Buffalo Sabres Daily: Traverse City, NHL Expansion, Elmira Jackals
By Tim Redinger
Buffalo Sabres look for third Traverse City Championship appearance. [Sports Media 101].
Buffalo rejoins the Ted Lindsay Division with the Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Rangers. They will play each team once, before taking on their respectively placed team in the Gordie Howe Division, which includes prospect invitees from the host Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues.
Buffalo hasn’t announced their roster just yet for the tournament, but after the success of development camp – you can bet a lot of those guys who have a chance in the Buffalo Sabres system will be there. All prospect teams are guaranteed four games in the tournament, here is a schedule of Buffalo’s games:
Friday, Sept. 12 – Buffalo v. Carolina, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13 – Buffalo v. NY Rangers, 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 15 – Dallas v. Buffalo, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 16 –
Seventh-Place Game: 4th Lindsay v. 4th Howe, 3 p.m. (David’s Rink)
Fifth-Place Game: 3rd Howe v. 3rd Lindsay, 3:30 p.m. (West Rink)
Third-Place Game: 2nd Lindsay v. 2nd Howe, 6:30 p.m. (David’s Rink)
Championship Game: 1st Howe v. 1st Lindsay, 7 p.m. (West Rink)
Ted Nolan and Tyler Myers are a match made in hockey heaven. [WGR550].
When Tyler Myers was a rookie, he had a veteran presence on the other side, and a coaching staff that dictated his almost every move, making it easy for Tyler Myers to play his game.
Then all of a sudden – Tyler Myers was a Calder Trophy winner, and the team let him do his thing – seemingly on his own becuase, well they figured he was that caliber of player.
There is a new regime in town, and despite anyone’s status in the National Hockey League, no position is guaranteed, and you have to work and prove you are deserving of your ice time. Watch out this season for the re-emergence of Tyler Myers.
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We shouldn’t see the revolving door of players this year, and Tyler Myers won’t be left to his own devices. I am not saying that Tyler Myers needs to have his hand held – but he is still a kid, figuring out his way in the league. Had Tyler Myers had an established veteran defenseman with him his entire time in the league so far, you would have seen a different player.
The current regime of the Buffalo Sabres still have to think that Tyler Myers is going to turn into the face of the franchise – his contract practically requires it. Actually treating him like that type of defenseman, is going to help both the player and the team.
Elmira Jackals continue busy offseason of signings. [Star Gazette].
Another rookie signs a standard player contract with the Buffalo Sabre ECHL affiliate, this time in the form of defenseman Zach Tolkinen.
Tolkinen just finished his NCAA eligibility with Quinnipiac University where he had three goals and 19 assists in 36 games.
“Zach is a strong defenseman with an active stick and a long reach.” –Jackals head coach Jamie Russell
The Elmira Jackals, probably with some guidance from the Buffalo Sabres are restocking a roster that failed to make the playoffs last year, the first time the team missed the playoffs in the ECHL.
Seattle’s prospective NHL owner working on Arena deal. [Seattle pi].
Expansion is inevitable. The Western Conference needs two more teams. Seattle has to be on the list. With AHL expansion on the horizon to move more AHL affiliates out west to balance the league travel out for prospects is going to help the cause to bring two more NHL teams into the short staffed Western Conference.
That doesn’t bode well for cities in hotbed hockey markets of the East coast who are pining for the return of an NHL franchise – i.e. the Quebec fanbase who desperate wants the return of the Nordiques, and many fans that have emerged that would love to see the return of the Hartford Whalers.
East Coast realignment is almost necessary as well. The Nashville Predators wouldn’t mind coming East – the lone team in an earlier time zone that has to face West coast teams.
The unstable Florida Panthers might be a target for one of those teams. Florida could move West, opening the door for the Nashville Predators to come East.
Las Vegas, Houston, Oklahoma City, Quebec City, Kansas City, Portland, Seattle, and Toronto getting a second franchise are all on the list for possible NHL expansion/relocation.
Terry Pegula doing everything right in bid for Buffalo Bills. [Daily News].
He has stayed out of the media, he hasn’t talked to anyone – and he has let the people he has hired to run the Buffalo Sabres run the Buffalo Sabres.
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So why is the trust in charge of selling the Buffalo Bills dragging their feet on handing over the franchise? Well for one they want the best possible deal they can get from a new owner, and they want to make sure the right person gets the Buffalo Bills.
So what about Terry Pegula isn’t right for the job?
Absolutely nothing. He bought the Buffalo Sabres out of sheer love for the franchise – and has since fallen in love and dedicated himself to the area. Terry Pegula, despite not hailing from Buffalo anymore, has more than enough money and passion to dedicate to whatever he wants – and he is very choosy about what he does with his money, but when he does, he is committed.
Come on trust – hand him the keys already. My thoughts – the team will likely be sold before the regular season starts, with a home opener announcement – which should energize both the team and the fans.