Ice cold Sabres head to midwest. Craig Rivet talks Jack Eichel, Ristolainen.

Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com


As if a five-game losing streak stretching back to December wasn't bad enough, the ice cold Buffalo Sabres begin a three-game road trip in Chicago tonight before heading to the frozen outpost known as Winnipeg on Sunday to play the Jets who are 19-19-3. As they conclude their trip on Tuesday in Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Wild (1-11-8,) the hope is that Buffalo will have heated up on the ice even if the weather is frigid outside.

For the many who thought that this young Sabres squad might compete for a playoff spot, the bucket of water that's been tossed on you is mighty cold. Just the facts:  The Sabres have a 15-21-4 record good for 34 points and the 29th spot in the league and, including the 0-2 start to this month, Buffalo is 4-20-4 in the month of January over the last two seasons.

El niño? Enero no ha sido bueno, señor.

The Sabres hit the ice at 8:30pm tonight in Chicago to face a Blackhawks team that, what a surprise, is on a five-game winning streak. Kinda seems like a theme for Buffalo. They started out the season facing a Montreal club that was on the brink of setting an NHL record for wins in a row to start the season and proceeded to get thumped, 7-2. Last month Washington came strolling into First Niagara Center on a seven-game winning streak and proceeded to up that to nine with consecutive wins over the Sabres (2-0 and 5-2.)

And the surprising (to some) Florida Panthers hit Buffalo this past Tuesday on a nine-game win-streak. They proceeded to make it 10 games as they thumped the Sabres 5-1 in one of Buffalo's worst efforts of the season.

Are you depressed yet?

Hope not, cause I got more for ya. The Sabres are 1-8-1 in their last 10 against Chicago and haven't emerged victorious at the Madhouse on Madison since January 10, 2007. Jochen Hecht and Max Afinogenov had the goals and Ryan Miller stopped 34 of 35 shots in the Sabres 2-1 victory back then.

The "Rivet Rule-Of-Thumb"

Former Sabres' d-man, Craig Rivet

Just what is the "Rivet Rule-Of-Thumb?"

Basically it involves using two key factors--two that led to the sharp decline in former Sabres' defenseman Craig Rivet's play-- as a barometer when looking to bring in (or keep) a tough, gritty stay-at-home-type defenseman.

For the last three seasons, we Sabres' fans have watched the decline of the rugged defenseman and former captain.

His early years in Montreal were marked by a style of play that endeared him to Montreal fans--as well as hockey fans in general. Rivet, at 6'2" 210 lbs. was the consummate team player, he was a defensive defenseman who was never afraid the throw a hit or grapple/joust with an opponent to clear the crease. Although he wasn't the biggest d-man, he did not back down when battling much bigger opponents.

An assistant captain with the Canadians, Rivet was also known for dropping the gloves with anyone to protect his teammates.

His career in Montreal stretched for the better part of 11 seasons. In the 2005/06 new-NHL, he was able to maintain that rugged quality while upping his offensive output as witnessed by his best production at that time.

The San Jose' Sharks traded for Rivet in the middle of the 2006/07 season and he continued his offensive output as well as his rugged style of play.

It was only after his trade to the Buffalo Sabres, at the age of 34, that the effects of his gritty game began to take its toll.

The Sharks traded him to the Sabres in the 2008 off-season in the second year of his recently inked four-year contract.

Heralded as a gritty player that would help toughen-up a Buffalo team that was considered one of the softest and easiest teams to play against, Rivet was voted by the team as captain.

He opened up the 2008/09 campaign as exactly the player that was expected--hitting, blocking shots, clearing the crease and dropping the gloves in defense of his teammates.

Although he had played 64 games that season, it's estimated that only the first few weeks were played injury-free. The rest of the season saw him endure injuries ranging from shoulder to knee.

The 2009/10 campaign saw him play in 78 games, at times playing some of his best hockey as a Sabre. It was widely thought that he played that entire season injured and his play at the tail end of the season showed it.

At the age of 35 he entered the 2010/11 season in the final year of his contract. Injuries once again plagued him and the speed of the game, which was present throughout his time with the Sabres, now even more evident as the opposition seemed to skate circles around him.

He looked real slow. He looked shot, and his body seemed to be failing him. This last season saw Rivet go from injury to press box to ineffective to press box to waivers, eventually ending up in Columbus with the Blue Jackets. In what may be his last game in the NHL, he was ejected after jousting and hacking at a Buffalo Sabre in the last game of the regular season. The player he engaged with was 5'9", 160 lb forward Tyler Ennis.

Two factors had contributed to Rivet's decline--his individual style of play and the overall speed of the NHL, which had really kicked into gear in the 2006/07 season.

The speed of the NHL is blazing which left, or is leaving, many of the big, tough NHL defensemen known for their hitting, in the dust in their early to mid 30's.

Here are a few players whose decline, like Rivet's, could be attributed to the aforementioned factors:

Derian Hatcher throwin' 'em down

Derian Hatcher--A bruiser on the blueline where he used his 6'5, 235 lb. frame to punish in his shutdown role. In his first season post-lockout he managed to hold his own, but the speed of the new-NHL really hastened his decline as witnessed by the Buffalo Sabres who ran circles around him and the whole Philadelphia Flyers team-building philosophy in the 2006/07 season. He and the team bottomed out, and while the Flyers rebuilt, Hatcher played half the 2007/08 season and spent the final year of his contract on injured reserve at the age of 36.

Mike Rathje

Mike Rathje--after 11 seasons with San Jose', the big, 6'5, 235 lb. defensman became a Philadelphia Flyer and joined the aforementioned Hatcher anchoring the blueline. He spent 13 years total in the NHL as a stay-at-home d-man, playing only one full year post-lockout. After only 18 games in the 2006/07 season, he, his injured groin and $3.5m contract were buried on the injured reserve list and Rathje was not heard from again. He played his last game at the age of 32.

Jason Smith

Jason Smith--Big hits and blocking shots. Those were the traits of this rugged 6'3, 220 lb tough d-man. Smith spent a total of 15 seasons in the NHL, his early years being formed by NJ Devils thundercrunch d-man, Scott Stevens. His years with the Devils and then the Toronto Maple Leafs were marked by defensive breakdowns as he went for the big hit which left him as a minus player during those years. At the age of 25 he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He spent the next five pre-lockout seasons playing the best hockey of his career. At the age of 32 he came back in the new-NHL, holding his own. The next season, though, he was left in the dust, his decline hastened by the speed of the league. He retired at the age of 36.

Former Sabre's d-man Jay Mckee blocks
a shot with the Blues at the tail-end
of his 14-year career

Jay Mckee--A Buffalo Sabres fan-favorite due to his hard-hitting/shot-blocking style of play. His prime years were spent in Buffalo before signing a lucrative contract in the 2006 off-season with St. Louis. The 2006/07 season saw the beginning of the decline with McKee being felled by a rash of "lower-body" injuries to his knees and hips. Already considered somewhat slow, at the age of 29, the speed of the new-NHL had passed him up and for the final years of his contract with the Blues (eventually seeing him waived by the club) along with one on Pittsburgh, he was relegated to third-pairing minutes and spent many games as a healthy scratch.

Sheldon Souray (left) goes at it
with Calgary's Jarome Iginla

Sheldon Souray--The 6'4" 233 lb. d-man with serious offensive (in more ways than one) acumen was an above average skater with a big shot and an edge. After an injury-plagued start to his career in NJ, Souray was traded to the Montreal Canadians at age 23. The injuries continued throughout the first few years with the Canadians and he missed the entire 2002/03 season with a wrist injury. Souray followed that lost season with the best offensive output of his career peaking in 2006/07 at the age of 30. Injuries hit once again in the first year as a free-agent signing by Edmonton. He played only 23 games in the 2007/08 season yet followed that with his second most productive year as a pro only to see him succumb to injuries--and attitude--the following season. He spent the entire 2010/11 season in the minors after no club wanted to trade for him or pick him up on waivers. He is now 34 yrs. old.

"JovoCop" in Phoenix

Ed Jovanovski--The #1 overall pick in 1994 by the Florida Panthers was considered the prototypical defender with size, grit and scoring prowess from the back-end. "Jovocop" was set to patrol the Panthers blueline with a "Scott Stevens-type" edge while putting up big offensive numbers. His pedestrian output in Florida, though, lead to an eventual blockbuster trade to Vancouver (Pavel Bure' being a part of the deal.) At the age of 23, he began what was to be the best overall hockey of his career. But, the post-lockout 2005/06 season saw injuries begin to creep in, mostly "lower body" of the abdominal and foot variety. After signing with Phoenix in the 2006 off-season, groin injuries started to creep into the occasion as well and he only played in 54 games. The latter part of his career in Phoenix (he's now a UFA) was marked by solid offensive numbers and a decidedly negative plus-minus. This past season, at age 34 (after two injury-free seasons,) the "upper-body" injuries limited him to 50 regular season games, and relegated him ineffective in the playoffs as the Yotes were swept by the Detroit Red Wings.

Looking ahead towards next season, here are a few big, tough, gritty d-men who are at various stages of their prime years. These stay-at-home, crease-clearers seem to be entering into that time where injuries may start having an adverse affect on their ability to play their game in a faster NHL:

Anton Volchenkov, NJ Devils--29 yrs. old. Has not played a full NHL season to date. After playing 78 games in the 2006/07 season he has played in 67, 68, 64 and 57 games the following respective seasons.

Mike Komisarek, Toronto Maple Leafs--29 yrs. old. 82 games in the 2006/07 season, 75, 66, 34 and 75 the next four seasons.

Robyn Regehr, Calgary Flames--31 yrs. old. Post-lockout played in 68, 78, 82, 75, 81, 79 games respectively.

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins--34 yrs. old. Played in 80 or more games three of the last four seasons, no less than 71 since  2000/01.

Brooks Orpik, Pittsburgh Penguins--After playing in at least 70 games from 2006-2010, played in 64 last season with groin and finger problems.

Eric Brewer, Tampa Bay Lightning--A trade-deadline acquisition by the Bolts, seems to have found "fresh legs" at the age of 32. The two years prior to the 2010/11 season saw him play in a total of 87 regular season games.

As we look forward to the 2011/12 season, with Sabre's Head Coach Lindy Ruff expressing the desire for a "shutdown" d-man to pair with Tyler Myers, we may need to keep the "Rivet Rule-Of-Thumb" in mind.

The speed of the game relegates any big, tough, defensive/shutdown d-man to a window that limits their effectivenss to their prime years. As they get up there in age, the body, while trying to keep up with the game, starts breaking down. Although the will to keep up is there, the muscles stretch and tear trying to do things beyond their capabilities, with their sharp decline in performance being directly attributed to the speed of the game.

We're also going to keep this in mind when looking long-term at the Sabres' own players, including Myers (and possibly Mike Weber) who's one player that looks to be headed for a lucrative long-term contract with the club.

The "Rivet Rule Of Thumb":  Be very wary of physical d-men and/or shot-blockers once they are into their 30's, odds are they're gonna end up road-kill sooner rather than later.

craig rivet claimed by the blue jackets

the former sabres captain heads to ohio as the columbus blue jackets claimed the veteran d-man on re-entry waivers from the sabres...

the blue jackets have been hot as of late going 10-3-3 climbing to within two points of the top-eight in an extremely tight western conference with the jackets having at least one game in hand all four teams in front of them...

also of note, veteran d-man and stanley cup winner, mike commodore was placed on re-entry waivers by the jackets at the same time as rivet...no word on whether he's been claimed...

yet another blue-jacket note, the ottawa senators have placed pascal leclaire, a former #1 pick of the jackets (#8 overall, 2001) on waivers..the 28 year old goalie went to the sens, along with a second-round pick in exchange for antoinne vermette in 2009...

leclaire's bio includes an excellent season in 2007/08, ended up in a battle for the #1 spot with upstart goalie steve mason and was hobbled by injuries for much of the last two seasons...he will be an unrestricted free agent at seasons end (hmmm...possible back-up for the sabres?)...


best of luck to craig rivet...he was a stand-up guy for the organization and when he was healthy, he provided leadership, grit and toughness, all traits that were seriously lacking when the sabres traded for him back in 2008...

wow...that didn't take long

a mere 24 hrs. after terry pegula officially became the owner of the buffalo sabres and talked about the future by saying that "there will be no financial mandates on the hockey department," the buffalo sabres announced that they have waived team-captain craig rivet...

this was done after pegula made an appearance on wgr's howard simon show this morning stating that underneath all the padding, the players are human beings while alluding to the discomfort of players having to come to the ring with bags packed...

rivet has about $850k on his expiring contract, was 8th on the sabres defensive depth-chart and has been a healthy scratch for over a month...

pegula said he wanted to hit the ground running and looks as if the sabres have finally left the starting gate...

there were many memorable moments from yesterday's presser, but one of the things that might be somewhat overlooked was his thanx to gary bettman and bill daly for expediting the sale process...

with five days left until the trade-deadline and the sabres on the playoff bubble, it seems as if pegula and his team are looking to the immediate future as well as developing a long-term plan...

the darcy regier/craig rivet conversation ; )

darcy regier:  so, craig...how did dinner go with nabby (evgeni nabokov)?

craig rivet:  dinner?

dr:  yeah...you know, when we were in san jose'

cr:  oh, yeah...ummmm...he said hi, how's it going?

dr:  that's all?

cr:  uh...well, he did ask me how the steak was and whether or not i was gonna have dessert

dr:  anything else

cr:  yeah...of course...he asked me how the wife and kids were

dr:  look, craig, i know that things haven't worked out all that well this season, but i have alot of  respect for the way you've handled yourself this season...a true proffesional

cr:  ummm, darce?...my butt hurts from riding the pine?

dr:  yeah, i know the feeling...i can't seem to get off of my ass to get things done...unfortunately, new ownership, through my boss, has been bagging on me because they see an opportunity here to upgrade the team and...

cr:  you gonna make lindy play me?

dr:  ummm, sorry craig, that's not what i had in mind

cr:  (dissappointment envelopes the vet) "ohhhhh...so what did you have in mind, darce?

dr:  if the isles waive nabokov, and we have the opportunity to claim him, we're gonna do that

cr:  he doesn't want to come to buffalo...nobody does, unless they have to...and even then it takes months to get over the depression

dr:  you didn't say anything to him over dinner, did you?

cr:  (with a cheshire grin)...i told him the steak was cooked perfectly and that we shoulda went with a cab instead of merlot (smiles)

dr:  (grunts)...but you like it here, right?...i mean...it was tough, but the place grows on you, right?

cr:  ummm, yeah, kinda...the wife and kids are ok with it...you sure you can't convince lindy to play me?

dr:  craig, this is very important...i want to put you in a position to play...for a contender

cr:  i thought you said we were a contender

dr:  early-year pr-blather...try to follow me, will you?

cr:  (snickers)...two top-twenty centers (snickers)

dr:  stop that, craig...this is important

cr:  cup-contender (snickers)

dr:  craig!?

cr:  all right, allright...go ahead

dr:  if (garth) snow puts nabby on waivers, and it comes to us, we're gonna claim him

cr:  but he doesn't want to play here and he'll just not report like he did with the isles

dr:  i know, good possibility, but that's where i need you

cr:  me?

dr:  yeah, you

cr:  what do you want me to do

dr:  look...here's the deal...were gonna claim nabby...

cr:  i'm tellin' ya, he's not gonna report

dr:  this is what you're gonna tell him

cr:  i'm gonna tell him?

dr:  yeah...you're gonna tell him...tell him we're gonna give him three or four games in february to showcase him to the contenders and get him into nhl game-shape...we as a team should be able to snag a win or two in the process

cr: hmmmm...yeah...that could work...i guess...what about lalime?

dr:  not your concern, although, if you must know, you, he and buts can talk strategy...or american idol...or whatever you want to in the press box...

cr:  i don't think millsey will be happy...you know?...he likes patty on the bench....

dr:  yeah, in know...i really don't want to hurt his feelings, but he'll need to take one for the team...he'll get over it

cr:  so, you want me to convince my buddy to come to buffalo...basically want me to ruin our friendship...

dr:  stop that!

cr:  ...and if i do?...what's in it for me?...a new seat cushion?

dr:  well, craig...the plan is this...first and foremost, i gotta get a return for nabby...there are two teams that could use a goalie at that price--detroit and philadelphia...i plan on getting them in a bidding war...

cr:  but what about me?...can i go too?

dr:  not sure...i'll try, but both don't have much cap room...you know you make $3.5m, right?

cr:  hey...that's what you bargained for with the trade

dr:  (big sigh)...ok listen...those two are first on my list...if i can swing somethin' with them where you can go too, fine...if not, i have a back-up plan

cr:  hmmmm...a back-up plan?...really?...(sarcastically) like in july, 2007?

dr:  that's not funny, craig

cr:  (snickers)

dr:  anyhow, san jose' could use a goalie

cr: i really liked it there....(lightbulb comes on in his head)...hey!!!...me and nabby back in san jose!...can we bring griersy along?

dr:  you're complicating things, craig...anyhow, don't get your hopes up with the sharks

cr:  but i really, reallllllllyyyy liked it there

dr:  i know, you've mentioned it a billion times...anyhow...ummm...where was i?...oh yeah...detroit, philadelphia, san jose' and possibly colorado

cr:  colorado?...denver's awesome

dr:  yup...but nothin'll happen unless, number one, we get the opportunity to claim nabby...and number two that you can convince me that you'll convince nabby to report to the sabres...

cr:  have you talked to those teams about this?

dr:  ummmmm...for the record...no...but us gm's think alike and i think they're smart enough to figure it out

cr:  heyyyy...is that what garth (snow) was planning on?...

dr:  you're interupting...anyway...that's neither here nor there...you on board?

cr:  i don't know, darce...i'm still pretty ticked that i'm not gettin' playin' time

dr:  you know, if i pull a package deal with you, i'll need to showcase you as well...we got games vs. the thrash, the sens and...get this (big smile, wink and a nudge)...detroit!...to end the month...right before the deadline....

cr:  (sheer joy gives way to darkened skeptisim)...are you sure the big guys want you to do this?

dr:  yup

cr:  you know, i really can't see you doing this on your own...i mean just look at the last three...

dr:  stop...

cr:  deadlines...there was...

dr:  stop it...i know...you on board?

cr:  you sure you can get this done?

dr:  yup...but we gotta bring nabby on board first...

cr:  and you'll promise me i'll go to a contender?

dr:  no promises...if not you get to eat hot dogs and pound slurpees in the pressbox for the rest of the year...for $3.5m

cr:  hey...i told ya...you made the trade

dr:  yeah...i know...just havin' a little fun

cr:  you know, i'm a proffessional...i want to play...i don't know if i can sit on the sideline and watch the rest of the season..i get itchy...really want to punch someone, ya know?

dr:  not really...i never wanted to punch anyone, except for maybe kevin lowe...but he's a tough cookie...too tough for my first fight...anyway...tell ya what...if i can't package you...i'll give you a personal assistant to guide get you through the inactivity and any guilt you may have...and if you fell the urge, i won't say anything if you happen to...ummmm...take out your frustration on him...and i'm paying for it....

cr:  oh, yeah?

dr:  yeah...i gotta a true veteran of that situation--tim connolly

cr:  (rubs chin)...yup...that works

dr:  deal?

up from the ashes

a heckuva run thus-far for the buffalo sabres...five games in a row decided after regulation, four of them ending up in wins for the good guys...

some thanx need to go out...

to fate... for having drew stafford go down to injury and captain craig rivet go down to illness...in wishing no ill will towards any player (including anyone from the ottawa senators, toronto maple leafs and philadelphia flyers) the down-time for these two players seemed to help the team in two areas...

firstly, "la core" of top-six forwards was shaken up for more than just a shift, period or game...as has been mentioned before, the top-six were all of the same ilk--generally speaking, soft-but-skilled and lacking heart...stafford was the embodiment of that...you just can't have two-thirds of your top-six (stafford and tim connolly) wussing out and failing to put it on the line...in addition, thomas vanek was flustered in his attempt to bust through a wall this season, his frustration leading to bouts of coasting, and that's half of your top-six...

stafford going down allowed for young-gun tyler ennis to reclaim a spot next to derek roy on the top-line with vanek taking the other wing...ennis, who has danny gare-like qualities, had been plying his trade in the bottom-six because there was no room at the top...how did ennis respond?...by schooling jean-sebastian giguere for the game-winning/sabres winless streak ending goal:



since that line has been together, the sabres have gone 4-0-1, all games going past regulation moving the team from the bottom of the eastern conference to 10th place...ennis (3 goals, +4,) roy (2 goals, 6 assists +7) and vanek (2 goals, 4 assists +5) combined for 7 goals and 10 assists and are a whopping +16...they also came through in the clutch...ennis vs. toronto (see above,) roy got the game-winning shoot-out goal vs. new jersey and thomas vanek gave the "how-do-you-do" to the capitals in ot on the espn #1 highlight:



then followed it up by harassing vancouver canucks defenseman dan hamhuis into a giveaway that leads to tyler myers' game-winner in overtime:



on the back end, the embattled, oft-injured, recently benched and food poisoned/flu-bit craig rivet has been out of the line-up since the toronto game...kind of a good thing too...

this is nothing against him and his style of play, but with both him and shaone morrison in the line-up, that's two heavy-chevy's in an increasingly faster nhl...his abscence wouldn't be that prevalent vs. the nj devils or the ny rangers (one win and one ot loss,) but the washington capitals and vancouver canucks represented porsche's in the nhl...the defense for the sabres became much more mobile and as a result the team was able to skate with both teams...the result?...the sabres get their first home win of the season vs. the caps in overtime and follow that up with an end-to-end speed-rush-duel victory in overtime vs. the canucks...

other factors in the alignment of the stars for the sabres:

• jason pomminville getting back into game-shape after his bout with a concussion and stabalized an inept pk
• jhonas enroth holding the fort while ryan miller went down, especially vs. toronto in the shoot-out (see above)...his numbers weren't anything to speak of, but the team seemed to "find it's legs" while playing in front of the rookie net-minder and he came up big when it was necessary...
• matt ellis gets the call from portland to add some size and grit on the fourth line and plays really well

all-in-all, the sabres are out of the cellar, next stop, .500 hockey...

does november equal a "fresh start?"

"ahh say, ahh say, this team's more mixed up than a featha in a whirlwind"



"Right now is a very difficult time for this team. We're trying to grasp the style of play that we want to play, which I don't think we've found yet."--Craig Rivet

words from buffalo sabres captain craig rivet after being afforded the opportunity to watch the last two games from the press box as a healthy scratch...yup...been the same thing for the last 3+ seasons as the team said goodbye to the run 'n gun, feel-good days of the immediate post-lockout buffalo sabres...

that's to be saved for another day...right now, as the team heads into november, a quick look back at some individual stats for the month of october:

• points--derek roy, 13...jordan leopold, tim connolly, thomas vanek, drew stafford, 7
• goals--roy, 6....vanek, connolly, 4
• power play goals--vanek, myers, 2...roy, leopold, 1
• assists--roy, 7...tyler ennis, steve montador, 5
• power play assists--roy, 4...eight with 1
• primary assists--ennis, roy, montador, 4
• plus/minus--montador, +9...ennis, +4...stafford, goose, +3
• plus/minus (bottom)--myers, -10...vanek, -5...morrisonn, -4

forwards avg. toi:

• total--roy, 19:37...stafford, 16:48...vanek, 16:38
• even strength--roy, 15:04...stafford, 13:18...vanek, 13:06
• power play--roy, 3:32...vanek, 3:25...stafford, 3:14
• penalty kill--mike grier, 3:17...jochen hecht, 2:17...connolly, 2:05

defensemen avg. toi:

• total--jordan leopold, 23:56...tyler myers, 23:26...montador, andrej sekera, 19:08
• even strength--leopold, 17:36...myers, 16:44...montador, 16:39
• power play--myers, 3:15...leopold, 3:11...sekera, 2:48
• penalty kill--myers, 3:26...morrisonn, 3:23...leopold, 3:09

goaltending:

• ryan miller--3-5-2...277 sa, 27 ga.......gaa, 2.71...sv. percentage, .903...shutouts, 0
• patrick lalime--0-2...62 sa, 6ga......gaa, 4.03...sv. percentage, .871...shutouts, 0