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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.”
by Ryan
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.
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.
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
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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
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!
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."
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.
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.
NFL owners recently said they are paying $4.5 billion to players this year, just under 60 percent of their total revenues.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4 out of 5 Pierres
3 out of 5 Pierres
5 out of 5 Pierres 4 out of 5 Pierres 4 out of 5 Pierres 
1 1/2 out of 5 Pierresby Ryan
So I'm going to be honest and admit I don't know much about this year's draft class. Last year we got to know our draft picks after the fact with a little thing we like to call Facebooking the Draft Class. Now while that will be something to do next week, I did want to get a feel for what we are looking at tonight.
It is a bit difficult to do, however. With two first round picks and rumors that we may be moving up, who really knows what is possible, let alone what importance a mock draft holds. The Sabres could be picking from two (or one) completely different spots once things get sorted out. We've been hearing for some time that it is a very deep draft this year, and with Darcy looking at three different players, I'd be satisfied if we came away with one of the three.
The interesting thing about hockey's draft is that sometimes it is more about trades than anything. Last year didn't follow that trait as true, but the topic of trades is always on the forefront and will be all weekend. Heck, remember last year's draft night we were talking about Maxim Afinogenov being traded? Yup, same topic for tonight, and all summer as well.
The Buffalo News had a teaser up about the draft, which had some riveting information enclosed.
Regier said there were a number of phone calls regarding the Sabres' first-round selections (Nos. 13 and 26), and he placed more than he received. He is interested in moving up to make sure the Sabres get one of the three players they are targeting, but he's not alone.
by Ryan
Apparently the interview process is important to a GM looking at prospects. Without a solid interview, Mike Weber wouldn't be a Sabre.
Now that's all well and good, but that is all about the past. Let's talk about the future. Namely, this guy. 
This is Mattias Tedenby, and he sure knows how to make an impression.
For the most part, however, Devine says the on-ice personality tends to translate in the meeting- with some personas more evident than others.
“Surprisingly the interviews are a lot like the way they play on the ice,” Devine said. “There is a kid in Sweden, named Mattias Tedenby. He is just a little guy that can fly around the room. When he came into the interview that’s exactly what he did. He grabbed a handful of candy, ate all our candy and left. That’s the same type of player he is on the ice.”
So Chris and I set out to do a big feature on "The Love Guru". He was supposed to trash the movie and I was supposed to defend it.
Unfortunately, I watched the trailer again and it went something like this:
Ryan: Okay. I'm going to be honest, this will be tough to defend.
(22 minutes later)
Ryan: I thought I could try defending it, but I just can't. It really looks that awful.
So yeah, that went really well. Chris and I both think the movie will be terrible, but there were some bright spots in the conversation. Sorta.(Spoiler Alert?)
---
Ryan: My problem with the movie is that on paper it looks pretty funny. Myers is okay, Malco was good in the 40 Year Old Virgin. Colbert, Gaffigan, John Oliver, all of them are funny guys.
Chris: The announcing team has potential. Like in Dodgeball or Best in Show.
Ryan: Timberlake has proven he can be funny.
But it's not going to be enough to carry it. No way I drop ten bucks to see his stunt double play goal for the Kings. J.S. Aubin was available, right?
---
Ryan: The problem I see is what you said earlier, Chris, it's the same old same old. Just look over the character names.
Chris: The punny names worked for Austin Powers because they were rip offs of Bond names. I think the midget jokes were old halfway through Austin Powers 3. I'm not sure midget is the proper term, though. Maybe we should just link to "Little People Big World."
Ryan: Surprisingly, Verne Troyer coaching the Leafs is probably the most realistic aspect of this movie.
---
Ryan: So here's the thing that really matters: is this good for hockey?
Chris: Revenue wise? Yes. They're getting a helluva lotta money for it. However, it's going to be one of those movies that people just forget about.
Ryan: Keep in mind that we are somewhat intelligent human beings who happen to like hockey. What does this do for the ordinary American?
Chris: For the ordinary American it's just another Mike Meyers movie...
Ryan: ...that happens to highlight the most popular hockey team on the continent.
Chris: I don't think the hockey will play to the general public. It's just kind of there in a bad movie. In Canada, people will be pissed, especially since the Leafs win the Cup.
Ryan: To be fair, Bryan Adams has done more damage to the country than Myers ever will.
Chris: I'm a big fan of "Everything I Do"...
---
So as I said, that went pretty badly. Leave your thoughts on Brian Adams and his impact on NAFTA in the comments, and expect something worth reading around... 2ish.
by Ryan
Just some NHL News leading up to the Draft.
-Vinny Prospal's rights are heading back to Tampa. This means the Bolts have exclusive negotiating rights with Prospal until July 1st. Let's do a quick math problem to figure out what he's worth:
February 25th: 35 games (18+17), 27 points (14+13)
2009 2nd Round Pick
Alexandre Picard
June 18th: Exclusive negotiation Rights for 13 days
2008 7th round pick (196th overall)
2009 Conditional Pick
Yeah, I think that sounds about right. Prospal made $1.9 mill the past three seasons, and he's due for a pretty big raise after a 71 point (33+38) season. If Tampa gets a deal done it's not a bad price to pay, considering how much they got back for the 35 game rental.
- The NHL Board of Governers adopted a few rule changes. Look out AP, here come the blockquotes:
A change to Rule 76.2 will place the first faceoff of a power play in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul.
A change to Rule 81.1 states that “any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck.”
The amended rule further states that “unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player.”
“Rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim. It’s like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan.”
by Ryan
That picture is stolen.
I didn't photograph the bottom of the Aud's jumbotron, and I found it on the series of tubes, so it is stolen. However, I'm not making any money off of it, and I didn't photoshop a penis onto it, so I'd like to think I'm not doing anything awful by posting it here.
However, I may have to be a bit more careful with what we put in this space according to this from Kuklas Korner.
See what I did there? That's what you are supposed to do when you use information on the Internet. First you show where you got it from, then you use it to your discretion. If I posted an entire AP recap in this space, it would probably not sit well with them, right?
Well, now only four words sit well with them, and if I go over that it's $7.50. Hey, that's non-profit price, too; you should see how much it costs when you want to make a living.
So what should we do now? I've been stealing AP pictures for months without permission and nothing has happened. What happens when I quote something and I don't pay? Will they come at me with a suit? Will the po-po be knocking on my door?
Well, I don't want to find out, so from now on we will stick to within the limits the AP gives us. Let's give it a try.
Here's an interesting piece on the NHL's transfer agreement expiring with the IIHF:
The National Hockey League
The induction ceremony will
“To your new contract,”
by Ryan
So I was looking for a way to alter this image to properly describe what's going on here:
I had a few ideas, but I think this is the perfect visual for the occasion:
Why yes, that's a moose rapeing a buffalo statue. I think that pretty much covers things here. If someone has any ideas for the Bills in Toronto logo, I'm all ears.
by Ryan
How many times do you watch a movie and see something you'd like to have in real life? For example, who wouldn't want a flux capacitor or anything James Bond has of use. Then there's the thing you would try at least once, just to see what it's like. Anything from the Good Burger menu fits that category. Also on the list, at least for me, is this:
The putter with a hockey blade head from "Happy Gilmore". Who wouldn't give that a try on one hole? With the way I play, it couldn't hurt my game. Well, now's my chance.
Hockey and golf are very different sports. But together, you can show your passion for play on the ice during a round on the links. The Hockey Stick Putters NHL® team golf putter is a precision weighted flat blade with a compression molded graphite shaft, a cast aluminum alloy blade and moisture prof putter grip. The team's logo is stitched on a head cover. This putter can be used by both left- and right-handed golfers.
by Ryan
I think this pretty much sums things up around here the past few days...
By Jon
When you live in one place or region for your entire life, your ability to view things from a national perspective is skewed. If you spent your whole life in Buffalo, you might think the NHL is huge. If you have never spent a lot of time outside of Pittsburgh, you may not realize how ridiculous you sound when you say "yinz." A lifelong New York City resident won't understand someone who enjoys the wilderness. The list goes on and on and on.
With that being said, the NBA is of very little interest to the average Buffalonian. Even Chris, one of the biggest sports fans that I know, tried to live-blog the first game of this years finals and ended up with a post full of advertising critiques and discussion of The Incredible Hulk and the new High School Musical show (Chris is also one of the biggest Zac Efron fans I know, as well.) Other than the handful of baby boomers out there that have continued to follow the NBA three decades after the Braves skipped town, there seems to be very few WNYers out there that live and die by an NBA team (For those that are interested, the guys over at The Ultimate Sports Road Trip have been keeping the Buffalo blogosphere up-to-date throughout the NBA finals.) For all intents and purposes, the NBA is to Buffalo what the NHL is to the rest of the nation.
The Lakers/Celtics match-up was enough for me to tune in, to the delight of Mr. Stern, I'm sure. In fact, I was pretty excited for it. I've now had two roommates that were NBA fans, and while I haven't become a full-fledged fan myself, I do have somewhat of a passing interest. I'm also a bit of a sports history nut, so I can appreciate the rivalry that is the Celtics and the Lakers. This was supposed to be the series that vaulted me into NBA fandom; the series that completed my transition from a kid from an NBA-less city that had no appreciation for the game to a defender and watcher of the sport.
So far, it hasn't happened. Quite the opposite, actually. I dislike the NBA far more now than I did prior to the start of the Finals. The NBA's marquee match-up, the series between two teams chock full of stars in big markets, has been an absolute flop from a quality of play standpoint, and may drive the casual fan away. At times, the defensive has been atrocious, players can't find their shots for large stretches of the game, and there has yet to be a moment where both teams are playing with any sort of intensity at the same time. I'm in the minority here, but I didn't even find Game 4 to be that interesting. When the Celtics began mounting their now-historic comeback, the Lakers played the most uninspired defense I have ever seen. They collectively gave up, and that doesn't bode well for an exciting game, or series for that matter.
I tried, NBA. I gave you a fair shake. I watched more games in this year's playoffs that I had ever before. I entertained people at my house for the sole purpose of watching the Finals. I watched the games, from start to finish. But it wasn't enough.
So the NBA goes back into obscurity for me. I'm right back where I started: the Buffalonian with no interest in the league.
I guess sometimes you just can't change the way you were brought up.
by Ryan
So I'm sitting next to Jason Blake's wife and I think to myself, "Well this is pretty cool."
Actually, that's not how it happened. While I had been thinking that the entire night, it wasn't until Jason kicked me out of his seat that I knew who I was next to all along.
---
It is the general opinion of hockey fans that the NHL Awards Show is boring. People win stuff that is mostly decided upon months beforehand, and everyone pats each other on the back. Ron MacLean will make jokes no one understands, and the European players use the Sammy Sosa card when accepting awards. However, put yourself in the same room as those people and your opinion quickly changes.
Case in point: Thursday night's NHL Awards Show was freaking awesome, and here's why:
That was taken to the left of the Elgin Theatre's stage, just before I was thrown into Mrs. Blake's lap. If case you haven't caught on, Thursday night I was a seat filler at the NHL Awards Show in Toronto. Now there is plenty to talk about from that night, but I'm sure you're wondering how all this is possible, so let me explain.
This was my girlfriend's idea. Sometime last month she decided that she wanted to go to the NHL Awards. This led to a Google search or two, where she found out you could fill seats for free. Apparently this is something the NHL advertises for on Craigslist, and so last week she applied and was confirmed two days later. She then hacked into my Yahoo account, sent in my info and I was confirmed the next day. What can I say, she's a keeper.
Initially this venture was much less glamorous than it appears. We were supposed to meet on Victoria Street at the rear entrance of the Elgin Theatre at 5:30. This roughly translated into walking down an alley and banging on a door with an impending sense of doom. For a good 30 seconds or so I thought we were going to be straight up murdered, which was bad because I was wearing my only good dress shirt.
Thankfully that door did lead into the Theatre, and soon we were in a big room waiting around for something to happen. This was a common theme over the next two hours, with the only variation being a return trip to the alley to check in and get a fancy purple wristband. A select few people were also given actual tickets to the show, but these turned out to be the booby prize: obstructed view seats.
Following another period of nothing, we were given very simple instructions: stand up during commercial breaks. Don't talk to the talent. Don't touch the talent. Don't breathe on the talent. Don't take pictures of the talent. Don't ask the talent to father your children. You know, the usual.
After a fire alarm and a reminder of the rules, we were finally escorted into the theatre. We stood in the back while everyone was asked to sit down. Our purpose was to literally fill in holes in the audience. When award presenters or recipients leave their seats, a seat filler takes their place to keep the crowd looking full. Sometimes you sit there the rest of the night, and sometimes for only one segment of the show. There is no way of knowing where you sit or for how long, it really all boils down to luck.
For the first two segments of the show I sat in two different seats, taking up space until everyone arrived. After that I got away from filler duty by standing alone in the back of the theatre. I wanted to get a feel for the atmosphere a bit, and while sitting is fun I thought getting an overview of the crowd would be better.
It was here that Pavel Datsyuk would walk past me twice. The first time was after winning the Selke Trophy. Pavel went onstage, saying very little and admitting his English was "short". He was so nervous that he forgot his notes, which were taken away during the commercial break. For being such a great hockey player, Datsyuk just never looks comfortable in his own skin.
He got back to his seat just in time for the Lady Byng Award, which he was up for as well. The winner the last two years, Datsyuk was a shoe in for a third, even up against the likes of Jason Pominville and everyone's favorite hobbit, Martin St. Louis. Of course Pavel won, making an even more awkward speech without the aid of notes.
When you really think about it, the Lady Byng is the perfect trophy for Datsyuk. Unassuming in every way, he is the kind of personality you'd feel bad about if he didn't have ridiculous talent attached to it. While he plays hockey with a fire few are able to match, off the ice he is meek and downright nervous. If he didn't average over a point per game, you would think he was the Zamboni driver at your local rink.
Walking with his shoulders low, he walked past me the second time with his eyes darting away, appearing to have enough of all this awards show stuff. Since I was alone, I gave him the obligatory "congratulations" as he passed. He responded with a quick "thank you", walking as quickly as possible to the comfort of his teammates. It wasn't done in a rude way, in fact, his tone was more of an "I'm sorry I'm good and they make me go on stage".
If he wasn't an All Star hockey player and Stanley Cup Champion, you would be okay with him dating your sister. Before the show ended you could see him rocking back and forth in his seat like a child stuck at Grandma's house. "Can we go now? Can we go?" Still, there he was signing autographs and taking pictures with fans after the show, that sense of obligation making him available. He's just... nice, and in a way that is what the award has become, so Pavel had better get a bigger shelf.
---
Just after Datsyuk's second trip past me a group of Calgary Flames flew by at the commercial break. Iginla led the charge to what I'm guessing was the bar, with his date and another girl behind him. Bringing up the rear was Dion Phaneuf, the young D man with a shiny new contract.
As he was running by he practically ran over a kid in a "North Stars" jersey. I couldn't help but think Patrick Marleau's ears were ringing as he said "I'm sorry" to the dazed little kid. They didn't make it back to their seats before the show started again, so they were stuck back where I was. By that time I was wrangled up by the seat people on the other side of the theatre, where my girlfriend and I watched as the foursome was suddenly stranded next to the ushers. By then I realized that Phaneuf's date was Elisha Cuthbert, the actress who sold high on Sean Avery's appendix.
Eventually this led to a bunch of kids asking for autographs, piling around the group like they were offering free candy. Funny thing is, all those little kids got autographs from Iginla, but no one even bothered talking to Phaneuf. It was as if they didn't recognize him at all, which is saying something considering he is the newest member of the NHL's $7 Million Club.
From now on, whenever I'm with someone and a mutual friend only acknowledges the person I'm with, it will be called getting "Phaneufed".
---
My next adventure was the only time I actually got yelled at during the evening. Just after I took the above picture and with about ten seconds left until the show came from break, I hear the wrangler yelling and motioning me over to a seat about six rows up. It was four seats or so in, which meant there were three chances of me stepping on someone important. I went 1 for 3, with the only victim an understanding woman in a light blue dress.
"Sorry, they were kinda screaming at me to get here." I whisper as Ron MacLean makes a joke about rookies that no one laughed at.
"It's okay. It happens," was all that she said, but I knew we would be friends for life.
We watched Kane win the Calder just a few feet away from the girlfriend, and then Gary Bettman came out to give the "Lifetime Achievement Award" to Mr. Hockey. The highlight of my night came when someone behind me actually booed Bettman when he came onstage. My guess is that it was Nicholas Backstrom, who was pissed he got dressed up like the Icelandic coach from D2: The Mighty Ducks and didn't win the Calder.
After Howe gave the finger snaps to a little kid and accepted the award, the show went to commercial and I did the awkward stand up thing. The good news is that I got a good chance to survey the area. To the left was the Red Wings section, with Mike Babcock, Datsyuk, Hasek, Lidstrom, and Zetterberg all around eachother. Behind me was Backstrom, and oh wait, there's Jason Blake in the aisle. Time to get up.
I gave him a nod as I made my way over to the side of the theatre. Pretty soon I was in a seat near the back, where I stayed for the rest of the show. My girlfriend was in her seat near Kane for the majority of the night, a row behind Gino Malkin and a few seats away from Brodeur when he won the Vezina. If you are looking carefully, you can see her on TV as he gets up to accept the award.
After Ovechkin won the Hart and told everyone "Iloveyoubye" it was time to leave. I headed to the back of the theatre and watched as generations of NHL players walked past me. This was as good a time as any to whore it up and ask for autographs or pictures, but I just didn't have it in me.
Hasek and his family walked by, with Lidstrom asking him if he was going to the after party. Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau start talking, and suddenly Iginla comes over to shake Gainey's hand. Scotty Bowman gets close enough to ask him about local golf courses, and Zedeno Chara proves to be freakishly tall even off skates. Pominville lingered long enough to see him not surrounded by girls, and Datsyuk once again sped by.
Still, I didn't want to be "that guy" in all of this. I didn't come to the show to get autographs or pictures for my Facebook, I just wanted to see what it was like; see what the players are like in person. So while millionaires strutted by, I just sat back and watched. I did give Dom a nod as he passed, because Jon is right about him in a way.
We left the theatre with Bob Gainey behind us, and with a quick right we were back into the real world. Reliving the experience at the Pickle Barrel, we couldn't help but laugh at how absurd the whole thing was. Driving 90 minutes to be a warm body for the sake of the show's director. There was no pay, no cost, and the only evidence of the trip was a disposable wristband and two programs any jokester could buy off eBay. 
Even so, it was a pretty great night, and something that will forever change the way I watch an awards show. Knowing that there are some nobodies next to all those stars is one thing, but to see them for yourself is a whole new view of the game. Later on my girlfriend sent me this story, pointing out this:
The fans may not have got personal signed autographs, but they did actually witness a hockey legend in the flesh.
by Ryan
Hey man.
So I heard you got something in the mail yesterday, and I just wanted to give you a little bit of advice on this whole "running over the big girl from Toronto" thing.
Now you probably have a few questions about this subpoena, and I'm here to answer them for you. First of all no, it isn't asking you for a urine sample. I know it's a funny word, but you probably shouldn't have giggled when the officer asked you those questions. Second: no, it is not a coupon for Subway. I don't care how much you love chicken teriyaki, you will pay full price like the rest of us.
With that out of the way, let's get down to business. You've done a lot for us in your career, but with this you have a unique opportunity to really help the franchise. There is no easy way of saying this, so here it goes:
Take one for the team, Christian.
Yes, I know it's not "ethical" and whatnot, but I want you to take the fall on this one. Someone misplaced Frank Clark's dentures again and he's on the warpath. I want your 6'1" 300 lbs frame in his way, and I want you to block him better than you guys block Vrabel.
I know this seems suddenly personal but it's not, I swear. I just want what every good teammate wants: whatever is best for the team. You see, Mr. Gaddis, we have two hopes for this fall: Money running buckwild and "That really tall receiver" catching passes and freeing up Lee. It just so happens that both of those hopes were allegedly in the car with you, suddenly making you more expendable than Andrew Peters at pickup hockey.
Don't think of yourself as being "thrown under the bus." Instead, imagine being gently pushed into, say, a luxury SUV and coming away with a bruised hip. It would be minor damage, really, but in the long run you would save me from a lot of sleepless nights crying over what should have been.
Really, you don't want to see me cry. I'd rank myself somewhere between a levee bursting and the Bridal Veil Falls. It's intense. Sometimes I get so worked up my breathing can't catch up and I start to hyperventilate. I literally choke on my sorrows, man. Do you really want to put me through that?
So... yeah, just bite the (metaphorical!) bullet on this one and say it was you behind the wheel of the Moneymobile. Things happen, man. You get a little buzzed at the club with your boys, and eventually someone has to drive home. Who knew that hippo in the road wasn't just a side effect of the Absinthe you pre-gamed with? I mean, you run over something that large downtown and you have to assume it's a mythical creature. I would have ran away too. After you hit that thing it's only a matter of time before Bowser cuts the chain loose and it starts chomping at you.
That defense is air tight, my friend. No, no, thank you, Christian Gaddis, for making this mess go a whole lot smoother. I'll see you in a year, maybe less with good behavior.
by Ryan
Let's just say that Tim Connolly is flat out impressed with Kyle Wellwood's ability to unjure himself.
"I was playing indoor soccer and it (my foot) sort of cracked," Wellwood told the Windsor Star.
NHL Awards are tonight. Let's run down the list of nominees:
Vezina Trophy
Nominees: Martin Brodeur, Henrik Lundqvist, Evgeni Nabokov
I like Nabokov in this one. He played tons of games and helped the Sharks to a Pacific Division title. Their winning streak going into the playoffs helped secure that and hopefully a Vezina for Nabokov. Plus, it would be nice to see a first-time winner. With that said, Brodeur will probably win. He's the standard when it comes to playing 83 games in the regular season and posting some insane numbers.
Actual Winner: Brodeur
Norris Trophy
Nominees: Zdeno Chara, Nicklas Lidstrom, Dion Phaneuf
Lidstrom is just sooo good. This should be a lock for him.
Actual Winner: Lidstrom
Calder Trophy
Nominees: Nicklas Backstrom, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews
We're going to go with the local boy on this one. Toews' injury hurts his cause a bit and Backstrom got to play with Ovechkin. Plus we're homers so we'll be rooting for Kane.
Actual Winner: Kane (and his sisters are smoking)
Lady Byng Trophy
Nominees: Pavel Datsyuk, Jason Pominville, Martin St. Louis
Datsyuk will probably win it but it would be cool if Pominville picked up the award. Then I could call him Lady Poms from now on.
Actual Winner: Datsyuk
Selke Trophy
Nominees: Pavel Datsyuk, John Madden, Henrik Zetterberg
My guess is this one will go to Zetterberg since Datsyuk is on the ballot for the Lady Byng. Voters might have thought about spreading the wealth. Madden is an interesting dark horse and the Devils are so good trapping that it wouldn't shock me if he won.
Actual Winner: Datsyuk
Hart Trophy
Nominees: Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin
Didn't you get your T-shirt already? Ovechkin is going to take this one.
Actual Winner: Ovechkin
Jack Adams Award
Nominees: Mike Babcock, Bruce Boudreau, Guy Carbonneau
We love Bruce Boudreau here in the Roost just because he seems like a happy man. And he should be. The Caps were in last place in the league when he took over and he and Ovechkin led them to a division title. He pushed a lot of right buttons and deserves more than just a nomination.
Actual Winner: Boudreau
Masterton Trophy
Nominees: Jason Blake, Chris Chelios, Fernando Pisani
Despite a disappointing season, I hope Blake gets it just as an F-U to that cancer-hating racist Avery.
Actual Winner: Blake
_________________________________
Ron MacLean starts the show off at 7. The Red Carpet walk always gets me.
Don't miss out. I know our very own Ryan won't. More on that tomorrow...
By Jon
I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I want to take the time to give my two cents on Dominik Hasek's retirement and his legacy in Buffalo.
Ask me who my favorite player of all time is, and I'll answer without hesitation: The Dominator. As a young lad just starting to find his way as a hockey fan, Hasek was the biggest star on the team that was closest to me. It was that simple; the kind of simplicity that can only be understood by a child with the way sports are today. I didn't understand the trap and I couldn't have told you what was going on between Dom and Nolan and Muckler (can anyone?), but naivety be damned, it was plain to see that the man could take a team on his back and win games on his own.
I, along with many others, have always had a soft spot for the1996-97 team. It was the first time in my life that I had ever understood the game and became attached to a team. I didn't have cable or Empire at the time (Empire! Come back! We miss you!), so I spent my nights listening to Pete Weber call the action on WBEN, or Clip Smith's (RIP) call-in show on off-days. There always seemed to be a common theme: Hasek steals another one.
Looking back, I didn't even know what I was witnessing. I had no concept of how incredible his season was. I had no idea that a goalie winning the Hart Trophy was such a lofty accomplishment. Whether I fully grasped his greatness or not, Hasek's play was the biggest factor in making a fan out of me, and for that I am thankful that he was around.
People will mention (and have mentioned) the various controversies that have become synonymous with his name here. The masses certainly were offended when he made his now infamous "Red Wing for life" comment. But those things don't matter when you are too young to make sense of them. It certainly isn't that way for me anymore; If Lindy Ruff were to skip town, win a cup, and backhand the Sabres organization similar to the way Dom did, I would hate him and label him a traitor. I had become so enamored with Dom's play at such a young age that he has reached a level where he can do no wrong with me (Well, maybe he can do some wrong).
That brings me to my larger point. Let's remember Dom for what he did on the ice. Like it or not, Hasek was the best player to put on a Sabres sweater. Personally, I will try my hardest to be in attendance when number 39 is raised to the rafters, and I hope that I won't be in the minority when I stand and cheer.
Far too much attention is paid to what goes on off of the ice/field/pitch/etc. Our culture has become so celebrity obsessed that off-the-field stories are bigger than what happens in the game itself (and the athletes have no one to blame but themselves. I'm looking at you, OJ.) I just wish we could all go back to an age where all of that mattered less. An age where we could all remember Dom for his slinky for a spine and spectacular saves rather than his tissue paper groin and boneheaded media comments.
So Dominik, thank you for your time in Buffalo. Whether you enjoyed it here or not, I had a great time watching you play every night. Congrats on your career, and enjoy retirement.
And one last time, for old time's sake (I don't care if we posted this two days ago, this picture will never get old)...
by Rich
I know hating on the Four-Letter is as fashionable in the blogosphere as Ed Hardy graphic tees and living in your mother's basement, but I have to take the bait once in a while. Anyone else notice how hard the Bristol hype machine has been whiffing lately? Granted, they've been known to jump the gun a little bit in the past; anyone remember that segment they ran on every SportsCenter for two or three weeks before the Vince Young Rose Bowl where they repeatedly compared that year's USC team to great historical teams to somehow determine that those Trojans were indeed the "best college football team ever assembled" and then they lost to the Longhorns? (I've always wondered, does that mean that ESPN now believes the 2006 Texas Longhorns were the best college football team of all time because they beat USC?)
Seriously though, look at the hype that's been thrown at us lately and then look at what has actually unfolded. Big Brown was crowned, anointed, and damn near canonized as The Next Triple Crown Winner during the lag time between the Preakness and Belmont. They even sent Rick Riley out to Belmont in a brown suit, for God's sake. At several points during the pre-race broadcast, the on-air talking heads claimed that the race was "as close to a foregone conclusion as any I've ever seen." (and that's a paraphrase, Mr. Bissinger; I know you're reading anything concerning our equine friends)
So what happens? Big Brown turns in a worse lap time than an actual big, brown UPS truck would have and becomes the first ever Triple Crown hopeful to finish dead last at Belmont. Don't worry, I'm not about to question the horse's heart or desire or grit or hustle or any of those attributes normally used to describe David Eckstein. I know, I know, horses are people too and how dare I question anything about these warriors who sacrifice themselves for glory and victory...I mean these poor downtrodden, abused animals who have been systematically victimized from birth...wait, never mind. None of the above. It's a horse running on a track. Still, there hasn't been any kind of physical reason given for what happened at Belmont; seems like Big Brown just wasn't trying to run hard that day. I'd like to think he was just sticking it to ESPN, saying "that's what you get for trying to impart all this human drama and hype onto me."
As entertaining as it was watching talking heads stumble over themselves trying to explain how a large land mammal managed to lay an egg, I actually enjoyed the Worldwide Leader's Euro 2008 gaffe even more. ESPN is trying to push European soccer on us pretty hard lately (which I'm totally fine with; I don't watch MLS soccer for the same reason I don't watch double-A baseball), and their lead ad for the Euro 2008 tournament was based around the theme "If winning is an art, Italians are the masters."
So what happens in the second match of the tournament? Italy gets stomped on 3-0 by the Dutch. Not only was it the first victory against Italy for the Netherlands in 30 years, but it was also the worst loss Italy has ever suffered in European competition. Believe me, I enjoyed every schadenfreude-rich moment of it. Maybe it's a peculiarity of the region, or maybe I just know a lot of annoying people, but it really bothered me how many "Italians" in western New York flipped out when Italy won the World Cup a couple summers ago. Something just bothers me about people who are third and fourth-generation Americans, who have never been to Italy, and whose knowledge of the language is limited to Forza Azzurri jumping ship on their nation in favor of a place they've never been just because they're good at soccer. So for all the bandwagon-jumpers, this is your sign to jump off:
...And no, it wasn't offside, so stop your whining. The Italian national team is old, and about to be blown up. I look forward to finding out how many people turn out to be "lifelong fans of Brazil" at the next World Cup.
Basically what I'm getting at here (anti-Italian national team tangent aside) is that ESPN has undergone a subtle change over the past decade, and I don't like the direction they're going in. It used to be about reporting the story; now, they decide what the story is and then hype it to death. They got NASCAR rights, so they decided that America suddenly needed to know a lot more about making left turns. Hockey departed from their family of networks, and now gets no airtime and only sporadic, low-quality coverage on their website. There's nothing we can really do to stop this change, but you can certainly choose how you react to it. I guess what I'm trying to say is think for yourself. ESPN is still the gateway to sports information, but the Internet gives you ways around the gatekeepers of access. Don't just take Bristol's word for it, do your own digging and find out what's actually going on. That way, you'll be the one laughing when the newest product of the Four Letter Hype Machine flames out.
by Ryan
Portland it is. The Sabres will no longer simply be taking a trip down the 90 to get their prospects, and road tripping it to see Marek Zagrapan play is suddenly much harder. But forget all that, what you want to know is this:
This is Crackers the Parrot and Salty Pete the Pirate.
Holy s#$t.
I mean I get it, the pirate is the logo and everything, but does it have to look that... comfortable with its own sexuality? There are writers for the Village Voice that have less experience with peg legs and timber shivering.
What about that parrot, too? Are we serious with the name Crackers? Is that a statement on the demographics of Portland, Maine or is there some kind of black market for saltines I'm not aware of? 
Look at those nimble knees. That Pirate doesn't even have his sea legs, how is he supposed to skate?
However, even with all this alternate lifestyle mascotery Portland's queer pairing still better the options in Florida. Namely, the existence of Mini Stanley C. Panther.
Yes, beyond the pink hat and next to the "I Heart ____" (I'm guessing "other douchebags") shirt is a mascot smaller than the majority of its clients. The logic behind this little critter is that it will appeal to a "younger audience". Apparently the original Stanley C. Panther was designed for the Matlock crowd, so I guess that's enough of a reason to wrap a little person in felt and put a cat's head on. I bet it pays well.
It seems only a matter of time before Florida unveils its "Placenta Panther" to get the attention of all the young hockey fans in Florida before they leave the womb.
Looks like Money isn't the only Buffalo Bills employee in trouble with the law these days. And it's definitely not who you'd expect.
http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/366418.html
John M. Gurtler Jr., the public address announcer for the Buffalo Bills and voice of the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team, was arrested early Sunday along with his wife and teenage son after they allegedly hosted a large underage post-prom party at the family's Orchard Park home, Orchard Park police reported late Monday.
Gurtler and his wife, Mary, both 54, as well as 18-year-old John M. Gurtler III, were arrested at their Orchard Terrace home about 2 a.m. and charged with unlawfully dealing with a child. They are accused of providing alcohol to people less than 21 years old.
The charge is a misdemeanor that upon conviction can carry a sentence of up to a year in jail.
The Gurtlers were allegedly found to be hosting a party attended by as many as 80 teenagers. Officers reported observing several kegs of beer, as well as more than 150 open containers of alcoholic beverages at the scene. Numerous unopened containers were seized as evidence, police said.
So basically, he tried to be "Cool Dad" and throw a drinking party for his son. And then 80 people showed up, their neighbors got ticked and he's riding away in handcuffs. Sounds like your typical prom night to me.
by Ryan
No matter what system you had back in the day, there was one fact that no fanboy could refute: NHL 94 was freaking awesome.
It is arguably one of the best sports video games of all time, and even today we get some inspiration from it from time to time. For hockey fans, the series has defined the progression of the video game industry from underground passion to mainstream appeal.
At the time of its release, the NHL was in it's heyday. The Rangers were winning the Stanley Cup and countless gamers were deciding which line combination could stop Alexander Mogilny in pixelated blue and gold. In many ways that game and that year would be the apex of the league's popularity, and since then we have only seen a decline in quality of both its video games and pop culture appeal.
That being said, NHL video games still get people pretty excited. Our own Chris has torn through the last incarnation of the series and is already getting excited about NHL 09. Take a look for yourself:
Personally, I think Phaneuf is a good pick for the cover. Anything is better than Rick Nash. However, the screenshot below is what I found far more interesting than imaginary Sidney Crosby breakaway goals.
Yes, that's Zedeno Chara and Steve Bernier getting ready to awkwardly fight for the puck. Obviously EA Sports has great faith in Darcy Regier's ability to keep restricted free agents, so I guess that's a good sign.
You won't see any new jersey mock ups because it is still fairly early in development, but I would expect later in the summer the game once again reveals some new designs. This fall will see the return of third jerseys to the wardrobe, and every team looking to make a buck (read: all of them except Phoenix) will have a shiny new model for fans to spend $150 bucks on.
But I digress.
One of the cooler things about that screenshot has a lot to do with jerseys, but not the ones on the players. In the first row next to Bernier's left shoulder is a guy in a goathead Sabres jersey. It may seem like an insignificant point, but to those of you who grew up on crowds wearing the same 3 shirt colors it's a pretty snazzy tweak.
To get all code-nerd on you, it's a fairly simple algorithm to make it happen. All you have to do is assign a fan a random model of jersey available to that designated team and make sure they are spaced out far enough to avoid repetition. However, consider the era of "stand up, sit down" fans from the 2K series as an example of just how far video games have come in the past few years.
The point really is that EA seems to be giving the NHL series a good shot to be great again. Hockey video games aren't for everyone, but making a good video game can help a league's image just as much as a crappy Mike Myers vehicle. Even today people reminisce about NHL 94 and how great it was. There are even people who use the "NHL 08 Theory" when analyzing real life hockey players.
For example, last year Dan Paille was ranked higher overall than Drew Stafford in NHL 08. Before the season that would seem completely ridiculous, but sitting here today you have to think the EA code wizards were on to something. Stafford struggled while Dan Paille went 19/16/35 in 77 games, completely shedding the nickname "Fat Crosby." Who knew?
Somewhere in all that lack of sleep is a theory about what the NHL video game franchise has done to the popularity of the sport, but for now try to convince yourself not to make this your background for the summer:
It was a... time.
What will it be like when your number is retired? That will be a fun one...
by Ryan
I want free candy.
Well, Brooks Orpik, that is. In fact, there are a lot of players that I would love to see on my team, and now is the time to dream. Until July 1st, anyone who wasn't ours this season won't sign with the Sabres, but it sure is fun to think about who we can get.
We already know that Dimitri Kalinin won't be back, so that frees up a D spot. Mike Weber and Andrej Sekera came along nicely, but we are officially short a big body on the blueline. If Mike Ryan leaves and Dan Paille gets an offer sheet... who knows what will happen to this team?
Offer sheets. Oh man. There are some within the game that think this summer may be the year of the offer sheet, with restricted free agents given offers from other teams as a way to lure talent outside of free agency. Kevin Lowe fired the opening salvo last summer with Vanek and Dustin Penner, and many believe GMs will either be emboldened by the move or seek their own contractual revenge.
One such team searching for hypothetical revenge would be the Sabres, and it is rumored that Darcy Regier is looking to make a splash this summer. Then again, it's rumored that Verne Troyer's interim status as head coach of the Leafs may become permanent, so what do I know?
With that in mind, let's look at the group TSN called "The Dirty Dozen."
No, these aren't a bad batch of doughnuts, they are RFAs that may or may not be tendered offers if their current team screws the pooch. Going over the list, here are the players that seem to fit the bill for the Sabres.
Jay Bouwmeester
Mike Green
Andrej Meszaros
Shea Weber
If you know the names you may have noticed a theme there. Bouwmeester and Weber are both big blueliners with rising stocks that may compliment the current roster very nicely. Making a big move with either would open up the chance to re-sign Nolan Pratt for cheap and still have enough to sign Teppo if he decides to return.
Mike Green is a great offensive player, and we seem to have a lot of those types on the blue line at the moment, but would you really be upset with him on your team? The same goes for Meszaros, who has always been a thorn in the Sabres' collective side. Plus, how good would it feel to take away one of Ottawa's defenseman? Everyone knows they are looking hard at Brian Campbell, why not take their budding d-man away and let the big minutes rest with Soupy?
If any of the above sounds ridiculous, you aren't alone. More than likely Darcy will spend the summer begging Ryan Miller to take The Lundqvist Deal and pray Jason Pominville's agent is related to Boots Del Baggio. We won't make a move in Group 2 and will sign another rental backup goalie with no wheels, forcing Miller to play 70+ games again. This will make him search for greener pastures, forcing me to subsequently search for a nice place to dive into the gorge.
However, now is the time for the "maybes" and the "what ifs" and the "no freaking ways." Let's talk about who you want, what they will cost, and who we can really get. Everyone has ideas about what direction this team should go, so why not explore them? When we really dig into this we will start with the players we currently have, but for today read that list over and tell me who you think we can really get.
Everyone loves free candy, but if you can't have it; why not go for some poetic justice?
by Ryan
For months we've heard about the mythical land of Portland, Maine. Over the next few days we may be hearing a lot more about it. It is anything but a sure bet (Looking your way, Big Brown...) but all signs point to the Pirates being the newest home of Clarke MacArthur. The club has announced a press conference for Tuesday concerning their new NHL affiliate.
At least they won't have to change much at the merch table. Check this out:
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Some other things on my mind on a lazy Sunday:
- According to this Facebook ad, Soup is spreading the gospel of the overpriced puck-carrying defenseman market. I bet that seminar is full of Tragically Hip covers...
- The Strangers is a f#$king awful movie. What a waste of time. You know the movie sucks when 20 minutes in 1) nothing is happening, 2) you verbally state how awful the movie is, and 3) you wish you saw the movie with the animated panda.
How does a movie that pointless get a green light? Is Liv Tyler going to ruin The Incredible Hulk? "You were home"?!?! I've never seen so many people leave a theatre simultaneously angry/confused/sheepish over paying $9 bucks to see that sh%tshow. What a joke.
- Puck Daddy has a nice read about the remaining Whalers in the league, including one of our own soon-to-be UFAs.
- The Stanley Cup was dented. Somewhere, Gary Bettman is bragging it's the biggest dent since 2002.
- I'm not a big fan of the Olympics (something you will hear about later), but we are suddenly in good shape for the 2010 games in Vancouver. Brian Burke will be GM for the US hockey team, and hopefully he will be the one to make it more than a glorified all star team. Go for gold, Goose.
- I'll leave you with the best picture I've seen all week.
I would have that face, too.
How baller is Coco Crisp?
That punch missed.
I love Jacoby as much as the next guy, but no way he 1) does the side shuffle and charges the mound, and 2) dodges that first punch. Congrats to Coco on that. I'm sure that means his trade stock just rose a bit, even though he's going to be suspended for a long time...
by Ryan
So... if you came here expecting a review of The Game, you just don't know us well enough. I'm currently about halfway through the book, and although I will have something to say about it, it's not coming today.
The good news is that Chris is reading Live From New York and will have something about it posted by the end of next week; so look for that before mine. Rich is enduring a life without the series of tubes, so you know he is reading something. Or going insane, either or.
I think I've said enough about the playoffs over the course of the last six weeks or so. Being the first full season with a blog to ramble with, I must admit I enjoyed the postseason a lot more than I usually do after the Sabres gracefully implode. Having the hockey blogosphere to get a feel for all those "other" teams really makes for an exciting postseason, and I look forward to checking back in over the course of the summer to see how free agency shakes out.
So that's the question now, isn't it? What the hell are we going to do with ourselves?
Well, plenty. Over the next few months we are going to branch out a bit, covering some basketball, baseball, and whatever else happens during the summer. Of course, there will be plenty of silly season news in the hockey universe, and we fully intend to cover every angle of the off season. The NHL Awards, Draft, UFA Day, all of it is going to be talked about here, and Chris has spreadsheets and all kinds of things ready for the summer.
We're also trying to plan a road trip to see a baseball game, although the location seems to be getting farther and farther away as we flesh it out. Somewhere between Boston and Minnesota, I'm sure.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though the hockey season is officially over, we're not. In fact, we're pretty excited about the summer. The Sabres will retool, the Bills will try to pry Money away from the iron fist of Roger Goodell, and we should have some nice weather to avoid in the comfort of our homes, computer screen aglow with the shades drawn.
So in the words of Jonathan Papelbon: "Stay tuned. I've got something for ya, kid."
By Chris
6:15 Fact: I've never sat down and watched an entire NBA game start to finish. I just physically and mentally can't do it. I've tried it a few games and the closest I've come is watching the entire first half of Game One of the Mavericks-Heat final a few years ago. College hoops? No problem. It's the NBA that I can't stand. I just can't get through an entire game. Whether it's the music that plays constantly or the constant whistles that drives me more insane I'll never know. It's the only sport I just can't watch. Tonight, I'm going to try to change that.
The match-up alone is enough to get me to try. Lakers-Celtics is legendary. Mythical even. Garnett would have been a household name six years ago if he hadn't been trapped in losing Minnesota for so long. Along with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, the Celtics are back. But they've got Kobe in the way who's trying to prove that he can lead Showtime to a championship on his own. Compelling stuff.
Unfortunately the game doesn't start until 9 p.m. tonight. Makes this a little bit harder, but very rarely will I back down from a challenge that takes as little skill or talent as this.
So stop in from time to time. I'll be live blogging this game for as much as I possibly can. Until then I'll be pre-gaming, which basically means eating a frozen pizza and watching two hours of Pop-Up Video on VH1 Classic until tip-off. Good times.
9:37 The first quarter just ended after 12 years of introductions and what seemed like 1,945 stoppages. This is painful. Clockwork Orange bad. And the Journey to the Center of the Earth commercials aren't helping. Neither is the fact that my house is hotter than Balls. Deedum Deedum Dadada Dumdum.
9:42 I think Phil Jackson is drunk and Mike Tirico's announcing would actually make this game more interesting. I tried the "just watch the first quarter and try not to judge" approach but this is just bad. Now I'm not going to pretend I'm a huge basketball fan because I'm definitely not, but how Simmons writes 15,000 words on this snoozefest is beyond me.
9:50 After watching the NHL Playoffs religiously, it just really weirds me out that players and coaches put their hands all over the NBA trophy before the Finals even begin. Same thing with the Lombardi trophy when they interview the players for those black-and-white sentimental cut-in segments. Just strange.
9:53 The feed keeps cutting to black every few seconds. Way to go ABC. This is more annoying than trying to watch Game Four in HD at Jon's house with his faulty HD tuner from Wal*Mart (zinger).
9:58 Wish I would have seen what actually happened but the screen went black. Either I can't see what's going on because there are 14 million moving graphics or there's no picture at all. This...is not going well. If anyone wants to try to defend this game to a "first time" NBA viewer, I'm listening.
10:05 According to ABESPN's latest graphic, Kobe still wears #8.
10:11 The new Hulk movie looks seriously under-hyped and might actually be pretty good. Edward Norton in a nutshell.
10:17 Halftime! Thank Jeebus!
10:24 I wish I had a nickel for every time someone said the word "rivalry." Maybe I'd be able to buy a gallon of gas.
10:32 Maybe an ice cream sandwich will make this a more enjoyable experience.
10:35 Nope.
10:39 So Breen, van Gundy and Jackson talk and talk and talk before the second half gets underway and then as soon as the ball is inbounded, they cut to Tafoya for a sideline report? Does this make sense to anyone?
10:50 Apparently Paul Pierce is hurt and I guess they don't have stretchers or wheelchairs in Boston. Four guys just carried a 6'5'' guy (or whatever) off the court. Great advancements in medicine. Looks like more minutes for Rondo!
10:52 And now Perkins is limping. The C's are in trouble if neither come back this game. They're only down by three but things could get ugly fast if they don't keep their composure.
10:53 Ray Allen hits a big three. He won't quit. Still boatloads of time left.
10:55 Paul Pierce returns from the tunnel in dramatic fashion. Crowd is feeling it.
10:58 Tropic Thunder looks hilarious.
10:59 Pierce is back in and they're playing the Rocky theme. Nice touch.
10:07 Got caught on Facebook and reading Mirtle. Apparently Paul Pierce just hit back-to-back three pointers to give the Celtics a four point lead as the third quarter winds down. That's kind of exciting. And your story if Boston wins this game. "Beat LA" chants. I approve.
11:09 East Coast sports writers have got to be heated about making their deadlines. Half of them probably have their story shells written already. "Paul Pierce blah blah blah blah..."
11:19 Just found out that Hockey Night in Canada is most likely going to have a new theme song next year. More on this later.
11:21 There are still nine minutes left but Boston seems to be running away with this one. Finding open looks and making smart plays (like KG's back-court save). And ABESPN cuts to commercial by playing some Boston. I think their new lead singer used to be a plumber or something.
11:24 "Wipe Out" may be the stupidest new show ever. I'd rather watch MXC where they're trying to be funny instead of just pathetic.
11:25 I take that back. Nick Ex-Simpson is hosting the High School Musical version of "American Idol." Is America just getting dumber?
11:31 So I'm sitting here now wondering who would win in a fight: Hancock or The Hulk? Is there a What If Sports for superhero fights that I don't know about? Because now I'm curious. And yes I find this game that bad. I see the drama, I get the emotion, I'm just not feeling it. The game just doesn't have that "sudden death" aspect to it that I really enjoy. Seems like there's too many ways to get back into a game, which could be a good thing, but also makes for a painful game to watch.
11:34 For the record, I HATE the Cha-Cha Slide.
11:44 1:54 left. This is going to be the longest two minutes ever. I can feel it already.
11:46 Everybody loves a good slam dunk. KG delivers.
11:48 In four minutes we've played 53 seconds.
11:51 And just like that there's only 16.6 seconds left. That went by fast (not fast enough though...)
11:51 Annnnnd a commercial. Of course. Because we can't just play out 16.6 seconds or show a meaningful replay. You know, actually let the color guys demonstrate something for us. Jeez.
11:53 Lakers went 5-20 in the fourth quarter. Now there's a stat.
11:53 Celtics win. Pierce will have legendary status by morning. Whoop-de-doo.
11:54 And holy crap I made it. Time to celebrate.
Thanks, Red.
Night everyone!
I guess in Detroit they even let the homeless take the Cup out for a spin.
Wait, is that Chelios? Well, he contributed about as much as the street people, so...
by Ryan
"How many times have you heard someone say
If I had his money I'd do things my way?
But little they know
It's so hard to find
One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind."
Last year it was easy.
It was the matchup of the arch rival and the better team, and there was no question who deserved to win. This year it was all a bit different.
As Game Five was spiraling to a close in the third, I began to think about what I would put here. My mind was filled with mostly jealous thoughts. A crowd celebrating something they have already had this decade. Singing "Don't Stop Believing" seemed almost blasphemous in the eyes of a Sabres fan. It was just... unfair. It always seems that way, I suppose. However, Maxim Talbot cut that celebration short, and all of a sudden we had a few more days to think all this over.
Tonight I didn't think about it at all. Until it was over at least, and even then I didn't invest much thought until now. Somehow, deep down, I was convinced the Penguins would somehow pull it out. Even that very last shot, Crosby pulling off a backhand stronger than my forehand will ever be. It just seemed like it was going to happen against all odds, and I think that was what made it fun. 
The Red Wings deserved to win the Stanley Cup, it is just that simple. They are an outstanding defensive team with a great lineup top to bottom, complete with two solid goaltenders. They have the best management in the league, and I'm convinced their GM is a wizard of some sort. All that adds up to a dominating performance on the game's biggest stage, and you can't help but be impressed with how easy it all looked.
The CBC broadcast said something interesting about the Red Wings, something to the effect of "a franchise that measures success only on winning the Stanley Cup." It's a pretty silly statement, what team doesn't start with winning the Cup as the ultimate goal? However, after mulling it over it brought me to another interesting question: what brings a hockey player satisfaction?
It is the moral of that first quote, and something that always comes up when the season ends. We all know that fans have various expectations for a season, but most of them feel like this couple after tonight:
Today 29 fan bases are unsatisfied, as they should be. We all know what it feels like to sit in those seats, or maybe what it's like to run away from them like a felon leaving the scene of a crime. The losing always hurts, but with it comes the hope that one day we get to be like Red Wings fans, celebrating the long summer away.
However, what does it really mean to the players? In a game where so much is discussed; reputations, salaries, legacies, and no trade clauses. Hockey has become a game of UFAs and median payrolls right before our very eyes, and with it comes a new way to look at the game.
While some fans see the game for what it is aesthetically, others see cap figures and looming free agency. Starting today come the questions of where Brooks Orpik will end up. Where does Jagr go? Does Ryan Miller get signed this summer? So many questions will be answered during the long sunny days, but those inquiries are not for today.
Come July 1st, Marian Hossa will be a very rich man. He will sign a contract for a massive amount of money, much of that amount based on what he accomplished this postseason. 
Does he have a satisfied mind tonight?
No, and that's what makes the Stanley Cup special. In a game increasingly filled with numbers and revenue streams, at the end of the year there is a set of 30 or so names that go on a little strip of silver. That's it. That's all that matters. Money will come and go, reputations will fade in the minds of even those that care, but there is always going to be your name on that Cup. Forever.
It doesn't "Change Everything", it is everything, and that's why it matters.
by Ryan
When important things happen, it's always fun to see what pun the big networks decide on using for their headlines. The usual suspects...
The obligatory Swedish response. I expected better from the Canadian WWL.
Uh-oh. Looks like we have a winner.
Pretty sad when the Four Letter ends up being the unique one.
More on this tomorrow.
Red Wing for life, that's for sure.
And does anyone know why he was holding up "2" in the team photo instead of the obligatory "1?" Because it's his second Cup? Selfish jerk.
Or because he won all of two games this playoff? Team player.
Anyways, I'm willing to bet this one sure as hell wasn't as sweet as that one in 2002.
I sincerely hope Dom has a safe flight home to the Czech Republic where he will then promptly assault some guy in a roller hockey game.
Am I still bitter? Eh maybe just a little. Going to be a fun offseason...
Update:
Hasek clearly confirms his "douchebag athlete" tag with a hat well outside of the allowable area...
by Ryan
About 24 hours ago, the Stanley Cup Finals finally got its defining moment. 
In what was already a fantastic game, Maxim Talbot forced overtime with less than 30 seconds to play.
A building getting ready to explode was sent right back to the doldrums with two quick hacks at the left pad of Chris Osgood. It was as if they just announced GM was adding 30,000 new jobs in Michigan, then after the factories were built they moved everything to China.
It's something we've had the misfortune of witnessing in Buffalo, the chance at a Stanley Cup taken right off your doorstep. However, no matter what opinion you have of 1999, we've never been that close to winning it all.
More importantly, the overtime that followed was downright fantastic. Malone takes a shot in the face, Gonchar slamming into the end boards, Malkin wincing with every hit; it was a game that made the message on the shirts ring true: sacrifice. Then, just when you didn't think it would ever end, it happened. With Fleury standing on his head all night long, he finally got his chance to celebrate.
Petr Sykora called his shot, and the Stanley Cup is back in Pittsburgh.
If you are a partisan hockey fan at this juncture, you can't be upset about the results. Complain about officiating, complain about missed opportunities, do whatever you want.
(Note to Terry Frei: If you are going to complain, make sure your copy editors didn't just stop at Sunoco.)
Reasons to complain aside, this Cup Finals has lived up to the hype, at least as much as you possibly can when the league's brightest star and best team go head to head. No matter what happens Wednesday night, the league has already been given its signature moment, a story that hockey fans can tell for years.
Yes, ratings are up (We're back to 2002!) and who knows just how many people flicked over once they knew it was in sudden death overtime; but the important thing is that there is a buzz about hockey that just hasn't been there in some time.
Petr Sykora, one of the best free agent pickups of last summer, has given this year's playoffs something that they haven't had for some time: a story suddenly worth watching.
The NBA Finals don't start until Thursday. Tomorrow, hockey has its night to shine. Mellon Arena will be rocking, and NBC will be the place to be come 8pm. No matter what happens, there is an excitement suddenly injected into the Finals that hasn't been there since... who knows when?
It's a good time to be a hockey fan.
by Ryan
It's an interesting little story, and one that deserves exactly the word count it got.
"I don't really care. Let's talk about the Dodgers," the California native (Woods) said. "I don't think anybody really watches hockey anymore."
Ouch.
But the improved television ratings for this year's finals doesn't seem to match Woods' assessment.
by Ryan
Tonight seems to be only a formality. The Red Wings are just too good, and coming home to a great home crowd the team will put on its best performance and finish this series off. As great a season the Penguins have had, the West has been the better conference all along and they have proved such in the Finals.
However, accepting that you are an inferior team can have some positive effects in a head to head match up. When you know you are not better overall, you know what areas to focus on in order to squeak out wins. If you understand where you cannot match up you may actually have a better chance of winning because you know what parts of your game to push. It is a long shot at best, but when you are against the proverbial wall, you go all out.
Pittsburgh was successfully in Game Three when their forecheck caused turnovers, forcing the Wings to make mistakes. As great as Detroit is they are not perfect, and if you put enough effort in that up ice pressure there will be opportunities to capitalize on.
That capitalizing seems to be a problem, though. There are not enough goals from their big time players, and Malkin has looked askew all series. The Penguins were in Game Four the entire 60 minutes, but they missed chances to take back a lead. With nothing left to play for, it's possible those nerves disappear and hockey becomes easier for them.
Then again, the Penguins haven't seen this kind of adversity during the playoffs. Maybe tonight will be last gasp, a final sputter in a great effort from a group of kids. It may not be enough in the end, but all they have to do is get the series back to Pittsburgh. It may not happen, but that's all they have to think about tonight. Dallas got the job done in their Game Five, and they looked far worse than Pittsburgh did at this juncture.
However, if it doesn't happen for the kids, we get to see the coolest trophy in the world.
by Ryan
Marshawn Lynch has finally gotten into the swing of being an NFL player, becoming involved in his first criminal activity since he fibbed about those cookies he ate before dinner in 1991.
To be completely honest, I'm completely underwhelmed by the entire incident. This isn't cop punching, this is an investigation about someone getting slightly hurt outside of a bar at 3:30 AM. Ten bucks says she looked/sounded like a dolphin, which would make this even more okay.
Question is, what does a car driven by Marshawn Lynch look like? I really, really hope they release some footage of the "sport utility vehicle", but my expectations are nothing short of spectacular considering how well he treats his own grill.
However, it may never rival the straight up baller-ness that is Lawrence Maroney's Kool Aid Denali, complete with matching bling and construda case. 
One can only hope he comes close to that perfection really nice effort.
There are many that say the Red Wings have "that extra gear" that marks a truly great team. Tonight, Detroit showed us that they have that extra gear, as well as the ability to downshift with a lead. It was perfect hockey from an almost perfect team, and no matter what side you are rooting for you have to be impressed by the performance.
Is Monday out of reach for the Pens? Well... I'll get to that later. For now, here's Mark Cuban. 
Do with it what you will...
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