Apr

23

This season was filled with many ups and downs for the Buffalo Sabres, and it seemed like they would be able to come through to make it to the playoffs. Now that the remaining teams are getting ready for the semi-finals, we can say that Buffalo has a long road ahead of them. The 2007-2008 season was, in all honesty, almost what many expected. I wanted the team to make it to the playoffs, but ever since the slump in January, reality set in. We did lose a lot prior to and during this year. Perhaps no one wanted to face that fact, hoping that things would work themselves out. The bottom line is that the Sabres are a young team with a lot of talent. Those players have a ways to go, yet I would hesitate to say that there are any disappointments. We have next season to look forward to, which is looking like it will be something to experience. Roles will be more set in stone, and I desperately hope that the rotating captaincy will be taken away.

I was upset about the decision to pass leadership along to different players each month: Everyone is on the same level, theoretically, but once someone built up any authority, it was quickly taken away. There are a handful of guys who deserve the spotlight, and one can only look forward to what happens. As fans, we have a lot to be happy for! The Sabres organization may not be perfect… No one can deny that. There will be changes during the next few months, yet everything in life is always changing. I am proud of my team, even without a playoff position. October, here we come.

Mar

14

March is arguably one of the most important times of the year for every hockey team. The race for the President’s Trophy tightens, playoff spots begin to be set in stone, and the struggling teams continue to be left further and further behind. Enter the Buffalo Sabres, who are in a drastically different situation than they were 365 days ago. Defensive injuries have sidelined the core blue liners that provide support and a good deal of goals. While I am happy to see some new guys temporarily stepping in, it seems like every opponent knows just how to take advantage of them. In an odd way, the goaltender is no longer the one in need of the most support: The defense is.

Coming down the stretch, the Sabres look worn out and lost. It is so frustrating to see them struggling from injuries and mistakes! We all know what they are capable of, and how many goals they can put up in a few minutes. The final playoff spot is inching further and further away, while other teams (Washington, Florida, and Toronto) are creeping up. When every game needs to be a win, I can just imagine the pressure that the players are under. I doubt there is a simple solution, or Lindy Ruff would have figured it out. As good ol’ Bastian from The Neverending Story points out, “Be confident!” Nobody is perfect, and a lot of these mistakes seems to stem from a panicked state of mind. Buffalo just needs to acknowledge their talents, work together, and figure out a way to have a little fun. The somberness and seriousness of every game is enough to spell disaster from the beginning. We do not need to see a bunch of goofy smiles out there, though: Just some energy and simplistic hockey.

The Sabres will try their luck tonight at 7:30 PM against the Carolina Hurricanes. Somewhere around half of the regular defensemen are expected to be out, paving the way for some rookies, such as Sekera and Funk, to take their places. I have often been saying, “Sekera, don’t make an erra!” (Pronounced with a Jersey accent, of course) and think that might very well be said for the whole team. The Sabres are not at the end of their season, and could be quite far from it. Keep hockey alive and well in Buffalo!

Jan

12

The past week has been pretty difficult for the Sabres, as they continue their trend of outright losing or taking the wrong end of a shootout. The good news is that of the 5 games played in the new year, three have resulted in one point. The margins have not been terrible, either: Buffalo has not been shut out since December 29th! I have been sad to see the team struggle, yet they are still pushing forward. Jocelyn Thibault illustrated that he could carry the team to at least a point, and the defense has had moments of brilliance. Concern, at least for myself, has shifted towards the offense. Scoring  a goal seems to be a very difficult task, even though the Buffalo Sabres are a team gifted with talent. As a die-hard fan, I find myself looking away from time to time and expecting the worst. All in all, though, this team is starting to come together, and a win can not be far off!

The Sabres play tonight against the New Jersey Devils… A team that has been part of the woefullness of 2008, yet also a team that is beatable. With the right skills at the right time, this could be that night we have all been waiting for!

Nov

27

For nearly 30 years, the Buffalo Sabres and the Rochester Amerks have been partnered together. Most of the Sabres’ talent has come from the Amerks, and there is no better place for extra conditioning and training. However, Tom Golisano, owner of the Buffalo Sabres, spoke today about how the unbreakable relationship may be coming to an end. The Democrat and Chronicle carried news of possibly cutting the ties. Reasons for the relationship breakdown include financial instability for the Amerks, as well as ambiguous interests in purchasing the team. From the accounts available, one might assume that the parties involved are just acting immaturely. It seems impossible that the Sabres and the Amerks would break apart. For one, where would the young talent come from? What about the farm team? This 30 year old relationship is a key to both franchises, as western New York fans often owe their allegiance to both teams. This news was astonishing to hear, and the future of the Amerks-Sabres so-called marriage is very uncertain. We will keep you up-to-date on any more developments. For the time being, we can only hope that Golisano and Steve Donner, owner of the Amerks, can come together and understand the bond between the teams.

Nov

4

We can just cut to the truth: This season has seen a somewhat disappointing start. After two years of amazing success, it looks like the Sabres are off-balance. That is not to say that the game is any less exciting, or that the fans are any less crazy about the team. However, Buffalo needs to get back to a level of working together and making it clear that they still are a team to fear. To get is started, perhaps Sabretooth could take out another mascot. Desperate times call for desparate measures!

Aside from the off-ice antics, Buffalo has been unravelling and coming apart at the seams like a horribly stitched sweater from the discount store. It is easy to put all the blame on the defense, but at the risk of sounding anti-Sabres, everyone has had a part in the team’s losses. Why? We always point out how every single member of the team, on and off the ice, has a part in the wins, so it follows that one person or group can not be fully blamed for the losses. The offense really does not have it together, no matter how much we want them to. Scoring chances do not equate to changes on the scoreboard! Earlier in October, we saw how strong the Sabres were when they not only won, but completely dominated other teams. The potential is there: Everyone just has to see it and make a difference.

I do think that some players have tried to make that difference and bring the energy back to Buffalo. Adam Mair wrecked a few Panthers on Friday night with a perfectly timed fight. His hits were comparable to earthquakes, which shook Florida’s confidence, if only for a moment. Paul Gaustad also has been getting more and more involved in the physical play that he has always been known for, but he also has seen his name on the scorecard a few times. What does it all mean, Basil? It simply shows that Buffalo can move ahead by getting support in other areas of the hockey game. The players do need to figure out the opposition’s goaltending, but that signature fire also needs to make its presence known. The Sabres are not an antsy pantsy little team: This is a talented, powerful team that can pack the proverbial punch in every sense. The chant is no longer “Go Sabres.” Attack, Buffalo, ATTACK!

Sep

17

Official AMP NHL Winter Classic LogoAfter weeks of speculation, and some ridiculously obvious news articles, the NHL announced the AMP NHL Winter Classic, which will take place on January 1, 2008, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Of course it is exciting to see the Sabres taking part in a piece of history, but recent articles about a major announcement at Ralph Wilson Stadium kind of ruined the suspense factor. Now that it is official, tickets are slated to go on sale September 18, 2007 at 10:00 AM EST. The prices are not too bad, considering how much could have been charged. The Seating and Pricing Chart shows a range of $29 to $203. The obstructed seats seem to have a ticket price of $10, according to Let’s Go Sabres. Getting everything to move along smoothly should be the biggest challenge, but the Ice Bowl, now the AMP NHL Winter Classic, will come! To top it all off, it will be broadcast nationally in the U.S. by NBC, and by CBC and RDS in Canada. Finally, some well-deserved coverage for the Sabres!

Sep

15

Going, Going, Gone

September 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment

9:00 AM this morning marked some brand new mayhem and hysteria for the world. Namely, Buffalo Sabres tickets went on sale. Judging by the selection of tickets earlier this afternoon, the team can carry on the tradition of selling out home games. Ticket prices are pretty high, according to the Tickets.com web site. Fortunately, other ticket deals will probably be available soon. No need to donate the extra kidney yet! There is also Replay, a resource to get seats from season ticket holders for individual games. It might not be a bad thing to rule out the former nosebleed sections either: Keep that HD scoreboard in mind!

Speaking of other things that are gone, or nearly gone, Teppo Numminen has been suspended by the Sabres, due to his surgery scheduled for Thursday. He has hopes of playing again, but will he still be a valuable player? His 18-year career in the NHL has been very impressive, yet there are a lot of doubts surrounding his impending surgery. More importantly, we hope that he recovers well from his procedure. Perhaps the preseason will help in determining who will make the best candidate for his replacement. He should, by the way, have a name comparable to Teppo Numminen’s, and the ability to come up with ridiculous nicknames, such as TNT.

Lastly, on the subject of that which is gone, are the “old” jerseys of last year. No need to panic: The logo and color scheme did not undergo another drastic change. Instead, new Reebok Edge uniforms will become the standard. The bottom line? They look very similar to last year’s jerseys, but absorb less water. So the clumsy ones can breath a sigh of relief, now that a spilled water bottle will do less damage. And no more sweaty jerseys! Just what we always wanted. One wonders if this has anything to do with the radical views on sweating held by Brian Campbell…

Sep

13

Teppo NumminenThe Buffalo Sabres announced today that defenseman Teppo Numminen will undergo heart surgery. After a physical exam by team doctors, it was determined that he would need surgery for a past cardiac condition, unrelated to the procedure he underwent in 2006. At the end of last season, many were speculating that he would retire after finishing a memorable season, during which time he scored 2 goals and 27 assists (NHL Stats). Numminen also surpassed Jarri Kurri on November 13, 2006, when he played in his 1,252 game. Clearly, he is not a defenseman that does the bare minimum. Numminen has been an asset to the Sabres, and has surprised many, despite his age.

No word has been stated about when the surgery will take place, or how long Teppo will be sidelined for. The Sabres have a good mix of defensemen to step up and take his place, but he brings more than just talent to the ice. He has had a steady leadership role, often masked in the past by the dual captaincy that was recently dissolved. This will most likely be Numminen’s last season in the NHL, but now his future is even more unpredictable. Now to hope that the other veteran defensemen can step up! Or step off…

Good luck Numminen!

(Photo Courtesy of Let’s Go Sabres.)

Sep

13

Hockey Announcements

September 13, 2007 | Leave a Comment

The Sabres web site has announced that the NHL will be making an Announcement in regards to a “special event.” There will be a press conference at 2:00 PM on September 17, 2007. As it is taking place at Ralph Wilson Stadium, there is no question as to the subject matter! Regular season tickets do not go on sale until this Saturday, September 15, at 9:00 AM, but many may have noticed the fact that the January 1 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins has not had a ticket link. Judging by the complex processes that go into having an outdoor game, the announcement could go either way. However, seeing as the NHL is coming out to Buffalo to make a “major announcement” seems to point towards the fact that the Ice Bowl will take place in Buffalo.

In more positive news, the Buffalo Sabres are finally getting a much-needed improvement to HSBC Arena: A new scoreboard! Not just a minor update, but an actual HD system that promises to rival some of the best scoreboards in hockey. It seems like the Sabres have invested in many updates and improvements over the last two years, and it does appear to be for the better. The original JumboTron was pretty ancient, and already suffered its fair share of problems. It might be noted that having a scoreboard in HD may point to HD broadcasts in the future. The near future, hopefully!

Sep

10

With the Training Camp and Preseason Schedule announced, the start of the Sabres’ 2007-2008 season is quickly approaching. The biggest dilemma stems from not knowing if the team can replicate another prosperous season. However, re-stating the obvious over and over again is far from original. There are certain things that could happen this season that have either been rare, or simply not occured during the “Golden Era” of modern Sabres hockey. We all are hoping for a Stanley Cup to culminate years of hard work, but let us look towards some other hockey hopes!

Rick Jeanneret in HD - Whenever a Sabres game is broadcast in high definition, that night is a good night! However, there is always something missing from the crystal clear details. Namely, Rick Jeanneret. His calls are legendary, and bring a unique element to every hockey game. It is true that national recognition is a huge boost for the team’s economic success, yet the void created without Jeanneret makes the mute button look all the more appealing.

A Shut Out or Two, or Ten - Ryan Miller is an amazing goaltender, which nobody can deny. It has been frustrating, however, to only see him amass one or two shut outs per season during his full-time career with the Sabres. Several instances from last season, involving goals in the last minute of play, resulted in feelings of loss and frustration. Miller has the potential to take on every type of shot, and throw his body about in a logical sense. Of course, shut outs are not all-important, but who does not want to see a score of 3-0 every now and then?

Successful Special Teams - When the power play worked last season, it worked like a charm. Anyone familiar with the Sabres, though, knows that there were precious few opportunities in 2006-2007. The Sabres’ power play was ranked 17th, while the penalty kill unit was ranked 20th (NHL Stats). Last season’s President’s Trophy showed that special teams are not the most important aspect of a team, but ranking within the top half would definitely be a plus this season. There are a good number of players on the team, such as Connolly, Roy, and Vanek, capable of making the plays. It will remain to be seen if the off-season changes will make a difference for the power play and penalty kill.

Many other factors have been left out, since there are so many things that are expected from the Sabres. Is there enough pressure being put on them? Most likely, judging by the heart breaking playoff losses of the past two seasons. The one thing we do know is that this team is still intact, and ready for another run at the Stanley Cup: Three times a charm.

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