Shutdown Pair

Tag: Paul Gaustad

  • Goose-Eggs

    I was going to create a photoshop involving Gaustad and laying eggs, but I think you all will fill in the visual much better than I could.

    Back to back genuine shut-outs for Ryan Miller, that dude is back.  He didn’t have to do much against Columbus who lost their focus pretty early, but Miller was great in out-dueling Brian Elliott in shutting out the Senators.  They’ll need this tomorrow and the rest of the week as well, as a visit to Boston is followed by home games against San Jose and Pittsburgh.

    This note also of interest from Bruce “Malkin to the Kings” Garrioch:

    The Sabres are looking to move veteran D Craig Rivet. He has been a healthy scratch six times this season and is the club’s captain. Making $3.5 million, Rivet is going to be a tough sell.

    It makes sense, but like Bruce says, not many teams need a $3.5 million defenseman who isn’t cracking the roster on the (current) 11th team in the East.

  • Gameday 2010-2011 – Canadiens at Sabres

    Another day, another chance at a home win.  It won’t be any easier than beating Boston, however, as Miller may not play, and it’s the same crew of lackadaisical scrubs giving pucks away like candy on Halloween.  I still feel they can stand in with any team in the league, but I won’t expect it until I see it more than once.

    I don’t want them to feel any undue pressure, but another start like last game that ends in a bad loss could be what triggers the proverbial bomb getting set off in that locker room.  And I don’t know if I’d really be against it.  Yes, I’ve acknowledged that the panic button is in the room, and might’ve even flipped the up the protective plastic cover.  I bet if I update my ‘untouchable players‘ list, it’s going to be really short.

    You know what, let’s do that now…currently untouchable (and I don’t mean because they are injured or suck):

    • Ryan  Miller.  Duh.
    • Tyler Myers.  Yes, giveaways, but he’s had some bad luck too.  He’ll come around.
    • Uh, Derek Roy?  He’s probably been the most consistent forward so far.
    • Thomas Vanek.  He’ll score.  Needs help though.

    Goose is off the list.  At one time, he seemed to be developing a bit of leadership, but I haven’t seen it at all this year.  Faceoff prowess isn’t enough to keep you on a team.

    Interesting to think of Kaleta, who other Sabres bloggers wanted on the list.  I haven’t noticed him making much of a difference.  I want him on the list, but there’s nobody else doing enough for me to put them on there.

  • A Pound of Flesh

    In the aftermath of last night’s horrible scene, I wonder:  where do you stand on on-ice vengeance?  There are several levels it can get to, where do you stop looking for blood?

    1. Immediately after the play.  In this case Connolly was on the ice and went after Hjalmarsson.  Not too satisfying to most fans, as a skilled player giving the offender what amounts to a hug with some face slaps isn’t what they want.  Stafford, at least, did a solid job on Neil after the Drury hit.  Goose, too, after that Ovechkin hit on Briere a few years ago.
    2. The rest of the game.  If you have any sort of tough guy on the roster, this one’s going to happen – a fight with someone on the offending team.  Not all that satisfying last night, as Hjalmarsson was kicked out and couldn’t take his lumps, which leads to…
    3. The next game.  Buffalo travels to Chicago on Saturday, which (barring a Stanley Cup Finals matchup) is the last time they’ll see each other this year.  There are two games in between, so if the disciplinary decision comes down today, and it’s 0-2 games of suspension, Hjalmarsson could get targeted then.  These fights are usually a letdown, though, if the offender is not normally a fighter.  Somebody swinging wildly at him, while he covers up and ‘fires back’ a few times to make it look good.

    That’s your choices, really.  The only thing that can complicate them is a rivalry, which is tough to build up with a team from the other conference.  How far do you want your vengeance to go?

  • Congratulations to Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers!

    The title says it all, congratulations to Ryan Miller for winning his first Vezina trophy, along with the NHL Foundation award for his charity work.  Both well-deserved honors, and I’m very happy for him.  I’m also happy that some of the out-of-town media got to hear him give a speech, as he got a lot of praise for being thoughtful and articulate.  It’s cool that we get to hear him all the time.

    Tyler Myers took home some hardware of his own, taking the Calder trophy in a landslide.  He had 94 first place votes, and the next closest was Jimmy Howard with 24.  I’ve been banging the Tyler Myers for Calder drum since he made the team, so it’s pretty satisfying to see him up there towering over everyone with the trophy.  Sweet.

    One thing that’s always interesting is to check the voting numbers for the various awards, which you can see here.  Of note:

    • Miller was 4th for the Hart, with 13 1st place votes.
    • Tyler Myers got 6 5th place votes for the Norris trophy.
    • Jochen Hecht had a 3rd place vote and 4 5th place votes for the Selke.  Grier, Connolly and Gaustad also got votes.
    • Lindy Ruff had 2 2nd place and 7 3rd place votes for the Jack Adams.

    All in all, an impressive showing for our boys, and you can’t help but feel the future is bright for this team.  Here’s hoping for more Calder candidates, and oh yeah, a Stanley Cup in there somewhere would work.

  • The Untouchables

    Looking at the Sabres roster as it stands right now, before free agent signings, I’m trying to figure out who is ‘Untouchable’.  Who will not be traded no matter the offer (even if it’s 10 first-round picks)?  The list is short:

    • Ryan Miller – A great goalie, and the one true international star we have, thanks to the Olympics.
    • Tyler Myers – Barring something insane happening next year with his production, he’s the one guy I’d sign to one of thos ridiculous 8+ year deals.
    • Thomas Vanek – Our one true goal scorer, on a big contract.  Don’t know about you, but I’m keeping the 40+ goal guy (with a good center ice guy)
    • Paul Gaustad – Future captain, faceoff ninja, fan favorite. 

    There are a few others that are in that category by default (rookies on their ELC, just-signed Mike Grier) but that’s really it.  Seems like there should be more than that.  I can think of 4+ forwards alone on many teams.  I wonder if other teams view their rosters the way I do, though.  I know the Pensblog boys have been having fun with all the ‘Trade Malkin!’ articles that popped up after their playoff ouster.  I can think of a bunch of guys I’d keep if I were Pittsburgh, just not sure they’d agree.

    If you have any others that fit in there for Buffalo, let me know.