Goaltending not a problem for Sabres
NHLHS Buffalo Sabres correspondent Melissa Kania discusses the goaltending tandem of Ryan Miller and Patrick Lalime, and what it all means for the team this season.
Categories: NHLHS Features Tags: Buffalo Sabres, hockey, NHL, Patrick Lalime, Ryan Miller
Prospect Profile: Tyler Ennis
Coming into the 2010-2011 NHL season, the Buffalo Sabres have several open roster spots, particularly for forwards. One likely candidate to fill a spot seems to be left-winger Tyler Ennis, who played with the Sabres' AHL club last season.
Categories: NHLHS Features Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Tyler Ennis
Sabres Sign Goaltending Prospect David Leggio
Melissa Kania looks at the Buffalo Sabres signing a depth goaltender.
The Sabres have added a back-up goaltender for their AHL squad, signing 26-year-old David Leggio to a one-year deal.
Categories: Around the League, Buffalo Sabres, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Northeast Tags: Buffalo Sabres, David Leggio
Sabres Re-Sign Gragnani; the Defenseman Debate
Melissa Kania ponders the defensive situation as the Sabres re-sign a young depth defenseman.
The Sabres have re-signed 23-year-old defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani to a one-year contract.
Categories: NHLHS Features Tags: Andrej Sekera, Buffalo Sabres, Chris Butler, hockey, Marc-Andre Gragnani, NHL
Sabres Sign Shaone Morrisonn
NHLHS Buffalo Sabres Correspondent Melissa Kania writes on the acquisition of defenseman Shaone Morrisonn.
The Sabres announced Monday that they have signed free agent defenseman Shaone Morrisonn to a two-year contract. Morrisonn will earn $2.075 million each year of the contract.
The move came several hours after the team placed forward Tim Kennedy on waivers.
Categories: Around the League, Buffalo Sabres, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Northeast Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Sabres, Shaone Morrisonn
Sabres’ Offseason Moves
NHLHS Buffalo Sabres Correspondent Melissa Kania presents her introduction to NHLHS and an off-season overview of the Buffalo Sabres thus far.
Hey all, this is Melissa, your new Buffalo Sabres correspondent for NHL HotStove. With just over two months before training camp and preseason begins, teams are looking to the future and improving through free agency and – in some cases – trades.
The Sabres entered free agency with a handful of players to deal with, and as free agency began on July 1, they lost two key defense. Henrik Tallinder, who had been a member of the organization since being drafted in 1997, quickly signed a four year deal with the New Jersey Devils. The deal will pay him an average of $3.375 million per year. Defenseman Toni Lydman also signed with the Anaheim Ducks for a deal that will pay him $9 million over three years.
Categories: Buffalo Sabres, By Teams Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Cody McCormick, Derek Whitmore, Henrik Tallinder, Jhonas Enroth, Jordan Leopold, Mike Kostka, Mike Weber, Patrick Kaleta, Patrick Lalime, Philip Gogulla, Rob Niedermayer, Thomas Vanek, Tim Conboy, Tim Kennedy, Toni Lydman
And Now The Pressures On, The Heat Is Rising… Tonight There’s Something In The Air (Black In ST Louis)
I,personally, should have known this game was doomed when I was screaming GET OFF MY GOALTENDER..and realized I was screaming at my own Defense. And then I realized how many mistakes had already been made 1/2 way through the game but none of them by Randy Jones.. Immediately, I started looking at flight prices to Los Angeles, AGAIN. Then I cried.
Categories: Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Anze Kopitar, Arch, Buffalo Sabres, Defense, Dustin Brown, Ersberg, Flight Prices Suck, Head to Desk, Jim Fox, LA, Lack of Defense, Los Angeles Kings, NHL, NHL 2010 Playoffs, playoffs, Quick, Randy Jones, Ryan Smyth, St Louis, Staples Center, TerrorTwins, ThrowtheTwinkie, Twitter, Vancouver Canucks, What Can Brown Do For You
The Man Behind the Mask: Ryan Miller
The NHLHS Man Behind The Mask series is a profile on some of the best goalies in the league to ever wear the “mask”. We hope you enjoy the latest installment of the NHLHS MBTM series.
For the Buffalo Sabres and Ryan Miller, things are constantly looking up.
If last season was any indication as to how vital Miller is to the line up and on-ice performance of the Buffalo Sabres, just look at this season and where the Sabres currently are.
As the number three seed heading into the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, there truly isn’t anyone else on this Sabres roster to thank, outside of rookie standout Tyler Myers, other than Miller.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, Buffalo Sabres, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Northeast, The Man Behind the Mask Tags: AHL, Buffalo Sabres, Dominik Hasek, Grant Fuhr, Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Biron, Olympics, Rochester Americans, Ryan Miller, Silver Medal, Team USA, Tyler Myers, Vezina
This Is It
NHLHS writer Brandon Augienello calls it like he sees it for the New York Rangers heading into tonight’s contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs, on the heels of last night’s big loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
The last of a six game road trip saw the Rangers worst effort, to a man. With the exception of the fourth liners, this team simply looked like they were out of gas, as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Rangers, by the final of 5-2.
For Buffalo, this victory clinched the Northeast Division title and still kept them in the hunt to grab the second seed in the Eastern conference. But this isn’t about Buffalo, who is sitting pretty, largely on the shoulders of MVP-candidate Ryan Miller. No, this is about the New York Rangers, who have a similarly all-world goaltender, who just so happened to let them down last night.
Categories: Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, New York Rangers Tags: Alex Auld, Buffalo Sabres, Henrik Lundqvist, Jochen Hecht, John Tortorella, Marian Gaborik, Ryan Miller, Toronto Maple Leafs
Calder Profiles: Tyler Myers
When Tyler Myers was drafted , Buffalo had high hopes but did not expect him to take the blue line by storm.
In his first season in the NHL, Myers is logging top pairing minutes amongst Buffalo’s defensive pairings.
Categories: Around the League, Buffalo Sabres, Calder Profiles, NHLHS Features, Northeast Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Tyler Myers
THG Power Rankings: Week Through 1/24/2010
NHL Power Rankings presented by The Hockey Guys. These rankings will be released every Sunday directly following the show and summarize the thinking of Anthony Curatolo, Brandon Augienello and Dustin Leed.
Categories: NHLHS Features, THG Power Rankings Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhakws, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals
Power Rankings Week Through 1/16/2010
NHL Power Rankings presented by The Hockey Guys. These rankings will be released every Sunday directly following the show and summarize the thinking of Anthony Curatolo, Brandon Augienello and Dustin Leed.
Legend: Rank – Team – Record – (Last week) – Position change
1. Chicago Blackhawks 34-11-4 (1) N/C – They can score at will, and are the best in the league. Keeping last weeks position as #1.
2. San Jose Sharks 31-10-8 (2) N/C – A tough loss against Boston is the only negative right now. Another team that belongs at the top.
3. Washington Capitals 29-12-6 (5) +2 – Speaking of scoring, WOW! A healthy Varlamov could do wonders for Washington.
4. Buffalo Sabres 29-11-6 (4) N/C – Ryan Miller is simply amazing. Buffalo is dangerous, even with a shaky roster on black and white.
5. Nashville Predators 29-16-3 (10) +5 Patric Horqvist anyone? This kid is on fire, and the Preds are playing great hockey.
Read more…
Categories: NHLHS Features, THG Power Rankings Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhakws, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals
Power Rankings Week Through 01/09/2010
NHL Power Rankings presented by The Hockey Guys. These rankings will be released every Sunday directly following the show and summarize the thinking of Anthony Curatolo, Brandon Augienello and Dustin Leed.
Legend: Rank – Team – Record – (Last Week) Position Change
1. Chicago Blackhawks 31-10-4 (2) +1 When you are the best you simply are the best.
2. San Jose Sharks 28-10-7 (1) -1 A few losses have shifted gears in the power rankings for the Sharks.
3. New Jersey Devils 31-10-1 (3) N/C Although the lights went out in New Jersey, the Devils haven’t lost a step in their standings.
4. Buffalo Sabres 28-11-5 (6) +2 Good teams prove that winning comes more often then not.
5. Washington Capitals 27-11-6 (9) +4 Captain Ovechking leads the charge and Washington climbs back into the top five.
Read more…
Categories: THG Power Rankings Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhakws, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals
The One Who Never Won It All
Arguably the best Finnish player never to win a Cup, Teppo Numminen will receive recognition for his remarkable career when the Phoenix Coyotes induct him into the “Ring of Honor” on January 30, 2010. Numminen, drafted in 1986, played fifteen seasons for the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes franchise, and continued to play an additional five years for Dallas and Buffalo.
At the time of his retirement on August 4, 2009, the stay-at-home defenseman was the last player from the 1986 draft still playing in the NHL. He was a three-time all-star, a two-time silver medalist at the Olympics (along with one bronze medal), and as of January 2010, he holds the record for most NHL games (1372 games) played without winning a Cup. The longevity of his career was largely due to his vision, his positioning, and his passing.
He never won the Norris Trophy —for the league’s best defenseman — though, Jeremy Roenick once said Numminen should be up for the award every year, but the media and market of Phoenix was not conducive to winning an award. Numminen was a great captain for the Coyotes, but not many outside of Winnipeg and Phoenix gave him the recognition he deserved. His contributions to the Coyotes were outstanding; the Coyotes have not made the playoffs since trading Numminen to the Dallas Stars in July of 2003. He was never a flashy or physical player, but he gave hope to defenseman that positioning can makeup for size and strength.
Categories: Around the League Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Jeremy Roenick, Phoenix Coyotes, Teppo Numminen, Winnipeg Jets
Power Rankings Week Ending 01/03/2010
NHL Power Rankings presented by The Hockey Guys. These rankings will be released every Sunday directly following the show and summarize the thinking of Anthony Curatolo, Brandon Augienello and Dustin Leed.
Legend: Team – Record – Position Change (Last Week)
1. San Jose Sharks - 27-8-7 (4) +3 Winners of 8 straight have propelled the Sharks to the top of the THG Power Rankings. Best team in the league deserves the best.
2. Chicago Blackhawks – 28-10-3 (2) N/C The Hawks will not go away this year and look really strong. Don’t expect a drop out of the top five much at all.
3. New Jersey Devils – 29-10-1 (1) -3 Mr. Brodeur is the best in the game, and his Devils are atop the East. Need we say more?
4. Colorado Avalanche – 24-13-6 (12) +8 The Avalanche have made strides this season and are showing that not only was it a hot start to keep them where they are.
5. Nashville Predators- 25-14-3 (6) +1 The Preds have been coming on strong, more so as of late. Dark horse in the West? Absolutely.
Read more…
Categories: 30 Team Series, THG Power Rankings Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals
