Introducing...

by Ryan

Ladies and gentleman, I present to you Jason Pominville Postgame Press Conference Bingo.



After a few dozen postgame interviews it all starts to sound the same when it comes to Pommer, and we aim to find out just how similar it all is. We put together 24 commonly used phrases and will examine every interview he gives to see just how many he uses each time. We tried not to pick the obvious ones (stick, puck, goal, etc.) but rather specific Pominvillisms we all know and love. Classics like "playing the system", "get pucks deep", and "desperate team" are all there, along with Jason's absolute favorite word: "definitely."

There are no prizes, (unless you hear him to mention "puppies" a few times, then everybody wins) but this is something we all can have a little fun with. Let's start with tonight's game and see how things go. I'm guessing he knocks out at least half.

Who Makes the All Star Team?

by Ryan

Today the Eastern All Star reserves are announced, and it's pretty obvious who will get selected from Buffalo's roster. Still, the Sabres don't play until tomorrow and there's not all that much to talk about. Here we go:



Thomas Vanek. C'mon people, it's Atlas we're talking about here. He's currently in a three-way tie for most goals (27), and 25th overall in points. If Vanek doesn't make it, Austria will invade a neighboring nation. Probably Liechtenstein. You hear that, Bettman? BLOOD WILL BE ON YOUR HANDS!!!



Derek Roy. Just look at him. He's adorable, he rarely frowns, and according to Mike Fisher up there he looks fantastic in hockey pants. Currently 24th in total points, it would seem logical that he gets in as well. His problem may lie in the abundance of centers ahead of him on that list, but for the sake of simplicity let's say he makes it so we can all be upset about it come noon-ish.

Do I think he deserves to be there? Yeah, probably. I don't love his effort the majority of the time, and I agree with Kevin when he says that, "He is the face of the Sabres problems to this point (no, he isn’t the problem, but he represents all the bad qualities with which this team is capable of playing)." Actually, that pretty much nails it.

Still, do you see Roy on a roster alongside Malkin, Savard, Backstrom, Richards, and Krejci? Yeah, me either.

So... what about Jason Pominville? He has 31 points and has been decent all year, right? While this is true, the same can be said for a half dozen other guys. He's had a good season, but the difference between 37 points and 31 points on the year is about 40 spots on the leader board. I doubt many Sabres fans really gave Pominville a second look for the team, but I thought it was interesting to see the difference between a good year and an all star performance. From the looks of this it's about six points.

When rosters get announced, we'll be sure to let you know about it.

The Little Things

by Ryan



What do you mean we can't move our lockers back?!? But... but... but... IT'S NOT FAIR!!

Atlas in Hades

by Ryan

This game was my first "Cone of Silence" game of the year, which is kind of amazing considering it's December already. In any event, I turned this game on at about 5AM Sunday morning and considered "live blogging" it, but I didn't know what to expect and the only text message I got about it was from Chris. It said "Wow. I've never seen Vanek drop so many f bombs at once." That didn't give me much hope, so I wasn't going to waste three hours writing about a game I'd end up hating.

---

First of all, I love everything about this picture:



I'm working on a montage of officials screwing up, but this one was just too good to hold back. Tim Peel appears to be making a lot of friends this year. Anyway, back to the real story, and the only story that matters so far this year: Thomas Vanek.



I feel like at times he's the only player we talk about, but can you really say enough about what we've seen this year? 24 goals in 30 games. Seven multi-goal games. Night in and night out he's the best player on the ice, and as the season progresses he only seems to get better. He isn't the fastest and he may not have the best moves, but Thomas Vanek is blowing teams away by himself. When was the last time we had a player this potent at all times? LaFontaine? Mogilny?

Both goals were the result of great work by teammates, and that's something that should be addressed as well. Both Hecht and Pominville have played excellent hockey together over the past week or so, and their numbers prove it. Hecht is such an underrated player in the league, and I still think his contract will be a steal when it's all said and done. He hasn't put up big numbers so far, but he has been working hard on both ends and will only get better playing next to Atlas.

Pominville has been an interesting player this year as well. He too has struggled early, and looked to have the same problem with expectations that Vanek had in the wake of a large contract last year. Despite being near the team lead in points all season you could still categorize his season as "quiet", but now he seems to be heating up. He has proven in the past that he's more than just "Briere's guy" and he will prove again this year he's more than "Vanek's guy" too.



This whole team seems to be heating up, really. I talked about him as a disappointment, but Drew Stafford has been very good lately, and Derek Roy's goal total is creeping up as well. Roy's power play goal on Saturday night was a thing of beauty, and those chances were missed nets earlier in the year. This is a streaky team in a streaky league, but good things happen when a half dozen guys heat up at the same time.

It's not just the scoring forwards that have been hot, either. Paul Gaustad had another great game on Saturday, and Adam Mair has played very well all season. Both players have stepped up significantly since the loss of Peters and Kaleta, and Goose has been hitting everything as of late. Knowing your 3rd and 4th line guys will come out flying is a big help, and maybe having two of the more physical players on the team out will help this team with that aspect in the long run.

I mean, who would have thought Nathan Gerbe would be hitting everything as well? Whether it's rookie enthusiasm or how he's really going to play, it's great to see him giving it out just as much as he's getting it. Gerbe has been a pleasant surprise thus far, and it's good to see that when some forwards hit the road later in the year there will be players in Portland ready to step in with confidence.

So what does a win in New Jersey mean for this team? Well, I'd like to say a lot but it's hard to tell. The Sabres dropped a game they should have won at home and went into New Jersey with no rest against a very hot team. It looked like a game they were bound to lose but I couldn't figure out why. There was no home ice advantage, the Sabres were clearly outplaying Jersey, and Lalime was putting together a solid performance in the backup role. Still, after watching a game slip away at home was there any reason to think this one wouldn't go the same way?



Then Drew Stafford put on the pressure, drew a penalty, and Roy puts it in. A few minutes later Atlas puts it away, and you could only wonder why you were worrying in the first place. Everything's fine, completely under control. Nothing to see here, game over.

It may be a fluke, and maybe because of the numbers a game like this means more only in an artificial sense. However, the Sabres looked surprisingly in control on Saturday night against a Devils team that is still very good. The defense wasn't the best and guys like Sekera and Teppo continue to struggle, but this team finally had the offense to overcome those mistakes. Atlas has been carrying the load all year, but he's starting to get some help.

It could be a hot streak, but maybe it's the start of something more.

Magic Numbers

by Ryan

You were just waiting for it, weren't you?

As soon as you heard about the Pominville extension, those numbers started floating around in your head. 5for25. 5for25fivefortwentyfive. It's the phrase that has become cliche around these parts, a benchmark of sorts in an attempt to pinpoint the value of a player in this era.

Well, we were close.

Everyone has been talking about whether they like the deal or not, and I think it's obviously a solid deal for both sides. This summer is the first one I can remember where things went almost as well as possible. No one of significance bailed on the team, no contract talks got out of hand, and players were brought in that will immediately make it better.

But we are still not out of the woods yet. Take a look at the numbers for this team over the next few years. There are three big players entering contract years, and something has to give. Afinogenov, Kotalik, and Connolly all have similar cap hits and similar status as underachievers, and come next fall only one may still be on the roster. With Kennedy, Zagrapan, and Gerbe coming up there will be some turnover, and it will be interesting to see how all that shakes out.

What is important to note is that Darcy went out and got his guys. Regier gets so much flack for just doing his job, but you have to admit he is going about things exactly how he wants. Forget about last summer and the missed chances. Since July 1st everything has moved the way he wanted, even in dealing with Brian Campbell and the development of young talent.

These are his roster moves, his draft picks, and his contract negotiations. What Regier does so well is find guys he likes and trust them to come of age. The system has taken on a different look with the loss of Rochester and subsequent addition of Portland, but nothing has changed about the way he drafts and the way he signs players.

There aren't many expectations for this year's Sabres team, but you can't say that Darcy hasn't put together a roster worth watching. All he can do is sign them and look towards next year. How they perform and respond is up to Lindy, and that's the part I'm less sure about.

Ånd the Lord hath said unto the Puck Bunnies, Let there be Pominville

Five more years of excellent use of flair and delightful smile.



Oh, we're ready for camp now.

(Some serious analysis once the terms of the deal are disclosed...)

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.

Talk About Being Proactive...

by Ryan

Rumors are swirling that the Buffalo Sabres are close to extending top scorer Jason Pominville. In a move that can only be described as poetic justice, the Sabres are reportedly offering an eight year deal worth $52 million, exactly the same amount former captain Daniel Briere received last summer from Philadelphia. Initial word is that the deal will include a no trade clause as well as a guarantee of permanent captaincy next October.

The first year of the deal would make Pominville the NHL's newest $10 million man along with teammate Thomas Vanek, who has struggled under the pressure of his new deal. Sabres braintrust Darcy Regier and Larry Quinn were apparently concerned with the possibility of a large offer sheet being extended to Jason next summer when he is scheduled to be a restricted free agent. Sabres managment was burned by such a move last July when Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe gave Vanek a 7 year, $50 million offer sheet, which the Sabres subsequently matched.

Pominville currently leads the team in with 78 points in 79 games. A +17 on the season, he has improved his defensive zone play while taking on a larger leadership role, being named captain for the month of March. He is set to make $1.357 million next year before the rumored contract will kick in.

[via Hockey Buzz]

Pommer's Full of Crap

From "Pommer's Blog" on sabres.nhl.com

We have to take the positives out of last night's game and I think we played well for 50 minutes, and just kind of had a few collapses in the last 10 minutes unfortunately. We weren’t able to close the deal when we needed to. We got caught in a few situations where we shouldn’t have against a good team and it cost us a game.

The good thing is we still have another chance.

I'm sorry, but what kind of bull is this? How can you title a post like this "Redemption"? What redemption is left? Weren't the last three years all about redemption and we screwed that up anyways? There aren't any more chances. There is an opportunity to beat Ottawa on Thursday, yes, but there is no chance for the only thing that really matters: the playoffs.

Maybe he feels differently then I do, but I'm sick of that "take the positives" approach we've been fed all year. You do not take positives out of a game where your team only plays 50 minutes. That last ten minutes matter. Not only that, that last ten minutes was the balance of your season.

You had a two goal lead against a team that was completely stagnant and you let them SCORE FIVE GOALS IN THE THIRD PERIOD. Here, let me rephrase that: You allowed four goals in nine minutes. Still, you want to tell me that the first 50 minutes matter because it's the positives that count. F--k you Captain VaJayJay, you screwed the pooch last night. Deal with it.

Here's a quick formula for you. Last week we overcame a three goal deficit to Tampa Bay. Beating a team like that means they are a bad team just for letting it happen. Four goals in nine minutes last night. What does that make us?

I'm so sick of searching for a silver lining, reaching for a positive in a night where your team puts forth half a game's worth of effort. The fact of the matter is that sometime last year this team got lazy. They dogged a few games and turned it on late to give us all those comebacks. It was fun and exciting and showed just how good this team could be, but eventually it became a bad habit.

That bad habit is still there, and when your team gets worse over the course of a calender year habits like that are going to hurt you more and more. What we are left with is a team full of immature hockey players with unmatched potential. A group with no direction and very, very little heart. You want a statement to finish that post with, Pommy, here it is: The good thing is we have no direction.

What a delusional captain.

I'm Sorry, Jason Pominville

by Ryan

When we last left Jason Pominville he looked a little something like this:



Now while the resemblance may be uncanny, he probably wouldn't ask if we wanted extreme fajitas at 10am on a Monday.

Looking back, I've been quite skeptical about the whole idea of "Captain by Committee", but especially with the reign of terror Jason Pominville has instituted this month. Here are some thoughts:

- Is that how we are assigning letters now? “He’s a great guy, everyone likes him, and he’s pretty consistent.” Apparently the Sabres captain needs to have the same qualities you look for in a mechanic. When’s the last time you thought an oil change showed leadership ability? Red Wing Ramblings, 3/3/08

Hey, and in that same post:

- What the heck was with the gong show on Pomminville’s goal? For once Jason’s nancyboy ways paid off.

Okay, that was a bit harsh. The truth of the matter is that looking back on the first 17 days of this month I've been pretty impressed with how Jason has handled the C. He has become accountable with the media, always one of the first players to talk to reporters and even posting his thoughts regularly on his Sabres.com blog.

People always look to on ice play to gauge how well things are going, but I've been much more impressed with the way he has handled all this outside of the rink. He has played quite well recently and the team is suddenly on the upswing, but I still think a lot of that upswing has to do with the coaching suddenly kicking in.

His entire demeanor has changed, and he's a different form of captain then most people are used to around here. He's not going to be the voice of experience, but leadership in his case may only have to be acting properly when faced with problems. He may not be the fiercest of players, but he has displayed a surprising amount of responsibility, both good and bad, for this team's actions. It may not be what we are expecting, but it is certainly a form of leadership.

The point of all this is that I should lay off of Jason, and I mean it enough to apologize for most some of the jobbing I've done. He's done a good job so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the team reacts to him down the stretch.



I still mean that, though.