Buffalo Sabres Links: Draft Party, Playoff Beards
Good morning, Buffalo Sabres fans. The Stanley Cup Final continues, and the NHL Draft is just over two weeks away. Exciting times lie ahead — buckle up and get ready.
As per usual, the Buffalo Sabres will be hosting their annual draft party, where fans can flock to First Niagara Center to watch round one of the 2015 NHL Draft on the Jumbotron. Of course, this year’s draft is a little more exciting for Sabres fans, as the likelihood of Jack Eichel being picked up by the Sabres seems pretty high…
Doors for the draft party will open at 6 p.m. Admission is free, and aside from watching the draft itself, there are plenty of other activities planned. [WNY Papers]
Last night, there were a couple of things that happened in the world of the NHL.
First, most people likely already know that the Chicago Blackhawks won, tying the Stanley Cup Final series at two games each with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The big storyline out of that game, however, wasn’t the win — but the absence of goaltender Ben Bishop. Bishop was said to be day-to-day with an injury, which put Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, with Kristers Gudlevskis as his backup.
But elsewhere in the NHL world, the fight has begun for the Arizona Coyotes, as the Glendale City Council voted to end an arena lease agreement with the franchise. [STL Today]
It’s a messy situation, but this likely means a long road ahead for the Coyotes, who are expected to file a $200 million lawsuit as a result of last night’s voting. The ending of the arena lease certainly puts the future of the team in jeopardy. [AZ Central]
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- 3 takeaways from the Buffalo Sabres final Prospects Challenge game
- Buffalo Sabres experiment with lesser-known talent in loss to Pens
- Buffalo Sabres 75 Bold Predictions for 2023-24: Prediction 51
- Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh: A quick look at the Penguins prospects
Going back to the world of the playoffs, one of the time-honored traditions of hockey and the postseason is, of course, the playoff beard. But if NBC Sports has their way, playoff beards will soon be a thing of the past.
That’s right, NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus is trying to do away with playoff beards, claiming that they hurt recognition and that it’s not good for business. [Chicago Tribune]
What do you guys think about this? And is there really any way to do away with the playoff beard? You can’t exactly fine a guy for refusing to shave, so even if you think it’s bad for business, good luck trying to enforce such a thing.
Finally this morning, a few more links:
Four players who stood out at the NHL Combine, hosted by the Buffalo Sabres last weekend. [Sportsnet]
Seven new NHL coaches hired for next season means lot of new faces, old faces and “Wait, he coaches THERE now?!” moments. [NHL.com]
Lastly: the indestructible hockey puck. [Sploid]
Next: Sabres Should Keep Hosting NHL Combine
More from Sabre Noise
- 3 biggest standouts at Buffalo Sabres 2023 Prospects Challenge
- 3 takeaways from the Buffalo Sabres final Prospects Challenge game
- Buffalo Sabres experiment with lesser-known talent in loss to Pens
- Buffalo Sabres 75 Bold Predictions for 2023-24: Prediction 51
- Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh: A quick look at the Penguins prospects