Honk if you've got a new contract

Courtesy of TSN.ca:

The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed forward Paul Gaustad to a four-year, $9.2 million contract.

Gaustad will earn $1.7 million in the first year of the deal, and $2.5 million per year for the remaining three years.

Sounds like a pretty fair deal.

And as Ryan just joked when I sent him a text with the good news, we won't have to rename the site. Tomorrow should be fun.

Insignificance

By Jon



A while back, Chris and I passed back and forth a piece of paper, trying to list the entire 1998-99 Sabres lineup from memory. After naming all of the obvious selections, we were struggling for the last few role players. While we tried to remember when Donald Audette left town (and for that matter, when he came back) and whether or not Erik Rasmussen was around yet, Chris came up with a guy that I had completely forgot about (as a player, at least): Randy Cunneyworth.



Cunneyworth's stats for the regular season were as follows: 14 games; 2 goals; 2 assists; zero memories. Some may argue that playing three games in the Cup Finals would warrent something to remember Randy by, but I'll beg to differ. How many people even remembered Cunneyworth was on that team before I jogged your memory? Anybody?



So that got me thinking. Who else have I forgotten about? I went back and looked at all of the rosters over the past decade or so, and there were a bunch of names that I had forgotten about (i.e. Cunneyworth) and a few names that I had simply never heard of before (Mike Hurlbut, anyone?).



So I ask you, dear readers: Who is The Most Insignificant Sabre of the Last Decade? Over the next few weeks, I'll profile a few of the names found on the rosters of teams past, and with the help of you in the comments, we will crown a former or current player as the unlucky winner.



Now, there are far too many players that have had a quick cup of coffee to make a case for one over the other; There is simply no way someone can prove that Dominic Pittis meant less to the franchise than Peter Skudra (who played for exactly one minute during the 2000-01 season. Take that little nugget of knowledge and impress all of your friends!), so some criteria needs to be established.

Here's how things will work:

Any player nominated for The Most Insignificant Sabre of the Last Decade must have played in at least ten games from the 1998-99 season through this past season. If you nominate a player, please be ready to prove their insignificance. I'll then confer with the others in the Roost, and profile the five players we decide are most worthy of the title. After that, we'll throw up a poll and officially crown a player as Most Insignificant.

So have at it! Let us know who you remember as being the least memorable! Leave your nominations in the comments.

Lazy Sunday

Rookie Camp, Day Five
-----------------------------------

Lindy: So what do you think of the kids?

Darcy: I think we're in good shape. They seem to be responding well to-hey, what's on that TV over there?



Lindy: Is that the Euro 08 final?

Darcy: Nah, I think it's... golf.



Lindy: Really?



Darcy: Yeah.



Lindy: Cool.

Throwback

by Ryan

So I was going through some things a few days ago and came across this.



I figured it had to be seen by something other than my basement. Here it is, in all its glory, your 1989-90 Buffalo Sabres.



Some close ups in a second, but first:



Now THAT is a logo.



He's smiling because before the picture Rob punched the cameraman, adding to his 446 penalty minutes in Rochester in 1988-89.



I hear he's looking for a job, and his moustache is looking for a place to hide in Melrose's mullet.



No words for Larry Playfair. None.

I have no idea why I posted this, and if you are offended in any way, I'm sorry. I just... wanted to "celebrate the tradition" and everything...

The New Nathan Horton

by Ryan

You simply cannot control the market. No matter how much restraint you use in your salary cap construction, there will always be some jobber out there ready to pay through the nose for a "comparable player" in your system.

Two years ago it was Havlat. Last year Larry Quinn told us famously that it was Nathan Horton. This year the jobber hails from Philly, and the player?



Jeff Carter.

Now I know you may think Carter's deal won't affect anything the Sabres do this summer, but you are wrong. A quick diagram to show you how it works.

2006-07 Stats
Nathan Horton: 82 games, 62 points (31+31), +15.
2007-08 Salary: $4 million.

Derek Roy: 75 games, 63 points (21+42), +37.
2007-08 Salary: $4 million.

It isn't an exact science, but the theory that Quinn gave us was that once Horton signed that deal, the Sabres were forced to sign Roy before arbitration because he would have gotten even more than Horton's contract. Based on last season's numbers, Roy had a better year because of his +/- and the fact that he scored more points in less games.

If that is how the market works (read: it does), then take this next equation to heart.

2007-08 Stats
Jeff Carter: 82 games, 53 points (29+24), +6.
2008-09 Salary: $5 Million.

Jason Pominville: 82 games, 80 points (27+53), +16.
2008-09 Salary: $1.375 Million

The problem is not this year but next, when Carter's salary remains the same and Jason's becomes a question mark. The bar has been set for a 50 point forward, and it pays more than a 60 point forward made last summer.

This is the situation the Sabres face: Jason Pominville's value is only going to go up, whether he regresses slightly or performs even better next season. His contract is only going to inflate with the market or with his statistics; and therein lies the urgency of the situation.

The fact of the matter is that Jason Pominville needs to be extended before he is taken away by an offer sheet or the market puts him out of our price range. Here we are three days before the start of Free Agency and already his price tag has gone up. How many more max salary contracts will be offered this year, and how many mid range scorers will be given "Carter Money"?

You cannot control the market, but you can control your sphere of influence. With every move, however, that sphere gets just that much smaller.

The Money Plan: Phase One Complete

by Ryan

Actions speak louder than words.

The first step of the master plan is complete. Marshawn Lynch has admitted he was behind the wheel of the Moneymobile, and he has paid the price for his actions.

That price? $100.

Well, $101.20 Canadian. Still, well worth it when you consider the message being sent.

You see, that plush pedestrian was made an example of by Marshawn, and he knew full well what he was doing. By mowing down Whatshername from Toronto, he made a statement on the economic, social and political effect this whole "regionalization" stuff has on the team. The point is, Money's not cool with this whole Toronto thing.

Oh yes, he saw that Canadian and her floppy, egg-shaped head and he went in for the maim. Then he slowed down. Or sped up. Or maybe stopped. Whatever, he probably went home to play some Madden or something. But the damage had been done, the Theses nailed to the church door. Money don't play with regionalization. Money don't play with passports.

While Goodell plays us all for fools, Marshawn Lynch is taking up the fight on our behalf, and we as fans should rally behind his actions.

I mean sure, Ray Lewis (allegedly) killed a guy, but every Ravens fan knows that guy was trying to move the team to Indianapolis again. Preemptive strike, motherf#^kers. Pacman Jones did... things, but every Titans Cowboys fan knows the people involved all claimed Mrs. Pacman was a better game. No matter how true, a man defends his honor.

Heck, O.J. Simpson (allegedly) killed two people, and everyone knows...uh... okay, I got nothing. Forget about that one, but you know he was stealing satellite from a Dolphins fan, so there.

The point is this: Marshawn Lynch is a hero, and a man on a mission that we should all support. He hits and runs with a heart of gold, with gold teeth to match and a thought towards the best interests of the franchise.

The next time you think of the incident, consider this: when he caught sight of that maple syrup stained hussie, he was thinking about you. Yes, you personally, Mr. Bills Fan. He knows your plight, and he will do whatever it takes to keep this franchise from the grips of quasi-Socialism.

Next target:


The revolution may not be swift and it may be bloody, but it won't be televised on CBC.

I See Monsters

by Ryan

So Rich and I decided to take in another Bisons game, just because it seemed like a good idea. We meet at rookie camp to watch Luke Adam impress once again, and after that it kind of turned into, "Hey, let's go to Buffalo." So, uh, we did.

It all seemed nice and orderly, with a little bit of fog rolling into the city just as the first pitch was tossed. There was a big crowd on hand to watch future superstar Shelly Duncan grin and weakly ground out to third for the Yankees; which is something he seems fond of doing at the major league level as well.



It started like this. Nothing awful, but very... creepy with respect to atmosphere. (I'll be holding off on the "eerie/Erie" jokes tonight) It certainly wasn't your prototypical "baseball weather", even in a town that gets games snowed out early in the season. Still, it wasn't anything catastrophic, and you could, well, see at the time.

Then this happened:



I'll be honest, it was worse than this. The camera on my phone makes everything seem further away than it really is, including the Silent Hill fog rolling into the city. I half expected Jeff Karstens to morph into a zombie and start feasting on Morgan Ensberg's flesh. No, really, he's on the Bisons. (I know, right?)

The fog was a minor distraction to say the least, and things got dicey when they announced the fireworks display was canceled. (Note to self: don't ever tell a group of people they can't blow s$%t up, it never ends well.) The announcer, who must have been sweating bullets at this point, promised two makeup fireworks shows, and a free ticket to either of those games. I forget the two dates, I was too busy loading my shotgun and helping Rich find a shovel to beat back the undead with.

Meanwhile, the Bisons clung to a one run lead they manufactured with a Duncan-aided triple and a sac fly, all produced well before Dunn Tire Park resembled a Civil War battlefield. Conditions continued to get worse, but no one on seemed to be concerned with the visibility issues.

Suddenly it was the 8th inning and the outfielders were giving the universal "iunno" signal with every fly ball. USRT has a much better summary of what happens next (complete with press passes!), but let me conclude by showing you this:



This is what it looked like behind the plate, just seconds before the game was called.

Yes, in hindsight it probably should have been called. However, it certainly wasn't handled properly by the umpires, who should have pulled the teams off in the 8th when things got really bad. If they were hinging on the Bisons closer finishing the job (to be fair, he was one strike away), well, they shouldn't have the entire game resting on the hope that he keeps the ball on the infield.

Just a crazy way to end a crazy night in Buffalo. Hey, that's what happens when you build a ballpark on the ocean.

Rated R

By Chris

Scott Cullen over at TSN.ca has a nice column about restricted free agency and I'm going to steal his nice little chart.


What we're looking at is the range of compensation teams would receive if they do not match the qualifying offer sheets that their restricted free agents sign with other clubs.

This tidbit from that same article is also pretty interesting.

For example, if we start at the lower end, why not offer some of these guys a contract between $900,000 and $1.3-million, risking a third-round pick if their team won't match? Steve Bernier, RW, Buffalo; Paul Gaustad, C, Buffalo; Dan Paille, LW, Buffalo; Kevin Klein, D, Nashville; Nigel Dawes, LW, N.Y. Rangers; Ryane Clowe, RW, San Jose; Brooks Laich, LW, Washington

None of these players is going to make a huge difference to your team, but they could very well fit among your top nine forwards or, in Klein's case, as a regular on the blueline. For the price of a third-round pick, any of those would be a reasonable acquisition.

I like the fact that Cullen decided to throw three Sabres in that example. Mainly because Buffalo has plenty of experience in dealing with offer sheets (and Sabres management and Edmonton General Manager Kevin Lowe are no longer "friends" as a result). Since Bernier, Gaustad and Paille aren't exactly top-flight restricted free agents, you would think that the Sabres would be in the clear this year and not have to worry about other teams trying to snag their top restricteds. I did...until I saw this chart and remembered how the compensation works. Now I'm thinking that the Sabres may not dodge a bullet after all.

If a team really likes Dan Paille and is willing to pay him over $2.5 million, then they only risk losing a first and third round picks in next year's draft. It's not that steep a price to pay considering they'd be getting a 20 goal scorer that can also play the penalty kill. It can be very easy for teams like Toronto, looking to rebuild with a lot of cash to spend, to swoop in and mess with the budget of smaller market teams that operate on their own self-imposed cap (like the Sabres try to do).

The Leafs can afford to spend to the cap ceiling every year and if they're willing to overpay now for a player like Paille, who they feel can be a part of their core, then it might be worth it for them to give up a few draft picks for a player that can help them now. That's bad news, especially down the road if the cap keeps going up, for cash-strapped teams like Buffalo who rely heavily on retaining home-grown talent.

Another interesting piece in this process (as pointed out by a friend who I think has memorized the CBA) is that, as stated in that headache-inducing document:

10.4 Draft Choice Compensation for Restricted Free Agents

Clubs cannot acquire picks to use as compensation (with the exception being a Club's own draft selections that are traded and then re-acquired).

Clubs owing one (1) draft selection must have it available in the next draft.

Clubs owing two (2) draft selections in different rounds must have them available in the next draft.

Clubs owing three (3) draft selections in different rounds must have them available in the next draft.

Clubs owing two (2) draft selections in the same round, must have them available in the next three (3) drafts.

Clubs owing three (3) draft selections in the same round must have them available in the next four (4) drafts, and so on.

When a club owes two (2) or more draft selections in the same round, the signing Club does not elect the years in which such selections shall be awarded to the Prior Club; rather the selections next available will be transferred to the Prior Club (i.e., a club that owes two (2) selections has them available in the next two (2) drafts-- that is when they are transferred).

Basically, if a team wants to submit an offer sheet to a player, it needs to have picks available as compensation in the next draft. And they have to be the team's original picks.

Hypothetically, let's say the Sabres sign Capitals defenseman Mike Green to an offer sheet in that $3,923,437-$5,231,249 price range. The compensation to the Capitals if Washington doesn't match the offer would be a first, second and third round pick in the 2009 draft. The problem is that Buffalo doesn't own a third round pick in that draft because they traded it to the Kings to get Tyler Myers. Darcy Regier can't just trade Maxim Afinogenov to Vancouver for a third rounder and expect to use that as compensation because that pick originally belonged to Vancouver, not Buffalo. Also, Washington would be stupid not to match.

So, realistically, it's going to be tough for the Sabres to get into the Offer Sheet game without that third round pick because that pick is used a lot as compensation. Unless the Sabres re-acquire that pick from Los Angeles, it looks like your bubble is officially burst if you were expecting Buffalo to go after Green, Jay Bouwemeester or Valteri Filppula.

On the bright side, the Sabres.com P.R. MachineBlog has some very insightful words from Regier in terms of how much the team will be spending now that the cap has increased to $56.7 million next year.

REGIER GIVES INSIGHT INTO 08-09 PAYROLL

The NHL and NHLPA today announced the team payroll range for the 2008-09 season.

The lowest payroll limit has been set at $40.7 million, while the upper limit will be $56.7 million. That leaves the midpoint at $48.7 million.

Following Thursday’s developmental camp, Buffalo Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said this concerning the team’s potential payroll for the 2008-09 season.

“We’ll be above at the midpoint,” said Regier. “How far above it? We’ll have to wait and see. But we have some room, but not a lot of room.”

Yeah that pretty much told me nothing. Very insightful, indeed.

What I can tell you is that the Sabres spent $45.023 million last year when the cap was at $50.3 million. The Sabres already have $43.819 million committed in salaries next season to 12 forwards (including The Kaleta), 6 defensemen (including Andrej Sekera and Mike Weber) and one goaltender. That's not counting the restricted free agents they have yet to sign (Bernier, Gaustad, Paille or Clarke MacArthur) or any other potential moves Darcy and company may make via trade or free agency.


The Sabres do have some money to play with until they reach that $49 million mark. And the team payroll will almost certainly to go up again in 2009-10 despite the cap ceiling if Pominville and Miller are signed to extensions. Expect Buffalo to be very cautious with salaries in a league where it seems owners just don't seem to learn from past mistakes (See: Outrageous Contracts and Lockout).

Summer Slugs on Purple Eagle Ice

by Ryan

So I was "in the area" yesterday and decided to hit up Sabres Camp at Dwyer Arena. Now that the draft picks and I are best friends, I figured I should watch them from afar and study how they are shaped by the firm hands of our coaching staff. Yeah, that sounds about right.

If you haven't been to Dwyer yet and plan on heading up this weekend for camp, I thought I'd give a brief overview of how it works.

First of all the players is going to be split into two groups. (At least until Monday, because they seem to scrimmage full teams on the last day) The first group plays in the rink with real seating (below), and group two plays on another rink to the left of the big stage.

Lindy and Co. gathering the team up for instructions before 2 on 1 drills

Your best view of the action is going to be from this rink, but that depends on who you want to watch. For the record, Kennedy and Gerbe played on the other rink on Thursday, upsetting dozens of little girls who want to watch a pint sized eagle score. (No, not Verne Troyer. Sickos)

Nice hat.

This is rink two, with a much, much different point of view. For some reason Dwyer hasn't expanded this rink yet, but I guess they've been talking about it for years. In any event, this perspective gave you a good view of Roost favorite Bradley Eidsness, the 07 pick who will be attending the University of North Dakota in the fall. Brad looked pretty sharp yesterday, so that was nice to see.

A good shot of the type of learning we saw. It's a camera phone pic, but there's a look at Jordon Southorn on one knee to the right of the stretching player in blue. Southy had a solid day in camp, and it was nice to see him playing well early.

Worst seat in the house?

Overall I'd say rink one is your best bet. Unless things get crazy in there this weekend you should be able to move from rink to rink. I stood in the back for most of the session and could see fine Some thoughts on what went down:

-Everyone is going to be looking at Tyler Myers, but I have to say I liked what I saw. Most players over 6'5" have an awkwardness in their skating, but Tyler was very... smooth. He didn't look lanky, he didn't look uncomfortable, and he wasn't afriad to use his size to move some bodies. You could tell Lindy was careful with him, and he talked to him at length a few times during the session, but I was impressed by his initial play.

-So I've decided that Nathan Gerbe is going to be pretty good. Yup, you heard it here first.

-Drew Stafford is a conundrum. Seriously, I don't even know what to say about him anymore.

-Quinn's jeans/loafers with no socks look isn't cutting it.

-Sekera played well. Lock the kid up long term before he cracks the top four.

-The second rink had a much looser flow to the practice. Without the Iron Fist of Lindy there seemed to be more talking and laughing. TJ Brennan, Weber, and Zagrapan seemed to really like one coach there.(I have no idea what that means. Sorry)

-One more thing: I miss real hockey.

I think some us are making at least one more trip out to Dwyer, so if you feel like meeting a blogger or two, drop us a line. We won't be taking copious notes like some, but we'd like to think we are a nice alternative to the cold, empty purple seat next to you otherwise.

Facebooking the Draft Class: Justin Jokinen

by Ryan

Last year we did profiles on the four Sabres draft picks we found on Facebook. This year we thought we would do it a little different, so we asked if they would answer some questions for us. We were worried they wouldn't be interested, but the answers we received surprised us.

Today we talk to Justin Jokinen, the Sabres' 4th round (101 overall) pick. The Minnesota native was more than willing to talk to us, but his brevity is a result of communication via Facebook Mobile. He did, however, say that this was completely intentional:



Thomas Vanek is impressed.

In any event here's Justin, and below is what Justin had to say.



The Goose's Roost: Be honest, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Buffalo”?

Justin Jokinen: When I think of Buffalo now all I think about is the NHL team. I'm really excited about being drafted.


The Goose's Roost: You are known as a finesse player with an “uncanny ability to put the puck in the net”. Describe your game in your own words.

Justin Jokinen: I find myself as a finesse player as well I like to be in control. I like having the puck and making the plays, scoring the goals.


The Goose's Roost: What do you think of the Sabres’ logo?

Justin Jokinen: I think the Sabres logo is awesome. I think it's one of the coolest ones among all the NHL logos.


The Goose's Roost: Why should Sabres fans be excited about picking you?

Justin Jokinen: Sabres fans should be happy because I am hoping to someday make a big impact for their team.


The Goose's Roost: We have to ask: you’re not related to Oli or Jussi, are you?

(Edit: We're taking the non-answer as a "no")


The Goose's Roost: Are you a Wild fan?

Justin Jokinen: I didn't have a favorite NHL team at the time but now being drafted by Buffalo I do.


The Goose's Roost: What kind of stick do you use? Ovechkin blade? (Justin compares himself to Ovechkin)

Justin Jokinen: I use the curve "Iginla."


The Goose's Roost: There’s a video of you shooting from your knees in that All Star Game. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done on the ice?

Justin Jokinen: I have also put the puck between my legs and top shelfed it before.


The Goose's Roost: What are your plans for next year?

Justin Jokinen: My plans for next year are play at Minnesota State (Mankato) for however long Buffalo shall want me there.


Now that's what we want to hear.

Congratulations are in Order

by Ryan

To the writers from the Buffalo News, on winning four awards from the Professional Hockey Writers Association. You guys had plenty to write about the past year, and certianly made the most of it.

Tim Graham was one of my favorite TBN reporters before he moved to Florida, and he deserves the honor. His work is certianly missed, and I hope he enjoys covering the pitiful Dolphins in the beautiful Palm Beach weather. Yeah, I'm sure he's struggling there.

John Vogl also did some nice year. It's really nice to see the whole department get recognized for their hard work.

Wait, I didn't see a Gleason on there. Hrm... that's a bummer. He put some of his bitter best work out there this season, and it really is a shame he didn't get recognized. Perhaps this year's series "See, I told you so" will go over better than his last effort, "I knew something you didn't."

As usual, there is always next year.

A Look Ahead: Behind the Sabres Blue Line

By Chris

The new hockey year is fast approaching. Free agency opens up on Tuesday and soon we'll be looking forward to October when the Sabres season begins anew. As WGR has been calling it, "The Road to Redemption." Sounds kind of lame (it is) but after all success the team has had the last two seasons, it's somewhat fitting. Somewhat. The 2007-08 season pretty much was The Road to Perdition, after all.

Let's see how the team stacks up on defense and in goal.

On D, three of the top four spots are locked up. Henrik Tallinder, Toni Lydman and Jaroslav Spacek will be around. If the Sabres don't bring anyone in via free agency or trade, the fourth spot is Andrej "Balls" Sekera's to lose.

Given a full offseason to train and get healthy, the prospects are there for Tallinder to have his most productive season since 2005-06. And if Tallinder is going strong, Lydman plays better as a result. If that pairing is going strong, confidence can trickle down and make the entire unit better. It was that consistency that's been missing the last year and a half or so, mainly due to injuries to Tallinder.

Spacek really stepped up into a leadership role last season and was the team's steadiest defenseman, even when paired with a contract-weary Brian Campbell whose play crumbled under that added pressure. Spacek will sure up the powerplay and will hopefully continue to be a leader on a team that is still very much looking for its identity.

It may seem like a pretty big jump for Sekera to go from the seventh defenseman to a top four guy, but in the salary cap era, it seems players are expected to take up larger roles at younger ages. Especially now that players reach free agency at younger ages, they have less time to prove themselves. Sekera is going to be a restricted free agent at the end of next season. If he impresses enough this year, he could be looking at a big payday this time next year. Things can happen that quickly.

The development of Sekera and how much the Sabres want to rely on him should factor largely into how active they're going to be in the free agent market. If they feel that he can step in this year, will they look to signing a top four guy?

I think they have to. Figure the Sabres sign a guy like Brooks Orpik to, predicting inflation due to the Shea Weber deal (three years, $17.5 million), something around a five-year $28 million deal. If everything goes according to plan, a player like Orpik would certainly reduce Sekera's ice time and his price tag at the end of the season. Either way, this might be Spacek's last season in Buffalo as he enters a contract year. While Sekera would be a five this year, he would certainly be in the top four in 2009-10.

In that season you're looking at Tallinder and Lydman both going into the final year of their respective deals, a player of Orpik's caliber, Sekera, Mike Weber and Nathan Paetsch (mainly because he will still be under contract). That's a very strong starting six (on paper) that would probably cost the Sabres somewhere in the $16 million range (assuming the free agent will make $5 million and Sekera's salary skyrockets to $3 million). Keep in mind that the team spent about $17 million last season when you factor in the contracts of Lydman, Tallinder, Paetsch, Dmitri Kalinin, Teppo Numminen, Nolan Pratt and Brian Campbell. As salaries keep rising, the Sabres could be looking at a very cost efficient defense in two years, especially if they strike out at a free agent this year.

In addition to Orpik, on the free agent end, Darcy Regier and company could be looking at John-Michael Liles, Mark Streit or way under the radar, a player like Ron Hainsey (a 27-year old, 6'3'' 211 pound defenseman, who made only $900,000 last year while averaging over 20 minutes a game and scoring all eight of his goals on the powerplay for Columbus). I don't even want to hear those Brian Campbell-might-want-to-come-back rumors.

I'm assuming a lot here, mainly because it's difficult to predict exactly what the Sabres will do. They could very well move Sekera into the top four, re-sign Teppo as the fifth man, and rotate him with Paetsch and Weber to round out the corps. Bringing back Pratt is always an option as well, but it would make the most sense to choose between Numminen and Pratt as the resident "old guy."

2008-09 Salaries:
Jaroslav Spacek $3.300 million
Toni Lydman $3.150 million
Henrik Tallinder $2.9 million
Nathan Paetsch $800,000
Andrej Sekera $$659,000
Mike Weber $551,000
----------------------------
Dmitri Kalinin UFA (Darcy already said Kalinin's days in Buffalo are over)
Teppo Numminen UFA
Nolan Pratt UFA


In goal, the Sabres are looking to give Ryan Miller a long term deal. Whether or not Miller would be interested is another story. He's a top eight goalie without question, but with the market, he'll be making top four money. Look at Henrik Lundqvist's six-year $41.25 million deal as a benchmark for what Miller will be looking for. However, if I were the Sabres, I would front load the contract as much as possible so it's easier to move him in three or four years (especially if that Enroth kid really pans out).

I'm a huge Miller fan; we wouldn't have gotten anywhere in the playoffs in 2006-07 if it weren't for his heroics, but you need to keep all of your options open. In three years, if Enroth is the better choice, then at least the opportunity to trade a long term contract is there. That's a worry for another day, though.

Who is going to back Miller up in 2008-09 is the bigger question. The free agent pickings are slim to say the least. The Jocelyn Thibault Experiment backfired terribly but it makes sense to bring in someone with experience instead of letting a young unknown take up the role. Perhaps the Sabres could snatch up a Johan Holmqvist, Patrick Lalime, J.S. Aubin or even an Alex Auld.

Buffalo just needs someone reliable that can play around 20 games and hopefully win half of them. As long as the backup gives the team a chance, it's definitely an upgrade over the black hole that was on the end of the bench last year.

2008-09 Salaries:
Miller $3.5 million
--------------------
Dead to us (Thibault) UFA

Facebooking the Draft Class: Jordon Southorn

by Ryan

Last year we did profiles on the four Sabres draft picks we found on Facebook. This year we thought we would do it a little different, so we asked if they would answer some questions for us. We were worried they wouldn't be interested, but the answers we received surprised us.



Today we take a look at 4th round pick (104th overall) Jordon Southorn. The Montreal native played last year with the Prince Edward Island Rocket, registering 31 points (12+19) and 70 penalty minutes in 69 games. Here's what the Rocket defenseman had to say:


The Goose's Roost: What is the first thing that comes to mind when Buffalo is mentioned?

Jordon Southorn I was very happy to hear my name being called by the Sabres. I know they are a very good team in the new NHL and have shown it in the past 3 years! I also know quite a few of the prospects in camp so it was a comfortable fit.


TGR: Any nicknames we should know about?

Jordon: Southy- that's been my name for two years now.


TGR: What’s it like to on Prince Edward Island? Do you live there during the season?

Jordon: Yeah I live there during hockey season. It's a small town, not much to do; but you are there to play hockey not joke around.


TGR: You’re from Montreal. Are you a Habs fan?

Jordon: Yes I am from Montreal and have grown to be a Habs fan


TGR: How badly have you heard your name mispronounced? How should we say “Southorn”?

Jordon: Haha, I've heard it quite a bit. Say it as "South-horn" but there is really only one "H".


TGR: You seem to know a bit about the players currently on the team. How often do you watch Sabres games?

Jordon: I see them play whenever they play against Montreal or (in the) playoffs. I mean, my billet house in PEI is a Habs fan so we don't watch any other team.


TGR: You have a fight card on hockeyfights.com, and registered 70 penalty minutes last season. Just how physical are you on the ice?

Jordon: Well I'm not a fighter; I have dropped the gloves a few times when I feel it's appropriate, but I hit when I have to. I like giving out a nice hit, but I'm not a goon on the ice.




TGR: Skating seems to be a strong suit for you. Would you say that’s the best part of your game?

Jordon: I am a good skater with good vision of the ice, I mean the new NHL is a lot of skating so its a good fit for me.

TGR: Tell us a little about this video:



Jordon: Haha, it was a bad game for me. We were winning 5-4 or 6-5 then I gave up the puck and they scored to tie it. Then my next shift I was frustrated and went to hit someone and missed and they scored. But we tied it up.

I knew I had to redeem myself so in the last seconds of the game I look up and saw 15 seconds left on the clock so I figured why not just drive the net? It worked out in my favor because the puck came right on my stick and I scored with 5.5 seconds left to win the game!

TGR: What are your plans for next year? Are you still going to play with the Rocket?

Jordon: As of right now I am still playing with the Rocket. They haven't traded me so I mean that's good. Haha. I hope to have a big leadership role on my team next year; maybe get a letter on my jersey and help carry my team as far as we can into the playoffs, and have a great season team wise and personally!

A Look Ahead: Sabres Forwards

By Chris

With the NHL Entry Draft behind us, the new hockey year is fast approaching. Free agency opens up next Tuesday and soon we'll be looking forward to October when the Sabres season begins anew. As WGR has been calling it, "The Road to Redemption." Sounds kind of lame but after all success the team has had the last two seasons, it's somewhat fitting. Somewhat. The 2007-08 season pretty much was The Road to Perdition, after all.

Let's see where the team stands up front right now.

The Sabres have 11 forwards under contract, costing the team $28.959 million. Steve Bernier, Paul Gaustad, Dan Paille and Clarke MacArthur still need new contracts as restricted free agents. Signing restricteds to offer sheets seems to be a new fad among general managers, however these players aren't the type other teams should break that bank for. Each should be able to sign multi-year deals with the Sabres.

Paille and Bernier are both former first round picks. While Paille is on the verge of breaking out (I can't wait to see where the Sabres' cap number is on him since they'll mainly be paying him for potential), Bernier is still a bit of a mystery. "Big Bear" stormed out of the gates in that Nashville game but fell off the map after.

Part of it can be attributed to be young and adjusting to a new team, a team that was searching for an identity all year. Replacing the distraction that had become the Brian Campbell situation probably put some added pressure on him.

"This is a tough part, but I think the toughest part right now for me is when you get traded you get a big push, a big push of energy, you want to prove yourself," Bernier said. "After a couple of days you get a big down, and I did not sleep good the last couple of nights because of it. That's the toughest thing I think, to make sure you play the same way for a period of time, that's going to be something that I have to learn pretty fast."

That was Bernier on March 5, about a week after the trade. Hopefully he settles in right away at the beginning of the season. He seemed all right with Vanek and Roy when he first came to Buffalo but his play tailing off and an injury didn't help his case. Time will tell.

MacArthur is interesting because he's shown sparks of being a very good hockey player, but also disappears from time to time. He's locked in as one of the first call ups, but it wouldn't shock me if young guns like Tim Kennedy or Nathan Gerbe leapfrogged him by the time training camp lets out. The General is the type of player that could easily be moved in a package deal.

The centerpiece in that sort of trade? Three players mainly fit that bill and they're each entering their walk year. Maxim Afinogenov is making $3.5 million, Tim Connolly is set to rake in $3.5 as well, no matter how many games he doesn't play and Ales Kotalik, at $2.5 million is the third viable option.

Forwards hitting restricted free agency after 2008-09 include Drew Stafford and Jason Pominville. The Sabres have made it public knowledge that they would like to lock Pominville up before that time comes but the longer they wait, the higher his price tag will climb, ala Campbell.

It's not unreasonable to figure he could make an average of $5.5 million a season over five or six years (or something crazier that we were only joking about a few months ago) with the way salaries have been going as of late.

Regier was hesitant to give Campbell that sort of security, but maybe they think differently of Pominville. A Lady Byng nomination and the fact that he was the captain as they stumbled down the stretch (although he actually did a very good job publicly in the role, always being accountable), may factor into them actually giving him that kind of money.

Stafford went through the stereotypical sophomore slump, having to deal with injuries in addition to a heavier workload. Towards the end of the season, he seemed to settle in on the fourth line with Adam Mair and Pat Kaleta, but he's expected to be a top line talent.

If the Sabres aren't careful, he could turn into the American Kotalik--a player with a ton of talent and size but doesn't use either often enough. It could also look like the Sabres choose between Bernier and Stafford since they're similar players. It will be easier to figure that scenario out after Bernier gets a contract.

It doesn't look like Mike Ryan will be around unless he signs a two-way contract which would keep him in Portland and only in Buffalo in emergency situations. That wouldn't be a bad deal. Sure I won a generic Sabres wooden stick signed by him that hangs not-so-proudly on my wall, but I'm not holding my breath for it to become a collector's item.

And speaking of wasted roster spots, let's not forget Andrew Peters is still under contract. Sure he may be a good "locker room guy" but it doesn't help the team pick up wins on the ice. Anyone against waiving him? Anyone?

With an abundance of forwards, don't expect the Sabres to dive headfirst into that end of the free agent pool. While veteran additions like a Rolston or Roberts (or heck even a Darcy Tucker) would be nice, the reality is that, up front, the Sabres seem pretty much set. Regier has publicly questioned Afinogenov's future, but a trade would likely bring in a defenseman and open up a full-time roster spot for a guy like Kaleta.

And with extensions for Pominville and Ryan Miller likely on the horizon, it's like signing two free agents next season.

2008/09 Salary Numbers:
Vanek: $8 million
Hecht: $3.8 million
Roy: $3.5 million
Afinogenov: $3.5 million
Connolly: $3.5 million
Kotalik: $2.5 million
Pominville: $1.375 million
Stafford: $984,000
Mair: $750,000
Peters: $550,000
Kaleta: $500,000
----------------------------
Ryan: UFA
Bernier: RFA
Gaustad: RFA
Paille: RFA
MacArthur: RFA

Facebooking the Draft Class: Luke Adam

by Ryan

Last year we did profiles on the four Sabres draft picks we found on Facebook. This year we thought we would do it a little different, so we asked if they would answer some questions for us. We were worried they wouldn't be interested, but the answers we received surprised us.

Our first prospect is second round pick and Newfoundland native Luke Adam. After searching through 200 or so people named "Adam Lucas" on Facebook, we found Luke based on this picture:



After a few Facebook messages and an interview, here is what he has to say:

The Goose's Roost: So lets get this out of the way first: Do you have any nicknames we should be aware of?

Luke Adam: Nothing special, Luker, Lukey


TGR: St. John’s looks like a very nice place, but so far away from Western New York. Tell us a little about your hometown.

Luke: St. John's is such a wonderful city. Very beautiful place to play and live. It has a lot of scenic spots that can be visited. Many tourists come in the summer. The weather is all over the place; a lot of snow as I am sure you have heard. It was great place to live and to play and I am very disappointed the junior team is moving to Montreal next season, but I am also very excited for that as well.


TGR: Be completely honest, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Buffalo?

Luke: The awesome announcer! Haha (Rick Jeanneret)!


TGR: The closest NHL team to St. John’s is Montreal. Are you a Habs fan?

Luke: No I am a Detroit fan, or should I say I was! Haha My father is from Windsor, Ontario and Detroit is close by so I became a Detroit (fan) in all sports.


TGR: You averaged almost a point per game last year for the Fog Devils. What do you think most helped your progress in the QMJHL?

Luke: I feel my maturity level on and off the ice, player and as a person really helped my success. Also I put in a lot of hard work last off season and I believe that payed off.


TGR: What do you think of the Sabres’ logo? Do you prefer the old school crest with the crossed swords?

Luke: I actually like the logo and I think it is one of the nicer jerseys in the league.


TGR: You’ve played with T.J. Brennan and Jean-Simon Allard. Have they told you anything about the team? Warned you about rookie camp?

Luke: They didn't tell me too much. I can remember them telling me that rookie camp was tough, though.


TGR: There are some that say you should never trust a man with two first names. Should I be afraid of you in a game of poker?

Luke: Haha, I am not a great poker player so I don't think you have to be worried.


TGR: Tell me why Sabres fans should be excited about picking you.

Luke: I think they should be excited because I am a big forward that loves and has a passion to score goals; and will do whatever it takes to do that. I hope to one day be a fan favorite in Buffalo.

TGR: Do you have any superstitions?

Luke: Not any particular ones. If something is going well I try to keep the same routine.

TGR: Your Dad played in the NHL with Toronto in 1983. Do you get bragging rights in the family because you were drafted ahead of him?

Luke: Haha, funny you ask that because I was asked the same question on a radio interview today. I tell him I get bragging rights but he won't give in. I guess he still owns the bragging rights though until I hopefully one day play in a NHL game.

TGR: What are your plans for next year? Sticking with it in the Q?

Luke: Yes. I want to have a good season next year . The team is moving from St. John's to Montreal so I really am looking forward to the change and I am really excited to get the season underway.

Warning Sign?

by Ryan

Ralph Wilson isn't a popular figure in the Buffalo area these days. In fact, I'm pretty sure I wished death upon him a few months ago. However, it's hard to say he is wrong about the financial stability of small market teams, especially when you see a story like this, which I'm totally going to quote.

After a 13-3 regular season, two home playoff games and a final bow from Brett Favre, the Green Bay Packers figured to have a pretty good year from a financial perspective.

And they did—but it wasn’t the moneymaking blockbuster some might have expected, a development that reinforced Packers executives’ long-term concerns about the financial health of the NFL.

The Packers took in about $241 million in operating revenue for the 2007-08 fiscal year that ended March 31, about 10 percent more than the previous year. But thanks to a significant rise in player costs, the team’s total operating profit fell more than 37 percent to $21.4 million.

Yikes, that's not a whole lot of money when you consider how big those TV deals are. When you consider that they sell out every seat for every game and have one of the most popular jerseys ever, it's hard to say that's a fantastic year for the Pack.

When you consider just how popular Favre's Packers are, you would think they are the premiere small market team in the league, with the highest revenue out of those small market teams. What then does that mean for the Bills' figures, which aren't published and never will be?

The Bills have lower ticket prices, lower merchandise sales, and have even more concerns with regards to viability. (Read: Toronto) In a league that measures its "profits" in the billions, what does a number below $21.4 million mean when staying power is in question.

NFL owners recently said they are paying $4.5 billion to players this year, just under 60 percent of their total revenues.

Wow, that sounds like a pre-lockout NHL figure if you ask me.

If you can remember back to the pre-lockout days, there was an NHL funded study that said a small market team would need to reach the second round of the postseason to have a profitable year. Consider those numbers, then think about the fact that Green Bay hosted the NFC Championship Game a few months ago and still came away unsatisfied with their profit margin.

Not every team gets one win away from the Super Bowl, and very few have the selling power Green Bay does. Only a few sell out preseason games, let alone pack a house for scrimmages like Green Bay does. They are in a unique situation in the NFL because they are the only ticket in town while having a national following. If they can't make a small market situation work within the current system, what does that mean for a team like the Bills?

Under NFL rules, teams share equally any national revenue that comes into the league through television contracts and other sources, but can keep local revenue.

And by making a significant purchase of land near the stadium last year, the Packers are putting together long-term plans to draw more local revenue. The land could eventually be developed into retail stores or entertainment venues.

If that is the possible answer in Green Bay, can that situation work in Buffalo? A few months ago I joked about a condo being built next to the Ralph, but maybe that isn't as far fetched as I made it sound. If the team is to have any staying power in the area, perhaps a new stadium downtown with the surrounding area developed by the team is the answer. That would equal exclusive profits for the team, and who wouldn't want to live in a townhouse that keeps a football team in town?

At this juncture it's a crazy idea at an uneasy time in the franchise's history. However, everyone thought Ralph was crazy when he whined for years about the plight of a small market franchise. "Suddenly" the league has shunned the current CBA, and the Bills are playing games in Skydome. If there was ever a time for crazy ideas not involving Money driving the team bus, now's the time.

Making Sense of it All

by Ryan

From John Vogl at the Buffalo News:

The Buffalo Sabres general manager coveted defenseman Tyler Myers, the 6-foot-7 defenseman who could fill several needs with one large appearance. But the Los Angeles Kings wanted a defenseman, too, and before they would swap spots with the Sabres, the teams had to make sure they didn’t desire the same prospect.

So Regier and the Kings’ draft head hastily wrote down their top prospects’ names. They made an agreement to show their papers at the same time. If the names were the same, the Kings were keeping the 12th overall pick. If the names were different, L. A. was canceling its deal with another team and would move down one spot to allow the Sabres to pick 12th.

The Kings wanted Colten Teubert. The Sabres wanted Myers. They got him, and the two-day draft was a success from the start.

That suddenly makes a lot more sense. Darcy wanted Myers bad enough to agree to trade the third round pick even if LA didn't want the same guy. We may never know who that other team involved was, but even if they didn't want a defenseman (although you would have to guess at that spot they did) Regier risked losing a pick for no reason.

However, for all the flack Darcy gets for his dealings with contracts and keeping players around, if he wanted Myers so badly I think you have to trust him. His draft history is quite impressive, and he hasn't missed on a first round pick since Jiri Novotny in 2001 (Keith Ballard hasn't blown anyone away, but he did draft Paille 20th in 2002.)

There isn't much you can say about a draft class just yet, but you have to like that Darcy went out and got the player he wanted, as well as the fact that we drafted specifically with a nod towards the system. There are knocks against every player in the draft, but as a small market team with limited salary flexibility you absolutely must draft with the system in mind.

It is what made sole partnership with an AHL team so important, and why we even know Salty Pete the Pirate exists. The Sabres may not be extremely active next Tuesday on UFA day, but drafting a kid like Myers shows you how much the Buffalo Sabres believe in the way they do business.

Whether it is trust in video scouting, trust in your GM's instincts, trust in the player, or trust in your minor league system; the progress of Tyler Myers over the next few years will show us just how "with it" Darcy Regier and the Sabres' front office really is.

They blew us away coming out of the Lockout and were labeled as "ahead of the curve". Now the rest of the pack has caught up, and the last 18 months has even shown the market grow ahead of their expectations. No pressure on the kid, but Tyler Myers will be the benchmark for this organization when it comes to how well they understand the game and where it is heading.

Forever in my mind there will be the memory of that exchange of papers. Whether we like it or not, the growth of the Kings and the resurgence of the Sabres is inexorably tied. The Sabres did two things in the first round; they picked a player they loved (Myers) and a player that fits their philosophy (Ennis). The future of this organization, of this regime, lies in their hands.

How's that for a graduation present?

Floppy McFlophouse

This is the picture that explains why soccer, while extremely interesting when played at a high level, isn't that big of a deal in the states. Grow a pair, Silva.

Report Card

by Ryan & Rich

Tyler Myers
Tyler Ennis
Luke Adam
Corey Fienhage
Justin Jokinen
Jordon Southorn
Jacob Lagace
Nick Crawford

Those are the names that we drafted this weekend.

Yeah, they are human beings and might someday play for the blue and gold, but for right now they are just names. We haven't seen much of anything from these kids, let alone how well they perform at the NHL level. So this makes me wonder this: how the hell do you know if you drafted well?

From Bob McKenzie's blog:

Friday marked the first time I've worked a draft with Pierre McGuire when he didn't go off on somebody for making an absolutely terrible pick, and that's because the depth in this draft pool was very good. We had many more positives than negatives to report on this group of prospects.

No offense Bob, but Pierre was practically orgasmic after every selection. I don't think he would have objected if the Islanders traded the 5th pick for a stack of pancakes, which they pretty much did.

Seriously, the Sabres announced the Myers pick and I swear Pierre went, "THIS IS THE GREATEST PICK IN THIS HISTORY OF 2008 12TH OVERALL PICKS!!!" I know the guy was satisfied with the depth of the draft, but he could have at least mentioned Colten Teubert or the third rounder we gave up or something. Not everything that glitters is gold; I don't care how much makeup Stamkos had on. Not every player drafted will see the big leagues, so don't be such a giver.

With Pierre in mind, we really wanted to give the Sabres' draft class a grade of some sort. The categories will have nothing to do with actual ability, and will rely completely on aesthetic appeal and personal opinion. Of course, they will be graded on a scale 1-5 of "Pierres". Let's do this thing.


Symmetry

Like a beautiful butterfly, the Sabres draft class aligns perfectly with itself in many ways. Darcy drafted two kids named "Tyler", and in both rounds that yielded two picks, we selected players with the same first letter in their first name. (Round 1: Tyler Squared, Round 4: Justin and Jordon) In fact, we picked three consecutive players with the letter "J" starting their first name; the first time in team history. That's almost as impressive as the time they drafted three "Brad"s in 1990. So yeah, we got that going for us...

The name "Tyler Myers" is also pretty fantastic in this regard. His first and last name are both five letters, and three of those letters are interchangeable between the two. Out of those two sets of letters that differ, the "S" from his last name and "T" from his first are consecutive in the alphabet, as well as the "L" and "M". Okay, I think I'm going to lie down for a bit now.

4 out of 5 Pierres




REEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAACH!!!

One of the best parts of watching the draft is getting to yell that out. The Sabres did a good job opening the door to that this weekend, reaching into the second round to draft Tyler Ennis 26th overall. They also caught Central Scouting off guard by drafting Nick Crawford in the 6th round. They didn't even have a profile ready for the kid because they didn't think anyone would draft him this year, meaning he was taken at least 46 picks ahead of their numbers. Awesome.



3 out of 5 Pierres



Likelihood Don Cherry Will Hate Them

None of them are European.



However, they will play for the Sabres.

5 out of 5 Pierres




Ease of Pronunciation (Because "Pronouncability" isn't a word...)

Looking good here. There may not be much to scream when they score goals, but at least you can look at the roster and not need to conjugate any verbs. Corey Fienhage may have some spelling issues (even Sabres.com is having trouble), and I wouldn't want to be a telemarketer for the Southorn residence, but other than that the draft class still looks easier than the first round of a spelling bee.

4 out of 5 Pierres


Players That Sound Like NHL Players

Darcy really cleaned up here. Although he didn't draft a Staal, he made sure to bother people searching last names on Hockey Reference. Justin Jokinen is the big winner in this group, but Nick Crawford and Jacob Lagace will also contribute in the coming years. Plus Luke Adam has two first names, so you know that's going to screw someone up eventually.

4 out of 5 Pierres




Nickname Potential

Not much happening here. Although if you mash "TylerEnnis" together it sounds like a communicable disease of some sort. The big/little parallel of the Tylers may work in time, but as the years pass the importance of your draft class diminishes and no one will care.

1 1/2 out of 5 Pierres

---

Overall grade for the draft? Triple Q Minus. Hey, it makes sense to me.