Shutdown Pair

Tag: NHL

  • Reserving Judgement

    Look, the Tim Kennedy thing is just as baffling to me as it is to you.  I want to hear what Darcy says (and doesn’t say) before I go off the deep end.  I may not do that no matter what, though, as at the end of the day he’s just one $1mil/year player that would be gone. *shrug*

  • What to Expect: Tyler Ennis

    The wheels for this one started turning when someone mentioned that an HFBoards post had Tyler Ennis on a list of guys to watch for the upcoming season’s Calder Trophy.  I honestly hadn’t even considered him a candidate, if only for the fact that I didn’t want to be greedy and win it two years in a row (video scouting FTW).  Looking at his numbers, though, you can’t discount the possibility.

    The shorter tower in the ‘Two Tylers’ (© Mike Grier) has ten NHL games under his belt, with 9 points (3G, 6A).  He was one of the best players in the playoffs as well, though unfortunately that was a small sample size also (1G, 3A in 6GP).  Ennis had 65 points in 69 games with the Sabres AHL affiliate Portland Pirates, including 9 PPG.  He could be an intriguing option to improve Buffalo’s mediocre powerplay.  Ennis has played C and LW, but barring a move of Timmy or Roy, will mostly likely stick with the Sabres as a winger.

    What are his downsides?  Well, Tyler is yet another smallish forward in the mold of Roy or Kennedy.  It remains to be seen if he can be healthy for a full NHL season, what with the rigors of getting elbowed ‘accidently’ by Chara.  Can he get around the bigger stronger faster NHL forwards and d-men?  If he can do it, I could see him picking up 20 goals and 35 assists, continuing to get the 15min a night he was getting against the Bruins in the playoffs.

  • What to Expect: Derek Roy

    Derek Roy led the team in points last year, had 26 goals with 10 on the powerplay, and managed only 2 assists in the playoffs.  He logs a lot of minutes (as a number one/two center should)).  So what will happen this year?  We’ll get more Cellino and Barnes, that’s for sure.

    Derek Roy is nothing if not consistently productive.  25-30 goals, 45 or so assists, solid power play contributor.  I’d have no problem predicting him to be right in that range again.  He’s been healthy, another plus as compared to Timmy.  Roy is the more tradeable of these two, with a $4mil cap hit to boot, but like I said for TC there really aren’t too many better options on the market so I wouldn’t hold my breath.

    A bit of a confession – I don’t hate Derek.  Since he’s cut down on the yapping and the diving, I’m perfectly fine with him being on the team.  It wouldn’t break my heart to see him and his fauxhawk somewhere else, but there darn well better be a 30 goal scorer returning.

  • What to Expect: Tim Connolly

    Now HERE we go.  The player everyone loves to hate, or at least strongly dislike.  He had 65 points in 73 games, with 17G and 48A.  7 PPG mixed in there, 18 minutes of ice time per game.  Not bad, really, just looking at the numbers from the outside.  But it’s all the other stuff that bothers you, isn’t it?  Pictures at bars…streaks of no scoring…injuries…whatever else you think of.  Fans are tired of not know what they get night in, night out.

    So what happens to Timmy this year?  Here are the options:

    1. He gets traded before the season– There are a few teams that need to add salary or at the very least could use a playmaking center.  Darcy’s theory is the trade market will heat up after more of the free agents find homes, and I think he may be right.
    2. He gets traded at the deadline – Tough to see this really happening, if you assume the Sabres are in contention.  At the same time, it happened to Campbell so you never know.
    3. He plays out the season – This won’t be a popular option, I’m guessing, but I’m thinking it’s a likely one.  It’s going to depend on whether or not GMDR can find another ‘top 20 center’ to take his place.  You know Darcy isn’t dumping Timmy if there’s no good replacement.
    4. He sneezes and his brain falls out his ear – Just saying, it could happen.

    What do I think happens?  My gut says he stays and plays out the season.  Next most likely is a pre-season trade.  As far as scoring?  If he stays healthy (!), you can pencil him in for 20G, 50A, but you are more likely to see 15G, 40A in an injury shortened season.

  • Kaleta Under Contract

    I had a really long, alliterative title thought up for this but I’ll spare you.  What’s important is Patrick Kaleta is back with the Sabres for 2 more years, at the very reasonable price of $1.815 million over those years.  When most folks were expecting $1.3 million +, that’s a deal.

    Darcy’s arbitration play worked like a charm, and Kaleta is thrilled to be back.  It’s a win-win, for once, for the Sabres.  Patty needs to stay healthier, if he does, he might up his goal total to the 15 goal range, which for what he plays a night is a huge contribution, along with the insane number of penalties he draws.  By the way, if you want to have some fun, check out the comments about Kaleta at TSN or some of the other national news outlets, you really get a sense of how hated (and as such, feared) he is.

  • 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.