Daily Links for Tuesday, December 13

by Andy Boron on Dec 13, 2011 6:00 AM EST in Daily Links

Hey Mr. former Vezina winner, maybe it's time to steal a game or two, eh?

Buffalo is back in action tonight at home against Ottawa. They should be getting some reinforcements tonight in the form of Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta, and possibly Mike Weber, but will that be enough to stop Buffalo's blues at home?

Sabres continue homestand against Sens - Buffalo Sabres
Tuesday's matchup is the third of six meetings between these Northeast Division rivals, who square off two more times in December.

Sabres get healthier, set to get reinforcements - Sabres Edge
Defenseman Mike Weber and forwards Paul Gaustad and Patrick Kaleta participated fully in practice today. Coach Lindy Ruff said both forwards might play against Ottawa on Tuesday, while Weber told The News he is cleared to return.

The Curious Case Of Shaone Morrisonn - WGR 550
What happened to Shaone Morrisonn? Why is he buried in the minors?

RIVALRY WEEK STARTS TOMORROW - Buffalo Sabres
It’s only mid-December, but the Buffalo Sabres are about to begin as important a 10-day stretch of their schedule as they will face all season.

Stoking The Flames Of the Sabres/Senators Rivalry - BSN
"The Buffalo Sabres face off against the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night - the third game of the season against them. I feel that "hate" is sort of a strong word for a sporting event, but I think we have a pretty heated rivalry going and think it might be fun to stoke those flames a little more."

Kings fire Murray, name Stevens interim coach - NHL.com
The Los Angeles Kings fired coach Terry Murray on Monday, replacing him on an interim basis with assistant coach John Stevens.

No time frame for return after concussion symptoms - NHL.com
No timeframe for Sid return after concussion symptoms.

From elation to gloom – the NHL spirals into another abyss - The Globe and Mail
Crosby's fairy-tale return to action now a distant memory

Months after plane crash, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl reborn on ice - Puck Daddy
The flood of Year in Review materials is going to hit the hockey media shortly, which means the tragic tale of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl will be revisited: The plane crash that killed the team, the aftermath of the lives lost and the remembrances from around the world. Three months after the crash, another chapter has been added to that tale: The rebirth of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team.

Who are the most influential men in hockey business? - Puck Daddy
Sports Business Journal released its 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business list on Monday, and the NHL had an interesting influence on that list.

Silver Nuggets: Struggling Senators have a tough schedule this week - Silver Seven
The Ottawa Senators face a tough schedule this week with games against Buffalo, Boston and Pittsburgh.

Enforcer Role, Not Fighting Itself, The Real Problem In Hockey - SBNation.com
Fighting doesn't need to be eliminated from hockey, but the Gladiator show put on by the league's hired fists? Based on the evidence we have, there's no reason for that to continue any further.

Sports Business Journal released its 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business list on Monday, and the NHL had an interesting influence on that list.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hopefully the Sabres are able to move Morrisonn at some point. Now I feel bad for the guy and all, but this is strictly for business reasons. He’s an asset they can’t use for salary reasons. He’s not great, but he’s surely a third pairing guy for a team needing depth. Hopefully they can turn him into something useful. I always think the trade deadline is too late, but in this case, its perfect. The most you get will be a draft pick. The only other option is to move some other salary at some point so he can be called up for depth for the Sabres playoff push.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Dec 13, 2011 8:12 AM EST reply actions

I think for us to trade Morrisonn,

we would either need to trade him as an AHL’er, or have him enter re-entry waivers and then move him. Doing the latter would allow a team to claim him for half the salary he is being paid this season, while we cover the other half. While I agree that he is a 6th or 7th D on most teams in the NHL, the Sabres cannot afford to have ~$1 million of salary added to our salary cap in the case he is claimed on re-entry waivers. Therefore, our best bet with Morrisonn is to keep him in Rochester for the rest of the season and allow him to scour free agency on July 1st.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Dec 13, 2011 8:45 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t think you disagreed with anything I said….I said they either need to move salary and bring him up for a playoff push, or trade him…..I didn’t suggest bringing him up and sending him back down….

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Dec 13, 2011 9:43 AM EST up reply actions

I think you can forget getting anything for him at this point. And they can’t bring him up because of salary issues.
By the way, what a dick based on the interview. I don’t blame him for being unhappy, but make the best out of a bad situation. Look at Craig Rivet.
It’s only Karma, I guess. In a Caps video, he said that Buffalo was his least favorite place to play. So forgive me if I’m not shedding tears for Shaone Morrisonn.

by Philaster on Dec 13, 2011 9:49 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I bet they unload him for a low draft pick to a Western Conference team come deadline time.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Dec 13, 2011 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

I wasn’t disagreeing, I just think he will not be traded if he is in the AHL because the team he would be traded to would have to bring him through re-entry waivers. It would be similar to what happened to Nabokov last year, and how he ended up having his rights owned by the Islanders.

Skill wise, I think he is very similar to a lot of the younger players we have been bringing up over the course of this season. While he can play NHL hockey, I do not want to move salary to have him play up here if we can have the same kind of defense with a younger and cheaper player.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Dec 13, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

He would have to go on re-entry waivers after he is traded? Hmmm…didn’t know that. Well, there goes that plan.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Dec 13, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

Looks like Gragnani might be sitting tonight. McNabb and Weber in.

by Philaster on Dec 13, 2011 11:59 AM EST reply actions

Physical Defense Activate!

I want Weber to have a solid game tonight…maybe he could bring some more responsibility to our back end.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Dec 13, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

It better be for MAG...

I dont want McNabb coming out of this lineup, especially for Weber.

Zack Kass, the Bad Ass.

by bflo on Dec 13, 2011 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

Goose

I thought he was put on IR a couple days ago.

by Binthet on Dec 13, 2011 12:01 PM EST reply actions

I don’t think it was that serious an injury.

by Philaster on Dec 13, 2011 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

Thank you

for the Morrisonn link. I have been wondering for a long time now why he hasn’t been called up.

“In order to come back to Buffalo, the veteran defenseman would have to pass through re-entry waivers. If he were claimed, the Sabres would take a appx. $1 million hit; one they can not currently afford.”

I was not aware of the $1M cap hit if he were claimed on waivers, I figured that would have been a win-win if he were claimed by another NHL team.

by lassathrax on Dec 13, 2011 12:56 PM EST reply actions

Yeah....its a tricky thing

and its why people like Wade Redden stay in the minors. I personally think he can play NHL hockey, yet the Rangers will not trade him and his ~$6.4 mil yearly salary since they would owe him ~3.2 mil on his cap hit to play with another team if he is picked up in re-entry waivers. The only way he can get out of that contract is if he exits the deal (i.e. retires, or does not show up for games and quits). The Rangers would then not have to pay the remainder of his deal, and he can go play for any team he chooses. Then again, would you rather make league minimum (which is still at least half a mil.) and play NHL hockey, or make $6.4 mil and play AHL hockey? That would be a tough decision for me.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Dec 13, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

Personally, I’d go with the big money, play in the AHL (even though it probably sucks), and do my best to absolutely dominate in that league so that when my huge contract expires I can try to get another NHL gig (even at a discount).

by lassathrax on Dec 13, 2011 6:10 PM EST up reply actions