Archive for September, 2010

I had my first Sabres sighting last night and I loved it. Sure, I didn’t love the game I watched– it was horribly boring; however, I did love that I officially saw my favorite hockey team actually play. And please don’t get me wrong, there were a couple exciting moments: Cody McCormick’s double-fisticuffs and the haphazard goal scored by Neidermayer, but it ultimately was a rather boring game. On the flip-side, I did see some things I really liked though. Seeing Jason Pominville actually look like a sniper was pretty nice. Granted, the Sabres were shooting on the unproven rookie [...]

For the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators, it won’t seem like a professional scrimmage tonight – in fact it will probably just be more like a Florida Panthers home game.  The Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators will play in front neutral crowd tonight in Dundas, Ontario, winner of the Hockeyville promotional exhibition game.  The arena the teams will be playing in, JL Grightmire Arena, seats three rows of fans behind the benchs, and five behind the benches.  A to capacity crowd will have a very intimate 970 people in attendance.  Those are numbers some NHL teams would kill for (ahem [...]

The Buffalo Sabres have started making cuts to their training camp roster, in preparation for the October 8 opening game against the Ottawa Senators. Returning to their respective junior level clubs are Riley Boychuk (Portland, WHL), Cedrick Henley (Val d’Or, QMJHL), Steven Shipley (Niagara, OHL), Kevin Sundher (Chilliwack, WHL), Gregg Sutch (Mississauga, OHL), COrey Fienhage (Kamloops, WHL), Jerome Gauthier Leduc (Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL), Matt MacKenzie (Calgary, WHL), and Mark Pysyk (Edmonton, WHL). Remaining with the team for now is Zack Kassian, who according to his agent is back on with the team as far as contracts are concerned.  Kassion is represented [...]

The Buffalo Sabres opened up play with other teams tonight, hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs in preseason exhibition play at HSBC Arena. The road weary Maple Leafs left town on the coattails of a 3-1 loss.  I say road weary because the Toronto squad was playing their fifth game in five nights.  When I heard that, the only sentiment that came to mind was, oh well…you must sleep in the bed that you make, and teams are left the option of setting their preseason schedule – after being the laughing stock of the Northeast Division for as long as they [...]

Hey guys! This has been another busy week, but I wanted to pop in and post my predictions on what the lines are going to look like. This is totally opinion based, but I feel like it is a fair assessment. 1. Vanek    Roy    Pominville I feel like this is an obvious line. They all need to be together. They’re the Sabres’ best players besides Ryan Miller and if they can find a way to all click I think they can be a very dominate line.  Hopefully we can see Vanek reach 40 goals again this year because the team [...]

If you weren’t one of the fortunate to get down town, or watch it on the internet through Sabres.com, the Buffalo Sabres introduced the team and unveiled their new uniforms to a home crowd that numbered about as many as a Florida Panthers home game. But all kidding aside, the 2010-2011 season is officially underway. Highlighting this season will be the defense of the Northeast Division Championship.  Will the Sabres be able to take the top seed in the division again?  They haven’t changed their ways at goaltending; so they will need to have the same Ryan Miller back. This [...]

Alright guys and gals, it’s time to talk prospects  and I have one in mind- Zack Kassian. I have truly mixed emotions about this young-gun for obvious reasons. We all know about his brutally disgusting elbow that found him suspended for 20 games last year and we also know about his arrest for “allegedly” being in a bar altercation. However, with all that aside, I think he is the most promising young player the Sabres have. I’m typically a person who prefers character guys over showy players, but I think the Sabres have had too many character guys and I [...]

With just two days to go until camp officially opens for the Buffalo Sabres, the defensive outlook position looks to be where the most battles for a roster spot will take place.  Heres a quick look at the Sabres defensive players and prosepcts, and who might get themselves a line up spot on opening night, and who might be making the trip to Portland.  Its not hard to say that Jordan Leopold and Shaone Morrisonn are going to be in the lineup on opening night, brought into fill the gaps left by Tallinder and Lydman leaving, its nice to see [...]

I mostly keep my personal self away from the sports self, here, but I think this is a good cause. Most all of us know someone who has been afflicted or affected by Breast Cancer.  It is with that reason behind me walking on October 3rd in the Buffalo, NY Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. If it is within your means, please head over to this link and make a donation.  Any support at all is worthy.  If you can’t do it financially, join up as a walker yourself and spread the word to collect funds yourself – every [...]

Tyler Ennis is not only making a name for himself in the NHL, but he’s also making jokes too.  Can’t you tell I’m huge now? Thats all the young Sabres forward had to say when asked about his weight gain this past summer.  He still checks it a smallish 5 feet 9 inches, and just under two hundred pounds.  But he is willing to carry more on his shoulders than his frame suggests.  A top six forward position perhaps?  The small center doesn’t have too much competition in the lines of of the top three centers on this team, as [...]