I entered Deadline Day 2011 with cautious optimism. I was sure that Darcy Regier would make a move or two, I just hoped that they would be the right moves.

Over the past few years Regier has made the correct move (Steve Bernier, Dominic Moore, Raffi Torres) but the players haven’t fit in Buffalo. Have no fear, I will explain my evaluation of those pick-ups this week. I was sure with a little more leash that Darcy would wheel and deal a bit more. Don’t forget, this is the GM that flipped players like Mike Wilson, Brian Holzinger and Wayne Primeau for the likes of Rhett Warrenner, Danny Briere and the pick that became Ryan Miller. Continue reading →

While you were sleeping, the Buffalo Sabres sent a second-round draft choice to St. Louis for Brad Boyes.

Regardless of his $4 million cap-hit, this is a fantastic pick up for Buffalo. Boyes brings a veteran presence and a ton of offensive upside. Sending a second-rounder is even better because they have yet to enter the dreaded, mortgaging the future phase.

In addition, Boyes is signed through to 2011-2012, even better.

OK, I have come down off the high of reading this news for the first time. As for my true reaction, I am still pumped. This is exactly the type of guy most Sabres fans have probably been clamoring for since, I don’t know, 2007. Boyes is a big-body who can play wing or center all while being capable of logging minutes in every situation.

I am about to write my full deadline breakdown for the Sabres, check it out.

A lot is made of the lack of noise made at HSBC Arena during Sabres games. I feel I have a solution.

I am on the bandwagon labeled ‘appalled’ at the lack of energy the fan base puts out on a game-to-game basis. This problem is two-fold. Part of he responsibility lies with the game presentation department to produce an experience that will captivate the fan base during breaks in the action, there are times when you may say this is lacking. However, there are times when it is not. The other half (maybe even 70%) lies with the fans. Sure, the game presentation people could absolutely kill it and still get no response from the people in the seats. This is why I get frustrated at games, because of my fellow fan. Continue reading →

When I first heard that Terry Pegula had interest in the Sabres I was cautiously optimistic. So often you hear rumors, more often than not they are completely ridiculous. I credit getting hooked on this story to the reporting that Bucky Gleason did on staying up on the entire process.

After watching yesterday’s press conference I have never felt more love for the team I have followed for longer than I can remember. Continue reading →

It is a shame that so many people refer to Buffalo as a “hockey town”. Reason being, there are a TON of ignorant fans out there.

After watching Jhonas Enroth play a strong game against Montreal on Tuesday every jackass with a keyboard or a telephone was voicing their support of Enroth over Miller. I guess they fail to see the glaring weaknesses in the kid’s game, or the fact that Ryan Miller remains a top-10 goalie in this league.

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On Sunday, Ryan Miller channeled Dan Cloutier and opened the floodgates against the Islanders. He allowed seven goals on 26 shots and looked bad doing it. Funny enough, he wasn’t the worst goalie on the ice, that distinction belonged to Al Montoya who looked way over his head in net.

After the game John Vogl, the Sabres beat writer for The Buffalo News, asked Miller, “Do you feel OK?” It is a fairly harmless question that was more than warranted. Miller has been very average this year and I think a great deal of that is because of his injuries at the outset of the season. Either way, he has not been the best goalie on the planet like he was last season. Sunday was a great example of it. Continue reading →

The Sabres played their first game in front of their new owner last night, and they laid an egg. Hopefully tonight’s game is a bit better.

While Terry Pegula has yet to obtain full control over the Sabres, all signs point to the final steps as a mere formality. The biggest question in Sabreland is, what changes will be made?

After playing 10 good minutes the Sabres went on to play 40 bad minutes before turning it on a bit in the final minutes of the third period. However, even without Sid the Kid and Geno, the Pens were a better team.

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