Shutdown Pair

Tag: Hockey

  • Tim Conboy

    You know, I was listening to WGR on the way in to work today, and I was momentarily floored…were they really asking about our favorite Tim Connolly memory? Did we find a sucker to trade for him? But no, it was Tim Conboy, most famous (to us at any rate) for letting a 5’5″ player goad him into attacking from behind.  Anyway, Conboy is on a two-way contract so will stay in Portland unless there is a rash of injuries.  Would be interesting to see how interactions between him and Gerbe would go.

  • What to Expect: Ryan Miller

    What can we expect next season for Ryan Miller?  He’s coming off his best year so far, with a 2.22 GAA, .929 SP, 5 shutouts, an Olympic silver medal, the Vezina trophy, and a super-hot girlfriend.  There are some causes for concern, no question.

    First thing to look at is that the D in front of Ryan will be quite different.  Gone are Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder, in is Jordan Leopold (and most likely Mike Weber).  Definitely a few wild-cards there, barring additional signings or trades.  Tyler Myers has to mesh with a new partner and continue to progress.

    Secondly, the workload comes into play.  Since Patrick Lalime is back as the backup (with some potential spot starts for Jhonas Enroth), you can rest assured Ryan sees 65-70 games again barring injury.  Really feels like a non-issue to me now as Miller had a tighter schedule last season and did well.

    Why there is hope:  Miller’s game is about positioning, knowledge of the game and quickness.  All of which he’ll still have.  His even-keeled attitude is exactly what is needed for long term success.  For numbers, I’m thinking GAA in the 2.35 range, .920 SP.  43 wins.

  • Derek Whitmore and a Whole Bunch of Crickets

    Derek Whitmore (RFA) signed a 1-year deal with the Sabres, keeping him with the Portland Pirates this year.  He was a solid contributor there, scoring 18 times last season.

    Beyond that, it’s quiet all throughout the league.  A few development camps are keeping the beat writers busy, but everyone is waiting for Kovalchuk to find his way to a team.  The teams in the hunt for Kovy aren’t signing or trading anyone until they know they need to, but once he signs there will be a chain reaction.  There are a few teams that NEED salary to reach the floor, so either they will overpay the lackluster free agents that are out there, or they will have to trade for some big money players.  Just wish it would happen now, and give us something to write about.

  • Get to know Rob Niedermayer

    The Buffalo Sabres came out of nowhere and signed Rob Niedermayer to a 1 year deal today.  It’s worth $1.15 million.  He is, of course, the brother of somewhat retired D-man Scott Niedermayer.  They won the cup together in Anaheim a few years back.  Rob (short for Robin, thanks Heather) is 35, and has played 16 seasons in the NHL.  Here is the first video you find of him if you search ‘Rob Niedermayer fight’ on Youtube:

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_ercXsAwIU[/youtube]

    Nice.  He’s had a 20 goal season, but is more likely to get you 10-15.  As a center, he was second best on the Devils last year in faceoffs.  He’s billed at 6’2″ and 210 pounds, and plays like he knows it.  This video of Rob being interviewed by Lindsay Soto is popular, not sure why:

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgGSq3CTgZo[/youtube]

    Anyway, he most likely fits in as a checking line center with Grier on one wing, with the other one possibly in flux.  Ennis, Kennedy or someone else.  Moves could happen, people!

  • Curious about Kaleta

    Much has been written about the importance of Patrick Kaleta to the Sabres, often including some classic cliches about straws stirring drinks or what not.  There have even been statistical analysis comparing Kaleta to Ilya Kovalchuk, quite favorably.  So hearing that the Sabres have taken Kaleta to salary arbitration has made some folks nervous.  Here’s why I wouldn’t worry.

    Firstly, it means Kaleta should be back with the Sabres.  Either they sign him before his hearing (which happens quite a bit) or he’ll get the deal from the arbiter.  Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, Patty cannot be signed to any offer sheets.  This move keeps the other GMs in the league out of the fray, especially the ones with bigtime cap room and a need for grit.  It’s a reduction in the variables involved in the contract equation, which is always a good thing.

    Worst case scenario I suppose is this getting to arbitration…but I don’t think Darcy Regier is exactly Glen Sather in there.  I don’t think Kaleta will come out in tears.

  • McCormick Back; All is Quiet

    As most of you know, the Buffalo Sabres signed Cody McCormick to a one year (one way!) deal, basically to replace Adam Mair as 4th line center.  He came up from Portland in the playoffs to inject some energy, and indeed he did, getting 2 assists and 14 PIM.  He had 168 PIM with the Pirates.  Hopefully he can bring that as an every day player.

    Happy 4th everybody!

  • Get to know Jordan Leopold

    Meet your new defenseman, Jordan Leopold.  He is a 29 year old former 2nd round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks.  You may know him best as being on the Calgary team that went to the Cup finals the year before the lockout, which was his best year for point production (33).  He bounced around a bit after that, going to Colorado for parts of three seasons, going back to Calgary, then splitting last year between Florida and Pittsburgh.  He had a solid season last year, with a career high in goals (11) between the two teams.

    As pointed out by Mike Harrington over at the Buffalo News, Leopold’s playoff numbers are not awe-inspiring – 15 points, all of them assists, in 54 games, with 10 of those during that 03-04 flames run (26 games).  He got squeezed a bit in ice time, averaging 4 min less per game with Pittsburgh for instance this year.  He led the Flames in ice time in the playoffs last year, however, so that’s no excuse.  He is more of puck-mover than a big hitter, though he is big enough that it should be part of his game, so that’s a knock against him.  Still, he can play a lot of minutes and is young enough that he could get slightly better.

    I know a lot of you are thinking 3 years, $3 million per is a bit high, but it doesn’t really bother me.  Yes, it’s the same deal that Lydman signed, but Leopold is 3 years younger, and they should be prime years.  If Jordan can notch 8-10 goals, nailing down the second pairing and second PP unit, $3 million is just right.  A solid, Darcy Regier-type pick.  I hope it works out.  Hit the jump for a few videos of Leopold: (more…)

  • July 1 – Another Disappointment Day?

    The draft was basically a dud as far as trades went, the Sabres made an early exit from the playoffs…are we set up for more disappointment today?  We’ve gone over (and over and over) how Buffalo hasn’t been making splashy moves, likes their ‘core’, whatever, but we fans look forward to this day anyway.  We love the idea of new players, or moreso current players being gone it seems like.  Will the Sabres be participating?  The rumor-mongers like to say we’re ‘in’ on all of the big names (other than Kovalchuk), but do we believe that?  Only when we see it.  That’s the Buffalo way.

  • RFA Target – Mason Raymond

    I said I would try and start some rumors, so here you guy – if the Sabres can’t or won’t be able to afford Bobby Ryan, let’s go after Mason Raymond.  He’s been steadily progressing and improving, notching 25 goals last year as a left wing, though his scouting report shows he can play either wing.  Raymond was qualified at $708,000, but will command more than that.  The rub is he is arbritration eligible.  The way I’m reading things, his rights could be traded now, but if he opts for and accepts the offer from arbitration, he can’t be traded.

    As for his play, I try to watch the late game on HNIC whenever it’s the Canucks or Flames as both teams have players I like.  I thought Raymond was a very solid player for Vancouver, and would look good opposite Vanek, especially since he’s a good playmaker as well as scorer.

    While I doubt anything happens to bring Raymond here (or anywhere other than Vancouver) it’s not impossible, as the Canucks are up against it a bit.  They have just under $10 million in cap space, 8 forwards under contract not counting several they need to make RFA decisions about (Tanner Glass, Jannik Hansen for example).  Just something I’m throwing out there.

  • The Hard Truth

    What’s the hard truth?  The power play most likely won’t be fixed in free agency.  At best, this team gets lucky with a signing or trade, strikes on a castoff from another team that maybe will blossom here (sort of like bringing in Briere) and help.  But that’s difficult in the best of times.  I hate to come off too much like Lindy Ruff, but it’s the system that will bring success.  The problem is, the power play system has sucked for a few years, possibly due to the loss of Scott Arniel as assistant coach.  I’m not sure how much better it can get this year, without more of a coaching focus on it.

    So does that mean GMDR should close up shop?  Nah.  If there’s a good value, even if it’s trading our Stafford for what amounts to their Stafford (or signing someone like Patrick O’Sullivan), do it.  For the Sabres advance past the first round of the playoffs next year, it’s going to take team play, chemistry and good coaching.  We know they have the last thing (even with some of Lindy’s quirks), which helps with the first, but that middle item is key.