Archive for June, 2011

Christian Ehrhoff has signed with the Buffalo Sabres. Full credit goes to Buffalo Wins for breaking this story first on Twitter, risking their reputation but knowing that they had it right. Wow. That’s all I can say. In the course of the week the Buffalo Sabres have completely overhauled the look of their defense entire goddamn team. They went from a group of kids with a Gaping Blue Line to an absolutely stacked defensive core. Bob McKenzie said on the radio that the deal is 10 years and $40 million. He is now the highest paid Sabres defender ever…topping Robyn [...]

I can’t remember a time in recent years that Sabres fans have been so excited about July 1st,  the first day of the NHL free agent market. The Sabres have been been burned in the past by the open market, most notably July 1, 2007 when the team lost co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. That was one of the worst days to be a Sabre fan, in my opinion. Now on July 1, 2011, the Sabres have a chance to sign the biggest name in this years market.

For many Sabres fans, June 30th was just another day on the calendar.  This year, sites like Twitter and Facebook will need to increase their bandwidth for servers dedicated to the Northeast, because many people in Buffalo will be on those sites with a case of hockey insomnia - pacing their dens, living rooms, kitchens, and driveways anxiously awaiting the tremors that will be felt by the splash made by the Buffalo Sabres in free agency. 

“It’s not about the money. It’s about sending a message.” – The Joker (The Dark Knight). How fitting it is. Terry Pegula’s pockets are deep, and he’s made no qualms about spending what needs to be spent to turn Buffalo into a hockey destination. But he’s brought in a man with the know-how in Ted Black, and he’s got a GM with the experience and vision of Darcy Regier (without a self-imposed cap), and together they’ve made their intention clear. They’ll spend what needs to be spent. The important issue is the message.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the New York Islanders have traded the negotiating rights to defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to the Buffalo Sabres for a 4th round draft pick. This comes just hours after the Isles acquired the rights from Vancouver for a 4th round pick. What this means is that the Sabres have a window in which to negotiate with the player, who is considered one of the top free agent defensemen set to hit the market July 1st. If the Sabres manage to strike a deal with Ehrhoff, their blueline, with last weeks acquisition of Robyn Regehr, will have [...]

If the Buffalo Sabres are going to continue their busiest off season since the team was incepted in 1970 – at least since the expansion and salary cap era – they could be gearing up for a possible run at the best unrestricted free agent this year, Brad Richards, currently of the Dallas Stars, at least until Friday.  Talking to WGR this morning, his agent said Buffalo should pursue the free agent aggressively.  While Richards will probably take the biggest deal he can, the rumors that he wants to play in New York and move back East are probably going [...]

It appears that the Buffao Sabres have inked restricted free agent Nathan Gerbe to a long term deal. **EDIT 1:18PM – while long term was how it was first described to me, its more like a multi-year deal, with the deal being three years.  I have heard the number to be around the 4-5 million dollar range.  Terms and conditions have yet to be released, but it eliminates the chance of Gerbe opting to go to arbitration.  The Buffalo Sabres still have to get contracts done for Jhonas Enroth, Andrej Sekera, Mike Weber, and Marc Gragnani.  Of those four, all but Jhonas [...]

So, boys and girls, free agency starts in earnest this Friday, and every Sabres fan from Buffalo, New York to Rosthern, Saskatchewan (What up, Robyn?!?) is anticipating, and hoping for, a few fireworks before the Fourth. Darcy Regier is on record as saying he wants to “upgrade” the center position and add an “experienced” defenseman. We will soon find out whether or not the waiving of a no-movement clause by a certain (former) Calgary Flames defenseman will draw the curiosity of some of the league’s elite free agents.

I had my doubts about keeping Darcy Regier around as general manager – he’s been here through regime changes and nothing seems to change the way he does business.  The guys on WGR have constantly stated that the product on the ice could be an honest reflection of what Darcy Regier thinks that a winning hockey team is.  With the gloves off, it appears that Darcy’s vision at a winner is a little more – talented that we all thought.  That is, unless someone else is making the hockey calls and Darcy is just a frontman.  All I know is, [...]

The drama of Regehr-gate is behind us now, with the Sabres boasting a new, no-nonsense bad ass on the blueline. The Sabres blueline is tougher and much improved as it stands today, with the addition of Regehr and the subtraction of Chris Butler. A tandem of Robyn Regehr and Tyler Myers sounds as right as peanut butter and jelly. Kelly and Reed. Vodka and cranberry. But there was a downside to this deal.