It's all Kessel's fault...

This is predictable and you could see this one coming, the media in Toronto and Montreal are hard on their athletes. some might call them brutal and their fans have an entitlement mentality as well.

Just ask Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel, who is having a career year (37g-41a—78pts) and scoring almost a point per game and has a chance to score 40 goals yet this season but will be the focus of the fans ire. The last time the Toronto Maples Leafs made the Stanley Cup Playoffs was during the 2003-04 season.

Michael Traikos, National Post --- If Phil Kessel were to reach the 40-goal mark in a year in which the Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs, what would be the reaction?

Would you cheer? Would you boo? Would you even care?

It might be a tree-falls-in-the-forest type of question. Kessel, who set a career high by scoring his 37th goal in a 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, has been one of the NHL’s top offensive players this season. And yet it is difficult to celebrate his breakout year when you try and digest all that has gone wrong with the 14th-place team in the last two months.

Had Toronto made the playoffs — had they played their way to home-ice advantage, something that was not unthinkable not that long ago — Kessel might have received Hart Trophy consideration.

Related articles

• Carolina beats Toronto 3-0, eliminates Maple Leafs from playoff contention (thehockeynews.com)

Thomas Vanek with a good bounce

Check out this weird goal by former Gopher and current Buffalo Sabre Thomas Vanek. Talk about a gift goal, the Penguins attempt to clear the puck out of the zone, the puck bounces off a stanchion and right on the stick of Vanek who shots the puck past Brent Johnson.

You got to love Rick Generett  and his call of the Buffalo Sabre's goals. 

Drew Stafford's goalie not happy with the Gaustad trade

I couldn't resist... This story caught my eye. This story involves the teammate of Former Fighting Sioux forward Drew Stafford; apparently his all-world goalie Ryan Miller isn't happy with the team trading away Paul Gaustad. I have also noticed this season that Ryan Miller has become a bit of a complainer. Hockey is a business and sometimes teams trade players to get rid of salary or to better their teams.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Ryan Miller and Paul Gaustad are the closest of friends. They've been roomates. They've traveled through Europe together. They were teammates for a decade -- a run that ended Monday when the Sabres sent Gaustad to Nashville.

Miller is not happy with the transaction.

"It was a pretty tough day," Miller said today after practice in Anaheim Ice. "I’m not going to lie. I’m not real happy about the way it all turned out. But that’s the business of hockey.
"Like I’ve said, we don’t make those decisions. That’s more proof because if I had any more influence Paul would still be here. I appreciate the way he plays. He’s been one of my best friends for a long time there. Obviously, that’s going to continue, but it was nice to have him as a teammate and have those other intangibles."

Related articles

• GARTH: Miller Not Happy About Gaustad Trade (hockeybuzz.com)
• Hab's winning again... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Paul Gaustad Gets Worked by Milan Lucic in Revenge Fight (Video) (backyardsportsblog.com)

Trade Deadline: The Yawner 2012 (RW77)

NHL on the Fly's Trade Deadline Special was right when it said that the major news was the trade that didn't happen.

Rick Nash wasn't traded. He's the latest Joe Thornton, it appears. Apparently he was to be traded to the New York Rangers but the price was too high (which anyone could have told you that. Rick Nash IS the Blue Jackets. Without him, you basically have no team).

There were some intriguing trades though.

What do you all think of the Wild's trades? They acquire Steve Kampfer and Tom Gilbert for Greg Zanon and Nick Schultz. So, this probably means that Schultz and Zanon were UFAs after the season, right? Perhaps Gilbert and Kampfer were under contract a bit longer? Kampfer is alright and Gilbert is too, but this seems to be a lateral trade rather than an upgrade. They didn't even get any picks.

However, the BEST trade of the day was made by the Chicago Blackhawks. They got a 2012 5th round pick for boxer on skates John Scott. This is almost like (RIP, buddy) trading Boogaard for a 1st round pick. Chicago got WAY THE HELL MORE VALUE than Scott. Someone tell me that the Hawks wouldn't have settled for a 6th or 7th round pick or even a conditional 2013 5th rounder (with conditions that will obviously not be met) for Scott. It's almost like the Rangers GM was Glen Sather... oh wait. Ok, I get it now.

In the end, though, Chicago didn't get what they need: a goaltender, so they won't be there in the end. Detroit traded Commodore for another Dman who won't play.

In the end, believe it or not, the winner overall I think is Vancouver. Sure, they trade Hodgson away, but they got two good players in Kassian Sulzer, pick up Pahlsson and Gordon for depth. Win I say.

Buffalo comes in second.

Boston got this year's Mark Recchi in Brian "when I was a rookie, Crosby's parents were still in middle school" Rolston (which is younger than Mark "I played pond hockey with Moses" Recchi and Chris "I skated with Jesus Christ" Chelios... or perhaps Gordie "I was there when God told me he was having a kid with some chick in Bethlehem" Howe).

Former Sioux Mike Commodore and Brian Lee are now teammates with the Lightning.

Milan Lucic works Patrick Kaleta like a speed bag

Nothing makes me happier than watching Boston Bruins tough Milan Lucic guy work over a rat like Patrick Kaleta.

Kaleta is one of those players that thinks he is pretty tough when he is out on the taking runs at other teams skilled players. I am actually surprised that Kaleta fought a guy like Milan Lucic.



At the end of the night Kaleta catches the ire of Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid. McQuaid  decided he had seen enough of Kaleta's on ice antics and absolutely clobbers the Sabres rat in the head with a monstrous right hand.

Related articles

• Lucic, McQuaid Beatdowns On Kaleta Provide Only Highlights Of B's 6-0 Loss (boston.cbslocal.com)
• Ty Anderson: Sabres torch Rask & B's in 6-0 gongshow (hockeybuzz.com)
• Bruins Vs. Sabres Score Update: B's Robbed Of Goal, Down 2-0 Through One (boston.sbnation.com)
• Bruins looks less threatening after getting trounced by the underdogs (theglobeandmail.com)
• GARTH: Punch The Bully In The Mouth (hockeybuzz.com)

Hab's whining again...

Here is the latest dust up on the ice. This time the Montreal Canadians players are whining and complaining about something that the Buffalo Sabres forward Paul Gaustad said on the ice, and after further review, it would appear that Max Pacioretty said something stupid to Gaustad first and got a response and got a quick response back. In my opinion it sounds like Pacioretty got PWND in this case, and maybe he should just keep his mouth shut.

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Right after Pat Kaleta scored into the empty net Tuesday in Montreal to ice the game, he did his arm pumping goal celebration down the slot. Max Pacioretty took exception and started talking trash as he does all game. His target this time was Paul Gaustad. Pacioretty asked him “Where’s Lucic” with Gaustad countering “Where’s Chara” in reference to the hit Chara put on Pacioretty into the glass last year that started a near riot in the city of Montreal and almost ended his career.

Seriously, Pacioretty you ran your mouth to Buffalo's Gaustad and asked him where Lucic was and he smartly replied, there is no reason for the Hab's to get upset with Gaustad. I think it's fair game. Time to Habs to stop whining and start act like men.

Price described Gaustad as a “guy who likes to run his mouth” and the Buffalo player reportedly asked Pacioretty: “Where’s Chara?” That was a reference to Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara’s hit that ended Pacioretty’s season last spring. [Montreal Gazette]

Me personally, I have never been a fan of talking smack on the ice and chirping your opponent, it happens a lot in Football and Hockey and there are times when some of it's funny and other times where players say thing to each other that isn't needed and unnecessary. As a player if you say stupid to your opponent you open yourself up for return smack.

Related articles

• Gaustad fuels 3-goal rally as Sabres halt Habs (sports.espn.go.com)
• Gaustad sends Sabres to 3-1 win over Canadiens (newsok.com)
• Gaustad sends Sabres to 3-1 win over Canadiens (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Gaustad Sends Sabres to 3-1 Win Over Canadiens (nytimes.com)

Where are they now Joe Finley...

Image via WikipediaHere is a nice article talking about former Fighting Sioux defenseman Joe Finley and his journey this season as Finley finally is healthy and made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres a few weeks ago.

Dan Peters, AHL On The Beat ---- When Joe Finley came into training camp this season with the Rochester Americans on a try-out basis, he was simply attempting to earn an American Hockey League contract.

Plagued by injuries in the first two years of his professional career, the 24-year-old Finley had suited up for just eight AHL contests with the Hershey Bears over that span, while also appearing in 43 games in the ECHL.

After playing four years at the University of North Dakota, Finley suffered a forearm injury early in 2009-10 which ended his season, and followed that up with a knee injury last season, prompting him to be out of commission for three months.

Selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, the 6-foot-8, 260-pound blueliner chose to battle it out and earn a contract with the Buffalo Sabres organization rather than go to a different team, where he may have been given a contract immediately.

Gaustad crushes Liles

You want to get off of the track when the train is coming. Check out Buffalo's Sabres forward Paul Gaustad as he absolutely blows up Toronto defenseman John-Michael Liles during tonight's game.This is a text book example of a league body check.

Related articles

• Kadri scores first of season as Leafs beat Sabres 3-2 (thestar.com)
• Milan Lucic and Paul Gaustad Fight Video: Watch Sabres Stand Up for Goalie (bleacherreport.com)
• Fight night in Buffalo: Just who could challenge Milan Lucic? (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Bruins Rewind: Week In Review (Part Two) (insidehockey.com)

Habs spared the wrath of Lucic, Lucic suspended for one game

After watching the NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan and his ruling today I have come to the conclusion that there is no consistency in his ruling. Milan Lucic was suspended today for boarding Flyer goon Zac Rinaldo. Rinaldo didn't even think the hit deserved a penalty on the play.
Lucic drew a five-minute major and game misconduct, yet Rinaldo doesn’t feel that was warranted.

“It’s hockey, you hit and go into the boards, I don’t think it was dirty at all,” Rinaldo said. “Shoulder-to-shoulder and just momentum. He’s big guy, maybe double my weight. His momentum carried him into the boards awkwardly. I don’t think it was dirty at all.”

He added: “Should–to-shoulder, that’s fine, that’s cool. I don’t mind it at all.”

Then why, after a scrum developed, did Rinaldo leave the pile trading punches with Nathan Horton?

“I don’t know, I got up and he was first one in front of my face,” Rinaldo said. “I knew I was Lucic [who hit me].” [CSNPhilly]

After watching the NHL fail to suspend Dion Phaneuf's for his hit on Zach Kassian, which was more egregious in my opinion, you would have thought that Lucic would get off without a suspension. So go forward, the fans have no clue what is going to get a players suspended and what is not.

Related articles

• Milan Lucic hit on Zac RInaldo (mvn.com)
• Will Lucic be suspended? (mvn.com)

Dion Phaneuf not suspened for hit on Zach Kassian

The NHL decided not to suspend Dion Phaneuf for this hit on Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Kassian. Going forward I am surprised that Phaneuf wasn't given at least a game suspension. I think this is the type of hit that the league has to take out of the game hockey, this is a dangerous unnecessary hit. 

Drew Stafford gets his 6th of the year.

That's four points in five game former Fighting Sioux and current Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford, after scoring (31g-21a—52pts) last season, Stafford has had what one might classify as a down season scoring (6g-10a—16pts). The Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4.

Dion Phaneuf plants Zack Kassian into the boards.

Toronto Maples Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf was given a five minute major and a game misconduct as he planted the Sabres forward Zack Kassian into the boards. Kassian went to the locker room and received some stitches.

All season long we have heard how fighting is ruining the game of hockey and is a major cause of all of these concussions and head injuries, but I am more concerned about these kind of hits. Some one is going to get maimed getting slammed head long into the boards. The players have got to learn that you can't smash you opponent head first into the boards.

Tootoo suspended two game by the NHL.

I had a feeling that Jordin Tootoo would be suspended by the NHL for his hit on the Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. I believe that the National Hockey League had to make an example out of Jordin Tootoo. This also gave Brendan Shanahan and the NHL Department of Player Safety a way to save face as well for failing suspending Milan Lucic for running over Ryan Miller in a game earlier this season. Incidentally, this was also the first game back for Ryan Miller after being injured on the hit by Milan Lucic.

Can you imagine the outcry from the Buffalo Sabres camp if Predators forward Jordin Tootoo had not been suspended by the NHL? The league had to suspend Tootoo or they would be giving off the impression that goalies in the NHL are fair game and that a player can run over a goalie if they feel compelled to do so.

NEW YORK -- Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo has been suspended, without pay, for two games for charging Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller during NHL Game #379 Saturday night, Dec. 3, in Nashville, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.


Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Tootoo will forfeit $13,513.52. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.


The incident occurred at 15:54 of the second period. Tootoo was assessed a major penalty for charging and game misconduct on the play.


Tootoo will miss games tonight vs. Phoenix and Dec. 8 at Columbus. He will be eligible to return Dec. 10 vs. Anaheim.

Jordin Tootoo runs over Ryan Miller.

First off I have no idea what Jordin Tootoo is trying to do in this instance, compare and contrast this with the Lucic incident, Miller is in the blue paint and Lucic ran into Miller going for a puck. In Tootoo's case he simply left his feet and ran over Miller, you can not just run over the the goalie like Tootoo did. I think Jordin Tootoo is going to be getting a suspension from the NHL for this move.

I guess since no one from the Sabres initially responded to Milan Lucic running over Ryan Miller I guess other players around the league think that it's O.K. to run over Ryan Miller and other goalies around the NHL over. This time the Buffalo Sabres responded the correct way to Tootoo's knuckle headed move.

Related articles

• Tootoo runs Miller in return from concussion (thestar.com)
• A Wild Melee Broke Out Last Night When An NHL Player Absolutely Obliterated A Goalie (businessinsider.com)
• Adam Has Goal, Assist as Sabres Top Predators 3-2 (nytimes.com)
• Adam picks up Sabres in Miller's 1st game back (sports.espn.go.com)

Sabres sign Finley to multi-year deal

Former Fighting Sioux defenseman Joe Finley has been signed by the Buffalo Sabres. If you have lost track of Joe Finley, this is the first year since leaving college that big Joe has been remotely healthy. If you go to Joe Finley Hockey fights page you will see that Joe has been wracking up the fights as well since leaving college. Sounds like Finley is doing what ever it takes to help his team win games.

TheAHL.COM --- Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that the team has signed defenseman Joe Finley to a multi-year contract.

The 6-foot-8, 260-pound Finley has two points (1g, 1a) and a plus-10 rating in 18 games played with the the Rochester Americans and leads the team with 57 penalty minutes. Finley, 24, is in his third professional season out of the University of North Dakota and has totaled one goal, two assists and 79 PIM in 26 career AHL games with Rochester and Hershey.

The Edina, Minn., native was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round (27th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

He was signed to an AHL contract by the Rochester Americans on Oct. 4, 2011.

Related articles

• Injury-riddled Buffalo Sabres recall top prospect Zack Kassian from AHL (thehockeynews.com)
• Banged-up Sabres sending three back to AHL (espn.go.com)
• Sabres pummel Caps with Youth (insidehockey.com)
• Rolston lifts Isles to 2-1 win over Sabres (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• NHL Free Agency 2011: Buffalo Sabres Re-Sign Sekera and Ellis (bleacherreport.com)

Zdeno Chara vs Robyn Regehr

This is probably the under card for tonight's game between the Boston Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins captain Zdeno Chara fights Robyn Regehr after a scrum behind the Boston Bruins net. I am going to score the win in Chara's favor as well.

Milan Lucic works Paul Gaustad

Someone on the Buffalo Sabres roster had to challenge Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic for his hit on Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, enter Sabres forward Paul Gaustad who was the designated punching bag for the Sabres as Lucic worked the smaller Gaustad pretty good in my opinion.

So how long are the Sabres going to whine about the Lucic hit.

We should have called the Lucic hit on Miller shot heard round the world. Every since Milan Lucic ran into or over Ryan Miller ("potato potato" right) the hockey pundits are gnashing their teeth over what should've happened to Milan Lucic.   

Now you can expect the next player that has a major collision with a goalie to get the book thrown at them. While I am not suggesting that we run goalies; collisions between players and goalies are going to happen, one might say that it goes with the territory, being a goalie is hazardous duty. I might even call it collateral damage. 

If a goaltenders comes that far out of their crease to play a puck, their stepping into the kitchen, to borrow a football term. I think Miller is in a way part culpable for his injury. Does it make things right, not at all, there is going to be some hurt feelings, you can count on it. I think the rematch of this game is going to be a must see and there will be a lot of DVR set just in case something happens and there will, because the "hockey code" demands it.

Dan Rosen - NHL.com --- Buffalo GM Darcy Regier suggested that a majority of the general managers have told him that Lucic should have been suspended.

"Well, based on our conversations in the room, I personally believe it would be," Regier said. "It is not just my feeling, it is the feelings of my counterparts."

Shero suggested that at the very least a major penalty could have been called on Lucic.

Rule 42.3 on charging allows for a major penalty to be called at the discretion of the official "based on the degree of violence of the check." There is a similar stipulation associated with Rule 69.2 on interference with a goalkeeper.

Shanahan confirmed to NHL.com that he did have a discussion with the League's Director of Officiating, Terry Gregson. The conclusion was that a major penalty may have been an appropriate call in that case, but again it is up to the discretion of the on-ice officials.

Right on cue you could have predicted the response. Post decision from Shanahan, all of the arm chair disciplinarians wanted blood and when they got none they went off. Much to their dismay, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan failed to give a suspension or even a fine to Milan Lucic. They felt like they had been cheated, they wanted their pound of flesh. Almost on cue, you could hear the howling from Montreal, Buffalo and points elsewhere. The Big Bad Bruins had beaten the wrap again.

Then the tin foil hats came out and suggested as long as Greg Campbell is a member of the Boston Bruins nothing is going to happen to any of the Bruins players. They claim its because Colin Campbell is part of the front office stat. I am not lying, I saw something along those line from a beat writer of a major metro newspaper say that. 

Today we see Ryan Miller still rehashing the non-punishment with the media. My question is, how long are the Sabres and Ryan Miller going to complain about this. They would be better off to challenge Lucic to a fight and be done with it. Now they have this hanging over their head. Think about this, with one collision the Lucic and the Boston Bruins are in the Sabres heads.