Monday Updates: More Injuries For Buffalo As Team Waits For Ruling On Tootoo

by Andy Boron on Dec 5, 2011 6:18 PM EST

It's the Monday after a weekend back-to-back series, and you know what that means: a few more Sabres have joined the ranks of the walking wounded.

Paul Gaustad and Jochen Hecht didn't survive the weekend, with both players suffering upper body injuries - Goose in the scrum with Jordin Tootoo and Hecht on the last shift of the game on Saturday. Gaustad's timetable for return is uncertain at this point, but Jokin' Jochen (nobody calls him that) could be back for the game against Philadelphia on Wednesday.

On a more positive note, Jordan Leopold was skating today (but isn't fully ready to play) and Cody McCormick underwent post-concussion testing today, and he could be ready to go as early as Wednesday. Nathan Gerbe went straight to the interwebs to update his status, and he should be back on Wednesday even though his face looks a little different - check out the picture he Tweeted out here (be warned, it is slightly gross).

In other news, Jordin Tootoo was expected to talk with NHL discipline czar Brenden Shanahan over the phone today about his "accident" with Ryan Miller, though as of this writing the outcome of that conversation had not been made public. Here's what Lindy Ruff was hoping for, courtesy of The Buffalo News:

"I understand with a phone hearing the max you’re going to get is [a five-game suspension]. In my eyes, is that a big message? It’s OK. I look at the NFL and I look at the Detroit Lion [Ndamukong Suh] that got two games for a 6-inch kick. He got kicked out of the game, and then that amounted to one-eighth of our season. That’s a 10-game suspension. I think they do it right. The message there is we’re not putting up with this stuff. I think we need a strong message. Is five strong enough? I don’t know."

We'll have an update for you later tonight if the decision comes in. Until then, continue praying to whatever forest gods you choose to get them to stop Buffalo's injury curse.

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I so photoshoping a eye patch onto that picture of gerbe

by Bosswally on Dec 5, 2011 9:34 PM EST reply actions

That one-eighth of a season suspension is definitely an interesting way of looking at it. A ten-game suspension in the NHL would be almost unprecedented, and I think Shanahan doesn’t have the cojones to do it. Someone would almost have to be killed for a ten-game suspension to be levied in this league.

Smile.. tomorrow will be worse.

by Calvin on Dec 6, 2011 7:24 AM EST reply actions

Well, I hope you guys are happy. What BS that Shanny says in his vid that Tootoo was both doing the things I said: trying to score on the play and minimize contact by jumping over Miller. Oh, but the jump has the “opposite effect”. Whatever. So, by trying to avoid contact in a split-second – he gets punished for making a bad choice. OK, then.

by DonBorvio on Dec 6, 2011 2:40 PM EST reply actions

Yes, you punish the action, not the intent. That is the way things should be. That is why everyone is pissed about Lucic, because his actions were illegal but he got off easy by claiming that he didn’t mean to do it over the phone.

Tootoo is responsible for making a decision that will reduce the risk of injury for Miller. He made the wrong decision, so he gets supplemental discipline. It’s only 2 games, so it’s not overkill. Seems fair to me.

by lassathrax on Dec 6, 2011 3:22 PM EST up reply actions

For comparison, if I am trying to turn into a parking lot and I miss and run over a pedestrian standing on the sidewalk, it doesn’t matter what I was trying to do, it matters what I did. I would be punished for manslaughter (unintentional killing). It would be less of a sentence than a premeditated or intentional murder, but still a punishment. That is what is happening here.

by lassathrax on Dec 6, 2011 3:24 PM EST up reply actions