Daily Links for Tuesday, January 24

by Andy Boron on Jan 24, 2012 6:00 AM EST in Daily Links

After a few merciful days off, the Sabres will take the ice once again in New Jersey for what promises to be another thrilling tilt with the Devils. On the bright side, Christian Ehrhoff should return tonight, and has promised to tell a joke in the locker room. A whole mess of extra Sabres links after the break.

Struggling Sabres hope to snap road slide - NHL.com
Your official preview for tonight.

NO JOKE: THE HOFF IS BACK - Buffalo Sabres
Christian Ehrhoff has been out of the Sabres lineup for the past three weeks, and the team has gone 2-7-2 in his absence.

Sabres on road to nowhere - The Buffalo News
The Buffalo Sabres returned home late Saturday night but it was only a pit stop.

Derek Whitmore: In Between A Dream And A Dream Deferred - WGR 550
A very nice (and long) article by Matthew Collard that details Derek Whitmore's career and life in hockey.

More Sabres News:

Trading places - The Puck Stops here
As the trade market starts to take shape, who are some big names out there?

Pegula Entitled To Getting A Pass, For Now - KuklasKorner
Not even a year removed from Terry Pegula’s purchase of the Buffalo Sabres and the most ballyhooed press conference here since Jim Kelly rode a limo into town 25 years earlier, the honeymoon is just about over.

Recent Addition Should Equal Subtraction - swordplay
Is the All-Star break the perfect time to fire your GM?

The Only Way Out Is Through - The Willful Caboose
"We’re lost in the Swamp of Sadness, and all we can do is wade through the muck."

BLOGGER SUMMIT #2 - Buffalo Sabres
On January 11th, Sabres president Ted Black held his second summit with the blogging community of Western New York.

Around the NHL:

Capitals' Ovechkin suspended for three games - NHL.com
Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has been suspended for three games without pay for charging Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek.

NHL.com takes its shot at drafting the All-Stars - NHL.com
The All-Star Player Fantasy Draft isn't until Friday, but NHL.com couldn't wait, so here's one attempt at dividing up this year's pool of players. And guess who got picked last? Yup.

Kris Letang, Jordan Eberle, Nick Johnson Named 2012 NHL All-Star Game Replacements - SBNation.com
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle were added to the 2012 NHL All-Star roster on Monday (via NHL.com). Minnesota Wild forward Nick Johnson was also added to the group of rookies who will be competing in the All-Star Skills Competition.

Bruins MVP Tim Thomas skips Obama White House event; why he shouldn’t be demonized for it - Puck Daddy
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli confirmed that Thomas had told him months ago he would not attend the White House event due to his political and ideological differences with the Obama administration.

Admiring Thomas' stance - THN
The Bruins goalie will be chastised for his decision not to join his teammates at the White House, but he should be commended for being a conscientious dissenter.

Time has come for Maple Leafs to strike - The Globe and Mail
Making a trade before NHL deadline will be costly, but Toronto general manager must see its necessity.

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Comments

Tim Thomas

1. Moderators, feel free to delete this comment if you are concerned this will turn into a politics discussion, but I’m not trying to make this a politics discussion (and you did include several links, after all)

2. If the Sabres win the Cup and a player doesn’t attend the ceremony of whatever President is in office at the time b/c they disagree with them, I’ll be pissed.

3. A general issue in society is lack of respect for authority. What happened to lack of respect for the Office of the Presidency (no matter who holds the office)? I don’t know how much precedent there is for this, but whatever precedent there is, I disagree with doing it (no matter what party has the White House…have I made that clear enough?). You were invited to the White House with your TEAM. You just made it about you. Congratulations. If he was invited as an individual, that’s a different matter. This was an event that all Presidents hold for a variety of champions. Get over yourself Tim Thomas. There was nothing stopping you from attending the event and releasing the statement once the ceremony was over. Now, no one is talking about the Bruins being the defending champs, but instead are talking about Tim Thomas.

4. B/c I don’t intend to start a politics discussion, I probably won’t reply to any replies to this comment b/c I imagine the thoughts are all over the map.

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

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 24, 2012 8:08 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Yeah you pretty much summed up my thoughts in point #3. The thing that bothers me most is the ego involved. Any free-thinking American should have significant political/ideological differences with any president. I’d like to think that a person with some humility would be able to suck it up and enjoy this tradition with his team, it is part of their victory lap after all. Besides, when else are you going to get an opportunity to tell the President of the US how you feel in a respectful way? Thomas was one of my favorite non-Sabres but I lost some respect for him over this – not because of his views (all goalies are crazy) but because he’s apparently much more of an arrogant bastard than I thought.
Re: point #4 – you should have just said, “This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic.”

by Frank Reich Revolution on Jan 24, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions

A general issue in society is lack of respect for authority.

When the POTUS down through the local beat cop gets caught lying or other infractions (Vietnam War) it adds to distrust. There are many factors but those in authority are held to a higher standard. I lived through the 60s. So when LBJ made his campaign promise to get out of Vietnam completely and did the opposite, as well as many other things, Nixon lied, FBI director’s missteps, and so many other examples then it breeds lack of respect.

Someone does not want to go to the WH it upsets you. What if they did not want to go the the local parade or some other celebratory thing. It’s their choice. More power to them. Pro players get so many requests for appearances. They get to choose which events to attend.

My personal opinion is that the WH visits for sports champs should end. Instead invite people that deserve to be noticed more such as teacher-of the-year, someone that saved a car crash victim, etc.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Jan 24, 2012 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

This is how I feel. I’d go to the White House if it were me. I don’t begrudge Tim Thomas a whit for not going.
In our society, the President has always been just another citizen, albeit one who has the most power. First amongst equals. Lavishing any more respect than that due always leads to trouble. I think it would be cool to meet the President, but we enjoy freedom of association, and if Tim Thomas chooses not to meet the President, that is completely respectable to me.

by Philaster on Jan 24, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

To me the take away stupid quote in Thomas' statement was this:

This was not about politics or party,

How the hell is it not about politics or party? For one earlier in your statement you made a claim about the federal government and two, if you are declining to meat the President of the United States after he invites your whole team and your reason is not that you don’t like him as a person, it’s about politics and/or party.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place

by Ogre39666 on Jan 24, 2012 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

On a Sabres related note

Is the all-star break a good time to change a GM? Well, here’s the thing. If the Sabres get rid of Ruff or Regier in season, they have to assume the team can make a playoff push. If they don’t assume that, I think the offseason is the best time to find a replacement if they choose to go that route. The exception, in my opinion, is if they worry Regier will make moves that jeopardize the team long-term to try to save himself this season. Then, a move needs to be made.

Still, count me in the undecideds if Regier and Ruff should stay or go, but if it happens, I think the offseason might be the best time. I can’t decide if that’s b/c it’s what’s best or b/c I’m sentimental towards the two of them.

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

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 24, 2012 9:45 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Darcy strikes me as way too dedicated to process over results to pull some stupidly shortsighted shenanigans.

Plus it’s not like he’s a lame duck.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place

by Ogre39666 on Jan 24, 2012 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

I agree, but that’s the only reason I think changing a GM in season is a good idea. You will have a larger slate of candidates in the offseason.

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

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 24, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

One of my first thoughts when Pommers got named to the all star team was that he might get picked last. If it happens can we please all agree not to be all sensitive and defensive about it like the Leafs fans were last year? Dude gets a car after all, it’s not a big deal.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Jan 24, 2012 11:17 AM EST reply actions