Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Vanek Missing Pommer

April 3, 2013, 6:24 PM ET [702 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Thomas Vanek told Mike Russo of the Star Tribune that he is already missing his linemate and great friend, Jason Pominville.

"We all heard Darcy's comments that he could be gone, but when it happens, I was shocked. It's part of the business, but we're losing, myself also, I'm losing a great teammate in the locker room, somebody I was with for eight years, and a good friend.

He's (Pominville) such a great player and linemate. The Wild, they're lucky. Just a smart, good hockey player who can adapt to any situation and make his linemates better. He's going to really help them. We're going to miss him a lot. Jason is as good a guy as there is."


Pominville will skate on an all-captain line in Minnesota with Mikku Koivu and Zach Parise.

Pominville and Parise played on a line together for team USA at the 2008 World Championships.


____________________________________________________________________

Wild GM Chuck Fletcher acknowledges that he paid a huge price for the remaining term in Pommer's deal, however, he says that his decision was made easy because of the organizational depth and prospects that he and his scouting department have stockpiled over the past few years.

“Hey, we recognize that we paid a price,” Fletcher said. “Johan Larsson and Matt Hackett are good, young hockey players. And anytime you trade a first-round pick, you’re obviously paying a significant price. But as a franchise we’ve spent a lot of time accumulating assets and trading for draft picks, and I think it’s a positive sign that as a franchise we’re now trading prospects and picks to acquire players. Typically that means you’re moving in the right direction. There’s always a balance. You can’t make these moves all the time. But if you never make them, how do you get better?”



______________________________
Thanks, Wild TV

______________________________________________________________________



pommer
Thanks, Dan Hickling

Sabres GM Darcy Regier refused to use the "R-word" in his post-trade presser, however, he made made the Jason Pominville deal in order to acquire the currency that the NHL hockey business is predicated on: prospects and draft choices. Pominville was due to become a UFA in July 2014. Regier said that he was first approached by Minnesota three weeks ago, then, things went quite, until Tuesday night, when the Wild called back to talk more about the Sabres captain.

Regier was able to exchange one of his veteran, home-grown equity pieces for four valuable pieces of currency that will allow the Sabres to re-shape their roster in the immediate future.

Since March 15 when he traded prospect D TJ Brennan to the Florida Panthers, Regier has struck it rich with more "currency" that will help him to re-tool and re-stock his organizational cupboards. Some picks he'll keep, others he will trade away to land NHL players and free agents. Regier should be commended for his ability to shed $13+million in payroll by trading Pominville, Regehr, Leopold, and Brennan, in exchange for: two very talented prospects in Larsson and Hackett; a 1st rounder in this year's draft; one 2nd rounder in this year's draft; two 2nd rounders and a 4th rounder in the 2014 draft; a conditional 5th rounder in this year's and a 5th rounder in the 2015 draft.


Johann Larsson is a spunky center/winger who can score and defend. I've heard him compared to another impressive Swede, Daniel Alfredsson.

In Matt Hackett, the Sabres add a ton of value to their already impressive goaltending ranks that includes: David Leggio, Andrey Makarov, Connor Knapp, and Nathan Lieuwen.

Larsson and Hackett will report directly to the Rochester Americans and they will pay immediate dividends for Chadd cassidy.

After today's Pominville trade was made official with the NHL Central Registry department, Regier spoke with Brian Duff about what Jason Pominville meant to the Buffalo Sabres, and what impact larsson, Hackett, and the war chest of premium draft choices that he has compiled in the past few weeks.


Thanks, sabres.com




_____________________________________________________________________

Mike Russo of the Star Tribune spoke with Wild rock star Zace Parise after team practice, once the Pominville trade was announced.

Parise is excited about his team's latest acquisition:


"Heck of a player," Zach Parise said as he left the ice. "Heck of a player."

Later, outside the locker room, Parise said he played on a line with Pominville at the 2008 world championships in Halifax.

“He works hard. You just look at the way he’s been used, he plays power play, penalty kill, reliable, but he puts pucks in the net, he makes plays, he gets point. He plays a really all-around game. That’s what we’re going to see.”

On the acquisition, Parise said, “It’s really exciting for us. It just gives you the sense that they believe in the way we’ve been playing and they believe in our team. Now it’s up to us to elevate our game even more. But just that addition, it really gives us a good look and a lot of good, offensive players.”



Thanks, Wild.com


No pressure on Pominville. Right!

The Wild haven't made the playoffs four out of the past five seasons. Their ownership wants to win now!


_______________________________________________________________________

I'm going to go out on a limb and annoint Steve Ott the next captain of the Buffalo Sabres.

The team next hits the ice Friday night vs. Ottawa.

Steve_Ott_prax



_____________________________________________________________________


Speaking of former Sabres who have moved to the Western conference, Robyn Regehr spoke with the LA media today.

When asked to recall the timeline of his trade from Buffalo to LA, Regehr said that he and his Sabres mates were out to dinner in Pittsburgh on Monday night when his agent phoned him to tell him that there was some interest in Regehr from a couple of NHL teams. His agent told him that LA was the best fit. After dinner, Regehr was asked by the Sabres to waive his no trade clause, which he did. He then spoke with his wife and the rest is history.

Regehr skated for the first time on Wednesday.


Thanks, Kings Vision

______________________________________________________________________


Stafford_prax
Thanks, Dan Hickling

Drew Stafford can be relieved. For now.


The veteran winger was rumored to be moving to the Washington Capitals in the 2pm EDT hour on deadline day.

The 3pm deadline came and went and Stafford was still a Sabre.


Many teams inquired about Stafford's availability, however, the asking price (reported 1st rounder) may have scared some GMs away.


Stafford has two years at $4 million per remaining on his contract in Buffalo.

Talk about awkward. Jason Pominville ended up being traded to the team that Stafford would eventually like to play for in his native Minnesota.

Maybe this summer....

______________________________________________________________________
Join the Discussion: » 702 Comments » Post New Comment
More from GARTH'S CORNER
» Hailing Taxis
» He With The Gold Makes The Rules
» Sedentary Seven
» The Sedentary Seven
» GadZuccs