From Sochi to the Sabres: some of this and some of that

The Sabres kick off the post-Olympic NHL schedule with a make-up game at home vs. the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, the only game on the NHL schedule.

With the trade deadline a mere eight days away and a number of teams positioning themselves for the stretch run, Buffalo joins the NY Islanders, Edmonton and Florida as definitive sellers at the deadline.

Rumors are beginning to fly, including juxtaposed positions on the fate of Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, and trade scenarios are coming out left and right. That's what makes the NHL trade deadline the most interesting and the most fun of all the four major North American sports.

But before we get into that, we'll touch upon one more thing from Sochi.


Sabres interim head coach was at the Olympics coaching the Latvian hockey team and soaked in everything he could.

While on WGR this morning for his weekly appearance he talked about speed skating and how it was one of the two Olympic sports that he watched intently (the other being downhill skiing.)

Nolan found himself outside the Korea house watching how them train for the short track, "It was something that intrigued me," said Nolan and he asked himself if it could be helpful in hockey. "You always pick up little things everywhere you go from not only your sport, but other sports as well."

Not being the shy one, Nolan "tracked down" the speed skating coach.

"We always hire figure skaters or power skaters," said Nolan, "we never talk with speed track skaters."

What was intriguing about the sport and how it might be valuable to the sport of hockey was the initial burst that the speed skaters use to get going.

"Did the speed skating coaches feel that they could make a hockey player faster?" asked host Howard Simon.

"That's what one of the US coaches definitely said," replied Nolan. "We always talk about the first three strides in hockey. Those are the strides that are really effective."

From the defenseman come from behind his net to the winger on the breakout to the center heading up-ice. "It's a series of little bursts all over the place. You don't see hockey players going 90 mph every shift, it's little spurts and changing of gears," said Nolan. "I certainly think that [speed skating techniques] could be introduce. For sure."


What's in the future for Ryan Miller. Trade or re-sign?

The mantra coming out of the Sabres organization has been for the team to try an re-sign goalie Ryan Miller.

But nearly all observers felt that it was merely a front as Sabres GM Tim Murray tried to trade him. Murray would be the third member of the Sabres organization, joining former GM Darcy Regier and Sabres Hockey Ops President Pat LaFontaine, trying to move the former Vezina winner.

It's a bad time of year to try to move a goalie.

Most teams are set in net meaning the market is very thin. The possibilities are limited to a few, unless a catastrophy hits.

The teams that might have interest in upgrading their goaltending situation are St. Louis, Minnesota and Washington.

Of the three, only St. Louis would be legit as they're on the precipice of true Stanley Cup contention.

Regier had been talking with Blues GM Doug Armstrong a full year ago, but both were stubborn in their prices so the deal never got done. Which may end up hurting the Sabres right now.

One report from AP's John Wawrow has the Sabres still shopping the netminder with his source being quoted as saying that Murray "is testing the waters as hard as he can."

Yet, former NHL'er Brian Lawton is quoted as saying (via WGR,) "I am hearing that it is not likely that Ryan Miller will be traded by the deadline and Sabres are turning attention towards re signing him. The school of thought on Miller is that a deal in the Lundqvist range now would allow the team to trade him in a better market."

With the Blues up against the cap and unwilling to move any pieces, including NHL-ready prospects, the Sabres may need to get the best deal they can and move on.

Maybe something like Miller and young power forward Marcus Foligno (whom the Sabres may be growing tired of) for the Blues Jaroslav Halak, F Chris Stewart and a 2014 first-rounder. Or if they can, maybe the Sabres can squeeze out Blues' forward prospect Dmitri Jaskin.

Stewart still has another year on his contract and the Blues are said to be tired of him. If anything, the Sabres could move him at next year's deadline if things don't pan out.


Paul Hamilton wants a trade with Edmonton

Sabres beat reporter Paul Hamilton thinks that the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers should basically lock themselves in a room and hammer out a trade.

The Sabres have a glut of defensive prospects and lack forwards while the Oilers are just the opposite.

Hamilton suggests sending one of Rasmus Ristolainen or Nikita Zadarov, both 2013 Sabres first round picks to Edmonton for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, one of their 1st overall picks.

He adds that if either Ristolainen or Zadorov isn't enough, the Sabres should throw in one of their many second rounders.

The premise is sound, since the Oilers need defense and the Sabres need offense, but I'm not sure now is the time.

From the Sabres perspective, they're almost assured of getting one of the top three players in the 2014
Draft, and two of them are forwards. If they do in fact land the 1st overall pick, they, like the Oilers three years running, will have the opportunity to draft a forward in that spot.

In addition to this year's draft, Buffalo is probably looking at another top-3 pick next year as well. Plus, one does not know how the first-rounder from the NY Islanders will pan out either. There's a possibility that it will be top-5 in either draft.

So for the next two seasons the Sabres will have the opportunity to add top-level talent to their forward ranks through the draft and will not need to trade either defenseman.

The defensemen he's talking about have a shot at being top-pairing d-men, or at the very least, top-four.

Ristolainen has the calm not seen since the days of Teppo Numinnen, while Zadorov brings size, grit and teeth on the back end while just beginning to tap into his offensive potential.

Not yet, Mr. Hamilton.

The Sabres need to see how things shake out at this deadline, the draft and the 2014 free agency period before they do anything like what you suggested.

This is going to be a very interesting three or four months.