Adam Pardy knows the ropes. You pass the same people on the way down as you meet on the way up.
When Sabres training camp broke, the team waived Pardy to AHL Rochester. He cleared waivers and immediately dug into his tool box in search of the solution to get himself noticed by Darcy Regier. He pulled on his boots and started moving masses of humanity with his broad shoulders. By doing so, he earned the respect and admiration of Amerks coach Ron Rolston. Word Pardy's robust style quickly spread to Regier. Round about the same time Tyler Myers and Jordan Leopold started their struggles, Reggie Sekera and Robyn Regehr were felled by injuries.
Motivated by a weekend that saw his team give up 10 goals (while scoring only 4), Regier made the call to Rochester to summon him back to the NHL.
Pardy was shipped to Rochester because it was originally thought that the blue line depth of Buffalo's roster would be its strong suit this season. There were nine NHL ready D-man in camp, with only six jobs available. My how things have changed for the worse in the past two weeks. Myers and Leopold are presently -14 combined in nine games played. The disruptive duo ranks at the bottom of the NHL +/- rankings. Regehr was so-so before he sustained a high ankle sprain. Sekera was adequate before he was knocked out of the Montreal game after blocking a shot in the first period. In the past two games, Ehrhoff and Sulzer have been found guilty of making soft plays in their own end that led to scoring chances against Ryan Miller. Were it not for Weber and Brennan, things would be down right dreadful right now.
On Monday morning, Lindy Ruff held and optional skate. Christian Ehrhoff, Marcus Foligno, Cody Hodgson, Steve Ott and Jason Pominville did not participate. After the skate, Ruff said that its possible that two of the missing men would be "doubtful" to play in Ottawa.
Was Ehrhoff injured in the 4-3 loss to Florida? If so, Ruff will be losing his thoroughbred horse at the worst possible time. Ehrhoff skated 23:21 of TOI vs. Montreal, while he skated 26:17, 24:18, and 28:28 versus Montreal, Boston, and Toronto, respectively.
Pardy (6'4", 226 lbs) will join the Sabres for the first time this season after recording three points (1+2) and a plus-3 rating in five AHL games with the Americans.
The Bonavista, Newfoundland native was acquired from the Dallas Stars with forward Steve Ott on July 2. In four NHL seasons, Pardy has recorded 29 points (4+25) and 157 penalty minutes in 183 games with the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars.
Pardy. like Weber, can do himself a huge favor by playing a simple, physical brand of hockey. At this point in this tumultuous season, simplicity is a good thing.
Thanks, sabres.com
Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester D and C reports that Pardy is exempt from waivers again for 9 games or 30 days. He can be sent back to the Amerks from the Sabres in that time frame.
Props to Thomas Vanek. He's been named NHL Player Of The Week for the week of 1/26/13.
On Friday, the NHL named Vanek their third star for the month of January.
This guy is on fire!
Vanek begins the third full week of the NHL season on top of the League scoring race with 19 points -- 10 of them in Buffalo's four games last week.
Vanek will be the first to tell you big deal, individual honors don't mean much when the team is losing.
He scored a goal and assietd on two others in th e4-3 loss to Florida on Super Bowl Sunday. He scored on a sick lob-wedge over Carey price in the 6-1 loss in Montreal on Saturday. The five point (3G, 2A) explosion in Boston last Thursday night was his second five-point game this season.
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