Acquire Phil Kessel

Brandon K. — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:54:22 -0400

Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the Toronto Maple Leafs have reached a deal with the Boston Bruins to acquire young winger, Phil Kessel.

There is still no confirmation on the terms of the trade, but earlier reports involved two first round picks and a second rounder for Kessel.

The Maple Leafs were reported to have interest in the restricted free agent all summer. An initial trade at this year's NHL Entry Draft which included Leafs' defenseman, Thomas Kaberle, fell through.

Over the past month, trade talks heated up involving the Nashville Predators, New York Rangers and, of course, the Maple Leafs.

Kessel finished last season with a career high in goals (36) and assists (24) in 70 games for the Bruins.

UB Bulls RB James Starks to Miss Entire Season

Brandon K. — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:30:14 -0400

According to a source close to the team, UB Bulls tailback James Starks will miss the opening of the 2009-10 season due to an undisclosed shoulder injury. If surgery is needed, he may need to sit out his entire senior season.

The source said Starks had an MRI Friday, which revealed the injury.

Starks' backup Brandon Thermilus was named starter at today's practice. Thermilus, a junior, saw an expanded role last season, carrying the ball 100 times for 454 yards and seven scores. It is expected that he and senior tailback Mario Henry will anchor the team's rushing attack during Starks' absence.

Starks has been an intricate part of the Bulls offense since joining the squad as a freshman in 2006. He was a standout last season, rushing for over 1,300 yards for the MAC Champion Bulls.

The Niagara Falls native's 16 touchdowns were the most ever for the UB football program since joining the Division I ranks.

This season, the Bulls offense was to be led by Starks and fellow Western New Yorker, wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt. Both were predicted to be mid to late round selections in the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft.

The Bulls open their season Sept. 5 at UTEP.

Updated: Aug. 25, 11:00 am

Despite earlier reports from The Buffalo News, UB Bulls running back James Starks will in fact miss the entire 2009-10 season after an MRI on Friday discovered a labral tear in his shoulder.

Starks, a fifth year senior, will not have eligibility remaining after this season.

"The doctors did an MRI that revealed James had a labral tear that required surgery," head coach Turner Gill said in a press release sent out Tuesday morning. "He tried rehab and practices but it was too painful for him to play. Therefore he will have the surgery now and miss the season. It will be a 4-6 month recovery period. Doctors have told me that they anticipate he will make a complete recovery and I believe he will have an opportunity to play at the next level.

"On behalf of the staff and his teammates we want to thank James for all of his outstanding contributions to the University at Buffalo football program, the University and the Western New York community," he said. "He is scheduled to graduate in December, and of course, will remain a part of this program."

Starks is the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,140 yards, 34 rushing touchdowns, and 222 points, and he ranks fifth in all-purpose yardage with 3,830 yards. He had been named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Memorial trophy, given to the nation's top running back.

"Injuries are, and will always be, a huge part of football," said Gill in the release, "but this one is particularly painful because of what James has meant to this program and community. However, this is an incredible opportunity for a group of very talented running backs that we have to step up and help us achieve our goals this season."

http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/news/ftb08-25-2009-starks.shtml

Buffalo Sabres Yet to Agree to Terms With Free Agent Drew Stafford

Brandon K. — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:28:24 -0400

The NHL offseason is finally winding down and teams are gearing up for training camp, which will take place less than a month from now.

With that said, some teams are through with making moves this summer, while others—like the Sabres—are still trying to get deals done.

Last week, the Sabres added veteran winger, Mike Grier—a surprising addition, but likely the last significant move the team will make this offseason.

But GM Darcy Regier still has one more noteworthy task at hand, and that is to reach a deal with restricted free agent, Drew Stafford.

Earlier this summer, Regier extended qualifying offers to three of the Sabres' five restricted free agents, Pat Kaleta, Andrej Sekera and Stafford.

Kaleta signed a one-year deal, while Sekera was inked for two years at a little over $1 million per year. Clarke MacArthur, another restricted free agent, signed a deal similar to Sekera's.

Both parties (Stafford and the Sabres) are likely working feverishly behind closed doors to get a deal done. But when talks extend all the way until mid-August, there becomes a growing concern that both sides may be far apart.

At 23, Stafford still has plenty of time to mature into the player the Sabres hoped he would become after the organization drafted him 13th overall in 2004.

The 6'1", 200-pound winger has a particular size and scoring touch that doesn't exactly run too deep in Buffalo. So yeah, he is definitely an asset worth keeping—at least in my mind.

In 2006-07, he appeared in 41 games, scoring 13 goals and 14 assists—a promising start for the youngster. In 2007-08, what was supposed to be his first-full season in the league, he managed only 38 points (16G, 22A) in 64 games.

Last year, more of the same from Stafford; he struggled early on in the season before heating up after the All-Star break, then leveling out by the end of the year. Though he finished with his first 20-goal season, his overall numbers were not at all that spectacular (20G, 25A).

However, I am a firm believer that Staff has the ability to be a consistent top-six forward, and 30-goal scorer in the NHL for years to come.

Not to say Sabres' management doesn't feel the same way, but they may be exploring different options at this point. That includes possibly trading away his rights for another right winger and/or draft picks.

That is, unless of course the two agree to terms, or if Stafford is willing to sit out the entire 2009-10 campaign.

I'm sure Sabres' fans can quickly recall the Michael Peca ordeal that occurred almost a decade ago.

Both are pretty extreme outcomes, but still possible nonetheless.

Regardless of what happens, Stafford is deserving of a contract in the range of $2 million to $3 million a year.

Kevin Sylvester, Sabres' pre and post game show host, said in a blog last week that he expects the winger to re-sign with the Sabres soon. Take that for what it's worth.

The Sabres begin training camp Sept. 13 in Buffalo.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Enforcer Cody McCormick to One-Year Deal

Brandon K. — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:40:14 -0400

The Buffalo Sabres announced Saturday they have agreed to terms with former Colorado Avalanche tough guy, Cody McCormick.

The deal is reportedly a two-way contract, worth $550,000 for the 2009-10 season.

McCormick, 26, recorded 12 points (1G, 11A) and 92 penalty minutes in 55 games last season.

The 6'3", 215-pound bruiser certainly gives the Sabres much-needed help in the size department.

In addition, the signing almost certainly suggests Andrew Peters' stint as a Sabre has come to an end.

McCormick is willing and able to drop the gloves when needed. He was known in Colorado as a guy who stuck up for his teammates, so the Sabres will undoubtedly benefit from that aspect.

With Peters appearing in only 28 games last season, the Sabres lacked a fourth-line enforcer who could fight. Not that Peters could fight, but at least he did.

Ryan Miller will certainly appreciate the addition of a guy like McCormick.

Hopefully, with what happened last year, no one will be laying a hand on the star goalie.

***

Here are a few of McCormick's fights. Enjoy.

Fight No. 1

Fight No. 2

Fight No. 3

Buffalo Sabres Cap Season Tickets Despite Playoff Drought

Brandon K. — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:46:31 -0400

Despite two straight non-playoff seasons and yet another uneventful offseason, the Buffalo Sabres announced Tuesday they have capped their season tickets for the 2009-10 season at 14,825, a 500 ticket increase from last season.

Earlier this summer, the team announced a 95 percent season ticket renewal.

A total of 1,200 season tickets were then made available to the team's Blue and Gold Club members. Outside of the 14,825 season tickets sold, the team will also offer mini packs.

Last season the Sabres' attendance ranked 11th in the NHL, averaging more than 18,500 (99.2 percent) fans per game during 41 home games at the HSBC Arena.

To look at the 2009-10 Sabres schedule and purchase tickets, visit Sabres.com.

An All-Too Familiar Offseason for Buffalo Sabres Fans

Brandon K. — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:38:29 -0400

"We're happy with the core of our team. We'll continue to grow. Our guys are more than capable of making the playoffs."

How many times in recent years have Buffalo Sabres fans heard this?

Enough already.

After two-straight non playoff seasons, it is same old, same old in Sabreland.

"I like what we have here as a team, and these guys can continue to grow," said Lindy Ruff in an article featured in The Buffalo News.

"I'm Ok going in," Ruff said. "We were pretty close to being where we wanted to be, and a couple disappointing things happened, and we ended up not getting there. The fact that we were able to put on a strong finish was something that I really felt was important for our team."

Really?

The first two weeks of free agency brought plenty of trades and signings, most notably in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.

Sabres' rivals—Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators—have all made noise in some way or another; not to mention the first place Boston Bruins, who we all know will be just as strong next season.

The Sabres on the other hand, lost Jaroslav Spacek to the Canadiens, and added journeyman defenseman, Steve Montador.

Not a bad addition, considering Montador's size and toughness, as well as a $1.5 million per price tag.

But in no way does he replace a 45-point producing defenseman.

Going into this offseason I was almost certain more dramatic changes would be made—significant changes that would help lift the team back to the top of the Eastern Conference, as they were three seasons ago.

Contrary to the beliefs and comments from Ruff and Darcy Regier, the core isn't good enough. The team still lacks an above-average defenseman to anchor the blueline, as well as secondary scoring, size and toughness.

Sabres fans should be heated when excuses are made for last season's debacle.

"We were knocking on the middle of the Eastern Conference when Ryan [Miller] got hurt. We can't stand around and make excuses, but you can explain sometimes why you didn't get there, and I think that's one explanation," Ruff said.

The Sabres are extremely confident with their core players—Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, and Tim Connolly—players who may have underachieved the past two seasons, but also showed signs of an inability to carry the full load.

"I expect more to come from within," he said. "I think that we have more there. We've got a [Jason] Pominville that can have a better year. We've got a [Drew] Stafford that can continue to grow, and I think with Timmy [Connolly] healthy he can make some players around him better. I think we've got some young guys that can step in and make a difference."

I do not have a problem with the young guns stepping in, but we still have no idea how they will perform under a full-season's work.

Ruff and Regier have both expressed great confidence in guys such as Chris Butler, Andrej Sekera, Mike Weber, Tim Kennedy, Nathan Gerbe, and Tyler Myers, to name a few.

With the departure of Spacek, the Sabres need to fill the void left at the offensive defenseman position, as well as in their own end.

Butler and Sekera will unquestionably have expanded roles next season. Both are extremely good skaters, and are talented both offensively and defensively.

Sekera, who was primed to be a replacement for Brian Campbell, struggled during some parts of the season, and was even benched for a game due to a personal lack of confidence in his game.

After all, he was a rookie. Hopefully next season he will mature into the above-average puck-moving defenseman he can be.

Butler, however, was a very pleasant surprise for Ruff, as well as Sabres fans.

The 6'1"-185 lbs D-man laced up for 47 games last season, recording six points (two goals, four assists). Usually paired with captain Craig Rivet, Butler played as soundly as a 22-year-old rookie can possibly play.

Next season, we'll likely get more of a glimpse of his offensive ability to go along with his strong defense.

Gerbe and Kennedy will both battle for full-time roster spots this offseason. Both had outstanding rookie campaigns while playing for Portland.

Kennedy, a South Buffalo native, recorded 67 points (18 goals, 49 assists) in 73 games for the Pirates—tied for the team lead with Mark Mancari. Kennedy also suited up once last season for his hometown team, failing to get on the stat sheet.

Gerbe, on the other hand, played 10 games for Buffalo, recording only one assist. He was, however, named the AHL's Most Outstanding Rookie for the 2008-09 season, recording 56 points (30 goals, 26 assists) in 57 games.

Both players will battle for voids left in the team's depth chart, as Dominic Moore, Maxim Afinogenov, and Andrew Peters will have new homes next season.

The real question is, should the Sabres be relying on these unproven youngsters, or should they explore the trade market?

The Buffalo News contributed to this article

Steve McNair Found Dead

Brandon K. — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:47:55 -0400

ESPN has confirmed the death of former 2003 NFL MVP and 13 year NFL veteran, Steve McNair, who was shot and killed in his Nashville home.

McNair, 36, played 11 seasons with the Tennessee Titans organization and two with the Baltimore Ravens.

Nashville police spokesperson said McNair died from a fatal gunshot wound to the head. A female victim was also found dead at the scene. The female has not been identified, but reports have announced it is not his wife.

The Alcorn State grad was considered one of the toughest and most classiest players to ever wear an NFL uniform.

The Houston Oilers selected him third overall in the 1995 NFL draft. McNair led the Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance in 1999, where they were defeated by the St. Louis Rams 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV. The game is most noted for McNair's last minute 87-yard drive, that ended with a 9-yard pass to Kevin Dyson who was stopped one yard shy of the endzone as time expired.

Nicknamed "Air McNair," was best known for his durabilty along with a rare mix of passing and running ability. He is one of three players (Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young) to pass for 30,000 yards and rush for 3,500 yards in their NFL career.

"He made Tennessee, he put us on the map," said one Tennessee resident.

Autopsies were planned for Sunday, but no funeral arrangements have yet been made.

"It's still kind of hard to believe," said McNair's older brother, Fred McNair. "He was the greatest person in the world. He gave back to the community. He loved kids and he wanted to be a role model to kids."

Breaking News: Buffalo Sabres Sign Defenseman Steve Montador

Brandon K. — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:51:31 -0400

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have agreed to terms with defenseman Steve Montador.

Montador, 30, had 21 points (4G, 17A) in 78 games this season for the Anaheim Ducks and then Boston Bruins, who acquired the D-man at the trade deadline.

This will be Montador's fifth different NHL team in 10 seasons.

Jesse Connolly of HockeyBuzz.com reports the deal is in the range of two years, at $1.55 million per season.

At 6-foot, 210 pounds, Montador adds size to the Sabres' blueline. He also adds much needed toughness, as he recorded 143 penalty minutes last season.

The signing immediately brings up a few questions. Jaroslav Spacek, Sabres free agent defenseman, will likely receive big offers from teams looking for a veteran offensive-defenseman. Spacek had 45 points for the Sabres last season.

This also means that Darcy Regier is likely to pass on former Sabre and veteran defenseman Jay McKee.

Is Jay McKee A Possible Short Term Solution in Buffalo?

Brandon K. — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:38:00 -0400

Andy Strickland has reported the St. Louis Blues have bought out the contract of veteran defenseman, Jay McKee, who had just one year left on a four-year, $16 million deal.

McKee, who will turn 32 in September, battled through many injuries while in St. Louis, including a fractured leg during the 2006-07 season that caused him to miss 59 games. Last season, McKee played 69 regular season games for the playoff-bound Blues, his most since his final season in Buffalo a few years previous.

The Kingston, Ontario native is a very sound, physical defenseman who can also accommodate any team in the leadership department.

Known for his shot-blocking ability, McKee was among league leaders in the category in 2005-06.

McKee was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres 14th overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He spent 13 seasons in Buffalo before the Blues signed him as a free agent after the 2005-06 season.

During the off-season, he spends much of his time living in the Western New York area and I'm sure if Sabres' General Manager Darcy Regier came calling, McKee would be glad to return to his former club.

He never wanted to leave Buffalo in the first place, but the team was unwilling to spend the money. Next season, he would likely take a dramatic pay cut from his previous salary of $4 million per.

The Sabres could definitely use his services. Besides Craig Rivet, the team lacks a gritty defenseman who is willing to drop the gloves and stick up for his teammates.

Yes, the Sabres have a couple defensemen in their system ready to be called up to the big leagues, but it is unknown if they're ready to take on a full NHL season.

Mike Weber and the recently signed, Tyler Myers, are the two likely candidates to step in and anchor the Sabres' back end in the next couple years. Weber is obviously closer than Myers.

When McKee left via free agency a few years ago, it can be argued that a piece of the Sabres locker room was lost. The heart and intensity McKee brought each night was rarely exemplified since his departure (except for maybe Chris Drury, who we all know left a year after).

It can also be argued that if McKee wasn't sidelined with a staph infection (which resulted from blocking shots) for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus Carolina, the Sabres may have found their way past the Hurricanes.

At two years, around $4 million, why not? He would be a very welcome addition to a rather soft Sabres blue line.

***

WGR 550 Sports Radio in Buffalo reported today that the Sabres have extended qualifying offers to three of their current restricted free agents. The team's current restricted free agents are Drew Stafford, Clarke MacArthur, Mark Mancari, Pat Kaleta and Andrej Sekera. Regier would not comment on the players they chose not to extend qualifying offers to.

MacArthur is scheduled to have a salary arbitration hearing sometime in the near future.

Buffalo Sabres Offseason Pt. Two: Possible Trade Market and Free Agent Additions

Brandon K. — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:16:25 -0400

Ahh, the Stanley Cup Finals have come to a thrilling close. For a couple weeks, I actually forgot about the Buffalo Sabres offseason-to-do list. Hockey fans were treated to an unbelievable best-of-seven series between the two best teams in hockey, the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

So before I get into homer mode, I want to say congrats to the Penguins and their fans.

Unfortunately, I have to get back to the reality of what is currently going on in Sabreland. Nothing. But hopefully, with free agency quickly approaching on July 1, and the draft June 26, Darcy Regier and Co. will work their magic. I don't exactly know what that magic is, but I hope they have a plan to improve the current Sabres' roster.

After watching the NHL playoffs, I was constantly reminded of the kind of players that make up winning teams. Yeah, it would be nice to have a team of Malkins, Crosbys, Ovechkins and Lidstroms, but those players are a little hard to come by.

I found myself saying, "Man, if only the Sabres had that guy," plenty of times during the playoffs. Not only about the aforementioned players, but about guys like Maxim Talbot, Dustin Byfuglien, Darren Helm, and Milan Lucic—exactly the kind of players the Sabres lack.

The Sabres not only need to re-sign certain restricted and unrestricted free agents this summer, but they also need to find a way to open up some cap room, and bring in one or two players off the free agent market.

Recent history tells us that Regier will likely stay put with his current guys, but I truly believe that he needs to take a different approach this offseason.

This summer marks the start of both Jason Pominville's and Tim Connolly's extended contracts and also most likely the start of Andrej Sekera's, Drew Stafford's and Pat Kaleta's deals, as they will also be extended by the team.

With these deals coming into place, the Sabres will be very limited when it comes to signing free agents this summer.

It has been widely rumored that the Sabres are trying to move current roster players such as Jochen Hecht, Henrik Tallinder and maybe even Derek Roy, in order to free up some cap space so they can bring in a player to fill one of their needs—top defenseman, depth,gritty, skilled forward.

Trade Market

Jochen Hecht, 31, C/LW; 2008-09 salary: $3.8 million

The Sabres have their hands tied with Hecht's four-year $15 million deal. Last season, the two-way forward mustered only 27 points (12G, 15A) and a -9 plus-minus rating. He can easily be replaced by a prospect player, and definitely by a depth forward acquired via free agency.

Managing only 27 points in 70 games, while playing mostly on a line next to Pominville and Connolly, is absolutely horrendous. The Sabres need more from players who are making $3.8 million per season.

If a team is willing to trade a draft pick in return, it would be a pretty easy decision to send Jochen packing. Its the contract that is the biggest issue. This offseason will be a successful one if Hecht is playing elsewhere next season. Sorry, Jochen.

Henrik Tallinder, 30, D; 2008-09 salary: $3.25 million

Tallinder is a little more tradable than Hecht. His contract is still too much for a player of his caliber, but after next season, he will become a free agent. At 6'4", 215, Hank has good size, and he is also a very good skater. He actually played forward as a young teen, before moving back to the blue line.

If Regier is actually trying to move Tallinder, than I think the Sabres may reel in some draft picks in return. I think there is still a 50/50 chance he may want to keep Tallinder around for the last year of his contract because Jaroslav Spacek becomes a free agent this summer also.

Clake MacArthur, 23, LW; 2008-09 salary: $522,00

Now you may be asking yourself, why is MacArthur even on this list? Well, he is a restricted free agent this summer, and I think the Sabres can reach a deal with him similar to that of Dan Paille's two-year, $2.2 million deal that was inked last summer.

MacArthur scored a career-high 17 goals last season, but was inconsistent to say the least, like most of the Sabres roster. But if the Sabres are looking for a top-tier defenseman—which I think they are (not of the Jay Bouwmeester caliber of course)—then maybe MacArthur is one of those players that can help bring him in via trade.

I am one of those people that think the Sabres are better off without MacArthur, but there are others that think he has a bright future in this league. Which he might. But I am willing to call up Nathan Gerbe, or Tim Kennedy from the minors and watch them give 110 percent each night, something MacArthur failed to do night in and night out.

Nathan Paetsch, 25, D/RW; 2008-09 salary: $800,000

Paetsch is another player whose contract expires at the end of next season. He is a player that can play both sides of the ice, both offense and defense, but is likely to remain on the blue line if moved to another team.

He is another player that could bring a late-round pick in return.

Adam Mair,30, C; 2008-09 salary: $775,000

With the emergence of younger players such as Pat Kaleta, Paul Gaustad and Matt Ellis, it almost looked as though Mair's role diminished on the team as a checking-line guy. Lindy Ruff almost used him in some cases in an offensive role, playing in between Ales Kotalik and Maxim Afinogenov for some portion of the season.

That is total opposite of the player he is.

With that said, if the Sabres want to go in a different direction and either try and bring someone in via free agency who can grind, but also score, than I think Mair is very much tradable.

Derek Roy, 25, C- 2008-09 salary: $3.5 million

Rumors. Don't you love them?

Well, I for one do not think the Sabres will move Roy unless they get a very enticing offer—which is not totally out of the picture considering the kind of player he can be when at his best—a top-pair defenseman is the only thing I would accept in return.

For the second season in a row, post Drury-Briere era, Roy led the Sabres in points. Last season he recorded 70 points (28G, 42A) in 82 games, which was a drop off from his 81 points in 79 games the year previous, but still very good nonetheless.

Two seasons ago he signed a six-year, $24 million deal, which is a remarkable bargain for a guy who is capable of putting up 80-plus points per season.

The biggest knack on him, though, is his size. At only 5'9", 185 pounds, he does not fill the need the Sabres have in the size department. Still, my final verdict on Roy is that he will remain a Sabre next season.

Trading Roy would be a major deal for a rather timid front office. Just don't see it happening, folks.

Free Agent Market

As far as the free-agent market goes, I can go on and on about the big-name free agent players that would immediately make a huge impact in Buffalo. In free agency, there are plenty of rumors lingering over every player and it's really hard to ignore all the speculation.

Moreover, I will try to be realistic, but I will also discuss players whom I think the Sabres should take a run at, but likely not sign. Make sense?

Jay Bouwmeester, 25, D; 2008-09 salary: $4.87 million ( Florida Panthers)

This past Sunday, Bucky Gleason of The Buffalo News played GM for the day. He, like most GM's in the NHL would love to sign the perennial all-star. Gleason stated that if the Sabres were able to get rid of some "dead weight" players, a.k.a. Hecht, Tallinder, the Sabres would have the cap room to sign Jay Bo.

Still, the guy will probably get upwards of around $6.5 to $7 million, and from the looks of it, the Sabres are way out of the running. The names in play are Philadelphia, Vancouver and Calgary. Rumors are swirling that Philly would be the likely candidate, but they would have to move some major cap room first.

The 6'4", 215 pound defenseman would make an immediate and long-term impact if the Sabres decided he was worth the dough. The Sabres' have lacked a d-man of Jay Bo's caliber for years.

He had 15 goals and 42 points last season for the Panthers, while also being one of the best defensemen in the league. In my opinion, Ryan Miller is a top-goaltender in the NHL, and the addition of a top-five defenseman would make him even better.

However, the Sabres would have to make room for his contract, and that would not be easy. If the Sabres really want Bouwmeester, then you would definitely see either Roy or Connolly moved.

Mike Cammalleri, 27, LW; 2008-09 salary: $3.6 (Calgary Flames)

Here's a player whose name I've been hearing in the Buffalo Sabres rumor mill. The winger had 39 goals and 82 points with the Flames last season. He reminds me a lot of Daniel Briere, very smart with the puck, but also has a knack to find the twine.

His 5'9", 185 pound frame, though, wouldn't exactly feel the Sabres need in the size department. Notice how I've really been big on the Sabres size issue. Well, it's kind of a big deal, at least in my opinion. However, I wouldn't mind seeing Reiger somehow get rid of Hecht and sign Cammalleri to a similar deal. The guy can snipe.

Brian Gionta, 30, RW; 2008-09 salary: $4 million (New Jersey Devils)

Like Cammalleri, Gionta's frame isn't very impressive. At 5'7", 175, he's actually smaller, but can still be a very good player in this league. With younger players like Travis Zajac and Zach Parise emerging in New Jersey, Gionta will likely find another home this offseason.

Well, for starters, he could possibly move back to the place he grew up in. The Rochester, NY native would probably be pleased with a contract in Buffalo. He made $4 million last season, but with his point production plateauing in recent years, it is very likely he could take less.

He recorded 89 points (48G, 41A) in 2005-06 for the Devils, but since then has averaged about 55 to 60 points per season. Gionta said he wishes to stay in New Jersey, but he has yet to receive an offer.

I wouldn't totally question Regier if he brought in either Cammalleri or Gionta. They both would fit in well offensively and with the salary cap. According to HockeyBuzz Eklund, the Sabres are very much a contender for either of these players. Perhaps both?

Mike Knuble, 36, RW; 2008-09 salary: $2.8 million (Philadelphia Flyers)

If I was Sabres' GM, Knuble is surely a guy I would love to bring in this summer. He is exactly a kind of player the Sabres would benefit from. At 36, he is aging, but everyone and their mother knows the Sabres lack veteran leadership. His size, and scoring ability would be a huge boost to the Sabres offense.

He scored 27 goals last season for the Flyers, and with rumors swirling in Philly about Jay Bo, it looks as thought Knuble's four-year stint as a Flyer has come to an end.

Mattias Ohlund, 32, D; 2008-09 salary: $3.5 million (Vancouver Canucks)

The next three free agents I will talk about all depend on what the Sabres do with defenseman, Jaroslav Spacek.

At 32, Ohlund can surely still play. He was one of the better d-man in Vancouver for the past few seasons and has averaged around 30 points per season in each of his 11 years in Vancouver. He's very reliable in his own end, and is capable of averaging 25 minutes of ice time per game.

Ohlund is definitely an option to fill Spacek's potential void on the blue line, but will likely demand somewhere around $3 million to $3.5 million per.

Marc-Andre Bergeron, 28, D; 2008-09 salary $1.69 million (Minnesota Wild)

If the Sabres were interested in Bergeron, it would be solely for his offense ability. Like Ohlund, he too can average around 30 to 40 points a season while playing the point. He has excellent puck-moving ability and is also a very smooth skater.

At 5'10", 200 pounds, he's not exactly small, but I strongly believe if the Sabres decided to part ways with Spacek, they may look to fill his void with a bigger, more stay-at-home defenseman.

Jordan Leopold, 28, D; 2008-09 salary $1.5 million (Calgary Flames, from Colorado)

Another free agent player that Eklund has rumored to have Regier's interest. Apparently Leopold has been a player of Regier's interest for quite sometime, seeing that he was rumored to be on his way to Buffalo at the trade deadline.

Leopold is a solid defenseman that can fill the void on the blue line at a very affordable price. He can play as a second-tier defenseman in Buffalo, and average close to 20, 23 minutes per game.

Free agent forwards Samuel Pahlson, Todd Marchant, Travis Moen and Brad May all could be in the mix as well. Like I stated earlier, one of the biggest needs in Sabreland, at least in my opinion, are with gritty, depth forwards who can play.

Brad May may be a reach, he's not exactly that type of player, but he's a fourth-line guy who isn't afraid to stick his nose in someone else's business if need be. He has a very memorable history in Buffalo ("May day, May day, May Day! Brad May!), but I don't see Brian Burke letting him go in Toronto.

Pahlson and Marchant would fit in great in Buffalo. Both have size and toughness, and can play center. Pahlson was a very vital addition to the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline, and played a very important role for them in the playoffs.

Marchant is very similar to Pahlson, and is of great value in Anaheim. I don't think he'd mind returning to his hometown, but he has received a contract offer from Anaheim, per Orange County Register. He is yet to decline or accept that offer.

Wrap up

Well, we are just one week away from the beginning of NHL free agency, and just days away from the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, which will be held this Friday and Saturday in Montreal. Pretty soon we all can expect the mayhem that comes along with free agency. Possible trades, big named players being moved, and of course, rumors.

The Sabres can either continue to stick with their core players or they can dig a little deeper this offseason and make some major changes.

Though I wouldn't mind seeing a little bit of both, I strongly believe that the Sabres should try and trade Hecht and Tallinder, and bring in one or two free agents that could help the team reach the postseason once again.

I also wouldn't mind if Regier went really overboard, and brought in a player like Bouwmeester, Martin Havlat or Marian Gaborik, but hat's probably a little out of the question.

Either way, Sabres fans have become very impatient, as they should.

The fact of the matter is, Darcy Regier and Co. have been on the hot seat since the days of you-know-who, and this is the year they need to get it right, right? Sabres fans can only hope.

Buffalo Sabres' Offseason Pt. One: Unrestricted and Restricted Free Agents

Brandon K. — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:09:51 -0400

After the Buffalo Sabres finished off their second-straight disappointing season, managing partner Larry Quinn said the team would conduct a "thorough evaluation" to determine the reasoning for the team's downfall.

Just a week removed from that statement, it was announced that both General Manager Darcy Regier and Head Coach Lindy Ruff would be retained.

Now, weeks later, Sabres faithful are pondering what will happen next this offseason. It is obviously painful to watch the NHL Playoffs, especially when the team you root for isn't one of the 16 teams battling for Lord Stanley's Cup.

The Sabres should make plenty of offseason moves to ensure their fans improvement in the 2009-10 season. I mean, why not? I'm not saying the team needs to rebuild by any means, but last season after almost expectantly missing the playoffs after the Drury-Briere folly, Regier and Co. followed suit by having a pretty mediocre summer, trading for captain Craig Rivet.

Yes, Rivet was a decent addition. Heck, the team was reluctant enough to slap the "C" on his chest just weeks after his arrival.

And let's not forget how the front office reworked a few deals to keep core players around for years to come. Ryan Miller, Jason Pominville, Jochen Hecht, Paul Gaustad, and Daniel Paille all signed new deals a year ago. At the time we applauded their persistence to get deals done, and it seemed as though most fans were appreciative of a rather busy offseason.

This time around, the Sabres have a lot more work to do. They should not settle for minor changes. The team has missed the playoffs for two straight years since winning the Presidents' Trophy three seasons ago.

Regier has to make the decision on six unrestricted free agents and five restricted free agents. Some easier decisions than others, obviously, but a busy offseason nonetheless. Also, fans are hoping "other" changes will be made, via trade, or by making additions through free agency, or promotions within the organization.

Since this has been a very popular topic among you Bleacher Creatures, I decided I'd join in the guessing game.

I am going to try and be as realistic as possible, but also I will try to discuss all the possible scenarios the Sabres may be evaluating as we speak. In a three-part article, I will discuss the Sabres' free agents, both restricted and unrestricted, possible free agents the Sabres may target, possible players on the trade market, and also prospects within the organization, who may be on the brink of becoming stars in the NHL.

Unrestricted Free Agents

Maxim Afinogenov, 28, RW; 2008-09 salary: $3.5 million

Probably the easiest decision this offseason for the Sabres is to part ways with the Russian speedster. Just three years ago he led the team in points halfway through the season before a wrist fracture put him in the press box. Since then he has been more than a disappointment. He had just 48 points in 104 games in two seasons, and spent plenty of time as a healthy scratch during that time period.

Bon voyage, Maxim.

Andrew Peters, 28, LW; 2008-09 salary:$550,000

I read other day that every NHL team needs a fighter. Well, in the Sabres' case, Andrew Peters would be that guy right? He played 28 games last season averaging a little over four minutes of ice time and accumulating 80 PIMs.

This is probably as useless of hockey player I have ever seen. I have a hard time believing Peters even has a spot on any NHL team. The league has run out of room for the traditional goon. And besides, the Sabres should have plenty of guys who can fill the void in the fighting department. Craig Rivet and Paul Gaustad will do just fine.

Dominic Moore, 27, C; 2008-09 salary: $900,000

When Moore was acquired via trade from Toronto, most people, including me thought that he was going to be brought in as a rent-a-player. The Sabres acquired Moore late on deadline day for a second round pick acquired from an earlier trade involving Ales Kotalik and the Edmonton Oilers.

Moore had 41 points in Toronto before coming to Buffalo and many thought that he would come in and contribute in the points department. Well, in 18 games with the Sabres he was only able to record a goal and three assists.

It has been rumored upon his arrival that he was asking for a hefty raise in Toronto, which was one of the main reasons he was traded. Depending on what the Sabres do with some other players, it might be best to let Moore go.

He is a third-line center at best, and with guys like Gaustad, Adam Mair, and Matt Ellis already on the roster, there might not be any room for a player of Moore's caliber. But like I said, it depends on what the team does.

Matt Ellis, 26, LW-C; 2008-09 salary: $475,000

Ellis was one of the surprises this season after being picked up off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. Ellis stepped in right away after some key injuries sidelined Gaustad and Jochen Hecht earlier in the year. Watching Ellis was a bit refreshing. He was one of those high motor guys that you knew was giving 110 percent for the logo on the front of his sweater. In 45 games, the fourth-liner finished with 12 points (7G, 5A).

Ellis is your traditional depth forward, and a guy that would be very cheap to keep around. But last season I became a little weary of the talent drop off between the top two lines and the bottom lines. The Sabres almost looked like they were running two fourth lines for the majority of the season.

I am not bashing on Ellis, but I think they were a little stacked with players of his talent level. Yes, guys like Ellis are much needed, but with Gaustad, Moore, Mair, Paile, Pat Kaleta, and even Nathan Paetsch on the roster, you kind of have to narrow that group down a bit, right? There's a 50/50 chance Ellis is a Sabre next season.

Teppo Numminen, 39, D; 2008-09 salary: $1.1 million

What can you say about Teppo? Such a great career. In 19 seasons he played almost 1400 games, recording 637 points. Everyone in the league was aware of Numminen's story coming in to last season.

He played a total of two games in 2007-08, spending most of his time recovering from his second heart surgery in as many years. At the start of last season, he was back and ready to go. He played the majority of the first half of the season, but after all-star break it seemed as though his age was catching up to him. Not only that but there was a young stud emerging on the Sabres' blue line by the name of Chris Butler. In 57 games, Numminen contributed 17 points (2G, 15A).

In all likelihood, the veteran defenseman has played his last game in a Sabres uniform. He has publicly stated he is unsure about a return next season, but said that if he did he would want to play in Buffalo. Chances are he will hang up the skates.

Jaroslav Spacek, 34, D; 2008-09 salary: $3.3 million

Out of all the unrestricted free agents the Sabres have to deal with this offseason, Spacek is the toughest decision. The Sabres' blue line struggled last year, and had a number of dumb mistakes and defensive-zone meltdowns. Not only did the Sabres have trouble in their own end, but they also had trouble moving the puck out of their zone.

Spacek signed a three-year deal just over $9 million a few seasons ago. He was brought to Buffalo not only to be a sound, physical defenseman, but also to contribute in the points department. He has been a mainstay on the point on the power-play for the Sabres, and his shot and passing ability has been a key attribute to an above-average unit the last three seasons.

Last season, Spacek recorded 45 points in 80 games, though he struggled earlier on in the season. He finished tied for fifth in points with Drew Stafford. In the last two seasons Spacek has totalled 44 points on the power-play alone.

One of the Sabres' biggest needs this offseason is on the blue line. The Sabres are in dire need of a big, physical, gritty defenseman, but also a puck-moving, offensive defenseman.

Depending on what Regier's plans are to bolster the defense, Spacek may be around next season at a rather reasonable price. At $3 to $3.5 million I think the Sabres could keep him around. If he can contribute 40 to 45 points, it may be worth it. If the Sabres do not re-sign him, they will need to fill the void he will leave on the power-play.

Restricted Free Agents

This is where the real fun begins. Well, sort of.

The real fun would be going out and signing or trading for different players, but that doesn't happen too often in Sabreland. The Sabres have tougher decisions regarding their restricted free agents.

Drew Stafford, 22, RW; 2008-09 salary: $984,000

The Sabres looked to Stafford last season to be one of the top point producers on the team. Early last season we were accustomed to seeing Stafford paired with Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy on the team's top line. His season started off very slowly, and was bounced around to various lines.

Like most of the Sabres last year, he struggled, and at times he went many games without scoring a goal. He was, however, very productive in the months of January and February, only to fall off the score sheet when the team needed him most.

Stafford was drafted 13th overall by the Sabres in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. The 6'1", 200-pound winger has great hands and play-making ability. He was inserted into the lineup early in his career in the 2006-07 season where he played 41 games and tallied 27 points. Just two season later he was playing on the top line.

Last year he reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career, finishing with 20 goals and 25 assists. His inconsistencies were as troublesome as some of the higher profiled players such as Vanek, Roy, and Jason Pominville.

Because of his potential, I see Stafford getting extended. Somewhere around a two-year, $5 million deal sounds sufficient. He has nowhere to go but up, especially playing alongside a player such as Vanek. He is capable of scoring 25 to 30 goals a year, while adding a physical aspect to his game. At $2.5 million per, that would be a bit of a bargain. But he has to perform.

Clarke MacArthur, 23, LW; 2008-09 salary: $522,000

MacArthur came out of the starting gates very quickly last season. In the first two months, MacArthur had six goals. But after a hot start, MacArthur went 17 games without finding the back of the net. This awful stretch forced Lindy Ruff to make him a healthy scratch on a few occasions.

He lacked the intensity and passion that was needed to play the game at a high level, and many, including his coach, questioned his motivation. This is MacArthur's biggest question mark.

MacArthur finished the season with a career-high 17 goals and 14 assists. He was bounced around anywhere from the fourth line to the top line, and towards the end of the year he was playing alongside Tim Connolly. MacArthur again went on a tear at the end of the year when he scored five goals in the final eight games.

To me, he is a player the Sabres could do without. He is capable of producing points, and even coming up with a few goals now and then, but his inconsistencies are far too great to overcome. However, he might turn out to be a player the Sabres are willing to trade.

If the Sabres decide to make a qualifying offer, it will likely be in the ballpark of $1.25 million per season.

Patrick Kaleta, 22, RW; 2008-09 salary: $500,000

The Sabres know what they will be getting when they extend Kaleta this summer. The 5'11", 195-pound winger is developing into the Sabres most feared hitter. He plays a lot bigger than his size, and is just one of the few high-energy guys on the Sabres roster.

The only knack on Kaleta is his offensive ability. Yeah, a fourth-liner usually doesn't score 20 goals anyways, but he is sometimes one dimensional.

If he worked on his offensive game, both his stick handling and passing ability, he could develop into a very useful two-way player. He has good speed, and is usually very responsible in his own end. Ruff played him on numerous occasions on the penalty kill because he was very good in getting in the shooting and passing lanes.

The Angola, NY native will likely make around $750,000 with his new deal. If he can stay healthy, which was a problem last season, he is very effective. Kaleta played in only 51 games last season due to a couple injuries, including a neck and head injury.

Andrej Sekera, 22, D; 2008-09 salary: $659,000

Like Kaleta, I believe Sekera will be a full-time Sabre next season. Many fans became sick and tired of seeing Sekera make mistakes last season, and that is understandable. But in reality, it was his first full season as a top-six defenseman in the NHL. Cut him some slack. The Sabres' defensive unit as a whole wasn't very good to begin with. The last thing Sabres' fans should be doing is laying it all on a rookie.

When Brian Campbell was traded a year ago, Sekera was already seeing some playing time. His offensive style drew comparisons to Campbell's, thus being the reason why some thought of him as Campbell's replacement last season.

Sekera is a very smooth skater, and is very good on making outlet passes to his forwards. He is more of a positional defenseman but he does not shy away from the physical aspect of the game.

Halfway through the season I think he did an above-average job in his own end, and at some point, I thought he was one of, if not the best defenseman in Buffalo. But his game dropped off. He began to make dumb mistakes, costing his team goals.

Even towards the end of the season, Ruff had to scratch him for a few games. He publicly said he had no confidence in his game. It happens. Young players get flustered, and usually that is when a savvy veteran comes into play, but leadership wasn't very plentiful in the Sabres' locker room last season.

Sekera has a great deal of potential, and maybe someday he will turn out to be that Campbell-like player some are saying he could be. He can quarterback the power-play, and use his offensive ability to his advantage.

His deal will likely be around $1.25 million per, but no greater than $2 million. He is young. Give him time to develop. I expect him to be much better next season.

Mark Mancari, 22, RW; 2008-09 salary: $522,000

Mancari is more of a prospect right now, but he may be a player the Sabres will look to step in and play next season.

The 6'4", 225-pound winger played only three games last season, but during that short span he showed a lot of energy, grit, and one heck of a slap shot.

Mancari was selected to the last two AHL All-Star games. Two seasons ago he won the hardest shot contest at the AHL skills competition with a 102.8 MPH slap shot. Zdeno Chara's hardest shot was recorded at 103.1 MPH.

During his time time in Portland/Rochester, he has been among the team's top scorers. Last season he had 67 points (29G, 38A) in 73 games for the Pirates. He was mostly seen playing alongside two other well-known prospects, Nathan Gerbe and Tim Kennedy.

Out of all the Sabres' prospects, Mancari might be the most NHL ready. He has tremendous size and strength, and of course, a great shot. Mancari will probably be re-signed for about $700,000 per and should be battling for a roster spot next season.

If he can play with the toughness and grit the Sabres lack, while also producing points, there is no doubt he will be in a Blue and Gold sweater next season. One can only hope he can play at his true potential.

Recap

There is no doubt that Sabres management will have plenty of tough decisions when it comes to re-signing their free agents this summer. Not only do they have to deal with their own current free agents, but they also need to play the field, and see what else might be out there to suit their needs.

If they re-sign their restricted free agents to qualifying deals, they will be very limited in cap space. The Sabres will lose a lot of cap room when Connolly's and Pominville's contracts go into effect this summer. This is one of the main reasons why the Sabres may look to explore the trade market.

Players such as Jochen Hecht, Daniel Paille, Clarke MacArthur, Henrik Tallinder, Nathan Paetsch, Derek Roy, and Toni Lydman could all be part of that bunch. The most advantageous scenario for the Sabres would be to trade Hecht and Tallinder, but after all, hockey is a business, and a deal would need to be made.

Nonetheless, I will explore these possibilities in my next article. I will discuss the possible trade market the Sabres may offer and also go over why I think these players could be traded.

I will also discuss the players the Sabres may want to look at in free agency.

Note: Contract information was obtained from nhlnumbers.com

Buffalo Sabres Sign Top Prospect Tyler Myers To NHL Entry-Level Deal

Brandon K. — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:10:25 -0400

The Buffalo Sabres have announced today they have signed 2008 first-round draft pick, and current Kelowna Rockets defenseman, Tyler Myers, to a three-year NHL entry-level contract.

The 6-foot-8 defenseman was recently named the Western Hockey League's Playoff MVP, as his Kelowna Rockets have advanced to the Memorial Cup Championship. Myers contributed with 20 points (5G-15A) in 22 games this postseason.

He is coming off a career-best year in the WHL where he posted 42 points (9G-33A) in 58 games, along with a +31 plus-minus rating and 105 penalty minutes.

Myers showed great potential this past winter for the Canadian junior team, who won the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. Myers had one goal in seven games.

The Katy, Texas native--who currently resides in Calgary, AB-- has accumulated 77 points (17G-60A) in 191 games for the Rockets from 2005-2009. He was drafted 19th overall in the 2005 WHL draft at the age of 15.

Myers, 19, has drawn comparisons to Boston Bruins' defenseman, Zdeno Chara, for his size and Detroit Redwings' defenseman, Nicklas Lidstrom, for his smooth-skating ability. The only downside to Myers' size, is his current 215-pound frame. The Sabres sure hope he can add an extra 10 to 20 pounds before he is suiting up in the Blue & Gold, somewhere in the next couple years.

Sabres.com contributed to this article

Breaking News: Buffalo Sabres to Retain Ruff, Regier

Brandon K. — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:59:11 -0400

For all you Sabres fans who were calling for the heads of either Lindy Ruff or Darcy Regier (or both) after the Sabres failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year, you'll have to wait at least another season.

Paul Hamilton, at WGR 550 sports radio in Buffalo just confirmed that both will be back for the 2009-2010 season for the Sabres.

The two started in 1997 and are the longest tenured general manager and head coach in all of professional sports. Ruff by far is also the longest tenured coach in the NHL. He has a 438-334-78-52 coaching record and has led the Sabres to four Eastern Conference Finals and one Stanley Cup Final.

Ruff will be the bench boss for Team Canada at the World Championships this spring. He is also a likely candidate to be an assistant on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic team.

Last week after the Sabres were eliminated from the playoffs, managing partner, Larry Quinn told the media that the front office will conduct a thorough evaluation of the team from top to bottom. Obviously it did not take long for the "top" to be evaluated.

I now expect the team to make a lot of roster changes. Guys like Henrik Tallinder, Jochen Hecht, and Clarke MacArthur may be on the move (all were Hamilton's top picks to be on the move). The three players are just a few of the many disappointments for the Sabres this season.

Drew Stafford will also be a restricted free agent this summer.

Breaking News: Jason Peters to Be Traded to The Philadelphia Eagles

Brandon K. — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:50:03 -0400

It looks as though the wait is over in the Jason Peters saga. Buffalo Bills fans have learned that the Pro Bowl left tackle will be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.

WGR 550 in Buffalo has already reported this news as of 1:15 p.m. Friday. Tim Graham and Sal Paolantonio of ESPN have reported that the two teams are close to finalizing a deal.

Graham said the deal would send Peters to Philadelphia for a first- and fourth-round pick in the upcoming 2009 NFL draft and also a conditional pick in the 2010 draft. The first-round pick would be the 28th overall selection.

The Bills already have the 11th overall selection.

According to ESPN, the Eagles would like to have a contract in place before the trade is completed. Peters has been asking to be the highest-paid tackle in the league for over a year now. He is set to make only $3.375 million next season.

ProFootballTalk.com has already confirmed the trade.

Buffalo Bills Reputation Takes Another Crushing Blow

Brandon K. — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:53:05 -0400

Character; it’s what every sports team tries to exemplify, by building around players who are accountable for their actions on and off the field.

Lately, the Buffalo Bills have epitomized the exact opposite, by attracting attention that has damaged their reputation and embarrassed the entire organization.

Star running back, Marshawn Lynch, was recently suspended three games by NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, for his second run-in with the law in less than a year. Lynch was arrested in mid February on felony charges for possession of a concealed firearm. He pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor charges and sentenced to three years’ probation and 80 hours of community service.

On New Year’s Day, safety Ko Simpson was arrested for disorderly conduct outside a bar in his hometown of Rock Hill, S.C.

Just this past weekend, the Bills received more troubling news; Star safety and captain, Donte Whitner was arrested early Saturday morning in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and later charged with aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest during an incident outside of the House of Blues.

Whitner was at a birthday party, for former Ohio State Buckeye and current Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver, Ted Ginn Jr., when a “near riot” broke out. Whitner was being restrained by police when he began to “swing his arms violently and when he broke free, he took a fighting stance.” That is when police decided to subdue Whitner with a taser and place him under arrest.

This comes as a total shock—no pun intended—to the Bills and their fans, who looked at Whitner as a player with high character, and as a leader on and off the field. Whitner also plays an active role in the community, working with charitable organizations such as the United Way, teaching Western New York kids life lessons, fitness and nutrition.

Whitner was supposedly trying to help a cousin, who he thought was in danger. But even though all the facts haven’t been released, this is a huge blow to his reputation. Players should be responsible for making sure they’re not putting themselves in a position that is detrimental to their team, but that is exactly what Whitner did Saturday morning.

The Bills used to be a staple of high character for the league when guys like Jim Kelly, Mark Kelso and Darryl Talley led the Bills to four-straight AFC Championships. Hall of Fame coach, Marv Levy, was committed to building teams around these types of players.

At age 80, Levy returned in 2006 to act as General Manager and Vice President of football operations for the Bills. Again, he told the Bills’ community that he was committed to building a team around “character and intelligence.”

Levy’s first move as general manager was hiring Dick Jauron as the Bills new head coach—a coach that exemplifies high character and intelligence. That same year in 2006, Levy chose Whitner as the Bills first-round pick at eighth overall and the following year he chose Lynch at twelfth overall.

Now recent incidents have made both players the poster boys for a team who cannot seem to stay out of the negative spotlight.

And to think multiple media outlets went crazy when the Bills signed Terrell Owens last month—“Owens’ on the field antics and locker room distractions are going to tear this team apart!”—Bills fans would probably welcome that sort of distraction since off the field issues have continued to mount. Though Owens may still be the Bills most troublesome player on the field, he has never had trouble complying with the law.

It is rather disheartening for Bills fans to continue to watch their team’s reputation crumble right before their eyes. The only thing that they can hope for is that these incidents never occur again, but at this rate, it doesn’t appear to be the case.

Whitner’s actions are currently under review by the league. It is unknown whether or not he will be suspended. Whitner said he regrets the incidents.

Buffalo Sabres: News and Notes

Brandon K. — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:13:11 -0400

I was pondering whether or not to write a new article this week and I have found that I have a lot on my mind regarding the Buffalo Sabres and their current playoff race. I will briefly touch on a bunch of topics and also give my opinion on the team's current status in the Eastern Conference standings.

***

No suspension for Lapierre?

Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta has recovered from a minor concussion sustained in Saturday night's win against the Montreal Canadiens. Kaleta, who has already missed time with a head and neck injury earlier this season, was hit from behind by Canadiens' forward Maxim Lapierre.

Kaleta was cleared to practice Tuesday and is expected back in the lineup when the Sabres face off against the Atlanta Thrashers on Wednesday night.

The hit by Lapierre, in my opinion, was dirty, illegal and deserving of a suspension. Instead, Lapierre received a two-minute minor penalty and upon further review from the league, the incident was dismissed.

Lapierre crunched Kaleta from behind, without letting up, right into the boards midway through the game. All Lapierre could see was Kaleta's numbers and yet he still went ahead and hit him. Kaleta's face and head dangerously crashed into the boards and could have caused a serious injury. Luckily, it did not.

If the league is going to try and eliminate dangerous hits from the game then why is this play going unpunished?

It is absolutely ridiculous that all Lapierre received was a two-minute minor penalty when he should have been suspended for at least a couple of games. The league dropped the ball big time on this one. Again, just my opinion.

***

Max a healthy scratch against Montreal?

Saturday against Montreal, forward Adam Mair returned to the lineup. As a result, Maxim Afinogenov got the night off. For the first time in my life, I will actually stick up for Max.

No reason was given from coach Lindy Ruff on why he was benched. If he was a healthy scratch that is downright wrong. Max has been playing some of his smartest, and best hockey of the entire season. He has been a great addition to the second powerplay unit and has also been a nice compliment on the third line alongside Dominic Moore and Daniel Paille since returning from an injury. Max has three points in his last four starts.

This guy was finally playing somewhat like the way we all expect him to play and in return, he gets benched.

Yes, Mair scored a pivotal goal in the game but there are others far more suitable for benching than Max at this time. The first line has been horrid the last 12 games or so.

Thomas Vanek still hasn't "returned" from his jaw injury and is still wearing a protective shield. Vanek has just six points in 12 games since returning from the injury.

Derek Roy is also struggling to put the puck in the net with only two goals in 10 games, but Drew Stafford has been by far one of the most invisible Sabres during the month of March. Stafford has no goals and just two assists in his last nine games; Worthy of a benching? I'd say so.

***

Teppo Numminen in, Andrej Sekera Out

Teppo Numminen will return to the Sabres blue line Wednesday night. Andrej Sekera will be a healthy scratch. Ruff said that Sekera has been struggling mightily of late and thinks that watching the game from the press box will help the the youngster regroup mentally.

Sekera admitted that he has completely lost confidence in his play and is struggling with his game. Sekera saw limited ice time against Montreal.

Numminen, 40, will start his first game since March 10.

Numminen has also been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, given annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Everyone who knows hockey is probably well aware that Nummimen overcame heart surgery over a year ago, costing him all but two games last season.

I think Numminen has a legitimate shot at winning the award but he will have some pretty stiff competition with Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik.

***

The playoff race

If the Sabres were scoreboard watching Monday and Tuesday night, then they are likely very disappointed with what they saw.

Monday, the New Rangers shutout Atlantic Division rivals, New Jersey Devils, 3-0.

Tuesday the Canadiens defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1, and the Panthers defeated the Ottawa Senators, 5-2.

The Eastern Conference Standings, seeds 7-10, now look like this:

7. New York Rangers- 77 GP, 40-28-9, 89 points

8. Montreal Canadiens- 76 GP, 39-27-10, 88 points

9. Florida Panthers- 77 GP, 38-28-11, 87 points

10. Buffalo Sabres- 75 GP, 37-30-8, 82 points

The Sabres have one game in hand on Montreal and two games in hand on both the Rangers and Panthers. But no matter what the standings say now the Sabres likely will have to win all seven of their remaining regular season games to have a shot at the postseason.

Here are the remaining games for each team (Wednesday, April 1):

Buffalo: @ Atlanta, @ Washington, vs. New Jersey, vs. Detroit, @ Toronto, @ Carolina, vs. Boston

Montreal: @ Islanders, @ Toronto, vs. Ottawa, @ Rangers, @ Bruins, vs. Penguins

Florida: vs. Atlanta, vs. Pittsburgh, @ Philadelphia, @ Atlanta, vs. Washington

NY Rangers: @ Carolina, @ Boston, vs. Montreal, vs. Philadelphia, @ Philadelphia

In my opinion, Montreal has the weakest schedule left, in terms of their opponents. They will get to play three games in a row against bottom feeding teams.

The Rangers have a very tough schedule with only five games remaining and could very well lose all five games. The Sabres play only two teams that are not in playoff contention. Washington, New Jersey, Detroit and Boston all look like very tough match ups for the Sabres.

At this point, I would love to see the Sabres win out and have a chance to make the playoffs but it just may be a little too late. Ryan Miller has been a great boost for the team but the Sabres will need to play almost perfect hockey in their remaining games to even have a chance.

***

Let me know what you think on all the topics and feel free to comment!

Ryan Miller May Return Friday Against The Toronto Maple Leafs

Brandon K. — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:32:24 -0400

In what it seems to me an indication of how desperate the Buffalo Sabres are to win at this point in the season, goalie Ryan Miller is expected to be back between the pipes Friday night when the Sabres host their division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Last week Miller began skating on his own and participating in light practices. His movement around the crease was limited and he also had difficulty pushing off his injured ankle.

Monday, Miller was able to partake in a full workout, taking shots from his teammates. Tuesday, Miller's ankle responded well and there was even a slight probability that he may return tonight when the Sabres host the Florida Panthers.

Instead, backup goaltender Mikael Tellqvist will get the nod against the Panthers giving Miller an extra few days before he makes his long-awaited return to lineup.

Miller has been sidelined since sustaining a high ankle sprain Feb. 21 when he was knocked down by New York Rangers forward, Scott Gomez. Friday will mark exactly five weeks since the injury.

Over that five week span the Sabres have been on a downward spiral in the Eastern Conference standings. They are now seven points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the eighth and final playoff spot. During Miller's absence, the Sabres have gone 3-7-1, mostly under backup goaltender, Patrick Lalime.

The Sabres have only 10 games remaining in the regular season starting tonight when they face the Panthers. The Panthers are currently in ninth place, five points ahead of the Sabres.

The Sabres would likely have to win out, or at least win eight or nine of their remaining games to even have a remote shot at making the playoffs. Not an impossible task, but a highly improbable one. Hopefully for the Sabres, Miller's return is exactly what they need to climb out of this terrible slump.

Sabres Drop Further Away From Final Playoff Spot

Brandon K. — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:20:46 -0400

Let's be honest here. Are the Buffalo Sabres really good enough to make the playoffs?

With 15 games to go, the Sabres are falling farther and farther away from the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Saturday, the Sabres were defeated by the lowly Ottawa Senators for the fourth time this season.

To make matters worse, on Tuesday, the Sabres were dropped stone cold by the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-2. The game was tied at one after two periods before the Flyers tallied four unanswered goals in the third.

Again, it was the same old story for the Sabres. They are battling for a playoff spot and their top players are nowhere to be found. Reminiscent to the first half of the season, the Sabres look like a non playoff team. Tonight, the Sabres may have cemented that fact.

Tim Connolly had four points Friday night against Phoenix. Tonight, he was nowhere to be found. Thomas Vanek is only a few games back from returning from a severe jaw injury. He has yet to play anywhere near how he was playing before suffering the injury. In fact, he often goes 5-7 games without scoring a goal, and then all of a sudden scores two or three.

That is the biggest problem with the Sabres right now and it has been for the past couple years. For the past two seasons, the “big name” players in Buffalo lack consistency to say the least. Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Jochen Hecht are also part of that group on offense.

These are players that fans will look to produce points and win games for years to come. Besides Connolly, all the players mentioned above will likely be around for three, four and even five more years.

For the second straight year, after the you-know-who era, Buffalo's best players have been average at best and likely will cause them to miss the postseason once again.

Yeah, I know. Even after a loss tonight, the Sabres remain only a few points out of the eighth and final spot in the conference. But their remaining schedule is not getting any easier from here on out.

Teams like Philadelphia, Washington, New Jersey, Detroit and Boston make the Sabres playoff hopes even more bleak than they already are. Not to mention, the Sabres will also play Florida (twice), the NY Rangers, Montreal, and Carolina before the end of the regular season. Each of theses teams are battling for the final three or four spots in the conference.

The loss against the Flyers is definitely a slap in the face. It seems as though the Sabres have reverted to the same win two, lose two mentality they had before the new year.

Buffalo's fans will continue to root for their beloved Sabres, but reality may be starting to settle in that they are not a playoff team after all.

Jhonas Enroth Could Make NHL Debut Thursday in Carolina

Brandon K. — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:30:07 -0500

Buffalo Sabres prospect Jhonas Enroth may get his first NHL start Thursday night in Carolina, after being called up from Portland just a few days ago.

Enroth was called up after starting goaltender Ryan Miller suffered a high-ankle sprain Saturday night.

Patrick Lalime missed practice Wednesday due to flu-like symptoms. Sabres' goaltending coach, Jim Corsi, had to dress in place of Lalime for practice.

Sabres' Head Coach Lindy Ruff said he does not know if Lalime will be ready to go Thursday. If not, Enroth, 20, will get his first glimpse of NHL action.

The 5' 10", 180-pound Swede is one of Buffalo's top prospects.

So far in his rookie season for Portland, Enroth has started 43 games, compiling a 18-17-8 record with a respectable .915 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average.

Due to injuries to Portland goaltender Adam Dennis and prospect Nick Eno of Bowling Green, the Sabres options for Enroth's backup are Portland goaltenders, John DeCaro and Rob Lemelin.

The Sabres would have to sign one and call them up before they play Carolina on Thursday.

***

Information for this article was found on wgr550.com

Breaking News: Ryan Miller Injured

Brandon K. — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:23:44 -0500

Buffalo Sabres' goaltender Ryan Miller left Saturday night's game early in the third period after being hit by New York Rangers forward Scott Gomez.

Miller was out to play the puck behind his goal when Gomez may have lost an edge and collided with Miller. Miller fell awkwardly and had a hard time coming to his feet.

After some assistance from a Sabres trainer, Miller hobbled off to the locker room and was replaced by backup Patrick Lalime. Miller did not return.

After the game, coach Lindy Ruff, said he thought the hit was intentional.

“I don’t think there’s any secret it was deliberate,” Ruff said. “They wanted to try and disrupt him."

“[Gomez] knew what he was doing… He knew what he was doing.”

When asked why none of his players took a run at Gomez, he replied that it could have cost the Sabres a few penalties and the Rangers may have tied the game.

The Sabres were leading 3-0 when Miller left the game and the Rangers were already on the powerplay. Markus Naslund scored on the same powerplay just seconds later.

Miller spoke after the game and said his ankle is not broke, but it is a high ankle sprain that is "relatively low."

He was also asked if he thought the hit was deliberate and said that he knows Gomez personally and doesn't think that he is the kind of player that would try to hurt him.

“I know Scott personally,” Miller said. “I don’t think he would ever come in and try to injure me, especially when I’m not facing the play… the referee said he lost an edge. He’s not that kind of guy. He was probably trying to go for the puck.”

The time table for Miller's injury is unknown but it is more than likely that Lalime will get the start Tuesday night at home against the Anaheim Ducks.

“These are the kind of things you have to feel out,” Miller said. “There is no timetable really, it’s your comfort level. Right now I just want to get through the night until the morning and see how my body reacts. I’ve had a few ankle sprains in my time and each one has been different. We’ll see how this one plays out.”

The Sabres are now in a three way tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference Standings along with the Rangers and Florida Panthers.

-Sabres.com contributed to this article-

Chris Drury, New York Rangers Take on the Buffalo Sabres Tonight at HSBC Arena

Brandon K. — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:43:00 -0500

The New York Rangers(31-22-6, 68 points) are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and continue to move downwards in the Eastern Conference Standings. The Buffalo Sabres(30-23-6, 66 points) are .500 in their last 10 and have hovered around the seventh and eighth spots in the Eastern Standings for quite sometime now.

A loss for either team could mean falling out of playoff contention and below the eighth seed. Every game is important for both teams and both point to tonight's match up as a must win.

The Sabres are currently tied for seventh place with the Florida Panthers, while the Rangers are the lone occupants of fifth place. The Panthers could help their cause with a win tonight at home against the NHL's best, the Boston Bruins.

Another team floating around spots four through seven is the Montreal Canadiens, who are just one point ahead of both the Panthers and Sabres with 67 points. The Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators today at 3:00 p.m. EST.

The end of the regular is just seven weeks away and every game is crucial from here on out. It could very well come down to the last few games of the season to decide who's in and who's out in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Sabres are coming off a road loss against the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night. The Sabres played well and seemed to match the intensity and speed of the high flying Flyers. The 6-3 final may be a bit misleading since the game was a lot closer.

The Flyers took their fourth and final lead with under nine minutes remaining in the third period before adding two empty net tallies to seal the game.

The Sabres have only two wins in their last six games and are 2-2 since losing the team's leading goal scorer, Thomas Vanek, to a jaw injury.

The Rangers are coming off a 3-1 victory over the league's bottom feeding New York Islanders on Wednesday night. But before Wednesday's victory, the Rangers had won only one of their previous nine contests. That stretch of games includes a 10-2 stomping from the Dallas Stars.

After a 13-2-1 start the Rangers have slowly dropped off from Eastern Conference supremacy. Now, with just a month and half remaining, the Rangers are holding on by the skin of their teeth.

Guys like Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, and Markus Naslund have struggled to put points on the board lately. All three have been apart of large stretches without scoring a single goal.

Ranger's defenseman Wade Redden, who signed an outrageous five-year, $32.5 million contract this offseason was brought in to bolster the power play in the Big Apple. Redden has only one power play point since Nov. 20 and has only contributed six total points on the power play all season long.

The big names with big contracts are once again the problem for the Rangers. They need consistent contribution from the aforementioned players if they want to remain in playoff contention. If not, they will continue to slip down the standings.

The Panthers can jump the Rangers in the standings with a win tonight and a Rangers loss.

The Sabres can also slip in the standings with a loss and a win from the Canadiens and/or Panthers. The Carolina Hurricanes sit just one point behind the eight seed in the Eastern Conference with 65 points.

The stakes are set very high for another game for Buffalo. The Rangers should be just as hungry since they are also fighting for their playoff lives.

Here are the keys to victory for the Sabres:

Come out ready to play — The Sabres have shown little energy in the first 10 minutes of recent games. They need to set the tone early and allow the hometown crowd to become a factor for the full 60 minutes.
Play physical — Pat Kaleta will be back in the lineup tonight for the Sabres after being benched in favor of Andrew Peters Wednesday night. This is a certain plus for the Sabres since Peters played a measly three shifts against Philadelphia.
Special teams — The Sabres' tough penalty kill has softened lately. They have only killed just 13 of the past 22 short-handed situations.

Play smart in the defensive zone — Henrik Tallinder is healthy and ready to go tonight. Tallinder has been out with a shoulder injury since Jan. 21. Teppo Numminen will have a seat in the press box tonight.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff knows that each game is a must-win from here on out. He hopes his team can put a string of games together to help their chances.

The faceoff for tonight's game between the Rangers and Sabres is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at the H.S.B.C in Buffalo, NY.

Marshawn Lynch Continues to Taint Image, Charged With Gun-Related Misdemeanors

Brandon K. — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:59:13 -0500

All Bills fans remember when Marshawn Lynch first came into the league. His mother told the media and community of Buffalo not to judge Marshawn by his dreadlocks, gold teeth, or his speech.

She said over time the community will get to know her son as a good person and one that will always stay out of trouble

Well, over time Lynch has shown us the exact opposite.

Just a year ago in May 2008 Lynch was involved in a hit-and-run incident in downtown Buffalo. Lynch was given a slap on the wrist from the league and received a $100 fine.

Now just a week ago, on Feb. 11, Lynch was arrested in Culver City, Calif., with possession of a loaded, concealed firearm. Not only that, the Culver City police officer that arrested him claimed that he smelled marijuana coming from Lynch's Mercedes-Benz. Lynch posted $35,000 bail.

Yesterday Bills coach Dick Jauron held a press conference but—as expected—did not have much to say about the issue.

Today Lynch has been charged with three gun-related misdemeanors stemming from last week's arrest. He and the two other men will not face charges for any drug offenses because it is unknown who the drugs belong to or who was smoking the marijuana filled blunts.

Once again the Bills community awaits an apology from the pro-bowl running back. However, it is most likely that Lynch will hide from the media and his fans just like he did after his last run in with the law.

Last May it took several weeks before Lynch came out and admitted he was the driver of a hit-and-run.

After that he did not speak to the media during training camp or the preseason. He did not speak again until after the Bills played the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 21.

From a fan's standpoint, Lynch should immediately fess up to his wrong doings and apologize to the community and the league from what he has done.

Why would a professional athlete have a loaded gun with them after the Plaxico Burress incident just a few months ago? Lynch needs to remove himself from the life he had before football. He needs to remove himself from trouble and surround himself with people who are going to help him mature and become a better football player.

Lynch's image has gone from bad to worse and he needs to clean it up to have a future in Buffalo. When incidents continue to occur—no matter how bad they are—fans will always remember them. It is hard to forgive a player who continues to smear the face of a team and a community.

It is unknown what the league will do or if they will punish Lynch for his actions. But after the Burress incident, I won't be surprised if commissioner Roger Goodell comes down hard on Lynch. After all, it is Lynch's second offense in less than a year.

The bottom line is Lynch needs to get out and prove to Buffalo that he isn't the thug his image portrays him to be.

Fans might forgive, but they will never forget.

Alex Ovechkin: Goal of The Year?

Brandon K. — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:09:22 -0500

Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals defeated the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout thriller, 4-3.

Though the game came down to the final shot, a play in the first period will be remembered as one of the best individual highlights of the 2008-2009 regular season.

By this time, most of you have already seen the goal, but let's rewind.

The goal came just about ten minutes into the first period. Montreal was amidst a line change when the league's reigning MVP banked the puck off the boards and spun around Montreal defenseman Roman Hamerlik on his way to a partial breakaway.

Ovechkin then powered his way past Montreal forward Kyle Chipchura until he was knocked to the seat of his pants. Sliding along the ice, Ovechkin was able to roof the puck high left side past goalie Carey Price.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PQwsvFWaXk

This is not even the first time we have seen Ovechkin amaze us with a goal. January 16, 2006 against Phoenix, he scored one of the greatest hockey goals ever caught on tape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMsaahHGtOg

Ovechkin continues to play at the top of his game and once again, he leads the league in goals. So far this season, he has 42 goals but lately has been pulling away from the rest of the pack. New Jersey Devils' Zach Parise and Philadelphia Flyers' Jeff Carter are tied for second with 34 goals.

The Capitals currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference Standings and Ovechkin is a huge reason why.

Not only will Ovechkin likely walk away with his second straight Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophy, but he may also walk away with his second straight Hart Trophy (MVP).

A Stanley Cup might also be in the not-too-distant future for the Russian star.

Maybe after this season and a potentially deep playoff run, fans will finally recognize Ovechkin as the very best player in the National Hockey League.

Buffalo Sabres: Possible Trade Deadline Decisions

Brandon K. — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:02:29 -0500

The NHL trade deadline is quickly approaching and general managers across the league are scrambling to make some key moves. Either they are looking to quickly improve their roster for an extended playoff push or perhaps move a current player to bring in draft picks and prospects that will help them in the future.

The Buffalo Sabres know all too well the effect of making poor decisions during a season's trade period. We have seen star-caliber players, such as Mike Grier, J.P. Dumont, Jay McKee, Daniel Briere, and Chris Drury depart without the Sabres having anything to show for it.

Last season, after another year-long debacle in contract talks, the Sabres were forced to move star defenseman Brian Campbell. In a season filled with remarkable disappointment, at least the Sabres were able to walk away with something in return—a first-round pick and Steve Bernier.

Although I'd much rather see No. 51 skating in a Buffalo uniform (for five years and $25 million!!), the Sabres made a move this offseason that brought current captain Craig Rivet to Buffalo. So at least we know that general manager Darcy Regier and Sabres' management have learned from their past mistakes.

This season I believe is a little different. The Sabres have a pretty long list of players who will be unrestricted (UFA) or restricted free agents (RFA) on Jul. 1. But only a few, I believe, are worth anything significant on the trade market, opposed to upcoming UFAs in recent years.

Here is a list of the Sabres' UFAs and RFAs this upcoming offseason that could be traded before the NHL's upcoming trade deadline. Accompanying a brief description, I will give my prediction and value in the form of a letter grade. The higher the letter grade, the more demanding that player will be on the trade market.

Note: This is all just rumor and speculation, but it is still fun to discuss possible trades at this time of the year.

1. UFA-Tim Connolly, Center-Salary, $3.5 million

Probably the most notable and trade-worthy player Regier has to offer, but will also be his toughest decision of the year. A few years ago the Sabres signed the crafty center to a three-year deal worth close to $9 million.

Ever since signing that deal, Connolly has played only 68 of 260 possible games. After a vicious hit by former Ottawa Senator Peter Schaefer in the 2005-06 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which resulted in a concussion, Connolly has been in and out of the lineup quite regularly.

Earlier this season Connolly suffered a fractured vertebrae and then two broken ribs. Not to mention the 27-year-old could be forced into early retirement with one more vicious hit like Schaefer's.

Buffalo fans are aware of what a concussion can do to a player's career and how quickly an injury like that can end it. Pat LaFontaine won the hearts of many Sabre fans in just six seasons in Buffalo before multiple head injuries resulted in post-concussion syndrome and forced management to trade him to the New York Rangers. He only played one season in New York, before being forced into a premature retirement at age 34.

Now with Connolly in the lineup and playing extremely well, Regier is in a bit of a bind. His team is quietly on the rise in the Eastern Conference Standings, but one minor slip-up can cause the team to drop out of contention.

Connolly has 18 points in 18 games this season and has a lot to do with his team's resurgence in the past month. He has eight goals in his last eight games for Buffalo.

Some may say we shouldn't trade him now since he is playing some of the best hockey of his career. But when Jul. 1 comes along, the Sabres could be walking away empty-handed.

Connolly's trade value has sky rocketed over the past month and there are likely many teams out there willing to take a chance on a player of Connolly's caliber to aid them in the playoffs.

Prediction: The Sabres have expressed interest in bolstering their blue line. The league has reverted back to the days when a strong defensive unit is the key to success. If the Sabres can add a top defenseman or two-way center for Connolly, they should make the deal. Youth is also a key factor.

Seeing that Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, and Jochen Hecht make around four and five million dollars each, Connolly would be asking for the same. And with his history of injuries I think that is a chance I'm not willing to take.

Value: B

2. UFA-Jaroslav Spacek, Defenseman-Salary, $3.3 million

The 34-year-old is the Sabres' leading scorer among defensemen with 23 points (2G, 21A). But with just two goals this season, many might say his production has dropped along with his worth to the team.

When the Sabres brought in Spacek via free agency three years ago, they were not only looking for solid defense and leadership, but also point production. For $3.3 million, it could be argued the Sabres haven't got their money's worth, but I think Spacek has been pretty solid in his three years as a Sabre.

He is very reliable in the defensive zone and can play the point on the power play. However, with rookies Mike Weber and Chris Butler, it seems logical that both players will be top-six defenseman on the Sabres roster next season.

Spacek also hasn't played more than 65 games in his two-and-a-half seasons so far as a Sabre. In fact, he has only played more than 65 games in a season twice in his 13-year career.

Prediction: As far as Sabres' defensemen go, he will bring the most in return. Though I think I'd rather see other defenseman go before him, the Sabres wouldn't be that much worse without Spacek. But in the end I think he will remain a Sabre at least for the remainder of this season.

Value: C+

3. UFA-Ales Kotalik, Right Wing-Salary, $2.5 million

Kotalik is another player who could attract some attention this season. The 6'2", 225-pound winger has one of the hardest shots in the league and also is one of the best in the shootout. This year he is only on pace for 41 points.

Kotalik has been marked as an underachiever for the past few years and once again is living up to that same reputation. His name has been thrown around for the past two seasons during the trade period, but the Sabres have never pulled the trigger on him.

This year would be the most likely if the Sabres can muster together a package deal, sending him off to fill a void at center or to improve the blue line.

Prediction: Kotalik is not a player who is worth much straight up, but a player that can be dealt in a package. His biggest attribute comes in the shootout and since shootouts don't occur in the postseason his worth to the Sabres drops off even more. Other teams may want to add Kotalik as depth and use his shot on the power play.

Value: C-

4. UFA-Maxim Afinogenov, Right Wing-Salary, $3.5 million

Afinogenov is another we could argue that should and could have been traded last season. Since the final year of the Drury-Briere Era, Afinogenov's production has dramatically decreased.

So far this season he has recorded an abysmal 12 points (2G, 10A) for the Sabres and though he is injured right now, he has been a healthy scratch for coach Lindy Ruff multiple times this season.

Right now, the speedy winger is worth a bag of pucks alone, but he also is another player that could be dealt in a package.

Prediction: The only way Afinogenov is not traded is if nobody wants him. If the Sabres can get anything for him on the market, he is 100 percent tradeable. He will not be in a Sabres' uniform next season. There is not even a remote chance the Sabres will resign him.

Value: D-

Other notable RFAs & UFAs

RFAs: Clarke MacArthur, Drew Stafford, Patrick Kaleta, Andrej Sekera, Mark Mancari

Stafford, Kaleta, and Sekera all will likely be resigned after this season. Stafford is slowly maturing into the player we all expected him to be. Before this month Stafford's name was swirling around some trade rumors. I think the Sabres will do all they can to keep these three in place.

Kaleta has filled the role as one of the Sabres most dominant hitters and has also improved his offensive game.

Sekera, when in the lineup this season, has been one, if not the most consistent defenseman for the Sabres. He is a solid offensive defenseman that has a bright future in the league.

MacArthur and Mancari are in a little bit of a different situation. MacArthur has been very streaky for the Sabres and many have said he has commitment issues. He has been a healthy scratch on more than one occasion this season.

Mancari is one of the Sabres' best prospects playing in Portland right now. They should be able to resign him for a good price and maybe he will solidify a roster spot this offseason. He is a big player, with a big shot that could add depth to the Sabres' roster.

UFAs: Teppo Numminen, Andrew Peters, Matt Ellis

Numminen was extended for one more season late this past summer. We all thought he would not play for the Sabres this season, but has played in almost every game this year. He has been only sidelined once after having surgery on a fractured jaw bone.

Though he proved us wrong once, I find it highly unlikely Numminen will return next season. He hasn't expressed any intent on retiring, but it is a possibility as he will turn 41 on Jul. 3.

Peters' time as Sabre may have run out. He is a one-dimensional player that is mostly used to spark his team with a fight. Players like Peters have lost worth in recent years. He has played only 26 games this season, contributing only one point, 81 PIM and averaging only 4:09 minutes of ice time per game.

Ellis is another one of those hard-working players that come out of nowhere. The Sabres claimed him off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings late in the preseason and he has worked his way into the lineup for almost 30 games this season. The Sabres may resign him to a two-way deal.

Other players that may be on the trading block

Henrik Tallinder, Defenseman - Has one year left on his deal which will pay him more than $3 million next season. He has been a disappointment for the Sabres this season and last season after having an excellent season in 2006-07. He is another player I could see being moved in a package deal before the trade deadline.

Nathan Paetsch, Defenseman - Also has one year left on his deal and will only make about $1 million next season. He came into this season as the Sabres seventh defenseman on the depth chart, but now has fallen back as the eighth, maybe even ninth defensemen behind up-and-comers Chris Butler and Mike Weber.

Daniel Paille, Left Wing - The 24-year-old winger showed some promise last season as he scored 19 goals. But this season he has only recorded 15 points (5G, 10A) in 50 games. Last year he saw a lot of time on the penalty kill and the second line with Hecht and Pominville, but this season has been demoted to the third and fourth lines. Before this season he was resigned to a two-year, $2 million deal.

So there you have it. A list of players that may be on the trading block for the Buffalo Sabres.

We shall see a lot of action take place within the next four weeks around the league, but it is tough to say what moves the Sabres will make. Regier has always been very hesitant when it comes to making moves at the trade deadline. This year may be a little different. We will have to wait and see.

Feel free to comment and add your opinion on what you think will or want to happen before the trade deadline on Mar. 4, 2009 at 3 p.m.

I found contract info on nhlnumbers.com.

Also here is a list of all possible upcoming UFAs and RFAs throughout the entire NHL:

http://nhlsalary.globesports.com/NHLSalaryData/globe/contract-2009-salary.html

Buffalo Sabres Will Be Without Spacek, Hecht Tonight in Anaheim

Brandon K. — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:51:58 -0500

The injury bug has bit the Buffalo Sabres yet again. Defenseman Jaroslav Spacek and forward Jochen Hecht will both miss tonight's game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Both players were injured early in a 2-0 win against the Phoenix Coyotes Saturday night. Spacek was injured midway through the first period after finishing a check on a Phoenix forward. Hecht left the game after being blindsided and apparently was experiencing blurred vision.

Filling in for the two Sabres' regulars is Andrew Peters and Portland Pirates' defenseman, Mike Weber.

Peters, who played last week against Calgary, has been a healthy scratch for most of the new year. Tonight he hopes to add some much needed grit and toughness against a team that has set standards in those two categories.

In last year's only meeting between the two clubs, Buffalo was widely out-hit, thus losing the game. But in recent games this year, Buffalo has shown they can play any style of game they need to win.

Saturday against Phoenix, Buffalo was able to match the physicality of the Coyotes. And even in the loss to Calgary last week, they matched the Flames hit-for-hit, until losing their legs in the third period.

Hopefully tonight we will get to see Peters take on the Ducks' George Parros. The two heavyweights went head-to-head last year.

***

Weber has been recalled by the Sabres today and will be in the starting lineup tonight. He has missed the last few weeks after receiving arthroscopic knee surgery. The "D" man was cleared to play earlier this week.

Weber is now the third Sabres defenseman to be called up from Portland. He will join call-ups Marc-Andre Gragnani and Chris Butler on the Sabres blue-line. The Sabres are without four of their regular six starting defensemen—Andrej Sekera, Teppo Numminen (jaw), Henrik Tallinder (shoulder), and now Spacek (hip) have all gone down with injuries within the last month.

Weber has played two games for Buffalo so far this season. He is a minus-2 and has averaged more than 15 minutes of ice time in those two games.

The Sabres' will finish up their yearly west coast trip tonight. They are 2-1 during that stretch, and 6-4-0 in their last 10 games.

Sabres, Miller Shutout Powerless Coyotes

Brandon K. — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:31:40 -0500

The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-0, at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale Arizona, Saturday night.

The Sabres were back in action for their fifth game of a six game road trip. The Sabres just came off a 5-2 loss to Calgary Wednesday night while the Coyotes were blanked 2-0 by San Jose on Thursday night.

Both teams showed fresh legs in the first period. There was no room for error as both were battling for a playoff spot in their respective conferences.

Forward, Pat Kaleta was back in the lineup for the Sabres for an injured Adam Mair. He missed the previous 17 games due to a head and neck injury. Kaleta set the tone for a physical, fast paced game. Kaleta's presence was immediately felt after a few checks and just five minutes in dropped the gloves with Coyotes' forward Dan Carcillo.

Wayne Gretzky's boys were flying early. The Shane Doan, Joakim Lindstrom, and Joel Perrault line was giving Buffalo's "D" trouble in the first period but they were unable to beat goaltender Ryan Miller.

Later in the first, Nathan Paetsch was ready to scrap with Carcillo but quickly the linesmen separated the two and each were given four minutes for instigating and a 10 minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Not only did the Sabres lose Paetsch for the majority of the first two periods, they lost defenseman Jaroslav Spacek to injury after he finished a check midway through the first.

Spacek never returned to the game and his status for the Sabres' next game against Anaheim is unknown.

The Sabres played with just four defensemen through the first two periods.

With just five minutes left in the first, Buffalo was awarded a man advantage. During the power play, an Ales Kotalik turnover leads to a Lindstrom, Doan two-on-one. Doan fed Lindstrom a one-timer and Miller made an extraordinary leg save moving to his left.

Miller carried the Sabres through the first period, making saves on all 15 shots.

The second period began with the Sabres top line tallying yet another goal. Tim Connolly buried a lose puck in the goal crease to make it 1-0 Buffalo. Connolly's goal was his seventh in his last five games.

Just three minutes later the Sabres get a highlight reel effort from Derek Roy as he turned Ken Klee inside out and as he was falling to the ice still managed to get a pass over to Dan Paille to make it 2-0 Buffalo. Paille's goal was his first in 15 games for the Sabres.

Just a minute later after Paille's goal, Kotalik almost made it 3-0 after he rang a slap shot past Coyote's goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and off the post.

The Sabres put on a ton of pressure in the second period but also were very good in their own end.

The Coyotes only managed three shots on Miller, much due to the fact that their shots were not getting through. The Sabres did a great job of clogging the shooting lanes all game long.

The same defensive performance continued in the third period for the Sabres.

The Sabres ran into some penalty trouble early and throughout the final period. They began to lag a bit because they were playing with a short bench for most of the game. Jochen Hecht also left the game early with a undisclosed injury.

Even without two regulars on the penalty kill unit, the Sabres were able to stymie the Coyotes attack. The Coyotes power play unit went 0-7 Saturday and has now gone 1-22 in their last five games.

The Coyotes failed to capitalize on their scoring chances. Their lackluster performance on the power play and inability to beat Miller was the story of the game.

The Coyotes have now been shutout by the same score, 2-0, in back to back games. The shutout was also number eleven for Miller's career.

With a win the Sabres now sit alone in seventh place in the Eastern Conference Standings with 57 points, just four points back from sixth place Philadelphia Flyers.

The Sabres are in Anaheim, Monday night to face the Ducks. It is the final game of a six game road trip for the Sabres before heading back home Wednesday, February 4th, to play division rival, Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sabres haven't played at home since January 17th against Carolina.

Sabres' Defensive Injury Woes Continue, Recall Gragnani

Brandon K. — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:46:26 -0500

Tonight, the Buffalo Sabres will face-off against the Edmonton Oilers without three of their top six defensemen.

Andrej Sekera, Teppo Numminen and Henrik Tallinder will all sit out the next four games on Buffalo's west coast trip due to injury.

Chris Butler and Nathan Paetsch have already filled the voids left by Sekera and Numminen. Now with Tallinder out with a bum shoulder, general manager Darcy Regier will look to a rather unfamiliar face to replace the injured defenseman.

Marc-Andre Gragnani is the most recent call-up from the Sabres' AHL affiliate Portland Pirates. The 21-year-old from Montreal led all Portland defensemen with 30 points (5G-26A) which ranks him fifth overall on the team.

Gragnani played two games for the Sabres last season, but not at his normal position on the blue line. Coach Lindy Ruff had the youngster playing forward, which is a compliment to the kind of player Gragnani is.

Gragnani is a offensive defenseman that can surely contribute in the scoring department for the Sabres. Last year, for the former Sabres' AHL affiliate, Rochester Americans, Gragnani recorded 52 points in 78 games.

Not only are three of the Sabres top seven defensemen on the injury list, but Mike Card, Michael Funk and Mike Weber have also been bitten by the injury bug recently.

Weber, who has already played two games this season for the Sabres and 16 for them in a short stint last season, would have been the obvious replacement for Tallinder. But Weber could miss another one to three weeks with a knee injury.

Local sports radio, WGR550 in Buffalo reports Gragnani will be paired alongside Paetsch tonight in Edmonton.

Buffalo Sabres All-Star Skills Competition

Brandon K. — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:50:12 -0500

In light of this weekend's NHL All-Star festivities, I was wondering what it would be like if the Buffalo Sabres' brightest were featured in their own All-Star Skills competition. In this slideshow I will discuss who I feel would win events such as the Fastest Skater, Fan-Fave Breakaway Challenge, Accuracy shooting, Hardest Shot and Elimination Shootout. Feel free to chime in on which Sabre you think would win in each event.

Begin Slideshow

Ales Kotalik Sets New NHL Shootout Record

Brandon K. — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:12:29 -0500

Buffalo Sabres forward, Ales Kotalik, set a new NHL Shootout Record, Monday night, in a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Kotalik was able to beat Florida goaltender, Thomas Vokoun, with his patented forehand to high backhand deke.

Kotalik's goal was his 10th game deciding goal in a shootout. Which is now, for the time being, first all-time.

Kotalik has been the Sabres best shooter in the shootout by far in the post-lockout era. He also ranks third all-time in shootout goals with 17 behind Slava Kozlov (19) and Jussi Jokinen (20).

It is no secret Sabres coach Lindy Ruff likes to use his skillful winger in the shootout. Ruff has chosen Kotalik to shoot first for the Sabres in all eight shootouts so far this season. Kotalik has cashed in on five of eight attempts, including his league leading four game deciding goals. Subsequently the Sabres have only lost two games this season in the shootout.

The Sabres know all too well the importance of having successful shooters in the shootout. Last season the Sabres were only able to win four of 13 games decided by the shootout.

This year, with the emergence of Kotalik and excellent play of goaltender Ryan Miller, the Sabres are one of the best in the league when the game ends in a shootout.

Sabres-Panthers Preview: Battle For a Playoff Spot

Brandon K. — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:28:52 -0500

For the second straight game, the Buffalo Sabres (23-17-5, 51 points) will be playing in a four point contest. The Florida Panthers (21-16-7, 49 points) are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, and trail the eighth place Pittsburgh Penguins by only one point for the final playoff spot.

Perhaps more intriguing is that they trail the Sabres by only two points. With a game in hand, Florida can take over sole possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Sabres tonight.

Both teams have been playing some of their best hockey in recent weeks. The Sabres are 7-3-0 in their last ten games, while the Panthers have won six of their last eight games.

The Sabres are thriving due to the success of their goaltender Ryan Miller. Miller has been on a tear in recent starts. He is 6-1 in his last seven starts while posting a 1.96 goals against average.

Saturday night the Sabres defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo. The win proved to be vital, because with a loss, the Sabres would have been tied in the Eastern Conference with Carolina at 49 points.

Instead, the Sabres have sole possession of seventh, and continue to quietly climb in the standings.

Just like the Hurricanes, the Panthers will face-off against Buffalo just two points behind them in the standings.

The Sabres can take full advantage of tonight's match-up with a victory. But it will not be easy.

The Panthers are one of the hardest working teams in the NHL, and are no longer an easy "W" for any opponent. They have a very balanced attack, as ten players on their roster have 20 or more points, led by the team's leading scorer, David Booth (18G-11A, 29 points).

All Star defenseman, Jay Bouwmeester is playing his best hockey of the season and is amidst a six-game point streak for Florida (10G-16A, 26 points).

Nathan Paetsch will return to the lineup tonight for Buffalo. He takes the place of Teppo Numminen who will miss a few weeks after having surgery to repair a fractured jaw bone. Paetsch has only played 11 games this season, registering just two assists.

The scheduled puck drop for the game between the Sabres and Panthers is set for 7:30 P.M. EST, from the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida.