Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
When Terry Pegula took over ownership of the Buffalo Sabres in February, 2011, he immediately took off the financial chains that had been binding then GM, Darcy Regier. The team, which had a mandate of "just break even" from the previous ownership group, was now free to pursue any and all free agents available. Which they did.
In the 2011 off-season Regier proceeded to trade for defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and extend him to a long-term contract extension for $40m over 10 seasons. Next on the list was forward Ville Leino who Regier signed to a six-year, $27m contract after their failed effort to land free agent center Brad Richards. Although it was fun seeing the Sabres throw money around like their big city counterparts, these two signings were disastrous as both were bought out using the two compliance buyouts the league offered teams.
As we would find out in the fall of 2011, it wasn't a missing piece or two that had been keeping the Sabres from the playoffs and a possible extended run, it was Regier's team-building concept.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Sabres win, Briere honored, Miller denies Montreal
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
On a night when former Sabres and Flyers great Daniel Briere was honored for a stellar career in Philadelphia, with nods to his time in Buffalo, it was Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons who left a lasting impression at the Wells Fargo Center.
Girgensons took a chip pass from defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo (who played for Philadelphia last season) and deposited a breakaway goal in overtime to give Buffalo it's third win of the season and first one on the road. It was Girgensons' first goal of the season, and first point of the season and was well deserved. “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Z,” said forward Jamie McGinn of Girgensons. “I thought he played a great game. He hustled all over the ice, and he did a lot of good things. There were a lot of plays where he turned a 50-50 puck into a scoring chance.”
McGinn himself garnered his first goal of the season while Colaiacovo, Johan Larsson and Brian Gionta all hit the score sheet for the first time this season. “It’s been trouble for all these games, not just for me,” said Girgensons. “It’s nice for the guys to open up a little bit.”
The Sabres were playing without injured top-line winger Evander Kane who will be out 4-6 weeks and as witnessed by nine players hitting the score sheet, it was a total team effort. "It was a great team win," said Larsson who's two assists made him the only multi-point player on the night for Buffalo. “Everyone battled hard. Every line was rolling. We were shooting, going to the net, so I think this was our best game so far."
On a night when former Sabres and Flyers great Daniel Briere was honored for a stellar career in Philadelphia, with nods to his time in Buffalo, it was Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons who left a lasting impression at the Wells Fargo Center.
Girgensons took a chip pass from defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo (who played for Philadelphia last season) and deposited a breakaway goal in overtime to give Buffalo it's third win of the season and first one on the road. It was Girgensons' first goal of the season, and first point of the season and was well deserved. “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Z,” said forward Jamie McGinn of Girgensons. “I thought he played a great game. He hustled all over the ice, and he did a lot of good things. There were a lot of plays where he turned a 50-50 puck into a scoring chance.”
McGinn himself garnered his first goal of the season while Colaiacovo, Johan Larsson and Brian Gionta all hit the score sheet for the first time this season. “It’s been trouble for all these games, not just for me,” said Girgensons. “It’s nice for the guys to open up a little bit.”
The Sabres were playing without injured top-line winger Evander Kane who will be out 4-6 weeks and as witnessed by nine players hitting the score sheet, it was a total team effort. "It was a great team win," said Larsson who's two assists made him the only multi-point player on the night for Buffalo. “Everyone battled hard. Every line was rolling. We were shooting, going to the net, so I think this was our best game so far."
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Sabres game-day preview before Briere night in Philly
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
It took seven years, an ownership change, and a complete demolition of the 2007-2013 Sabres known as "the core," for Sabreland to finally get over the summer of 2007. But with a new owner and the likes of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen and host of other players, it would seem as if we can finally put that to rest as one of the driving forces behind the success of the 2005-07 Buffalo Sabres teams will be honored in a retirement ceremony tonight at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Daniel Briere was former GM Darcy Regier's greatest acquisition. At the trade deadline in 2003, Regier traded big center Chris Gratton and a 2004 fourth-round pick to the Phoenix Coyotes for Briere and a 2004 third round pick (Andrej Sekera.) Briere, worked his way through the final stages of that poor Buffalo season by scoring 12 points (7+5) in 14 games.
In his first full season for the Sabres he got things rolling with 65 points (28+37) in 82 games. Although it was unfortunate that the 2004-05 lockout hit, a positive is that the "new-NHL" allowed for a freer-flowing game to which suited Briere and his freer-flowing style perfectly.
It took seven years, an ownership change, and a complete demolition of the 2007-2013 Sabres known as "the core," for Sabreland to finally get over the summer of 2007. But with a new owner and the likes of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen and host of other players, it would seem as if we can finally put that to rest as one of the driving forces behind the success of the 2005-07 Buffalo Sabres teams will be honored in a retirement ceremony tonight at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Daniel Briere was former GM Darcy Regier's greatest acquisition. At the trade deadline in 2003, Regier traded big center Chris Gratton and a 2004 fourth-round pick to the Phoenix Coyotes for Briere and a 2004 third round pick (Andrej Sekera.) Briere, worked his way through the final stages of that poor Buffalo season by scoring 12 points (7+5) in 14 games.
In his first full season for the Sabres he got things rolling with 65 points (28+37) in 82 games. Although it was unfortunate that the 2004-05 lockout hit, a positive is that the "new-NHL" allowed for a freer-flowing game to which suited Briere and his freer-flowing style perfectly.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Tough sports weekend in Buffalo, but Rochester pulls out a win
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
While sports radio in Buffalo this morning is filled with who was to blame for the Bills' loss to the previously 1-5 Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, it should be noted the Peace Bridge has effectively been cleared of the few Sabres fans who are ready to jump off at the team's 2-6 start. And if you want a sliver of hope in an otherwise dire weekend, the Rochester Americans did manage to pull out a victory yesterday for Pegula Sports and Entertainments only win of the weekend.
The untamed braggadocio that emanated from One Bills Drive has effectively been shuttered after the loss yesterday while the unfettered enthusiasm emanating from the foot of Washington St. has been tempered considerably after the Sabres dropped back-to-backs at home by a combined 11-4 score. Seven of those goals against were scored by a Stanley Cup contending Montreal Canadians team who came in with a 9-0 record to start the season and the other four came with a rookie goalie in net making his first NHL start.
Even the Amerks were cause for concern as they were humiliated at home by the rival Toronto Marlies (TOR) 8-2 on Friday, the same night the Sabres were getting buried by the Canadiens 7-2. After starting out the season 2-0, Rochester proceeded to lose three straight road games before getting smoked by Toronto. "I was at a loss for words," said Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth after the Toronto game. "After every period to go into [the locker room] and give them advice on how we can be better, and it seems to fall on deaf ears, I don't know. Somebody's got to come up with some answers. There's got to be some guys looking in the mirror."
While sports radio in Buffalo this morning is filled with who was to blame for the Bills' loss to the previously 1-5 Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, it should be noted the Peace Bridge has effectively been cleared of the few Sabres fans who are ready to jump off at the team's 2-6 start. And if you want a sliver of hope in an otherwise dire weekend, the Rochester Americans did manage to pull out a victory yesterday for Pegula Sports and Entertainments only win of the weekend.
The untamed braggadocio that emanated from One Bills Drive has effectively been shuttered after the loss yesterday while the unfettered enthusiasm emanating from the foot of Washington St. has been tempered considerably after the Sabres dropped back-to-backs at home by a combined 11-4 score. Seven of those goals against were scored by a Stanley Cup contending Montreal Canadians team who came in with a 9-0 record to start the season and the other four came with a rookie goalie in net making his first NHL start.
Even the Amerks were cause for concern as they were humiliated at home by the rival Toronto Marlies (TOR) 8-2 on Friday, the same night the Sabres were getting buried by the Canadiens 7-2. After starting out the season 2-0, Rochester proceeded to lose three straight road games before getting smoked by Toronto. "I was at a loss for words," said Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth after the Toronto game. "After every period to go into [the locker room] and give them advice on how we can be better, and it seems to fall on deaf ears, I don't know. Somebody's got to come up with some answers. There's got to be some guys looking in the mirror."
Monday, October 26, 2015
Exasperated. Sabres fall to Devils. Rough start continues
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
As the horn blew to end last night's 4-3 loss at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres rookie center Jack Eichel skated over to his empty net and gave it a whack with his stick. Although it wasn't a full-blown, two-handed chop sending splinters everywhere, it symolized the frustration this young group of Sabres are going through right now.
The loss was their second in a row, fourth in five games and sixth on the season. As it stands right now, Buffalo's four points puts them last in the division, second last in the conference and 28th in the league. In scoring three goals last night, only the second time this season they've scored three or more (CLB, 4,) the Sabres are 26th in the league in goals-for at 1.88 per game. Their seven goals at even strength are less than 50% of their 15 total goals scored. Only the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks have scored less 5-on-5 goals and they've both played one game less than Buffalo.
It was particularly exasperating for the Sabres considering it was Hockey Fights Cancer Night in Buffalo. The pregame video of Sabres players visiting cancer-stricken children at Roswell Park Cancer Institute had eyes welled up throughout Sabreland. Eichel, Evander Kane, Ryan O'Reilly and Mike Weber were amongst the host of Sabres bringing a bit of happiness, if only for a couple of hours, to patients in a battle for their very lives.
And it was Eichel who escorted Matthew Eggers to lead 18 members of Carly's Club on to the ice for the ceremonial puck drop. Carly's Club, says it's mission statement, "exists to offer support programs to make life more manageable for children diagnosed with cancer and their families, and to raise funds for pediatric cancer research seeking cures at Roswell Park Cancer Institute." Each of the 18 children passed the puck to Eggers who dropped it between Sabres captain Brian Gionta and Devils captain. As they paraded off the ice, they received fist-pumps from the Sabres to a standing ovation from the crowd.
So it's within that context that the Sabres ended up frustrated at the end of the game.
As the horn blew to end last night's 4-3 loss at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres rookie center Jack Eichel skated over to his empty net and gave it a whack with his stick. Although it wasn't a full-blown, two-handed chop sending splinters everywhere, it symolized the frustration this young group of Sabres are going through right now.
The loss was their second in a row, fourth in five games and sixth on the season. As it stands right now, Buffalo's four points puts them last in the division, second last in the conference and 28th in the league. In scoring three goals last night, only the second time this season they've scored three or more (CLB, 4,) the Sabres are 26th in the league in goals-for at 1.88 per game. Their seven goals at even strength are less than 50% of their 15 total goals scored. Only the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks have scored less 5-on-5 goals and they've both played one game less than Buffalo.
It was particularly exasperating for the Sabres considering it was Hockey Fights Cancer Night in Buffalo. The pregame video of Sabres players visiting cancer-stricken children at Roswell Park Cancer Institute had eyes welled up throughout Sabreland. Eichel, Evander Kane, Ryan O'Reilly and Mike Weber were amongst the host of Sabres bringing a bit of happiness, if only for a couple of hours, to patients in a battle for their very lives.
And it was Eichel who escorted Matthew Eggers to lead 18 members of Carly's Club on to the ice for the ceremonial puck drop. Carly's Club, says it's mission statement, "exists to offer support programs to make life more manageable for children diagnosed with cancer and their families, and to raise funds for pediatric cancer research seeking cures at Roswell Park Cancer Institute." Each of the 18 children passed the puck to Eggers who dropped it between Sabres captain Brian Gionta and Devils captain. As they paraded off the ice, they received fist-pumps from the Sabres to a standing ovation from the crowd.
So it's within that context that the Sabres ended up frustrated at the end of the game.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
And he shall be Lee-nus, and he shall be the Buffalo goalie tonight
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
After dancing with the media last night about who would start in goal for the Buffalo Sabres tonight when the New Jersey Devils come to town, head coach "Disco" Dan Bylsma announced that Linus (pronounced Leenus) Ullmark will get his first NHL start.
Ullmark's arrival in Buffalo for his first game is just this side of amazing after undergoing elective double-hip surgery in April. The original prognosis was a 6-8 month recovery time but that was pushed up to a return to game-action in November, but his recuperative powers had him back and starting for the Rochester Americans on October 8th.
With Nathan Lieuwen up in Buffalo the door opened up for Ullmark and he dazzled during a 38-save performance against the Utica Comets (VAN.) "You can go on and on about what [Ullmark] did tonight," said Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth post-game. "[His] positioning, quickness, reading [the play], finding the puck. Just textbook. [He's] a big reason we managed to get the win."
Although the Amerks proceeded to lose in his next two starts, Ullmark has been able to hold his own and even rise to the occasion. In his last game before being called up he faced 46 shots from Utica stopping 43 of them for a .934 save percentage. Overall Ullmark has stopped 111 of the 119 shots he's faced for a .932 sv%. Not bad for a guy who didn't play in the preseason.
Buffalo GM Tim Murray focused heavily on the forwards when he turned his sights to building the Sabres and at times he's mentioned the goalie situation working itself out. This is the first big opportunity for this group of homegrown goalies.
Ullmark stands 6'3" and weighs in at 198 lbs. His transition to North American hockey has gone well in Rochester and now he gets a crack at the big-time. Something tells me he'll be ready despite the inconsistent play the Sabres skaters have shown thus far (see last night's 7-2 loss to Montreal.) "We have a thing, risk management," Ullmark said on Thursday. "You always have to be aware of the risk that can happen. You don't think about the safe play. You think about what could go wrong. Everything can turn real bad real fast."
He witnessed that first-hand last night as back-up in Buffalo and hopefully he won't sniff that tonight.
**********
Quick note:
This is the first of 15 sets of back-to-backs for the Sabres this season, down from 19 in 2014-15. Last season they went 4-14-1 in the first game and 4-14-1 in the second game. Buffalo’s point breakdown in back-to-back sets last season was: four points (1), three points (1), two points (5), one point (1) and zero points (11).
After dancing with the media last night about who would start in goal for the Buffalo Sabres tonight when the New Jersey Devils come to town, head coach "Disco" Dan Bylsma announced that Linus (pronounced Leenus) Ullmark will get his first NHL start.
Ullmark's arrival in Buffalo for his first game is just this side of amazing after undergoing elective double-hip surgery in April. The original prognosis was a 6-8 month recovery time but that was pushed up to a return to game-action in November, but his recuperative powers had him back and starting for the Rochester Americans on October 8th.
With Nathan Lieuwen up in Buffalo the door opened up for Ullmark and he dazzled during a 38-save performance against the Utica Comets (VAN.) "You can go on and on about what [Ullmark] did tonight," said Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth post-game. "[His] positioning, quickness, reading [the play], finding the puck. Just textbook. [He's] a big reason we managed to get the win."
Although the Amerks proceeded to lose in his next two starts, Ullmark has been able to hold his own and even rise to the occasion. In his last game before being called up he faced 46 shots from Utica stopping 43 of them for a .934 save percentage. Overall Ullmark has stopped 111 of the 119 shots he's faced for a .932 sv%. Not bad for a guy who didn't play in the preseason.
Buffalo GM Tim Murray focused heavily on the forwards when he turned his sights to building the Sabres and at times he's mentioned the goalie situation working itself out. This is the first big opportunity for this group of homegrown goalies.
Ullmark stands 6'3" and weighs in at 198 lbs. His transition to North American hockey has gone well in Rochester and now he gets a crack at the big-time. Something tells me he'll be ready despite the inconsistent play the Sabres skaters have shown thus far (see last night's 7-2 loss to Montreal.) "We have a thing, risk management," Ullmark said on Thursday. "You always have to be aware of the risk that can happen. You don't think about the safe play. You think about what could go wrong. Everything can turn real bad real fast."
He witnessed that first-hand last night as back-up in Buffalo and hopefully he won't sniff that tonight.
**********
Quick note:
This is the first of 15 sets of back-to-backs for the Sabres this season, down from 19 in 2014-15. Last season they went 4-14-1 in the first game and 4-14-1 in the second game. Buffalo’s point breakdown in back-to-back sets last season was: four points (1), three points (1), two points (5), one point (1) and zero points (11).
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Undefeated Montreal heads to town
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
The 2015-16 edition of the Buffalo Sabres enter tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens with 10 goals scored in six games. Only one team in the league has scored fewer goals so far this young season than the Sabres. The Anaheim Ducks, surprisingly, have scored just six goals in six games. And only one other team is below the Sabres 1.67 goals/game—the Pittsburgh Penguins at 1.57 g/gm.
The 2015-16 edition of the Buffalo Sabres enter tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens with 10 goals scored in six games. Only one team in the league has scored fewer goals so far this young season than the Sabres. The Anaheim Ducks, surprisingly, have scored just six goals in six games. And only one other team is below the Sabres 1.67 goals/game—the Pittsburgh Penguins at 1.57 g/gm.
Although this isn’t an indictment of the present Sabres’
roster or coaching, it is a good thing that Montreal starting goalie Carey Price will be on
the bench tonight. Price
has been brilliant this season. He's 6-0 with a 1.00 gaa, a .966 sv% and two shutouts. In his place will be rookie Mike Condon who will be making is second NHL start. The 6'2"197 lb. Condon allowed one goal in his first ever win, a 3-1 victory in Ottawa over the Senators.
This group of Sabres looks nothing like the teams that hit the ice over the course of the last two seasons. Coach Dan Bylsma has them playing an up-tempo, attack style of play that has them controlling large chunks of the game. They're a group of puck-hounds with speed quickness and skill who, unfortunately, have been a bit snake-bitten in the goal-scoring department. Some of it is missed opportunities, some of it has been a matter of a defenders stick inexplicably getting in front of a shot into a wide open net as Evander Kane and Zemgus Girgensons will attest to. But they're generating plenty of shots, almost 30 per game which is right in the middle of the pack in the NHL.
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