Scope

by Ryan

So today was a really, really depressing day. Some things happen in your life that just flat out suck, and even if you see them coming it still hurts when it all goes down. Oh, and to top that all off Craig Rivet is out for a few weeks.



I had really started to like this Craig Rivet kid, and just like that he disappears for a little while. He really has blown away every expectation I had of him, and getting the "C" only shows how important he is to this team. In a way I'm kind of amazed he had anything wrong with him. I know Lindy mocked the media for not knowing he was hurt, but I didn't see any major problems in his game, and he hasn't been on the team long enough for me to completely grasp his usual ice time.

I liked that Ruff said this would just be a chance for someone to step up for a few weeks, but I really do think this is going to hurt the team. What Rivet has done for this team in just six games is far more than a few assists and good play in front of Miller. This was an complete attitude adjustment that took place, and I hope it doesn't go away in his absence. Someone better be there to take a swing at a guy who hacks at one of the best goaltenders in hockey. Rivet won't be there to do it, but I will be watching to see who takes is place for a few weeks.

This team is good, and I won't have the "which team is better" debate between the Bills and Sabres because that's about as stupid as asking which championship is easier to win. (Oops, WGR did both today...) However Chris is right, both teams have the depth to overcome injuries, and already we are seeing a Bills team get healthy and get better as the season goes along. In a few weeks Hecht and Goose will come back too, and I'd expect the Sabres to follow a path similar to that of the Bills.

One thing I loved to see from Rivet last night was his effort late in the game. He lost an edge on the blue line and Boston started back with an odd man break. Just like that Rivet was up on his feet and off like a bullet to get back into the play. I admired the effort then, and I only admire it more now that I know how much it must have hurt. That is the kind of effort, the kind of sacrifice you hear about often but rarely see.

Think about that play for a moment and ask yourself again if he would make a good captain for this young team. I think he was a godsend for a group like this, and that leadership will rub off on his teammates even if it was only six games worth. Goal scorers are important, goaltending is essential, and coaching is always necessary to succeed. But as we've seen before, you can't get anywhere near what you really want without heart. Craig Rivet has already shown us he has plenty of that, and I think he's going to bounce back just fine.

So will I.

The injury bugs continue to bite

Some injury notes to pass along on the Sabres and Bills...

On the hockey side, captain Craig Rivet underwent knee surgery this morning. It looks like he'll miss at least two weeks. Welcome back to the show, Nathan Paetsch. Hopefully he'll look more like the 2006-07 incarnation rather than he inconsistent player we saw last year.



And on the gridiron, John "Delivery" DiGiorgio has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL in the Bills' victory over San Diego. Linebacker Marcus Buggs has been promoted from the practice squad to take his place. They're big shoes to fill, however, as DiGiorgio was a key guy on special teams.


If there's one common theme for our Buffalo teams the last few years, it's that they've got the depth to overcome their proneness to injury. Both teams have key players out (Hecht and Connolly for the Sabres and McGee and Crowell for the Bills), but they've been able to continue to be successful despite that, especially this year.

When's the last time both teams have been off to such a hot start? It's been a long time...but very rarely do you remember how a team started. It's the conclusion of the story that lives on in history. If the Bills and Sabres can get healthy, maybe we'll finally have at least one of those fairy tale endings we dream of. But for now, let's take it one game at a time and hope that the replacements can continue to succeed.

On Blowouts and Line Brawls

by Ryan

Let me start off by saying that John Tavares is going to be a great fit for the Islanders.

Seriously, this is one of the worst teams I've seen play in a long time. I know DiPietro wasn't playing, but that was a disgusting defensive performance, and the players they brought in to replace their departing free agents "scorers" won't cut it. I'd feel bad for Mike Comrie, but he's a huge, flaming douchebag, so screw that guy.



The Sabres went into Nassau on a sleepy Monday afternoon and destroyed a bad hockey team. It is the classic sign of a team getting it together. When you play bad teams, you should beat bad teams. Badly. How many laughable blowouts do you recall from two seasons ago? The Islanders put forth a poor effort in all facets, and the Sabres made them pay.

But here's what has me much more excited about this team.



I'm posting that feed for a reason. Listen to what the announcer thinks about what Rivet does and how Kaleta acts. Sometimes as a fan you forget a few things. The first thing you forget is that unless it is a national broadcast the announcing crew is horribly, horribly biased. Yes, even Rick and Harry.

The second thing you forget is that there is always another side of the story, and Islanders fans are going to see a completely different story unfold when that puck drops. A team trying to get a spark, a battle between two centers that escalates. what is Rivet doing going after them? Why is Mair making that face?



To a Sabres fan, however, it all makes sense. I don't care if Mair could handle his man or not, and I don't care if Bergenheim isn't a fighter; Rivet went in there and did exactly what I wanted him to do. He wasn't going to take his team getting jumped, and he made someone pay the price for it.

The signature moment of last year's Sabres team came on the Road Trip from Hell. They finally were scoring against the Sharks, blowing them out. Joe Thornton blows a fuse and goes after Brian Campbell Jaro Spacek, and everyone stood around waiting for the officials to peel Joe off our superstar defenseman. That lack of action was the hallmark of the season. Sit and wait, wait for someone to take charge.

Rivet came to this team and has absolutely taken charge. When a defenseman takes a double game misconduct to get a message across it is a big deal. When that defenseman is wearing the "C" his teammates gave him, it's a huge deal. Chris and I have had a lot of nice things to say about Craig Rivet, but I think I'm ready to say the nicest:

I love our captain, and it's been far too long since I've said that.

Reservations

by Ryan

"I've got reservations about so many things, but not about you"- Wilco

Actually they are about you, Buffalo Sabres. I've tried very hard not to get excited about the team this year, and so far I have done a pretty good job with it. I didn't go out and buy a third jersey, and I didn't move heaven and earth to get down to training camp.

Sure I loved the off season moves, but that wasn't going to get me. Just because they did it right once in the last five years doesn't mean things are going to go well once the puck drops. Miller or Pominville could become the Marc Bulger of hockey. Afinogenov could implode and injuries can add up. Maybe Rivet is over the hill, and Connolly is always a stiff breeze away from getting a limb amputated. You never know what can happen with a middle of the road team, and so I held off hope that "this is the year", as the Cubs fans say.

The power rankings and predictions poured in, and the Sabres found a nice little spot around the bottom half of the conference. The nine spot seemed ideal for them, and sometimes they sat as low as 11 or 12 with the Leafs sneaking in front of them. Okay, that didn't seem likely, but I could see this team underwhelming again, especially with the captaincy floating around like a magic raffle ticket.

Then I read James Mirtle, and everything crashed down from there. Where did he pick the Sabres to finish?

Third.

To be honest, I was shocked to see them that high. I had been lulled into that sense of security that comes with low expectations, almost settling on the fact that this year won't be exciting. To see James pick them to win the division after so many people put them right out of the playoffs was refreshing. Shocking, but refreshing, and for the sake of my sanity I wanted to know why.

So I asked him. This is what he had to say:

I just think the Sabres really underperformed last season given their talent level, and that some of the young players took a while to grow into their roles. There was a big transition in terms of leadership last year, but they're still a very dangerous team. What they're now lacking more than anything is a stud on the blueline.

The Eastern Conference is going to be wide open this year, and with Pittsburgh running into injury problems, I think there are a lot of "surprise" teams that could finish near the top. The same three teams aren't going to win the divisions every year, even if that's what a lot of preseason picks tell you.

When you really think about it he is absolutely right. We all know this team underperformed on all levels last year, and even so they were an offensive juggernaut. If they get even close to their potential they are a playoff team, and if you break up that ten game losing streak with a few extra points they were a playoff team last year.

Revisionist history, yes, but when you consider this team is almost identical to last year's squad with improvements on the blue line and in net it's not hard to forecast the postseason with that rationale. To give them the division is dependant more upon the other teams, but Ottawa and Toronto are certainly question marks, and the pressure will be on Boston and Montreal to live up to the expectations suddenly thrust upon them.

Last season both Montreal and Boston were expected to miss the postseason. The critics missed something in both squads, so what's to say James is wrong about what he sees in Buffalo?

The events of the last two days have only solidified my belief that James Mirtle may be right. With the naming of a permanent captain, one of last year's major problems suddenly evaporates. This is a Sabres team with direction, leadership, and an identity. To have a player make that big an impact in a month is pretty impressive, and knowing the players voted him in only makes the move more poignant.

This suddenly isn't a pick up hockey team swapping jerseys around and wondering where to turn. There are a group of players this team trusts, and a vetrean defenseman they look up to. With a core of players locked in and the prospects taking shape, you can only raise your expectations about this team. I wasn't ready to admit that just yet, but I'm just about convinced now that things are moving in the right direction.

This wasn't much of a depression, but you have to think they can only go up from here.

Flavor of the Year

By Chris

Introducing your captain for the 2008-09 season, Craig Rivet. Believe it.

Pominville, Hecht, Spacek and Numminen will rotate the A's for home and away games.

Drinkin' Down the Kool Aid

by Ryan

It was about this time last week I was bored stiff by the lack of activity down at the HSBC Arena war room. Tonight I feel a bit different about the way Darcy has been handling the offseason.

I am admittedly hard on the front office, and as a fan you always want to see action, fireworks, anything to get you excited about the "direction" of the team. Seeing big name after big name sign elsewhere is nothing new, but watching guys you know are within reason go off the market is downright annoying.

So what is it that has made this summer seem suddenly bright?



The Steve Bernier Saga.

When the initial word broke that Bernier had been traded, you had to be a bit baffled by the decision. Sure you expected another move, but why give up so soon on a former first rounder that showed a bit of promise? At the going RFA rate, he wasn't going to fetch a huge cap figure, so why not move out a larger number (Timmy, Max, Ales) and make a splash with a defenseman?

Then came the Rivet trade.

I'm going to be honest, I'm pretty high on Craig Rivet. I like his game, I like his contract, and I like what he can mean to a hockey team. In between the Bernier trade and bringing in Rivet, Chris sent me a text asking "If you were Miller, do you re-sign based on this offseason?" I said absolutely not. Now, I'd take a look at this and reconsider:



Still, it wasn't until today that you really appreciated the series of trades the Sabres have made. With the news of Steve Bernier's offer sheet from St. Louis, suddenly Darcy looks a whole lot smarter.

Now that isn't to say Darcy knew an offer sheet was coming. Rumors support the theory, and word is that Vancouver had given notice of an impending offer sheet in the Backes deal, but that doesn't mean anything really. Darcy could have been looking to dump Bernier, and because he was suddenly a Canuck the Blues went after him in retaliation.

No one will ever really know the circumstances of the trade and subsequent offer sheet, but I do know I wouldn't want Steve Bernier at $2.5 mil per. The moves made on July 4th seem reasonable, but combined with Bernier's increased price tag and Darcy comes off looking very... smart. In July, that's about as good as you can ask your GM to be.

This doesn't mean I'm satisfied with this offseason just yet. In fact, Chris and I agree that Jason Smith was very doable. However, Darcy has already achieved two very important things this summer.

The first of which wasn't really on the fans' radar, but certainly something Darcy is satisfied with. By flipping Bernier for Rivet, he has finally gotten a defenseman in return for Brian Campbell. Because of the picks and the players involved, Rivet and Campbell will be inexorably tied, both in the media guide and the general awareness of the fans. That's a huge deal, and will mean even more as time passes and memories fade.

The second bi product of the move is freeing up a roster spot for forwards. While there is still much to be decided, the fact of the matter is that Paille and Kaleta deserve to be in the top 12 and players need to be moved out. The sad departure of Bernier only shows how important Dan Paille is to the front office, and who knows if Marek Zagrapan makes the leap into the NHL this fall.

I know everyone has an opinion on how things are going this summer, and there seem to be two distinct camps. The first camp is skeptical about every move (or lack thereof), and the second is just excited to have a warm body coming to town. In fact, Bucky Gleason had an excellent article about the problems the Sabres have had with bringing in free agents.

Sadly, he is spot on with regards to how Buffalo is viewed by prospective players. This management has a reputation regarding how it takes care of current players, and it's not exactly a glowing endorsement. The track record is there, from the Rigas era to last summer's Briere/Drury situation. Until that reputation is rectified the Sabres will continue to struggle when it comes to luring free agent talent.

Fixing that image will take some time, but it should be the focus the remainder of summer. Getting Ryan Miller under contract before October is the biggest obstacle the Sabres will face; and it will make or break Darcy Regier's career. Pominville deserves attention as well, but just from the way Darcy talks about Ryan Miller, even to the press, you can practically feel the importance Ryan takes on in his mind.

We've seen far too many players walk out the door in this city. It's about time we nail one down before he gets a look at someone else's yard. It's not impossible, and if it gets done, consider me ready for another glass of Kool Aid.

Christmas in July

by Ryan

To those of you who purchased one of these:



We here in the Roost have a gift for you:



With a seam ripper you're just a few minutes of work away from a shiny new blank jersey. No need to drop another few bills on a new uni when you can just recycle. Perhaps you can re-invest a few numbers and get one of these bad boys:



This is just another lesson for us all: always buy jerseys based on contract length.

...

Jon.

From Darcy's lips to your ears (and computer screens)

By Chris

Here's a transcription of the Sabres press conference today regarding the Steve Bernier and Craig Rivet trades. Also some info on where the team stands with Ryan Miller, Maxim Afinogenov and Jason Smith. I'll be interjecting briefly here and there.

Media: Can you fill us in, so far, on the two transactions today? Is that it for today?

Darcy Regier: That’s it for today. We’ve obviously traded Steve Bernier to Vancouver and really the focal point was to acquire a defenseman in this process. So effectively use the assets in the Steve Bernier trade to acquire Craig Rivet and we think we’ve accomplished filling a very important need for the hockey club. Craig brings tremendous leadership, character. He’s a proven veteran and a very good player. So when I think you put him in with our hockey club he’ll make a very significant contribution to this team.

Were we all wrong to think that Bernier seemed to be an important part of the future when he was acquired for Brian [Campbell]? Did something happen there? Was it an issue of not being able to sign him; did he want too much?

No, I think when you looked at our right wing, we really had six right wingers there. So it was a situation in which we looked at the right side, we looked at the individual players and we knew that we had to add to our defense. We really came down to who could we move in order to acquire the defenseman. It took two separate deals but that was really the decision. The decision was to take one of our quality forwards and acquire a quality defenseman.

So it looks like Afinogenov will still be around. And of all the right wingers to trade for picks (Afinogenov, Kotalik, Pominville, Stafford and Kaleta), they choose Bernier? Okaaaay...

The quality that Craig brings, most of it is leadership and experience, and physicality, too.

That’s right. He’s got a physical aspect to his game. So when you look at those three components, you look at some of the young guys that we have coming up, whether it’s Sekera, Weber, in hopes that they make our hockey club, I think that the blending of the experience and the youth going forward is going to be a very good for us.

It'll be nice having a guy on the blueline that isn't afraid to hit people. I've wanted a big mean Canadian defenseman since Rhett Warrener left. We had Brad Brown for awhile (but he kind of sucked) and Jay McKee was that guy for one year, so maybe Rivet can finally fill that void and do it well for three more years.

Obviously you’re comfortable getting Rivet basically in essence of Campbell and the draft picks because that’s basically what happened.

Yeah I guess you can reduce really, we acquired a first, a second and a third round pick for Brian and then used that to acquire a first pick and Craig Rivet. So I think it’ll prove out well.

We'll know in the year 2017. We need to see if Tyler Ennis was worth a first rounder and how those two picks work out. So Rivet can bomb, but the trade might still be a success if two of those other four aspects become something that can help the team. Gotta love fundamentally building a franchise via trades and the draft.

Have you had any inquiries about some of the other players like Maxim Afinogenov? Have you had a number of teams call you on him? Is there anything going on, on that front?

No, the Max front is very quiet. I expect Max to start with us based on the activity of the summer. I think Max will, the focal point will be for him to, if he’s here, I expect he will be here, to kind of regain his form and have the type of year that he had two years ago.

Worst news of the day. It's time to cut ties with Afinogenov and his $3.33 million cap hit. As exciting as he may be, he's even more frustrating. I guess the fact is that no one even wants him so we're essentially stuck with him. When I talked to Ryan, he wouldn't even be shocked if Max was signed to an extension if he bounces back. I think I'm going to be sick.

Are you happy with where the blue line is now? Are you looking to pick up maybe someone else; I know you were kind of linked to Jason Smith earlier in the week too.

I think we were linked to everybody that was available that hasn’t been signed yet. We will look, continue to look for ways to improve our defense but I think the goaltending’s been covered. I think it’s been a great addition for our defense. Our forwards were in good shape going into the off season. In fact we had too many forwards. So if we had an area where he had extra depth, it was really up front and we did what wanted to do which was convert some of that back into the defense.

I still think the Sabres need to re-sign someone like Pratt to split time with Paetsch in the sixth spot. As much as I like Weber, I don't think he's ready to take on that kind of role. Plus, if two guy get hurt on the blue line (very likely to happen), we're looking at Weber and someone like T.J. Brennan in the top six. Not good news. We're still thin on proven defensemen.


Have any further talks with Ryan Miller’s agent? Any updates on his situation?

No but I expect we’ll talk with either Ryan and/or his agent in the next couple days.

And from the talks you’ve had do you think Ryan wants to stay here long-term?

No I think Ryan hates Buffalo and wants no part of our cheap ass organization. I'm actually wondering why I even bothered coming back last summer for three more years. I guess it's probably because I wouldn't be able to get work anywhere else. Look at poor Dave Nonis. He had to crawl back to Brian Burke. I don't want to look that desperate. Come on. What do you think he's going to say? He's going to give fans hope that Miller won't turn his backs on us at the end of the year when he signs with Detroit.

I do think he wants to stay here long-term. I’m optimistic. We’ll know more when we hear back from his side but I remain optimistic with respect to Ryan.

How do you think the impact might have been of some of the other goaltenders signing a potential contract for Ryan?

Well I don’t think it altered the marketplace significantly. Huet is not as…is obviously an outstanding goaltender. I think the only reason he’s not in Montreal is because you’ve got one of the best young goaltenders in an awful long time entering the league in Carey Price. And I think if you look Fluery’s contract in Pittsburgh, it’s reflective of the market as well. I don’t think there’s been any significant upward movement in that marketplace.

I can't believe Darcy made sense of that question. It literally took me ten minutes to transcribe it, trying to get the syntax mostly right.


Can you be a little more specific on Rivet’s game and what he brings to the table? Obviously he spent a lot of years in the Eastern Conference.

Yeah he did.

Does he have a role on special teams, what will that role be? How does he round out your defense corps?

Well, I think if you look at his numbers, he may have had the best offensive year of his career. When you look at 35 points in 74 games, he’s someone that can certainly contribute on the power play, he’s going to play in penalty kill situations. He’s logged over 20 minutes a game in San Jose. I think he’s a guy that can help on both sides, offensively and defensively.

Do you think you have enough depth there at defense now or before the season yo need to acquire a little more depth there, considering that Mike and Andrej are maybe bound for this team?

Depth-wise I think we’re OK. If we can add to it we certainly will but I’m pretty comfortable with where we are depth-wise right now.

I wouldn't be shocked at all if they decided that they're really not that comfortable with Paetsch playing a regular role. That guy turning into Jeff Jillson last year really screwed up their plans on the blueline. Thank goodness Sekera stepped up (and hopefully he won't pull a Paestch).

Is Jason Smith still a possibility? Is he still on the radar?

I had a conversation with his agent yesterday. I have not spoken to him today. I know he was close to making a deal. Is he on the radar? Well we’ve had…We’ll see where it goes. I haven’t talked to him today. He may be signed for all we know.

Happy to see we're actively pursuing him. And from what's been reported, he hasn't been signed. Yet. One year, $2.5 million. Do it, Darcy.

Any update on Paille and Macarthur? Any talks with them yet?

I did talk to Danny Paille’s agent today and we played telephone tag with Clarke’s agent the other day so those talks will continue.

How important is it for you to get a defenseman for you in the first few days of free agency?

I think at some point in the summertime we needed to add a defenseman. When you look at the marketplace it was quickly drying up in the free agency. When we looked at the unrestricted free agency marketplace for defensemen, and looked at the cost of doing business in that area, we made the decision to look in the trade route, trade marketplace. We think that Craig is an outstanding addition to this hockey club.

So Henrik Lundqvist is basically, is that approximately where you think Ryan’s numbers might be?

I wouldn’t attach it to one individual goalie. I really think it’s a group of goaltenders that Ryan belongs with and will be treated fairly amongst that group.

Miller is a top eight goaltender. He'll be paid like a top four in this marketplace. I can live with that.

Sabres trade for Craig Rivet

By Chris

We were looking for that secondary deal and it looks like this is it.

The Buffalo Sabres acquired veteran defenseman Craig Rivet from the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

The Sharks sent the 33-year-old veteran and a seventh-round selection in the 2010 Entry Draft to the Sabres in exchange for second-round selections in the 2009 and 2010 Drafts.

No word on if that second round pick is the one the Sabres got in exchange for Bernier or not. After signing Rob Blake for $5 million and acquiring Dan Boyle and his mammoth $6.67 million cap hit in the last two days, the Sharks needed to move someone out. Darcy Regier pounced on the opportunity and brought in the veteran defenseman.

Rivet will become the Sabres highest paid defenseman next season. The 6'2'', 210 pound defenseman will make $3.5 million each year for the next three seasons.

Last year, he tallied 35 points (5 goals, 30 assists) in 74 games with the Sharks. Twenty of those points came on the Sharks powerplay (2 goals, 18 assists). He also registed 104 penalty minutes last year and recorded 73 hits and 79 blocked shots.

Rivet has played at least 70 games in every season dating back to 2002 when he was with Montreal so he's durable. Hopefully that trend will continue on a Sabres blueline that seems more fragile than Brian Campbell's psyche.

He logged an average of 21:11 of ice time per game in the regular season last year, good for fifth on the team and fourth among Sharks defensemen. He was a +3 last year and is a +10 in his 13-year career.

Rivet is a right handed shot on the blue line, which the Sabres desperately need and can play effectively at even strength, on the powerplay and shorthanded (he was among top six on the Sharks in Time On Ice in each of those situations last season).

Oh yeah and he's willing to fight, too.






Sure the hit from behind in the last one was very dirty but when was the last time a Sabre defensemen took out a guy like that and then defended his actions by dropping the gloves?

He wore an "A" in San Jose and it sure wouldn't kill the Sabres to have some more leadership on their roster.

As long as he plays with an edge, I'm willing to look beyond the salary and other circumstances (like how Brooks Oprik is five years younger and signed for three years longer than we'll have Rivet for at $.25 million more per year).

Rivet should be a good addition for the Sabres but it would still be nice if they could bring in Jason Smith for one year (I'll take him at $2.5 million) to round out a top six of Lydman-Tallinder, Spacek-Rivet and Sekera.

Nathanpaetschwho?