Welcome to Weekly Report. This report will recap all the weekly Sabres games with analysis and rundowns of the team. Special thanks to Keezrfan, who will be writing all the recaps. Go Sabres!
Over the last few weeks, the Sabres have really become a consistent team. While I'll admit that they've had some bad periods, and bad games, overall, they look good. Since my last article, there have been a number of emotional games, including the rematch with the Dallas Stars. Now, I went to that game, and was impressed with the Sabres effort. From speaking to a few players, they realized the emotional significance of the game, and were a little unhappy that there wasn't a better outcome.
As for individual players, there are a number that stick out in my mind. First off, there's Denis Hamel, who had one heck of a homecoming. Being from Quebec, Denis has said that playing in Montreal is always like a dream come true for him. In the Canadiens game, Denis had a goal, an assist, and quite possibly, his best game of the season. Now that he is getting his shot, he's making the most of it. The same can be said for Eric Boulton, who finally got his first NHL point. Although Eric isn't a regular in the lineup just yet, when he is in there, he plays his heart out.
It's a toss up right now for the best player, between Chris Gratton and Stu Barnes. While Chris may not be the playmaker that Stu is, he has really come around this year, and has been very impressive. Gratton has been one of the most consistent players on the ice. Stu, on the other hand, seems to be everywhere when he is on the ice. He's on the power play, he's killing penalties, and he's just skating his little heart out.
With both McKee and Warrener having been injured, our defense got a little overworked for a few games. Brian Campbell was a good fill-in for the Ottawa game, but didn't quite seem like and NHL player....yet. The call up must have done him some good in the confidence department, however. His first game back with the Amerks, Brian scored the first goal of the game on the power play, and then scored the game winner in the second period.
Speaking of the Amerks, there are several prospects that are having good seasons. Norman Milley is becoming a goal scorer, (even more so that he was in the OHL). With Jeremy Adduono out with an injury, Norm has really stepped up. Jaroslav Kristek is having a good rookie season, but is not yet ready for the NHL. He will most likely spend next season in the AHL again. Darren Van Oene is still out of the lineup, recovering from a recent hospitalization. Darren was hospitalized briefly for a build up of fluid around his heart. He is doing much better now, and should be back in the lineup soon. Andrew Peters is having a good year, and seems to be the one that will step in when Rob Ray retires, and Eric Boulton is gone. Andrew isn't a goal scorer, but he's tough, and is one heck of a fighter.
Speaking of Andrew, due to the new affiliates this season in the AHL, he was able to play a game against his brother Geoff, who playis in Norfolk. When I saw Andrew a few weeks ago, it was all he could talk about, he couldn't wait to play against his older brother. One more thing about Andrew...he's one heck of a dancer.....
The only Amerk that concerns me at the moment is Mika Noronen. He is playing nowhere near the kind of hockey he played last season. He had a breakout year last year, and played well while he was in Buffalo, but all of the back and forth may have been a problem. He has yet to regain his form from the playoffs last year. Hopefully, he'll turn it all around soon, it seems strange to see the Amerks in any other place in the standings besides first.
The addition of Buffalo native Tom Askey seems to be paying off for the Amerks so far. Tom is playing very well, as is fellow rookie Paul Traynor. Paul is a great guy, and I'm thrilled that he's finally getting a regular spot in the lineup.
Well, that's all for now. Until next time...Go Sabres!
Was it just me, or did anyone else want to go through the tv and smack that jerk? I agree with him, he's a good player and his worth is being underestimated, but he does not deserve the money he's asking for.
Peca's agent, Don Meehan stated that the "contract that the Sabres offered over the next 4 years, with the pay range of 2.1 in the first year, and 2.5 in the last year, was unacceptable. Michael would be making less money in four years than Zhitnik, Satan, and Gilmour are making now."
Is Meehan trying to say that Michael is a better player than they are? I know that Zhitnik had a horrible year last year, but I still wouldn't rate Peca above him, and there is no comparison to Gilmour or Satan.
Mike felt that this was as good a day as any to make the announcement because his teammates were on the road and wouldn't be faced with the distractions they would have if they were in town. Doesn't he realize that they have newspapers in Edmonton? Yeah, he's really looking out for his teammates?
Michael asked for a trade from the Sabres organization because he feels that the ongoing process has no benefit to either side, and there is no resolution in sight. When asked what he would do if the Sabres say "No, we aren't going to trade you" , he danced around the answer, not saying that he would not sign Buffalo, but not saying that he would. If the Sabres came to him right now and offered him the 3.5 he asked for, he said he doesn't know what he'd do. I'm taking that as a sign that he will not sign here, no matter what. He just kept reiterating his trade comments and based on his comments, I can't see him wearing a Sabres uniform again, but you never know.
Someone asked him about the "C", but he wouldn't comment, saying that it was "up to the organization". If he doesn't plan on staying here, then he should give the "C" up now, instead of dragging it out.
According to Meehan, they chose not to go to arbitration because they would get no more than a 2 year deal, and because it takes all of the control away from the player as well as the organization and puts it into the hands of someone who may or may not know as much about the sport as the player or organization.
An interesting bit of information came out in the conference as well. Meehan represents three NHL players: Peca, Scott Niedermeyer, and Jason Arnott. Is it coincidence that all three are still holding out? Meehan said that the other two would have to make decisions in the immediate future as well. Does he encourage all his clients to ask for trades? Just a thought.
As for Peca, before Buffalo made him captain, and gave him his big break in the NHL, he was nobody. This team made him a star, and this is how he repays them? If it were up to me, I'd have him on the next plane out of Buffalo, even though we'd be losing a great player.
The 31st season in Sabres hockey has started, and started well. After an 0-5-2 start to the 1999-2000 season, the Sabres are off to a 2-0 start. With a 4-2 win over Chicago, and a 5-3 comeback over Los Angeles, the Sabres are showing the league that they are contenders this season.
J.P. Dumont is showing the Blackhawks what an amazing player (aside from Gilmour) that they gave up in exchange for a player that they traded away on opening night. In two games, Dumont has scored 2 goals, as well as recorded an assist. Doug Gilmour has not scored a goal yet, but he's been recording assists regularly. He had two vs. Los Angeles, and well as 2 vs. Chicago.
Stu Barnes has been contributing in both games, scoring a goal and 2 assists vs. Los Angeles. Maxim Afinogenov has been solid in his first two games this season. He has shown several bursts of creativity on the ice, and is being rewarded with power play time. Dumont and Vaclav Varada seem to click well together, regardless of the center they play with. On opening night, they played well with Rasmussen, and on Saturday, they played extremely well with Barnes. Barnes seemed to be a better fit to me, more production from both he and Dumont, along with Varada when they play together.
Rasmussen played a good game with Ray and Boulton on Saturday. Looked like a good checking line. As for the Brown-Satan-Gilmour line, they looked strong, although Curtis Brown hasn't played as well as I expected him to so far.
The one thing that has me concerned so far is Dave Andreychuk. He's played well, I'm not concerned with that. The problem is this: given Dave's size, he shouldn't be an easy man to push around. So far, Dave has been like a bumper car, he's been getting pushed around quite a bit. He seems to be losing a lot of the battles around the boards.
The Sabres have the next 4 days off, before they start the first Western Road Trip, with a game against Edmonton on Friday the 13th. Hopefully, that won't be a bad luck day. That's all for now!
After playing 8 games, the Sabres record at the end of the preseason is 7-1. Not since 1988 had a Sabres team won 7 preseason games. Is it a sign that the team may actually have something here? Could be.
After going 7-0 in their first seven games, the Sabres dropped a 3-1 game to the Bruins in Boston on Saturday night. They were kept off the board until late in the third period when Maxim Afinogenov put one away. In their third game in four nights, the Sabres just didn't look like a 7-0 team. They looked tired, almost like they didn't have legs under them. Keep in mind that this game came less than 24 hours from the game against Washington, where the Sabres won 5-1 on a Stu Barnes hat trick.
The only thing that's got me worried about the team is this: The only loss came on a back-to-back situation. Last season, the Sabres were terrible in back to back games. This season, they have 20 back to back situations. Hopefully, this isn't an indication of the way the season will go.
News and Notes: Defensman Jason Woolley was back in the lineup on Saturday for the first time since his groin injury suffered in South Carolina. Vladimir Tsyplakov also returned to the line up after suffering a groin injury. Defensman James Patrick has been skating with the team, but has not yet been medically cleared to play, due to a separated shoulder he suffered last week against Columbus. He is listed as day-to-day. Doug Gilmour suffered a bruised hip in yesterday's game against Boston, and was held out of the third period as a precaution. He will most likely be in the lineup on Thursday to open the season.
The Sabres sent Norman Milley, Chris Taylor, Barrett Heisten, Jeremy Adduono, and Tom Askey to Rochester following Friday's game, while the Amerks released RW Ryan Mougenel and G Scott Stirling.
That leaves JP Dumont, Eric Boulton, and Denis Hamel fighting to crack the big lineup.
On defense, Brian Campbell, Jason Holland, and Dmitri Kalinin are still battling for spots. Kalinin appears to have a spot locked, leaving Holland and Campbell still in the running to be the 7th defenseman until James Patrick is ready. After he's back, they'll most likely both be in Rochester.
As for the goalie situation, Mika Noronen will be the back up until Biron resigns. As for Mike Peca, nothing from the organization on his status, so the season will begin without him.
9-26...It's The Start Of The Preseason!
5-0, who would have thought that the Sabres would be 5-0 in the preseason? I know I didn't. The last time the Sabres have been 5-0 in preseason was in 1992. I guess holdout Michael Peca isn't as valuable a player as he'd like to believe. The team's only other holdout, Martin Biron, is quickly losing bargaining power with the stellar play of last year's AHL MVP, Mika Noronen. While I don't think Mika is ready for a full season in the NHL, by backing up Hasek this season, he stands to learn alot.
Aside from Noronen, many other potential rookies have been impressive so far. JP Dumont is living up to the reputation he created for himself in last year's AHL playoffs. Dmitri Kalinin has turned a strong camp into an even stronger chance that he will be the 7th defenseman this season. Brian Campbell has also played well, showing that he will be a serious NHL defenseman in the future. He's not ready this year. As for Jason Holland, he's had a good camp, but he hasn't played much in preseason, and when he has, he has been average, at best.
Out of the three, the only one to have a permanent locker in the Sabres locker room (at the carnival) was Kalinin. Campbell is using Peca's locker, and Holland is sharing a locker with Denis Hamel. JP Dumont also has a permanent locker in the locker room. Noronen is using Biron's locker, which should concern Biron. Not only is Mika taking his position for now, he's also taking his locker.
As for the veterans, Erik Rasmussen was impressive in the first 3 preseason games, but appeared to be going through the motions in game 4. He sat game 5 in Rochester, along with Jay McKee. Jason Woolley is slowly recovering from a groin injury he suffered while in South Carolina. James Patrick suffered a separated shoulder in the game in Rochester over the weekend.
Chris Gratton has been spotty, at best. He shows flashes of good play, but in Saturday's game in Rochester, Gratton stunk up the ice. While he had two assists, he also gave the puck away 5 times, two of those giveaways leading to Columbus goals. If he wants to stay in the lineup, he needs to step it up.
