The Buffalo Sabres: A Contender In The Making continues on with the next article in the series. Welcome to part 2 of 3, an overall look at the Sabres‘ offense, its short comings and what can be done to address any needs to plug the holes in the dam, so to speak.
There is a great deal of information to cover in this article and there will be a great deal of speculation and conjecture on the part of many readers. One thing is absolutely certain, The Buffalo Sabres’ forwards (12 of the 23 man roster) are on life support. There is near zero secondary scoring from lines two, three or four and what is probably the most concerning of all is the lack of depth at the Center position, either with the big club or in the development pipeline. Let us begin this journey into the Sabres’ offense with clear minds. We’re going to need it given the woes of this team of late……………
Derek Roy – ($4 million, 2 yrs)
Thomas Vanek – ($7,142,857, 3 yrs)
These two players are a deadly duo and are leading the Sabres in points and goals respectively. We are all aware of their play together over the years. The one thing sorely lacking is a true Right Winger (or Left Winger, due to Vanek’s ability to shift to either wing) to not only elevate production of the line itself, but to also lift its consistency level.
Tyler Ennis – ($875 ELC, 1 yr)
Ennis fit with Roy and Vanek on the Left Wing. His production numbers increased, but Roy and Vanek remained streaky. Ennis has fantastic puck control and skating skills. It is puzzling as to why coach Lindy Ruff broke this line up early into the season. Nonetheless, Ennis remains the best potential to play with Roy and Vanek within the roster to date.
Drew Stafford – ($1.9 million, RFA)
Stafford has been inconsistent during his entire tenure in Buffalo. He shows signs of greatness, then disappears for long stretches of a season. There is no doubt he is a gifted player, but his streaky production has been one of the staple problems with the Sabres’ offense for the last three seasons. He plays with Roy and Vanek from time to time with varying degrees of success. He is in my cross-hairs as a very possible trade commodity come the trade deadline.
Nathan Gerbe – ($850 thousand, RFA)
Gerbe (or, The Gerbil, as I affectionately call him due to his height, 5’5″) is one of the smallest players in the NHL, if not the smallest. He creates havoc to the opposition due to his speedy puck control spins and dangling. He reminds me of Danny Briere a great deal. However, Gerbe was given a large amount of games to prove himself with the Sabres this season and has no goals and only six assists to show for it. I would re-sign Gerbe, but only to a two way contract. He needs to earn his spot on the team by producing, not only in training camp, but also in the regular season.
Jason Pomminville – ($5.3 million, 3 yrs)
This player had a fantastic start to his career, but in the last three seasons, his numbers have consistently decreased in production. Pomminville is a very good two way forward and plays in many special teams situations. It must be noted however, that his salary is extremely high for his production and play. Pomminville was also injured early this season (concussion) breaking his four and a half season iron man streak. I view Jason Pomminville as a solid line two right winger.
Jochen Hecht – ($3.525 million, 1 yr)
Hecht (also referred to by the fan base as Zee German) is another good two way forward, but his offensive production has trailed off to being almost non-existent. He will most likely play out his contract to completion and then not be re-signed by the Sabres. He is a line three Left Winger, nothing more.
Tim Connolly – ($4.5 million, UFA)
Ah yes, the infamous Mr. Glass or Tin Man, as the fan base calls him due to how often he has been injured in his time with the Sabres. Connolly is perhaps the poster child for all that is wrong with the current Sabres roster. A soft, play-making Center, he has the skills to lead a second scoring line or Line two on any team, but he disappears for extremely long stretches. I’m talking seasons here, not games and he is so frustrating to watch as his defensive game is horrible, back checking is non-existent and his turnover ratio in any zone is putrid. Connolly will get traded by the deadline, for what, is debatable. I can see a 2nd round pick for him.
Rob Niedermayer – ($1.25 million, UFA)
Mike Grier – ($1.5 million, UFA)
These two +35 year old players will not be re-signed in my opinion. Although both players were two way defensive forwards in their respective careers, their legs are extremely slow and it is showing. Buffalo needs to inject speed into the line up and these two are very expendable. They do bring leadership to the locker room, but on the ice is where it counts and they haven’t shown they can do that. Too bad really too, I like Grier. Niedermayer, I have no opinion of, but both players should be gone, if possible Niedermayer by the deadline, but more than likely both in the off season.
Paul Gaustad – ($2.3 million, 1 yr)
Patrick Kaleta – ($907,500, 1 yr)
Cody McCormick – ($500 thousand, UFA)
These three players comprise the fourth line of the Sabres. Gaustad (known as Goose) is one of the top face off centers in the league, but he is extremely slow and has hands of stone. He has done better in the past with production, if given the right set of skills around him. Kaleta is Buffalo’s pest. He draws penalties, gets under the skin of opponents, has fast legs and checks extremely hard. He can put the puck in the net from time to time. He and Goose play well together. McCormick is a big bodied Left Winger that can fight as well, but overall, I have found myself very disappointed in McCormick’s play, specifically his apparent refusal to use his body to throw thundering checks, to muscle opponents off of the puck in the offensive zone and to throw some massive open ice hits. The Sabres could do better than McCormick; I wouldn’t re-sign him if there is a better option out there.
So, given the make up of the team, lets review the line up and then move on to the pipeline and potential directions management can take to address the team’s needs.
Scoring line one
Vanek – Roy – ? (perhaps Ennis on Left Wing, shift Vanek to Right Wing)
Scoring line two
? – ? – Pomminville (this line is in shambles right now)
Scoring line three
Hecht – ? – Stafford (If Stafford isn’t traded)
Now that we have identified the gaping holes in the forward roster of this club, let’s see what can be done to fill them. We start in Portland, the AHL affiliate of the Sabres, where some of Buffalo’s future goes to develop and further hone their skills.
Luke Adam – ($875 thousand, 2 yrs)
Adam is definitely an answer for one of the holes at Center on this team. Right now, I am looking at him as a fantastic line three center. He’ll need to wait for the Connolly trade to get put into the line up full time after the trade deadline, but he’ll be up with the big club none-the-less.
Mark Mancari – ($575 thousand, RFA)
Mancari is a real question mark to many fans. He is big bodied, he puts up large numbers in the AHL and he has played with Kennedy, Gerbe, Ennis and Adam as a line-mate as they all went through the Portland system and actually helped them develop their skills and achieve success while in the AHL.
The problem with Mancari isn’t that he cannot transition to the NHL. In my opinion, the Sabres have not given him the amount of time they’ve given every other prospect to adjust. Mancari gets two to four game stints with the Sabres and very rarely. I firmly believe he is in the doghouse of Regier due to contract bickering, but I’ll let the readers formulate their own conclusions. Mancari won’t be with the Sabres organization at the end of this season most likely.
The following is a list of young forwards in Portland that have a great deal to prove and need at least another two seasons in the AHL before they get a serious look from the big club. But none of them are currently prepared to step into the line up with the Sabres. This group may or may not address some of the club’s needs as they develop, but as of now, they haven’t convinced anyone they can step into a big club roster position and make an impact.
Paul Byron, Corey Tropp, Maxime Legault and Jacob Lagace.
As we move on to the Juniors to review the pipeline talent for the Sabres, the picture of the organization should be getting clearer to the reader. This club has drafted heavy defense but failed to address offensive needs with any balance. One name in the Juniors sticks out amongst all others.
Zach Kassian
Kassian is the power forward the Sabres have lacked for many years. This kid is something special. He scores, he hits, he fights, he is the Milan Lucic of the Sabres pipeline and is the most promising player in the Juniors for the Sabres. Currently playing in the World Juniors Championship Series for Canada, Kassian is a man amongst boys in the OHL. He will almost certainly make the Sabres roster next training camp and brings a nastiness with him that Buffalo fans have been longing for.
Marcus Foligno, Steven Shipley, Gregg Sutch and Kevin Sundher are all forwards that will most likely go through Portland in the next two to three seasons with Foligno (the youngest son of Mike Foligno, a gritty Sabres forward in the 1980’s and well respected by the fan base) showing the most promise of the group. Some of these players may provide that essential secondary scoring that is currently missing from the line up.
After the pipeline review, the line up of the Sabres is still filled with many holes short term. Management’s failure to address the offensive forwards of the organization since the departure of Danny Briere and Chris Drury via Free Agency is not only clear cut, but is painfully played out each and every season for the past four seasons now.
With this in mind, we reach a conclusion as to what direction the club is going to take to remedy the forwards issues.
I firmly believe the Sabres are going to move three, possibly four players at the trade deadline this season, in an effort to maximize draft picks in the late first round to mid to late second round selections. Then, at the draft, I completely expect the Sabres to draft strictly forwards with their first four of five picks, including what appears to be a very early pick in the first round.
Currently, they are slated to pick sixth overall in the draft if the season ended today. I would expect that to fluctuate but I expect the Sabres to pick fourth to sixth overall, and I expect a Center to be targeted with that pick. The two players I expect to be targeted with that early first round pick are Centers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer, WHL) or Ryan Strome (Niagara, OHL).
One thing is certain, the Buffalo Sabres must address the forward positions this off season with a vigor. There can be no other options. The defensive rebuild has already started in earnest and with that group of young players gaining invaluable experience, it may only be a season or so to view the Sabres as true contenders, if they make the right choices and put the forward pieces into place.
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This will be a one week, three-part article culminating on December 23rd. Welcome to Part 1, The Sabres Defensive Outlook.
The Sabres have a bright outlook for the defensive unit, and rightfully so. This team is currently in a rebuilding transition and what an arsenal of weaponry do they have at defense. Let the review begin………….
Craig Rivet – (* $3.5 million, UFA)
Team Captain and currently a healthy scratch. Most definitely his last season as a Sabre. The team will most likely attempt to move Rivet from here until the trade deadline.
What they may receive is debatable (my opinion, a fourth-round pick from a playoff team in need of defensive depth). Although Rivet is a professional, as the team captain and a veteran player, “riding the pine” must leave a very bad taste in his mouth. But, I am sure he is aware that his career is over or just about over.
Tyler Myers – (*$1.3 million entry level, 1 yr left)
Most likely the future captain of the Buffalo Sabres and sure to be locked down via contract at a large price for many years to come. Myers had a rough start to his sophomore campaign, but the prior seasons Calder winner (rookie of the year) has stabilized his game and is now coming on strong.
This kid has the goods and will be an anchor as the number one defenseman on the Buffalo blue line.
Andrej Sekera – (*$1 million, RFA)
Sekera has markedly improved his game this season and is in the process of solidifying his presence as the number two defenseman on the top defensive pairing with Tyler Myers. These two compliment one another nicely as they both can move the puck in transition quickly either via a pass or carrying it out themselves.
Sekera needs to focus on his defensive zone play, especially taking the body of the opponent off the puck either along the boards, down low or in open ice. He is working to this end and is improving quickly with Myers help.
Steve Montador – (*$1.55 million, UFA)
Montador (or Monty as the fan base affectionately calls him) is a real conundrum for the Sabres. He is the rock of the Sabres defense as of late. As of this writing he is a very respectable +12 with 3 goals and 8 assists.
He is a contributing member of the top-rated scoring defensive unit in the league. His defensive zone play has been nothing short of spectacular, and here in lies the problem. In this article you are going to read about a strong pipeline of youth coming up to push for roster spots or already securing one on the team. This creates a paradox of sorts.
With Monty’s value most likely to be very high, his pending UFA status combined with what’s sure to be a raise should a contract be offered, as well as the strong youth movement afoot, the question is, should Monty be signed or traded at the deadline?
I am strongly of the opinion to trade him at the deadline when I believe he can get a 28 to 35 overall pick from a team who is looking to push in the playoffs and needs defensive help.
Jordan Leopold – (*$3 million, 2 yrs left)
The best pick up of a player by the Buffalo Sabres since Danny Briere and Chris Drury hands down. Leopold is the center of a league leading defensive scoring unit that shows no mercy to opposing teams’ goalies.
Quick to jump in tight to the net or a dead-on shot from the point, Leopold is one of the smartest offensive defenseman I have ever seen play.
His numbers are only held back by a lack-luster roster of forwards. He could easily have another 15 points if the forwards were producing more on lines two, three and four. He has solidified himself as the number four defenseman on the team, partnered with rock solid Steve Montador, these two make up Buffalo’s second defensive pairing.
Shaone Morrisonn – (*$2.075 million, 1 yr left)
Morrisonn was a depth signing for the number five/six defensive spots. Although injured this season for some games, I am not overly impressed with his play as a Sabre. He will most likely finish out his contract here, in my opinion sometimes in the lineup, sometimes riding the pine.
Chris Butler – (*$850 thousand, RFA)
Butler has been mediocre this season. He plays well some games, not so well in others. He is an attractive piece in trade bait situations. Could also be utilized as a number six or seven defenseman at a very cheap price.
Mike Weber – (*$550 thousand, RFA)
Perhaps the best hidden secret of the Buffalo Sabres is Weber. An “in your face,” take it to the limit, no holds barred young defenseman with a fire in his belly not seen on the Sabres since the likes of Larry Playfair or Jerry Korab.
Weber’s smash-mouth style isn’t his only attribute either. He boasts very good puck control skills and passing ability. He’s not afraid to jump in on the rush. I have him listed as Buffalo’s number five defenseman due to his work in the games he has played this season, but that should change to the number three position if Montador gets traded. (And I firmly believe this is what should happen as Leopold and Weber would be equally deadly as Montador and Leopold).
And waiting in the wings for next season’s training camp or call ups if injuries hit the Sabres defensive corp are Brennan, Schiestel and Gragnani. These three will push for spots next season and one or two of them will most likely see time with the big club.
Add into this mix the amazing turn around of former first round pick Dennis Persson in Portland, as well as the steady progression of Alex Biega and Drew Mackenzie—both of whom appear to be on course to ascend to challenge for a big club spot in two seasons or so. Portland is putting out some very good defensive prospects.
The Sabres’ pipeline doesn’t end in Portland either. With the likes of first round pick Mark Pysyk and QMJHL phenom Braydon McNabb, this pipeline is the gift that keeps on giving.
Buffalo’s defense will be great again, and with the players that are churning out gaining valuable experience, this unit will be elite for quite some time to come. NHL BEWARE!!!!
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If the season ended today, the greatest fear of any Buffalo Sabres fan holds true: the Sabres would be out of the playoffs. They currently sit in third place in the Northeast Division and ninth place in the Eastern Conference, five points behind the Atlanta Thrashers for eighth. Obviously, this is a problem that isn’t going to fix itself.
So, in order to make the playoffs, what needs to happen?
First of all, Ryan Miller needs to regain his Vezina-winner status for the Sabres to have any kind of success. After a slow start and a groin injury, Miller is showing signs of last year’s form.
In the past three games, he has allowed three goals and stopped 84 of 87 shots. Before yesterday’s game against the Sharks, he has climbed into the top 10 in both GAA and Save percentage (seventh in both categories).
Sabres commentator Mike Robitaille made a very insightful comment when Miller came back from his groin injury a few weeks ago: as a whole, the Sabres simply play better when Miller is in net. The team plays more confidently knowing that if they make a mistake or costly turnover, a goal is not imminent, allowing more room for error.
Miller can take the pressure off of players like Tyler Myers who is experiencing the infamous “sophomore slump.” In Miller’s first shutout of the season against Columbus last week, Myers played his best game of the year. Although he did not register a point, he looked calm and collected, collecting a whopping 27:00 of ice time, telling how much Lindy Ruff liked his play that night.
In the past three games, Myers has picked up an assist against Boston and is plus-7, averaging around 24:00 a night. His play of late is a sign of another thing that needs to happen for the Sabres in order for them to keep winning: better defense.
Jordan Leopold has been outstanding, and may be perhaps the best offseason signing in the league. He leads all NHL defensemen in goals scored since April of last season. Steve Montador is an impressive plus-16 (second in the league in that department) and is playing with heart and passion (something the Sabres seem to lack, but that will be seen to later).
Brian Speers’ boy Andrej “Reggie” Sekera has been putting up solid play lately, but nothing worth noting. To contrast Leopold’s singing, Shaone Morrison has been a huge disappointment, averaging roughly 15:00 a night, collecting only two assists in 21 games while accumulating a minus-10 rating. He needs to play better to create a formidable Sabres defense that they sorely need.
Mike Weber has done a mediocre job (despite the horrid giveaway for Nathan Horton’s tying goal Tuesday) as a fill in for the frequently scratched captain, the notorious Craig Rivet, which leads us to our next topic: leadership.
It may be fair to say that Craig Rivet is the worst captain in the NHL. He is consistently scratched from the lineup, and when he plays, he rarely plays over 15:00 a night.
I was listening to talk radio WGR 550 last year around Februrary and some guy called in after a game saying how “Lindy, as well as our defense is playing, should scratch Rivet more often, but unfortunately, you can’t bench your captain.”
Well sadly, it’s come to that for the Sabres. Rivet cannot offer enough leadership to the team to make up for his poor play. Nothing against the guy, but he should take a page out of his coach’s book. Lindy Ruff was the captain for the Sabres in the late ’80s and was forced to the press box frequently as a result of poor play.
Lindy, like the great leader he was, resigned his captaincy and moved on with a trade to the New York Rangers. With a captain like Rivet, the Sabres don’t have a chance. Whether it’s a trade or someone stepping up (see: Roy, Derek) in the locker room, something needs to happen.
Over the past 4 games (the Sabres are 3-1), the offense has produced 13 goals, averaging 3.25 a game. This is an improvement upon their seasonal average of 2.5 a game. While the 3.25 average would put the Sabres in the top 5 of the league in that category, fans cannot expect this trend to continue. All the Sabres need to do is score consistently.
With strong defense and a balanced scoring attack that shows up almost every night, they should be fine. Thomas Vanek has been playing very well of late, collecting nine points in his last seven games.
Derek Roy has slowed down his early season output, but is still leading the team in points. The last time that he scored a goal was against Washington on Nov. 17. That needs to change. The usual scoring suspects need to start producing as well. Jason Pomminville has three goals and eight points in 17 games since returning from his concussion.
The offense doesn’t need to put up records, but maintain a steady pace. Scoring five against Columbus, zero against Ottawa, two against Boston, and then six (five minus the EN) against San Jose is too irregular. It needs to show up every night.
What doesn’t need to happen is for Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff to be chased out of town. For what they are given by the ownership, the longest tenured tandem in North American sports make the best of it. With rumors of Terry Pegula wanting to buy the Sabres, these two men at the helm for a team that is willing to spend would be the best possible situation for the Sabres.
With a steady defense, and strong play from Miller, and an acceptable offense, the Sabres should have no excuse to not be in the playoffs.
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Tom Golisano will always be remembered as the man who saved the franchise from bankruptcy after the Rigas scandal in the mid-1990s. He will also be remembered as being an invisible man in terms of hockey operations during his tenure as the owner of the Buffalo Sabres.
As a result, minority owner Larry Quinn is in charge of hockey operations; a fact that the media and fans have many complaints about.
Golisano’s business venture may come to an unexpected close, as The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell has reported that billionaire Terry Pegula has signed a letter of intent to buy the Sabres for around $150 million.
Terry Pegula has numerous credentials besides being about twice as wealthy as Golisano. Pegula is married to a Western New York native and has recently donated $88 million to Penn State in order to establish a Division I hockey program.
This guy loves hockey and he has strong ties to Western New York, a veritable hockey hotbed.
He started his love for hockey with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970s, who were known as the “Broad Street Bullies”. He moved to Western New York and became a Sabres fan. He was in the middle in the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals between Buffalo and Philadelphia
Rumors have been swirling about a potential franchise in Hamilton, Ontario, which could take away revenue from the Sabres. Golisano has remained steadfast that he will only sell the team if it will stay in Buffalo.
With an owner like Pegula, that seems to be the case.
There could be a change of culture when Pegula takes the reins of the franchise. He may be not so lenient if the Sabres continue to miss or struggle in the playoffs under general manager Darcy Regier and head coach Lindy Ruff. Players may be actually held accountable, and there could be a shedding of dead weight, such as Tim Connolly and Drew Stafford to name a few.
Pegula also has more bargaining power to bring in top flight free agents to the team. As a business man, as well as having a mind for hockey, he will give money to players who deserve it and not ones who are one-year wonders.
The most important thing to be gained under Pegula would be an established identity of the Sabres.
That not only means a halt to jersey changes every four years, but an identity on the ice. The Flyers are tough, the Devils are all about defense and the Capitals and Penguins are high-flying offensive teams.
Those teams, with the possible exception of the Devils, are perennial Stanley Cup contenders in the Eastern Conference just because they have a defined identity and employ systems that reflect that identity.
They also draft players that fit in the system, not just players who put up good statistics in junior.
This is a new era in the history of the Buffalo Sabres, and a change at the top could put the team on top in the NHL.
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A five day break between games may be just what the Sabres need. Now is a good time for them to fix up all the problems on and off the ice.
With a slow start to the season, the Sabres have a lot of work to do in order to make the playoffs. There are quite a few problems that need to fixed before the team goes anywhere. Here are their biggest concerns as they head into December.
The Buffalo Sabres came out of the locker room sporting their vintage third jerseys, but as the players looked up in the stands, there was a good chance they were seeing just as much blue and white as blue and gold.
The Sabres put on a solid performance for their fans, defeating Toronto 3-1 Friday at HSBC arena.
The fans were easily drawn into the game early on, due to the high-intensity action.
Patrick Kaleta drilled Nikolai Kulemin into the boards and then got into a scrap with Luke Schenn. Just 30 seconds later, Colton Orr began a line brawl by jumping Paul Gaustad. Orr received six minutes for roughing, giving the Sabres a four minute power play.
The Sabres defense continued to help the offense, just as is have been doing all season. Buffalo capitalized with Jordan Leopold’s sixth goal of the season. With the goal, the Sabres have scored on their first shot in two of the last three games.
Just over a minute later, Vanek ripped a shot past Jonas Gustavsson, putting the Sabres up 2-0. The goal now ties Derek Roy for the team lead with nine.
The Sabres outshot the Maple Leafs 16-5 in the opening period. However, the first period was no indication of how the rest of the game would go.
The Maple Leafs played a much better second period, outshooting the Sabres 15-5, but couldn’t get the puck past Miller.
Toronto had plenty of opportunities in the second and third periods, but couldn’t capitalize on any of five straight power plays.
Instead, Patrick Kaleta put home a rebound, scoring a short-handed goal and giving Buffalo a 3-0 lead.
The Leafs got a shorthanded goal of their own, breaking Miller’s shutout. Phil Kessel beat Miller to get Toronto on the board late in the game, but it was too little, too late for the Leafs.
Buffalo managed to hold off Toronto’s late surge and earned the two points. With the victory, the Sabres gained on every team in the Northeast Division. Boston, Montreal and Ottawa all lost on Friday, as well as the Leafs, obviously.
Miller improved to 11-1 in his last 12 games against the Leafs.
“I’ve been trying to calm my game down a little bit,” said Miller. “Earlier in the season, I expected myself to be perfect every night. You can’t do that unless you’re relaxed and in better position.”
Miller returned to net after missing two games with a groin injury and improved his career record to 23-8 against Toronto.
Head coach Lindy Ruff liked what he saw in Miller’s game.
“He looked comfortable, in control,” said Ruff. “He made those breakaway saves look easy.”
The Sabres will head to Montreal to take on the Canadiens on Saturday. Montreal will be looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to Atlanta, while the Sabres will search for their second straight win.
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He may have the wrong-colored pads, but rookie goaltender Jhonas Enroth is making his case as the new backup goaltender of the Buffalo Sabres.
Enroth will get the nod tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it is becoming obvious that head coach Lindy Ruff has lost faith in Patrick Lalime. Ryan Miller is currently sidelined with a nagging groin injury, which gives management and fans a chance to evaluate the backup goaltenders.
Lalime’s costly giveaway to Adam Hall in a 2-1 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning provides an overview of Lalime’s career as a Sabre. He shut down the high-scoring duo of Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos, but all of that is overshadowed by his grievous error. The team in front of Lalime has often been accused of not playing for him while he is in relief of Ryan Miller. In the five games Lalime has played this season, the Sabres scored a total of eight goals and were shutout in a 4-0 loss in Dallas.
In his career as a Sabre, Lalime has played in 45 games, posting a 2.99 GAA, a .902 save percentage and has had no shutouts. But the number that stands out most is his win-loss record which is an abysmal 9-25-5.
Lalime has yet to win a game this year, but Enroth has posted two victories in four games, both in shootouts. He also has an overtime loss that counts as one point in the standings. Enroth is the first goalie in NHL history to win his first two games in a shootout. Statistically, Enroth (3.42 GAA, .876 SV%) has worse numbers than Lalime (3.03 GAA, .891 SV%) this season. However, wins are the only thing that matter in the end.
Drafted by the Sabres in the Round 2 (46th Overall) in 2006, Enroth was touted as the best Swedish goaltending prospect since a guy named Henrik Lundqvist. Despite his small stature (5’10”, 170 lbs.), Enroth put up great numbers in the Swedish Elite League (27 GP, 2.13 GAA, .932 SV%). He has played the past two seasons with Portland of the AHL, posting a 54-41-7 record along with eight shutouts.
The main thing going against Enroth, a highly-touted prospect, becoming the full-time backup on the team is that the first-string goalie is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier will have a tough decision to make if Enroth continues to win games, whether or not to keep him on the big club or get him more experience in the AHL.
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Take a deep breath Sabre fans, the answer is “Yes.”
The injured list for the Sabres was beginning to look like the Black Friday line outside of Toys ‘R Us. Forwards Drew Stafford (upper body) and Rob Niedermayer (knee) are on injured reserve while Jochen Hecht (minor upper body) and Tim Connolly (groin) are hurting as well.
Monday night, the Sabres announced that they have recalled forwards Luke Adam and Colin Stuart from the Portland Pirates (AHL) to help fill the gaps left by Stafford, Niedermayer, Hecht and Connolly. Adam is presently the Pirates’ leading scorer with a total of 18 points, while Stuart is third with 13.
Also, out is goaltender Ryan Miller with a groin injury that apparently occurred in the third period vs. the Los Angeles Kings last Friday.
Miller rested on Saturday and Sunday and was on the ice participating in full practice on Monday. Miller was quoted as saying, “(The injury) is nothing I’m worried about, just want to play with the guys and play at a high level.”
When asked if he would be back on the ice for Wednesday’s home encounter with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Miller wasn’t quite ready to commit to a time frame but did say that he felt good. If we don’t see him in the net on Wednesday, it will probably be a sure bet that he will be ready Friday vs. Toronto.
Niedermayer, out with a knee procedure, will be out for a few weeks at least. Hecht and Connolly should be ready for Wednesday’s game but will probably see limited ice time. Stafford did skate in Monday’s practice but is not expected to be ready until Friday.
Barring any new injuries, with the exception of Niedermayer, hopefully we will see the team back at full strength by the weekend. After Friday’s game vs. Toronto and Saturday’s vs. Montreal, the Sabres will have five days off to rest and most likely have a belated Thanksgiving with their families.
Here’s to hoping that turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes with gravy will be the cure-all going into December with the Sabres scheduled for seven games (four home, three away) in 14 days.
In that time frame, we should see No. 20 back on the ice as well—an early Christmas present indeed!
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The Buffalo Sabres are about 20 minutes from the start of their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at HSBC Arena. However, it will not be Ryan Miller facing the red hot Steven Stamkos tonight.
The Buffalo News reports that Miller will not start tonight, and that Jhonas Enroth has been recalled from Portland. Patrick Lalime will start for the Blue and Gold.
Will Miller’s sore hip be a problem all season?
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With the 2010-11 NHL season in full swing, it is never too early to examine some of the NHL’s best and what makes them so.
Sports is often like high school: There are people you love, people you hate and people that are just there. Just like those friends that made high school special, there are certain athletes that have that special quality that makes them endearing, even to rival fans.
Ryan Miller is certainly one of those players.
First, as an athlete, he is arguable the best goaltender in the NHL. This 2009-10 Vezina Trophy winner was still in the womb when the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team pulled off their miracle on ice in Lake Placid, NY, not too far from Ryan’s present home in Buffalo. Yet his heart and love for the game is reminiscent of another goalie that the nation fell in love with that cold winter 30 years ago, Jim Craig.
As fate would have it, Miller would follow in Craig’s crease 30 years later as he lead the US Olympic Hockey Team to a Silver medal in Vancouver this past February. As many in the hockey world will tell you, it was the Olympics that showcased Miller to many American hockey fans and his performance in British Columbia was one that hockey fans fondly remembered once the NHL season picked up again after the February Olympic break.
On March 3rd, the first game after the Olympic break, during player introductions in Pittsburgh (nope – not a typo), fans gave Miller a standing ovation in honor of his Olympic performance. Even on that day, the US fans were more than willing to put NHL team loyalties aside in the name of the red, white and blue.
Miller was born in East Lansing, Michigan into what can only be described as a hockey family. His brother Drew, four years his junior, is presently a winger with the Detroit Red Wings and both brothers can boast three cousins on the Miller side who also played in the NHL. To say that hockey is in this family’s blood would be an understatement.
In youth hockey Ryan started out as a forward and after winning a bet with his father, who was also his coach at the time, Miller moved to goal and, thankfully for Sabres fans, has been there ever since.
While in goal for Michigan State Miller began compiling impressive accolades. After setting an NCAA record with 26 shutouts in his collegiate career he also was awarded the Hobey Baker Award (2001) for having lead the nation in wins, winning percentage, save percentage, goals-against average and shutouts.
After three years at Michigan State, Miller joined the AHL’s Rochester Americans and has spent his entire professional career in Western New York State eventually earning the starting goaltender position for the Buffalo Sabres at the end of the 2005-06 NHL season.
Often soft spoken and controlled yet, when need be, Miller can effectively be like a lion just let out of a cage. His strong words after the boarding penalty that put fellow Sabre Jason Pominville out of commission for a few weeks last month got a lot of media attention.
Why? For the simple fact that when Miller speaks out passionately about something, people listen.
Off the ice, Miller is just as effective at making a statement. In 2006 Miller established The Steadfast Foundation to assist children suffering from various forms of cancer after being directly affected by his cousin Matt’s battle with the disease. Matt sadly passed away after complications from bone-marrow surgery at the beginning of the 2007-2008 NHL season.
Today, Miller works tirelessly with his foundation and the events that their organization sponsors are simply amazing.
On November 21st, the 5th Annual Catwalk for Charity will take place featuring Miller and his fellow Sabres dressed in 70s and 80s garb participating in a fashion show of sorts all in the name of The Steadfast Foundation.
Aside from receiving the Vezina Trophy this past season, it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that the other award he was presented, the NHL Foundation Player Award, for his work in the community, is the most coveted of the two.
He continues to honor his cousin with the words “Matt Man” displayed on his goaltending helmet and something tells me that he always will.
He is a class act, a great role model for kids and with his unique grace and always giving his best both on and off the ice; it is no real surprise that everybody loves Ryan.
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