Daily Links for Tuesday, July 6

by Andy Boron on Jul 6, 2010 6:00 AM EDT in Daily Links

Free agency is still going on, but does anyone out there still interest you? I mean seriously, not like a pipe dream?

NHLPA announces 31 players filed for salary arbitration - Pierre Lebrun('s Twitter)
Tim Kennedy was one of 31 players to file for arbitration yesterday.

Bettman's expansion plan worked - The Buffalo News
Bucky praises Bettman, and laments the Sabres letting two potentially helpful forwards get away in free agency.

Are Ilya Kovalchuk's contract demands self-sabotaging? - From The Rink
There weren't too many NHL teams willing to pay Ilya Kovalchuk what he wanted, and now one has dropped out of the running. A look at why Kovalchuk's contract demands are self-sabotaging his wish for more money.

Souray Clears Waivers - What's Next For Studley Wonderbomb? - The Copper & Blue
Lots of buzz about Sheldon Souray over the past few days. Interested?

Oilers seal deal with Taylor Hall - Edmonton Journal
With his signature freshly inked on his first NHL contract, Taylor Hall said the real work starts now.

More cockamamie clichés - THN
They're the lines many NHLers fall back on when they're at a loss for words, but the hockey world would be a better place if we struck the following six sayings from the language.

Will Stanley Cup and MJ keep LBJ in Cleveland? - Dangerous Hockey
Time for a little cross-sport love. Or hate - do you care at all about the whole LeBron sweepstakes?

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Announcement

I have officially signed a two-year contract with the Mike Weber bandwagon.

On the Mike Weber bandwagon.
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!

by Ubiquitous on Jul 6, 2010 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

If the Sabres are interested in Souray they would have claimed him on waivers, right?

Or would they want/need to dump salary back on the Oilers to acquire him?

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jul 6, 2010 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

They've got the room to do it without dumping salary.

I just don’t think they would have picked up his entire salary.

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on Jul 6, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know that the Oilers are going to expose him to re-entry waivers.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jul 6, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

i doubt they will, unless they are “persuaded” by another team, probably following a suspiciously lopsided trade.

On the Mike Weber bandwagon.
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!

by Ubiquitous on Jul 6, 2010 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

If Darcy wanted a 5.5 million dollar defensemen, he’d have signed Gonchar.

On the Mike Weber bandwagon.
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!

by Ubiquitous on Jul 6, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s why I wonder about dumping salary back to the Oilers, though I don’t know who would need dumpin’.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jul 6, 2010 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Guerin

I gotta say that I would love to have him on the team. Yes, I know he’s 40. Yes, I know he would probably rather get re-signed by the Penguins. But, he still has a scorer’s touch and more importantly is a real veteran influence on ice and in the dressing room (from what I have read). I think this is exactly the type of player that could really help this team.

"Slide DiMaggio, slide!" "Hey, my name isn't DiMaggio, my name is mm..mmmm...mmm....mud."

by cmat on Jul 6, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

him or Karyia. I wouldnt mind seeing Darcy targeting either one of those guys.

Old school Bills tattoo [ √ ] Old school Sabres tattoo [ √ ] ... see the avatar.
Lets Go Buffalo!!

by bflo on Jul 6, 2010 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

you have to think that if Pitt can’t fit him in the cap, and neither can another top-tier team, that he would be looking for the best 1-yr offer on a decent team he could find.

"Slide DiMaggio, slide!" "Hey, my name isn't DiMaggio, my name is mm..mmmm...mmm....mud."

by cmat on Jul 6, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

The Sabres are not fast enough now, it was part of their problem against Boston. Signing Guerin does nothing for that. Morevoer, I don’t think he can skate in Ruff’s system. It requires a certain level of fitness to pull off well. I’m more intrigued by the Zherdev rumor, frankly. If we’re keeping these center, having deadly skill and speed on the wings would open up space for them to work. The trick is getting Zherdev to sign onto a full 2-way game. If he’s willing to do that and the money/term are good, I say take the flyer. Trade Stafford + for Bieksa and a pick and start the season with that group and some kids.

Early reports from the Prospect camp have Brennan the dark horse to upside-surprise come training camp. That would be awesome, we need his shot.

You can then tweak the team mid-season if need be, as Regier will have the assets to move.

Ta,

by Tom Luongo on Jul 7, 2010 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I have to disagree. I think we have plenty of team speed. The Boston series was about determination and initiative. Boston got to more loose pucks not because they were faster, but because they wanted it more. They showed more jump, essentially. At least, that’s how I saw it.

"Slide DiMaggio, slide!" "Hey, my name isn't DiMaggio, my name is mm..mmmm...mmm....mud."

by cmat on Jul 7, 2010 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

We are an average team through the neutral zone. And every one of our forwards were caught from behind by Boston’s back-checkers. Team speed is not just about raw skating ability but how quick the transition happens. Leopold is a better first-passer than either Tallinder or Lydman.

They wanted it more can also be translated as ‘they were better skaters overall,’ especially in the neutral zone. The Sabres have centermen who like to score off the rush, but if they can’t rush the puck up ice b/c they are out-skating their wingers, then there is no rush. Our two best goal-scorers off the wing both have skating issues (Vanek and Pominville). Zherdev has no skating issues.

Ta,

by Tom Luongo on Jul 7, 2010 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

They wanted it more can also be translated as ‘they were better skaters overall,’ especially in the neutral zone.

It could also be translated as “they were bigger and stronger”. Does anyone really think Derek Roy, Jason Pominville or Tyler Ennis is going to win a battle against Johnny Boychuk or Zdeno Chara?

I’m tired of hearing about how Boston wanted it more. The Sabres had injuries and couldn’t find an answer to replace those players…they were out-coached in the series, plain and simple.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Jul 7, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

OK, you both make good points, particularly about our wingers. I’m not sure I agree with being out-coached, especially since you point out that we did have some injury issues. Had our power play had any life (perhaps you are referring to this as being out-coached), then the series takes a distinctive turn.

I was not aware of Pommers having skating issues…

There is no point in going backwards to a series, since that series is lost a myriad of ways. But going forward, while I can’t argue with your idea of Zherdev and what he would bring to the team, I still believe that what this team lacks the most is veteran leadership. Not a Captain, necessarily, but someone that holds everyone else accountable and has been leading by example for many years. It seems that the Sabres don’t really have much of an identity, at least one past Miller.

"Slide DiMaggio, slide!" "Hey, my name isn't DiMaggio, my name is mm..mmmm...mmm....mud."

by cmat on Jul 7, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions