The NFL draft is (finally) almost here. Let’s talk about it today. Who will the Bills draft? Who may get traded? I’ll share with you information I’ve gathered from recent discussions.
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for April 2010
Video: Gaustad equally to blame on GW goal
Everybody points the finger at Tim Kennedy for causing the go-ahead and eventual game winning goal by Boston’s Patrick Bergeron Monday night to put the Sabres in a 2-1 hole.
You are only partially right.
Yes, Kennedy did get knocked off the puck by 42-year old Mark Recchi, which led to the winning goal. But he’s far from the only Sabres on the ice who didn’t do his job. Check out the YouTube clip of the play.
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Soft Sabres Better Change Mindset.. Quickly
Let’s not beat around the bush; the Buffalo Sabres are in a world of trouble. Sure, even after losing Monday night in Boston 2-1, they only trail the Bruins by a game (2-1) in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. If they can win one of two in Boston and hold serve at home they’ll be on their way to the second round.
But I know, you know and anyone who’s been watching knows that injuries and a rapidly growing hesitance to match Boston’s physicality have this series on the verge of implosion. Simply put, Buffalo is taking numerous punches to the mouth without returning unfriendly fire nearly enough.
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Former Bison Davis Has Memorable Mets Debut
When he woke up on Tuesday morning, now former Buffalo Bisons first basemen was getting prepared to head to Coca Cola field in downtown Buffalo to play an afternoon matinee against the Scranton W/B Yankees. Little did he know when he got out of bed that his life was about to change in the way every prospect dreams of.
Originally penciled into the Bisons lineup Tuesday, Davis found just an hour or so before the game that he was being called up by the Bisons parent club New York Mets. And not only was he being called to the show for the first time, he wasn’t going there to be the last man on the bench. He was going there to play.
“We didn’t bring him up here not to play every day,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya told New York reporters Tuesday afternoon.
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Bisons Fall 7-2 to Yanks
For the second time in a week, R.A. Dickey spun his knuckleball with great success at Coca-Cola Field. This time, however, it wasn’t enough.
Dickey allowed just two runs in eight innings but the Yankees exploded late in a 7-2 victory over the Herd on Monday afternoon. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre scored one off the Bisons’ starter in the eighth inning and five off the Buffalo bullpen in the ninth to seal the victory.
Coming off a complete game victory in the team’s Home Opener, Dickey retired 16 of 17 batters in the middle of another solid outing. The righty kept Yankees’ hitters off balance by mixing in his up-tempo knuckler with a fastball on both sides of the plate. It wasn’t until the eighth inning the Yanks got the run they needed for victory.
LIVE BLOG: Sabres vs Bruins @ 7pm
The Buffalo Sabres travel to Boston tonight to take on the Bruins in game three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Drew Stafford is in the lineup tonight in place of injured Thomas Vanek. Can the Sabres gut out a victory in this increasingly dirty physical series? Join us at 7pm and discuss the game as it happens live.
Portland Looks To Get First Playoff Win Tonight
The theme from the Portland Pirates after practice this morning at Portland Ice Arena is they need to simplify their game, and get more pucks on Monarchs’ goalie Jonathan Bernier.
The Pirates head to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester tonight for Game 3 of their Atlantic Division semifinal down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series against the Monarchs knowing they need to start scoring if they want to see another game at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
More importantly they need to start scoring at even strength.
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Miller named finalist for Vezina Trophy
To the surprise of no one who follows hockey, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller has been named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the league’s best goaltender, the league has announced.
Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) and Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix) are the other two finalists.
Miller finished second in the league in goals against average (2.22) and save percentage (.929), which were also both career-bests. He also set a franchise high with 41 wins in goal.
Brodeur led the NHL in games played (76), shutouts (9) and wins (45). He was third in the league with a 2.24 goals against average.
Bryzgalov was third in wins (42), second in shutouts (8) and sixth in GAA (2.29).
If Miller wins the Vezina he’d be the fifth Sabre to capture the honor. Dominik Hasek won it three times while Tom Barrasso won it as a rookie in 1983-84. Don Edwards and Bob Suave split the Vezina in 1979-80 when the award was given to the team that allowed that fewest goals in a season.
Miller is considered the favorite to win though league sentiment can certainly fall to Brodeuer’s side.
Mets to call up Ike Davis
I’m told the Buffalo Bisons will lose Ike Davis, who will be called up to the parent club New York Mets today.
Davis has hit .364 for the Bisons through their first 10 games this season, including a pair of home runs and four RBI to go with a team-high nine walks.
No word yet on who the Mets will be sending down to Buffalo in exchange. Davis has never had an at bat in the major leagues.
The Bisons are taking on Scranton at 1pm today in the final of a four-game series. Buffalo won the first two contests while the Yankees came back for a win on Sunday.
Buffalo Bills: Five Biggest Questions To Be Answered
After what seems like an eternity of never-ending speculation, the time has finally arrived when the Buffalo Bills future begins to come in focus. By this time next week we’ll know a lot more about which direction the team is headed and what kind of general manager Buddy Nix is looking to be.
Will he be the commander that ultimately rights a sinking ship or does he fall down the bumbling draft weekend path his predecessors Marv Levy and Tom Donahoe are infamous for?
The reality is despite his admission that he’ll never be accused of being the smartest man in the room, we know precious little in regards to Nix’s team building skills as the man in charge.
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Milsher Floor & Roller Hockey Leagues Kicking Off Soon
For those looking for your summertime floor or roller hockey fix, you’re in luck.
MilSher Hockey is now accepting registration for teams and players in both their summer floor and hockey leagues. The summer season begins May 24 and features roller hockey on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Floor hockey leagues run on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
There’s also a Sunday roller hockey league that begins play in early June.
Owner Tom Mangione tells me that are price breaks for teams that play in two or more leagues and there’s also a second-shift league for guys that work late during the week.
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An Open Letter to Paul Gaustad
Dear Paul Gaustad,
Come home Goose, we miss you. At least, we miss the guy Darcy Regier thought was worth four years at $2.5 million dollars. Remember when you won every meaningful faceoff on one of the most effective energy lines in hockey? That time you fed Tim Jackman for falling on Ryan Miller? Fighting Dion Phaneuf after he tried to goon it up with Clarke MacArthur? When you ran over Dennis Wideman and tried to fight Zdeno Chara? Playing like an absolute beast after the team was called out for being too soft last season? When fans thought you were in line for the captaincy?
Buffalo fighter to be featured on ESPN Boxing
In a press release by ESPN, it was announced that 21-year old Buffalo featherweight Guillermo Sanchez will fight against Dominic Salcido (17-2, 9 knockouts) in a televised edition of “Friday Night Fights” on May 14 at Buffalo Bill’s Star Arena in Primm, Nevada.
The eight-round fight will be the first on the ESPN telecast, which begins at 10p.m.
Sanchez is currently on a medical suspension following an accidental head butt suffered against Carlos Laudio on March 26 that left a cut near his left eye. Since the referee determined the head butt was accidental the fight was called a draw because it was stopped before the end of the fifth round.
Sanchez, 21- years old (11-0-1) was born in Puerto Rico but moved to Buffalo around seven years ago. This will be his first fight near the Las Vegas area.
Salcido will be far and away the toughest opponent Sanchez has faced.
Report: Vanek doubtful for Monday, but should return
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports that Buffalo Sabres winger Thomas Vanek is “highly doubtful” to able to play Monday night in Boston, but is expected to return sometime during the series.
Vanek injured his ankle Saturday afternoon when falling into the boards after he was slashed by Bruins defensemen Johnny Boychuk. According to Harrington, tests revealed no broken bones or major structural damage.
I’m sore obviously from what happened there,” Vanek told the media following practice Sunday morning. ”Overall, it could be worse. It sucks but it’s better than it could be. Nothing is broken.”
Head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that Drew Stafford is undergoing tests today and if cleared he could take his spot in the lineup on Monday night for game three. If he can’t go, the team will use a call up from Portland, probably Mark Mancari.
Luke Adam impresses in first pro game
For about two weeks after the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles were eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs in late March, Buffalo Sabres prospect Luke Adam was hangin’ loose away from the ice. Before he could get too comfortable though, the Sabres and Portland Pirates came calling. Adam now finds himself thrust into the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs for his first taste of professional hockey.
“For sure (the two weeks off) gave me a good rest period,” said Adam after the Pirates’ 3-1 loss to the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday night in Game Two of the Atlantic Division Semifinals. “Once I got here I’ve been on the ice, doing steady conditioning and weight training, and (tonight) I felt good out there.”
“I was a little nervous going into the game, but the guys who have been here all season made it a lot easier on me. They’ve shown a lot of support the whole week helping me out.”
Gee Dominates Yanks Again, 2-0
Dillon Gee owns the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Six days after tossing six shutout innings against the IL North division rival, the 23-year old did one better. Gee put up seven zeroes and allowed just three hits as the Bisons shutout the Yankees, 2-0, Saturday evening from Coca-Cola Field.
After missing the final 98 games of the 2009 season, Gee debuted in 2010 on Sunday afternoon in Northeast Pennsylvania and allowed just two hits in six shutout frames. Nothing changed when the scene shifted to Downtown Buffalo.
Video: Boychuk’s intent to injure (twice)
In case you happened to miss it, Thomas Vanek suffered a “lower body injury” Saturday afternoon against the Boston Bruins as a result of a vicious slash from goon Bruins defensemen Johnny Boychuk. While it hasn’t been revealed if Vanek hurt his knee on the slash or ankle as Boychuk fell on top of him along the boards, the Sabres are in big trouble if Vanek doesn’t return before Monday night.
The league should take a long look at this video because it’s clear as day what Boychuk’s intention was against the Sabres star forward. To make matters worse, take a look at the clip 17 seconds in. Even after the penalty, Boychuk took another wild swipe with his stick at Derek Roy (he came closer to hitting his teammate though). The stick was more than a foot off the ground; no way he was playing the puck.
Filthy—just filthy.
Bandits blow opportunity in Orlando
The Buffalo Bandits fell to the Orlando Titans in a devastatig 9-7 loss at the Amway Arena.
All-Star forward Mark Steenhuis opened the scoring on the power play to earn his 500th career point. Assisted by John Tavares and Mike Accursi, the goal marked just one of many power play goals that would follow.
Exactly four minutes later, Darryl Gibson found Kevin Dostie who added another tally to extend the Bandits lead to 2-1 at the end of the first quarter.
Bruins drop Vanek, Sabres to even series 1-1
Whether they’ve played their best or worst hockey this season, there’s been one constant from the Buffalo Sabres; take a lead into the locker room after two periods and you can go ahead and tally a notch in the win column. Including Thursday night’s playoff quarterfinal opener, the Sabres were 31-0 when beginning the third period ahead on the scoreboard.
The streak came to an end Saturday afternoon at the most inopportune time.
Hated enemy Zdeno Chara and Michael Ryder each scored within a two minute span early in the third period, turning a one goal deficit into a lead. They went on to defeat the Sabres, 5-3 to even their best of seven series at a game apiece.
Both finished with a pair of goals.
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Tech pipeline could be a draft factor for Bills
New Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey’s last stint as a head coach at any level occurred at Georgia Tech, where he headed up the Yellow Jackets program from 2002 through 2007. It’s fairly common knowledge at this point that upon his hiring in Buffalo, he tapped into the coaching tree he cultivated at Tech rather heavily, bringing in four assistants that worked with him at Tech (along with several other coaches he spent time with in other locations).
Curtis Modkins was Gailey’s running backs coach at Tech; he is now the Bills’ figurehead offensive coordinator and running backs coach. Joe D’Alessandris holds the same job in Buffalo that he did at Tech (offensive line coach). Giff Smith coached the defensive line and headed up the recruiting effort at Tech, and he’ll coach the D-Line here, as well. Eric Ciano headed up Gailey’s strength and conditioning program at Tech; now he’s splitting those duties down the middle with John Gamble in Buffalo.
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Gerbe returned to Portland, Roy misses practice
Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today that forward Nathan Gerbe has been returned to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.
Gerbe had three points (1+2) in eight games with Buffalo after being recalled on March 28. In two recalls this season, Gerbe had five points (2+3) in 10 games. Gerbe returns to Portland where he finished the season fourth in team scoring with 38 points (11+27) in 44 games.
Portland opens their best-of-seven Calder Cup Playoff Division Semifinal at home tonight against the Manchester Monarchs. Game time is 7 p.m.
Meanwhile Derek Roy was absent from today’s morning practice and Tim Kennedy centered a line with Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford. No word yet on why Roy was absent or if Stafford will return to the lineup Saturday afternoon for game two of the playoffs.
BSD 2010 NFL Mock Draft (41 Picks)
Before beginning I should make something abundantly clear; I am not a fan of mock drafts. Sure, they’re entertaining to put together at the time and guaranteed to spark endless debate, but in general when you look back years from now the only thing that gets mocked is the person who pieced it all together.
The other day I took a look back at 2006 when I was a featured blogger for FoxSports.com. On March 2 of that year I compiled a three round mock and found some of these “gems” I wrote at the time.
Maybe T.O. should ditch Twitter
After trading Santonio Holmes this past week on the heels of getting fed up with multiple off field issues, the Pittsburgh Steelers very likely are looking to fill a hole at the wide receiver position. Given that he’s currently unemployed, Terrell Owens seemed to be a potential match after the NFL draft next week if the Steelers fail to land an adequate player to replace Holmes.
That’s pretty much out the window now.
Rarely one to mince his feelings, Owens took to his twitter Friday morning to publicly question the Steelers organization, namely comparing Holmes to recently embattled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Montador earning Ruff’s confidence
He’s perhaps the most unheralded defensemen on his Buffalo Sabres squad, but head coach Lindy Ruff regards Steve Montador as an important part of the team. So much in fact, that in Buffalo’s opening game victory over Boston in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoffs, Montador was on the ice for 24:18, a mere six seconds less than team leader Toni Lydman.
“He’s been a rock for us back there all year long,” teammate Jason Pominville said following the grueling 2-1 victory Thursday night. “He’s not the flashiest player in the world but he’s tough as nails, smart and he gets the job done for us. He’s become a big part of our success with his play and headiness.”
Not much was made in early July 2009 when Montador signed a two-year, $3.1 million deal with the Sabres, but more and more he’s showed everyone that he’s a valuable part of the organization. His 5 goals and 18 assists during the regular season will hardly blow you away, but players like Montador don’t… or at least shouldn’t get judged by statistics.
TCU’s Hughes a sleeper for Bills at No. 9
The Buffalo Bills are making an attempt at a new direction under new GM Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey. But not everything has changed; Tom Modrak remains the chief scout of the club, and fundamentally, Nix, Gailey and Modrak look for many of the same qualities in football players that Dick Jauron and the previous regime did. Under the direction of Nix, the Bills will still place a heavy emphasis on experience, production and level of competition along with the usual scouting staples, talent and potential.
That’s why TCU pass rusher Jerry Hughes needs to be a more frequently-mentioned possibility for the Bills on draft day.
Hughes is one of the most underrated natural athletes available at any position this year, as the 6′2″, 255-pound senior is smooth and fluid in space (despite playing end in college), has a terrific first step, and has enough speed and agility to play end, outside linebacker or even inside linebacker at the NFL level. Scouts have fallen in love with him as an athlete, and his production isn’t a problem, either – Hughes recorded 26.5 sacks and 36 tackles for a loss in two seasons as a starter, despite lacking a wide arsenal of pass rush moves.
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