Daily Links for Friday, Jan 15

by Andy Boron on Jan 15, 2010 10:07 AM EST in Daily Links Comment 4 comments

Happy Friday everyone! Although they didn't play their best game, Buffalo escapes with a win thanks to Patrick Kaleta's tenacity, Ryan Miller (and Tyler Myers') quick feet and Derek Roy's cannon blast. Buffalo visits the Islanders on Saturday for their second road trip game.

Rubber meets the road for Sabres - The Buffalo News
Although this article was written before last night's game, it has some good quotes and facts from the team about the road trip.

Quinn's state of the Sabres - WGR 550
Larry Quinn talks to Schopp and the Bulldog about how badly he and Mr. Golisano want to win a Cup, adding a piece at the deadline, and changes for next season (finally, road games in HD - 2007 says thx)

Northeast: Warning: Lucic is back, very cranky - NHL.com
This isn't totally about the Sabres, but the middle section of this article has Connolly talking about staying healthy and being an Olympic snub.

San Jose Sharks with eight Olympic players face playoff test - SI
While this article is mostly about San Jose and their 8 Olympians, it brings up some good points about Patrick Roy and the '98 Avs getting burned out in their playoff run - could the same things happen to Miller?

Brophy: Kovalchuk, Ovechkin to KHL? - sportsnet.ca
Could the lure of $20 million a season cause Ilya Kovalchuk to leave the NHL and return home to play in the KHL? And could Alexander Ovechkin follow? Probably not, but then again it was a slow news day for sportsnet.

David Backes taking on Team Canada . . . in the ring, not the rink - STLtoday
Real Americn Hero David Backes is trying to fight every member of Team Canada before the Olympics (not really, but there has been kind of a freaky trend)

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San Jose and their 8 Olympians

Thats alot of players to have in the Olympics… and with their history of early exits thats not a good sign for Sharks fans.

Kovalchuk, Ovechkin to KHL?

I could honestly see Kovy go over there this summer. He never really got that “next level superstar” label like other Russians like Ovechkin and Malkin got. He could go back to Russia and be that leagues #1 star, hands down, plus he would definitely get the money he is said to be looking for.
As for Ovi… I dont think he would go to the KHL. Hes go the contract and money that Kovy wants already and is tied (Crosby) for the biggest star in the league. Plus I like watching Ovechkin, even tho hes had his run-ins with the Sabres, he is still a fun player to watch. I usually find myself watching MSG or VS games that include the Caps, when Buffalo isnt on, just to watch him.

"Be a wuss at home! Be a man on Rumblings!" - Kurupt

by bflo on Jan 15, 2010 10:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If AO went to the KHL...

…I think you’d see the NHL take legal action. The league has a massive amount of money invested in him in terms of marketing and product placement, not to mention the substantial attendance turnaround of the worst sports big market in the US that his presence has helped make. The league needs a return on that investment and they will go to any length to do it.

The NHL will not bother going to court of Kovalchuk jumps. They will if Ovechkin does.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Jan 15, 2010 4:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Ovie will go, if only because I feel like he’s the kind of guy who loves competing against the best and getting all the attention that goes with it. That’s my flimsy reasoning anyway.

by Andy Boron on Jan 15, 2010 4:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

About the Olympics

I commented recently on another blog that I’m more – maybe even much more – concerned with the regular players than Miller.

With Miller, you have a known quantity (or rather, quality). Sure he’s played at an even higher level this season than the last 4. But the only worry I have with him is fatigue. With the rest? Whether they play in the Olympics or not (and playing might be worse than not), you have to worry about changes in their commitment to the system that has (so far) served them (Miller included) very well.

Besides, if you look at the chart in the SJ article, you should have very little concern. 2006 – 5 players made it, conference finals. 2002 – 3 players made it, DNQ. 1998 – 4 players made it, conference finals.

By my advance powers of logical deduction – and screw the small sample size! – I say we lucked out this year because we didn’t have LESS THAN 4 players make the Olympics. [unjinx]Conference finals, here we come![/unjinx]

by dfderie on Jan 15, 2010 5:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs