This is Gonna Hurt: The Buffalo Sabres Experience

[HeroWorship]

NHL Awards

Stanley Cup: Buffalo Sabres
Maurice Richard Trophy: Michael Ryder (New Jersey Devils)
Ted Lindsay Award: Rick Nash (N.Y. Rangers)
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings)
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Jan Hejda (Colorado Avalanche)
William M. Jennings Trophy: Cam Ward/Anton Khudobin (Carolina Hurricanes)
Vezina Trophy: Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes)
Conn Smythe Trophy: Alexander Steen (Buffalo Sabres)
Calder Memorial Trophy: Brayden McNabb (Buffalo Sabres)
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings)
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Tyler Myers (Buffalo Sabres)
Hart Memorial Trophy: Rick Nash (N.Y. Rangers)
Art Ross Trophy: Rick Nash (N.Y. Rangers)
Prince of Wales Trophy: Buffalo Sabres
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: St. Louis Blues
Presidents' Trophy: Buffalo Sabres

AHL Awards

Calder Cup: Hershey Bears
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award: Sami Aittokallio/Calvin Pickard (Lake Erie Monsters)
Yanick Dupre Memorial Award: Simon Gysbers (Toronto Marlies)
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award: Patroc Cehlin (Milwaukee Admirals)
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy: Dany Sabourin (Hershey Bears)
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award: Jake Allen (Chicago Wolves)
Eddie Shore Award: Nathan Beaulieu (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award: J.T. Miller (Hartford Wolf Pack)
Willie Marshall Award: J.T. Miller (Hartford Wolf Pack)
Les Cunningham Award: Jean-Francois Jacques (Syracuse Crunch)
John B. Sollenberger Trophy: Jean-Francois Jacques (Syracuse Crunch)
Robert W. Clarke Trophy: Lake Erie Monsters
Richard F. Canning Trophy: Hershey Bears
F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy: Hartford Wolf Pack
Frank S. Mathers Trophy: Norfolk Admirals
Emile Francis Trophy: St. John's Ice Caps
John D. Chick Trophy: Oklahoma City Barons
Sam Pollock Trophy: Lake Erie Monsters
Norman R. (Bud) Polie Trophy: Chicago Wolves
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy: St. John's Ice Caps

[HeroWorship]

NHL Retirements, Sabres Contracts and Draft Results


HW is hiding in yo' bushes


(ignore Saku Koivu on this list, people!)

Argh!!!!!

So, seriously, my PS3 froze at the draft, I had a nice little spreadsheet of all the retired players. So, I'm going to be lazy and type them out instead. ****ing christ.

Marc Savard & Shawn Thornton (Boston)
Teemu Selanne & Saku Koivu (Buffalo)
Ray Whitney (Dallas)
Todd Bertuzzi (Detroit)
Mike Mottau (Florida)
Francis Bouillion (Montreal)
Jaromir Jagr & Dainius Zubrus (New Jersey)
Lubomir Visnovsky (N.Y. Islanders)
Joe Corvo (Ottawa)
Craig Adams (Pittsburgh)

Sabres Deals at the Draft

Buffalo Sabres trade defenseman Mike Weber to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for the Red Wings 2nd Round Draft pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft

First Round of NHL Draft Results



Buffalo Sabres 2014 Draft Selections

[HeroWorship]

Off-Season Update: Girardi signs, McBain traded


Daniel Girardi's three year deal is big news for Sabres

As the off-season began with the expected retirements of Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, the Sabres knew that they did not feel the need to blow up the squad. As assistant general manager Randy Lane noted, the team wanted to keep the core 'in tact'.

Besides trading away bottom-pairing defenseman Mike Weber (Detroit) and Jamie McBain (Columbus) for second round picks each, the Sabres did not get rid of any of their regulars from their 2014 Stanley Cup squad. They did add a few notable names from recent squads, however.

Forwards signed to the Sabres include Taylor Pyatt, Tim Kennedy, and Luke Adam. All three have previously played for the Sabres, with Adam playing as recently as last November. All were signed to one-year contracts, and are expected to fight for position on the fourth line.

The defensive additions were the biggest. After signing Mike Kostka (another former farmhand) for depth, they made the splash by signing former New York Ranger Daniel Girardi to a three-year contract. The 30-yer old is coming off his best offensive season, with 8 goals and 29 assists during the 2013-14 season. A former all-star, Girardi is known as a tough, shot-blocking defenseman, forming a shut-down pairing with Ryan McDonagh with the Rangers.

"Adding a defenseman the caliber of Girardi was an obvious choice" Lane said. "We wanted to be a little meaner, and I can say the defense we have now will make sure of that. I love what we have."

The team was more concentrated with filling the Americans. The signings of Marc-Andre Cliche (9 goals and 30 points with Manchester), Kyle Beach (16 goals, 44 points with Rockford), and Marc-Andre Gragnani (11 goals, 30 points with Charlotte) should bring some life to an offense that struggled to score all season. The team also added former 1997 first round pick Mika Noronen to battle incumbent Andrei Makarov for the starting goaltending job.

[HeroWorship]

Season Preview: Sabres looking to repeat as Cup Champions

Harrison Wagner
EASN.com

When the Buffalo Sabres beat the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals, the city of Buffalo celebrated in the streets, overcoming numerous failures in their sports history and capturing a championship in a major league. The 5-mile parade in the city drew close to a million visitors, as the Stanley Cup was front and center.

General Manager Darcy Regier managed to keep the majority of the team in tact. The retirements of Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu were imminent, and trading defenseman Mike Weber and Jamie McBain were the lone players from the championship team to depart the team.

The 2014 NHL Draft saw the Sabres with two first round picks, and hit the jackpot at the number ten selection when Sam Reinhart, who was considered the consensus number one selection in the draft, fell into their laps. There is no need to rush Reinhart, who will play another season in the Western Hockey League before pushing for a position next season.

The team brought back defenseman Henrik Tallinder and goaltender Martin Brodeur, both were expected to retire and/or move on. The Sabres 2014-15 team, however, looks identical to their 2013-14 squad, the same team that won a franchise record 56 games. Here is how the team looks:

Forwards

The team got career years out of practically every player. The top nine remains in tact, a rarity to see in today's NHL when it comes to top-tier teams. They also have the advantage of age, with six of their top nine being 25 years or younger.

The lone veterans, Ville Leino, Steve Ott, and Alexander Steen, are expected to provide leadership once again. Ott and Steen returned on multi-year contracts, with the brass hoping Steen matches his Conn Smythe-performance in last seasons playoff run. All three were very solid defensive forwards, which will help with this rag tag group of youngsters.

Nail Yakupov, on the last year of his entry level contract, is the x-factor for the Sabres on offense. Leading the team with 75 points last season, he's expected to have a new center, Brayden Schenn, this season. With power forward Marcus Foligno wrecking havoc in front of the net, Yakupov should easily match his totals.

Tyler Ennis, demoted to the fourth line last season, showed that even in limited minutes that he can score. He scored a combined 37 goals between the regular season and playoffs, and is expected to slot in the second line with Steen and Cody Hodgson centering the pack. Hodgson, who led all Sabre forwards in assists last season, should give plenty of opportunities for Ennis to exceed his 2013-14 goal total (27).

Mikhail Grigorenko, the 20-year old prospect, played in only one playoff game last season, but will get more opportunities to flash his skill. With 29 goals in 81 games, Grigorenko will be the scorer on a line with Steve Ott and Ville Leino.

The bottom line will consist of mainstays Corey Tropp and Colton Gillies. A solid post-season brought in a new two-year contract for Gillies, who had to wait for a NHL contract before the Sabres snapped him up. Newcomer Taylor Pyatt, a former Sabre from 2001 to 2006, is a dependable player. He is big (6'3, 226), but doesn't have the scoring touch (only 5 goals last season) to make the fourth line a total threat.

Extra forwards include ex-Sabres Tim Kennedy (32 games with the Sharks last season), and Luke Adam (who scored at a near point-per-game rate with the Syracuse Crunch) will fill in the lineup when needed.

Defenseman

Norris trophy winning defenseman Tyler Myers anchors the defense, but a big addition in Daniel Girardi makes this one of the best defense in the Adams Division. Adding in Christian Ehrhoff (10 goals, 51 points), Tallinder, Sheldon Souray, and Brayden McNabb (who won the Calder), the team is good enough physically to battle, yet skilled enough to jump into the play.

Extra defenseman Mike Kostka (8 points in 44 games with Chicago) is a dependable fill-in in case of injury and/or poor play.

Goaltending

It was expected to be Brodeur's last hurrah in the league, but the 42-year old, off a strong post-season performance (16-1, 1.88, .926), felt he had more in the tank, and re-signed to a multi-year deal to finish his illustrious career with the Sabres. He'll be pushed by Jhonas Enroth, who finished in the top ten in wins (34) in the NHL last season.

Head coach Ron Rolston had indicated that the team will watch closely how the battle ensures during Training Camp.

Buffalo Sabres Top Ten Prospects
Provided by HockeyFuture.com

#10 Miles Koules - RW (3 1/2 stars)
Selected in the first round (30th overall) by the Sabres in the 2014 draft

The nineteen year old Koules is smallish (5'11, 191), but already boosts a booming slap shot and good speed. Currently in juniors, he must work on his overall defensive game, as well as his passing, if he wants to become a regular NHL'er.

#9 Samuel Morin - D (3 1/2 stars)
Acquired by the Sabres along with Brayden Schenn from the Flyers in exchange for Ryan Miller

Spending what will be his last season in Juniors, the 6'5 defenseman already has the physical traits to play in the American Hockey League, but must work on his offensive style if he wants to be seen as a bigger asset. Despite his size, could use to put on weight (186 pounds).

#8 Joel Armia - RW (3 1/2 stars)
Drafted in the first round (16th overall) by the Sabres in the 2011 draft

The 21-year old went through rookie pains last season, managing only 14 goals in 76 games for the Americans last season. Still, the big finnish forward is expected to play an intriguing role in the Sabres future, as the team hopes he cracks 30 this year in the AHL.

#7 Chad Ruhwedel - D (3 1/2 stars)
Signed as a College free agent by the Sabres in 2013

The 24-year old former UMass defenseman spent the entire season with the Americans last season, but showed a finely tuned offensive game, scoring 10 goals from the point. Still undersized, Ruhwedel will have to round out his overall game in hopes of threatening for a roster spot next season.

#6 Johan Larsson - C/LW (3 1/2 stars)
Acquired by the Sabres from the Wild in 2013

The 22-year old Swede broke out with the Americans last season, with 21 goals and 54 points on the season. He is likely a year away before he makes the jump to the NHL, as he's very close to being NHL-ready as any prospect in the system.

#5 Mark Pysyk - D (4 stars)
Selected in the first round (23rd overall) in the 2010 NHL draft

The 22-year old is probably NHL-ready now, but the Sabres are being patient with the Edmonton Oil Kings product before bringing him up for full-time duty. Has improved to each of his two seasons and is expected to receive significant minutes for the Americans this year.

#4 Ty Rattie - RW (4 stars)
Acquired by the Sabres from the Blues in 2013

The 21-year old sniper had a very fine start to his professional career, leading the Americans in scoring (55) last season, while receiving a one-game call-up by the Sabres. The Sabres are hoping the prospect can break through more this season, as he'll be counted on to be a major force on offense.

#3 Andrei Makarov - G (3 1/2 stars)
Signed by Sabres as a undrafted free agent in 2012

The 21-year old goaltender has improved significantly from his early-season struggles with the Americans to become the undisputed starting goaltender this season. His reflexes compare to those of a NHL backup, but must work on his puck control in order to refine his game for the next level.

#2 Zemgus Girgensons - C (4 stars)
Selected in the first round (14th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft

The third year pro improved on a mediocre rookie campaign to hit the forty point mark, earning a one-game callup with the Sabres. The 20-year old is physically ready for the NHL, but the Sabres want him to improve on his 2013-14 numbers before they bring him up to the big league club.

#1 Sam Reinhart - C (4 1/2 stars)
Selected in the first round (10th overall) in the 2014 NHL draft

The rich get richer, and the Sabres have a prized prospect in Sam Reinhart. The 18-year old will spend another season in the Western Hockey League to work on his defensive game, but a potential franchise center awaits the Sabres once he is ready to play.

[Tazer19]

Congrats, man, and solid offseason stuff. Only one loss in the playoffs!? Yikes.

[seb170455]

Congrats on winning the Cup, it looked easy. Are you satisfied with your draft? Did you have steals like Datsyuk or Zetterberg in the 6th or 7th round?

[Vipers2k9]

Congrats on the Cup. Awesome post season write up as well.

[HeroWorship]

Sabres Update: No, NHL 14 is completely different from the earlier next-gen NHL games


This is a children's message board, HW....

With the recent (real life) news of Thomas Vanek's trade to the New York Islanders, I decided to pop in some old NHL games to remember how the team has fallen from the good old days of Daniel Briere and Chris Drury.

I am the proud owner of every EA Sports NHL game on the Playstation 3, and even will rebuy NHL 07 for XBOX 360 again so I can play it at my brothers house. I played a little of NHL 09 today, because I remember how excited I was for the 2008-09 Buffalo Sabres squad.

Losing Vanek means that only two players from the default NHL 09 roster are still with the Sabres today; Ryan Miller and Drew Stafford (Patrick Kaleta and Mike Weber are on the Portland Pirates roster).

Even though the game was released five years ago, it made me feel...old. I mean, looking at several names on the roster (Nolan Pratt), and it feels like a decade ago. The headshots of Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell, and Chris Drury still have them wearing the Sabres jersey; and all three no longer play on their respective teams from NHL 09. It's weird to think Brian Campbell plays on the Florida Panthers now, but man it's weird to remember he was on the Blackhawks.

I decided to play a game with the Pirates, and it became increasingly clear; NHL 09 is so outdated that playing the game frustrates me.

I occasionally swing over to the NHL forums on OS, and I hear some crying about the game, and how "nothing has changed" garbage. Playing the game on Medium, you feel like you have no control over your players; they feel robotic, void of personality, and the fighting? Oh god, at least NHL 10 was fun with the first-person fighting.

You have to get used to the fact there is no broken stick, no board pinning, every player can throw an explosive check that would be suspendable in today's NHL. It's also weird to think EA Sports felt that players like Marek Zagrapan and Marc-Andre Cliche would become superstars. Even Trevor Lewis projects to a first line center.

It gives you an appreciation of how far EA Sports has gone with the game. NHL 10 is somewhat playable still, but the letter grades for potential feel like crude, and even a player like Andrew Peters can notch a 20-goal season if you really tried at it.

I have a few gripes with NHL 14, but playing that game feels real, and makes me excited to play another. Not to mention that the free agent pool isn't littered with 85+ overall rated players. The game has come a long way from it's earlier predecessors, and hopefully, it continues on to the next generation. Because if NHL 15 for the PS4 looks good enough, there is a 100% chance I'll buy a PS4 and, once again, make NHL 15 a must buy.

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(remember, I'm simming most of the games now)

Buffalo Sabres 2014-15 Season

Record: 8-2-0 (3rd in NHL, 1st in Wales)
Home/Away: 4-1-0 (home), 4-1-0 (away)
P %: 80%
Goals For: 38 (2nd in the league)
Goals Against: 21 (10th in the league)
Power Play: 17.9% (9th)
Penalty Kill: 91.7% (5th)

Injury Report:

D Tyler Myers (groin) - expected return date is November 17th, 2014

Sabres Lines:

Marcus Foligno - Brayden Schenn - Nail Yakupov
Alexander Steen - Cody Hodgson - Tyler Ennis
Ville Leino - Steve Ott - Mikhail Grigorenko
Taylor Pyatt - Colton Gillies - Corey Tropp
Extras: Luke Adam, Tim Kennedy

Christian Ehrhoff - Daniel Girardi
Henrik Tallinder - Brayden McNabb
Sheldon Souray - Mike Kostka
Tyler Myers

Martin Brodeur (5-0, 1.80, .942)
Jhonas Enroth (3-2, 2.41, .910)

Team Leaders

Points: Alexander Steen (14)
Goals: Steen & Marcus Foligno (6)
Assists: Steen (8)
Penalty Minutes: Steve Ott (22)
Plus/Minus: Tyler Ennis (+8)

October Results

Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Buffalo Sabres 2
Buffalo Sabres 5, Boston Bruins 2
Buffalo Sabres 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Buffalo Sabres 5, New Jersey Devils 2
New York Islanders 3, Buffalo Sabres 1
Buffalo Sabres 3, New York Rangers 2
Buffalo Sabres 3, San Jose Sharks 1
Buffalo Sabres 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Buffalo Sabres 7, Carolina Hurricanes 3
Buffalo Sabres 2, Washington Capitals 1

Sabres record for games I played: 2-1-0

November Schedule

Games in italics will be played by me!

November 1st, 2014: @ Pittsburgh Penguins (6-1-2)
November 3rd, 2014: @ Detroit Red Wings (3-4-1)
November 6th, 2014: vs. Detroit Red Wings (3-4-1)
November 8th, 2014: vs. Montreal Canadiens (4-5-0)
November 9th, 2014: vs. Florida Panthers (4-4-1)
November 11th, 2014: vs. Ottawa Senators (3-4-1)
November 13th, 2014: @ Ottawa Senators (3-4-1)
November 15th, 2014: @ Calgary Flames (8-2-0)
November 17th, 2014: @ Los Angeles Kings (5-4-1)
November 19th, 2014: vs. San Jose Sharks (5-3-1)
November 22nd, 2014: vs. Anaheim Ducks (3-6-0)
November 25th, 2014: @ Tampa Bay Lightning (5-2-2)
November 27th, 2014: @ Toronto Maple Leafs (6-2-1)
November 29th, 2014: @ Boston Bruins (5-4-0)

NHL News & Notes

10/7/2014: The Tampa Bay Lighting have signed center Sean Dolan to a one-year contract
10/7/2014: The Detroit Red Wings have signed left winger Jason Wilson to a one-year contract
10/15/2014: The Florida Panthers have claimed center Paul Gaustad off waivers from the Nashville Predators and have assigned him to San Antonio of the American Hockey League
10/23/2014: The Carolina Hurricanes have signed left winger Kyle Hagel to a one-year contract
10/27/2014: The Detroit Red Wings have signed center Jim O'Brien to a one-year contract

NHL Leaders

Points: Alexander Steen (BUF), Marian Gaborik (VAN) & Henrik Sedin (VAN) - 14
Goals: Marian Gaborik (VAN) - 10
Assists: Henrik Sedin (VAN) - 11
Penalty Minutes: Adam McQuaid (BOS) - 47
Plus/Minus: Dan Hamhuis & Kevin Bieksa (VAN) - +14

Wins: Riku Helenius (CAL) - 6
Goals Against Average: Craig Anderson (OTT) - 1.05
Save Percentage: Antti Niemi (SJ) - .963
Shutouts: Mike Smith (PHX) & Riku Helenius (CAL) - 2

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Rochester Americans 2014-15

Record: 4-2-2 (13th in AHL)
Home/Away: 4-1-0 (home), 4-1-0 (away)
P %: 62.5%
Goals For: 22 (17th)
Goals Against: 17 (6th)
Power Play: 19.2% (11th)
Penalty Kill: 93.1% (3rd)

Fun fact: The Manchester Monarchs (LA Kings affiliate) have not scored a power play goal yet.

Injury Report:

RW Ty Rattie (MCL Sprain) - expected return date is January 1st, 2015

Amerks Lines

Johan Larsson - Zemgus Girgensons - Joel Armia
Marc-Andre Cliche - Phil Varone - Kyle Beach
Felix Schutz - Logan Nelson - Kevin Sundher
Daniel Catenacci - Colin Jacobs - Jonathan Parker
Extras: Gustav Possler, Ty Rattie

Marc-Andre Gragnani - Mark Pysyk
Drew Bagnall - Chad Ruhwedel
Alex Lepkowski - Rasmus Ristolainen
Extras: Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, Jake McCabe

Andrei Makarov (4-2, 2.00, .931)
Mika Noronen (0-0, 2.31, .902)
Extras: Connor Knapp

Team Leaders

Points: Marc-Andre Cliche & Chad Ruhwedel - 6
Goals: Colin Jacobs & Zemgus Girgensons - 3
Assists: Ruhwedel - 6
Penalty Minutes: Drew Bagnall - 30
Plus/Minus: Colin Jacobs - +4

October Results

Rochester Americans 4, Charlotte Checkers 1
Rochester Americans 4, Utica Comets 0
Chicago Wolves 3, Rochester Americans 0
Chicago Wolves 3, Rochester Americans 2 (Shootout)
Rochester Americans 4, Lake Erie Monsters 3
Charlotte Checkers 3, Rochester Americans 2
Charlotte Checkers 4, Rochester Americans 3 (Shootout)
Rochester Americans 3, Iowa Wild 2

Amerks record for games I played: 2-1-0

November Schedule

November 6th, 2014: vs. Hamilton Bulldogs (6-1-1)
November 7th, 2014: vs. Hamilton Bulldogs (6-1-1)
November 10th, 2014: @ Toronto Marlies (4-3-0)
November 13th, 2014: vs. Utica Comets (1-5-3)
November 14th, 2014: @ Lake Erie Monsters (5-4-0)
November 15th, 2014: vs. Lake Erie Monsters (5-4-0)
November 20th, 2014: vs. San Antonio Rampage (5-4-1)
November 21st, 2014: vs. San Antonio Rampage (5-4-1)
November 25th, 2014: @ Hamilton Bulldogs (6-1-1)
November 28th, 2014: @ Toronto Marlies (4-3-0)
November 29th, 2014: @ Lake Erie Monsters (6-1-1)