The Sabres are back in action tomorrow, so feel free to whet your whistle here with some tasty links. After the break, more FNC renovation pics, realignment talk, and some hilarity from our California hockey blog.
THE NEED FOR SPEED – Buffalo Sabres
Lindy Ruff is still waiting for the “old Roy” to return; a schedule for the third jerseys.
Sabres Roy Not Quite 100 Percent – WGR 550
Paul Hamilton speaks with Lindy Ruff and Derek Roy about the forward’s return to hockey and playing alongside Nathan Gerbe.
Sabres’ homegrown core takes the lead – Tonawanda News
A nice article from Bill Hoppe about the new (yet old) team leadership.
Vanek kicks it up a notch – The Buffalo News
Luke Adam started smiling immediately. Of course he recalled the play that created his first goal of the season. How could he not? It was a world-class sequence by Thomas Vanek.
Sabres News:
Sabres New Facilities – WGR 550
A photo gallery of the new Sabres facilities at the FNC.
Columbus, Invading Powers and Your Buffalo Sabres – Dear God Why Us Sports
A wild recap of the opening weekend for Buffalo.
Lindy Ruff: the Most Powerful Man in Hockey Heaven, Finally – BSN
Ruff wields the ultimate power of the modern era coach: he can put anyone’s butt in the pressbox for any game, any time he wants. And the players know it.
Buffalo Sabres defensemen Christian Ehrhoff, Tyler Myers, Marc-Andre Gragnani poised for big numbers – ESPN
Victoria Matiash has her top 75 defensemen rankings and also looks at the potential rise of the Sabres’ defensemen. A fantasy hockey article, but I don’t think anyone will complain.
Around The NHL:
MCKENZIE: REALIGNMENT IGNITES PASSIONATE DEBATE – TSN
Bob McKenzie goes deep on the issue of realignment. Like, really, really deep.
Top 10: Untradeable contracts – THN
This week’s Top 10 list ranks the contracts you’re not likely to see traded ever.
Horton looking to pick it up after slow start – NECN
Can Tyler Seguin moving up to the first line help get Nathan Horton going?
Will Canadians tolerate Don Cherry’s attack on their own? – Puck Daddy
What’s surprising about Cherry’s most recent controversy is that, this time around, it feels as though the Canadian majority is opposed to him.
Winning, not limelight, is what drives Columbus’ Rick Nash – ESPN
The word superstar hasn’t been tossed in Rick Nash’s direction too much lately. It may simply be a product of where he plays. But winning, not the limelight, is what ultimately drives the Columbus captain.
Nugent-Hopkins, Hall a contrast of styles – The Globe and Mail
Oilers‘ top draft picks are as different as can be.
NHL: The Movie! – Battle of California
Casting the NHL franchises with Hollywood’s most prominent actors.