Sabreland

The Sabres have been busy in the past few days signing the youth of their team. Drew Stafford received a 2 year deal that will pay him $1.5M this year and $2.3M next year. Tyler Ennis has also been signed to a 3 year deal.

I give Darcy a lot of credit locking up this years free agents. Sekera and MacArthur for roughly $1M a year, and now Stafford at about $2M. No way back in June would I have thought that these players would have received these types of numbers.

So with hockey a little more than 2 weeks away, will we be better than last year? I know we will be. Last year Hecht, Tallinder, Stafford, and Roy dogged it all year long. Sabres fix it by bringing in grit veterans, Mike Grier and Steve Montador.

Fans complained that the management didn't do anything this off season. We didn't sign the big names, but we were one of the more active teams in the amount of players we signed. I still hope there is one more trade in the works, but as the season approaches, that thought seems to fade. We still are overloaded on forwards and defensemen, with many rookies trying to crack the line-up.

MEYERS WILL PLAY ON THE SABRES CLUB THIS YEAR.

Sabres possibly reach deal with Stafford

The source is Hockey-Bums.

"Although not officially announced yet, the Buffalo Sabres have re-signed Drew Stafford. Terms have yet to be announced.(per CaptPantalones)"

It would surprise me to see Stafford playing for any other team come October.

Mair Out, Gerbe In?

Reports have come out this week that Adam Mair had surgery on his hip and will be out for at least 6 weeks. This opens things up for the Sabres. McCormick or Cowen might have their chance to battle for the newly open roster spot.

Other news reports that Nathan Gerbe is not planning on playing in Portland this year. He thinks he will be solely on the Sabres roster.

"I'm not going back there ( to Portland )", he adamantly told me after his workout. "Its not going to happen. I'll play whatever position they want me to play. I'm not going down". - HockeyBuzz

Should be interesting to see how everything plays out this year. Only 1 month until Sabres opening night!!!!

Sabres Blueline Woes

With NHL Training Camp starting up in a few weeks, the Sabres management will need to make a lot of decision regarding which players to call up to the big league.

One that is the most important is defense men Tyler Myers. He is hailed as the second coming of Zdeno Chara with his massive 6'8" height and 220lb build. The only catch with him is that if the Sabres decide to not assign him to the roster, they cannot call him up like other players in the minors. He still plays in Juniors which means that there is no "let's play a game or two in the NHL".

He is ready to play at the NHL level but the question is, "Is there enough room?" The Sabres have plenty of D-men in the ranks:

Craig Rivet
Toni Lydman
Henrik Tallinder
Steve Montador
Andrej Sekera
Chris Butler
Nathan Paetsch
Tyler Myers
Joe DiPenta (2-way contract)
Mike Weber

Starting Pairings

Rivet - Lydman
Montador - Sekera
Tallinder - Butler

Paetsch/Weber

It is very possible that one of the defense men could be dealt by the start of Training Camp. That would be the only way for Myers to possible crack the lineup.

NHL puts in Bid to Buy Phoenix Coyotes

In order to keep billionaire Jim Balsillie from buying the Phoenix Coyotes and relocating them, the National Hockey League has put it's own bid in to buy the franchise.

"We remain supportive of the other efforts that have been and are being made to purchase and operate the Coyotes in Glendale, and we will continue to do everything we can to assist interested groups in those efforts leading up to the scheduled sale hearing on September 10, 2009 and thereafter, if the NHL is the winning bidder," Daly said.

The NHL would then sell of the team to a 3rd party not named Balsillie.

I almost feel bad for Jim Balsillie, all he wants is to have a NHL team in Canada and the league is going through every possible means to prevent that. He must have really pissed someone off.

This is from a previous court hearing:

The NHL has asked a bankruptcy judge to throw out Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie's bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes based on the league's overwhelming rejection of him as a potential owner.

The 26-page motion, accompanied by declarations from Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs and Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, says the owners have concluded that Balsillie would be untrustworthy and that the court has no right to overturn their July 29 vote.

The owners say their opinion is based on Balsillie's behavior in earlier attempts to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators.

"We voted to deny approval to Mr. Balsillie because we concluded he lacks the good character and integrity required of a new owner" under NHL bylaws, said Jacobs, chairman of the league's board of governors.

The board, made up of a representative from each NHL team, voted 26-0 against Balsillie's application. Three abstained and one representative was absent, according to Jacobs.

- Sporting News

Edwards blames Coaches for Loss

This is not a good thing at all. Edwards is beginning to feel some heat from the media about his less than perfect outing against the Packers. Jauron puts blames for turnovers on Edwards, saying that the line gave him enough time.

"But for the most part they were where they were supposed to be, and I thought for the most part Trent and Ryan had time to throw it. That was a plus. But the results weren't what we need, obviously." - Dick Jauron on Lost Interceptions

Now this morning, an interview with Edwards says that he is not happy with the play-calling and he is just "doing what he is told."

Edwards claims he's playing the way he's coached and challenged Jerry Sullivan to do better, "There really haven't been any looks. You've watched the games as I have and I don't know if you've seen any throws I could've made down the field. If you want to call the plays and throw the ball down field, that's fine but I'm taking what the defense is giving me, continuing to go through my reads and that's the way I'm coached. We have coaches that are paid a lot of money to coach me that way and that's the plays that are
being made and that's what I need to do and not get outside of it." - WGR

I am not liking where this season is going already. Everyone was worried about T.O. playing the blame game. Looks like that is a role that is already filled. I understand Edwards point of view on Jauron's very conservative play calling. The play calling is the issue here. Coaching needs changing badly. For the last of the preseason games, Edwards should try calling his own plays. That way we know who to blame.

Just imagine Edwards when T.O. starts getting on his back. Edwards will crack. So who are the QB prospects for next year? Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow anyone?

Buffalo Sabres Rumors

Getting closer to the beginning of hockey season, the Sabres are trying to get that last piece of the puzzle to complete their roster. As of right now, we have many pieces that just don't fit together. So who are the Sabres looking at?

Dominic Moore

"Sabres and Moore still in talks, but not moving forward. not sure the reason, but most likely money issue." - NHL Sources Say

Moore would give us depth at center, physical play, and he has been on the Sabres already and has the team chemistry already. Moore could center the 3rd line with Grier.

Probability we sign him: 45%

Mike Comrie

"Comrie still waiting on the Wild, but does have a back up plan. Several other teams have made him offers and the two i know for sure are the Stars and Sabres." - Hendrick's Hockey

Comrie would also be another player the Sabres could use. He brings the same sort of assets that Moore would bring.

Probability we sign him: 20%

Looks like there are 3 teams looking at 3 players. Minnesota wants Tanguay or Comrie, Dallas and Buffalo want Comrie or Moore. I have a feeling that Tanguay will end up in Minnesota, Comrie in Dallas, and Moore back in Buffalo.

Bills vs. Packers

The Buffalo Bills were destroyed in their preseason game against Green Bay. The offense was completely lost, defense did nothing at all, and even our special teams was off. It was a good weekend to forget. Watching games like that one made me ask myself, "How long until the Sabres star?".

Here is a recap of the Bill's starting offense:

"The first drive went 5 plays, 11 yards and ended with an interception. The 2nd drive went 3 plays, -5 yards and resulted in a Trent fumble lost at our own 5 yard line. The third drive went for 6 plays and a stellar 13 yards ending with a punt. The fourth drive went for 15 yards on 6 plays ending with the 3rd turnover in 4 possessions on a Fred Jackson fumble. Finally, the fifth drive, the starting offenses most productive drive of the day, went for 19 yards on 5 plays."
- Sports Talk Buffalo

I really have a hard time thinking that the Bills have a chance to make the playoffs, let alone winning 4 or 5 games this year.


Week 1 Mon, Sep 14 New England Patriots (LOSS)

Week 2 Sun, Sep 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (WIN)

Week 3 Sun, Sep 27 New Orleans Saints (LOSS)

Week 4 Sun, Oct 04 Miami Dolphins (LOSS)

Week 5 Sun, Oct 11 Cleveland Browns (WIN)

Week 6 Sun, Oct 18 New York Jets (LOSS)

Week 7 Sun, Oct 25 Carolina Panthers (LOSS)

Week 8 Sun, Nov 01 Houston Texans (WIN)

Week 9 Sun, Nov 08 BYE

Week 10 Sun, Nov 15 Tennessee Titans (LOSS)

Week 11 Sun, Nov 22 Jacksonville Jaguars (LOSS)

Week 12 Sun, Nov 29 Miami Dolphins (WIN)

Week 13 Thu, Dec 03 New York Jets (Toronto) (LOSS)

Week 14 Sun, Dec 13 Kansas City Chiefs (LOSS)

Week 15 Sun, Dec 20 New England Patriots (LOSS)

Week 16 Sun, Dec 27 Atlanta Falcons (LOSS)

Week 17 Sun, Jan 03 Indianapolis Colts (LOSS)

Bills finish the season 4-12. Changes need to be made. Start with the defense. Draft defensively and then build around the defense. You cannot get rid of Edwards right now, we invested too much into him. Trade Marshawn for some defensive talent. Fred Jackson will be able to fill in for him without a problem.

And PS, only 40 days until Sabres open the 2009/2010 season!

Chad Ocho Cinco is a Kicker TOO?