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Brennan Is Florida Bound

March 15, 2013, 4:02 PM ET [686 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Updated 7:50pm EDT:

The Buffalo Sabres traded offensive defenseman TJ Brennan to the Florida Panthers. The Sabres will receive a 5th round pick in this year's NHL entry draft.


Brennan played for Panthers head coach, Kevin Dineen, at AHL Portland.

The Willingboro, NJ native was Buffalo 2nd round pick (31st overall) in the 2007 entry draft.

You would think that the NHLs 30th ranked PP could use a clapper like Brennan's at the point, rather than holding your breath every time winger Jason Pominville touched the puck at the PP point.

Brennan found it tough cracking the Buffalo starting six D corps this season. He would have needed to clear waivers to return to Rochester.

Brennan is a power play specialist, as he possesses one the deadliest point shots in pro hockey. The Sabres can't use PP help in a bad way??!!!

He played ten games, and fittingly, his one goal scored came on the power play.

Brennan will thrive in Florida while playing alongside the same guy he was drafted to eventually replace, Brian Campbell. Sabres fans will get a constant reminder of Brennan's competitive spirit when Florida joins Buffalo's division next season.









Now that Brennan is gone, the Sabres blue line looks like this:


Myers, Ehrhoff, Regehr, Sekera, Weber, Leopold, Pardy.


Will Regier be trading Leopold at or before the trade deadline?


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***Updated 4:55pm ****

Darcy Regier just addressed the Grigorenko roster move with media in a live presser.


Regier candidly described the decision to keep Grigo in Buffalo rather than send him back to The Q after training camp had ended in mid-January:

“It was an experiment. There certainly are benefits. He certainly has a very good understanding of what it takes to play in the National Hockey League going forward. I think it’s very important, and he agreed, that he spend as much time as possible here (in Buffalo) in the off season training, and, preparing for next season.”


**

Regier was complimentary of the youngster's growth and development track as he improves his overall game:

“We’ve been talking about this a while. This is an opportunity for him to keep growing and building on his experience here, building on the start in the Quebec League. He had a terrific World Junior tournament. He surprised all of us by being here for the length of time he has been here, and depending how far they go in the playoffs, he will be here after the season.”



***

Regier said that he has spoken with Quebec Remparts GM and head coach, Patrick Roy, about the decision to send the youngster back to his comfort zone in juniors:
“In the end, he’s got an opportunity to go back to Quebec, be the go-to guy, play 20 to 22 minutes. He’s got a terrific coach there in Patrick Roy. I’ve had a number of conversations with Patrick over the last few weeks and today again.””






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More reaction to come...



The Sabres have sent Mikhail Grigorenko back to juniors.

The kid scored his first NHL goal against the Maple Leafs, and also added three assists in 22 games played.

Quebec Remparts head coach Partrick Roy must be licking his chops right now. He gets his prized pupil back for the QMJHL stretch run and he will make the junior team and odds on favorite to make it all the way to the Memorial Cup finals.

The Remparts enter tonight's action in third place in their division with 85 points. Baie-Comeau and Rimouski are tied for the division lead with 89 points. One game remains in the regular season. Grigo will take the Remparts deep in the QMJHL playoffs. Mark my words.

Does this Grigorenko decision come as any surprise?

Not at all.

The kid was kept in Buffalo under the auspices that he would be able to contribute scoring to a team that desperately needs it. His uncanny skill set and vision seemed to tailor made for the Sabres top nine forward group. The season began with the kid earning between 10-11 minutes per night by then head coach Lindy Ruff. Ruff required that the kid work on his power skating and strength/conditioning. Grigo bought into Ruff's plan and was howing signs of improvement. Then, Grigo was a healthy scratch from the Winnipeg game, which proved to be Ruff's final game in Buffalo. Rolston immediately took over the team and immediately reduced Grigo's ice time to the 5-7 minute per game range.


This move fits perfectly into the mosaic of odd events that have happened to the Sabres this season. The firing of Lindy Ruff after a 16 year tenure in Buffalo. The re-signing of Jochen Hecht. Grigo as a healthy scratch, or worse yet, playing on Buffalo's fourth line with John Scott.

In order to get down to the 23 man roster and to activate Ville Leino to the active roster, Darcy Regier threw the kid under the zamboni.





More to come...
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