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The Re-Branding Of Kaleta

November 3, 2013, 9:29 AM ET [26 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Updated 5:30pm:



Senators goaltender Craig Anderson sustained a neck injury and was taken off the ice on a stretcher after taking a knee to the head from Dallas Stars hulking Russian rookie Valeri Nichushkin.

It was a scary scene in overtime, when Nichushkin bulled way to Anderson's crease and his knee made hard contact with Anderson's head, causing his neck to bend backwards. The Sens medical team stabilized Anderson and removed him from the ice via a stretcher.


Thanks, Sportsnet

Robin Lehner relieved Anderson in the Ottawa net.


After the game, Sens head coach Paul MacLean said that Anderson had a stiff neck and that he will be evaluated by doctors on Monday.

The Stars won in the shootout.

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Updated 12:05pm EDT:



Why lookie here. TSN reporting that Sabres pest Pat Kaleta has passed through waivers. Kaleta's next hockey stop is Exit 47 of the NYS Thruway: Rochester, NY.

It irks me that Kaleta was not grabbed up off waivers from Buffalo. I was told by a source on Saturday that he thought that Kaleta would be pursued by several teams as a waiver claim. Makes sense. The 27 year old energy forward plays a fiery style that many NHL GMs can't get enough of on their respective rosters. Kaleta has been suspended twice in his last 21 games played. He's been suspended four times in the past four seasons. On October 10, Kaleta finished a check on Columbus D Jack Johnson. In so doing, Kaleta clipped the opponent's head. He was suspended for a Rule 48 violation.

Kaleta is a veteran of many NHL wars and he knows his role. He plays it well.

He's an aggressive fore checker and a tenacious back checker. He's like the Robert Moses Power Project. He creates hydro power and furnishes unlimited power and energy to the grid in Western New York and Southern Ontario. His robust playing style makes him a target for criticism from the eyes in the sky and opposing team fans.

Kaleta isn't the only player in the NHL to cross the line, He just happens to be the poster child for the type of bad behavior that the NHL appears to be trying to eliminate from the game. Goon goalies blasting unwilling, innocent goalies is good behavior in the league's eyes, or at least it is now that Ray Emery assaulted Braden Holtby on Friday night. No hearing for emery. No supplemental discipline. Same for Boston's Chara, a repeat offender who cranked San Jose's Tommy Wingels in the head, knocking the young Shark out of the game, the day after Scott-Eriksson incident. No review, nor supplemental discipline for Chara. These are two examples of violent acts that have scored while Kaleta has been serving his 10 game suspension. Emery and Chara play on. had Kaleta been the perpetrator of those acts, he'd be in solitary confinement in NHL Attica right now.

Darcy Regier eluded his team's perception inside the NHL when he spoke on Saturday night. Sounds like the NHL are watching Regier's heavy players like a hawk. Kaleta's history repeat offenses make him an easy target.


Thanks, sabres.com


Is Buffalo on Bettman's watch list right now. You bet they are with Kaleta and John Scott taking early season suspensions for head hits against opponents.

Makes me wonder if there is was a "don't claim Kaleta" message floating around the NHL this weekend.You can't tell me that Kaleta can't be of benefit to one of the 29 other NHL clubs. Even if it was to play 6 minutes a game as a designated penalty killer.

Kaleta appealed the NHL Department of Player Safety's 10 game suspension and asked for the NHL commish to review the case against him.

To nobody's surprise, Bettman upheld the 10 game suspension. He then issued a scathing 17 page summary report that described Kaleta as a multiple time offender discipline offender. After reading the 17 page manifesto twice, I came away with it with a distinct feeling that there is no love lost between the NHL and Kaleta.



My take:


Bettman may not have been too pleased that Kaleta and his agent opted to appeal the 10 game suspension. Its a right that the players fought for in the last CBA lockout. Kaleta activated the option. Once Bettman gave Kaleta's appeal the thumbs down, Kaleta has the option to take his appeal to an independent arbitrator. Kaleta dropped his appeal last week.

Now Kaleta is being sent back to the AHL for his first time since April 2008. While there, he'll work with his former Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth, who was hired this week as a pro scout and an organizational advisor/coach. If Kaleta has aspirations to play in the NHL ever again, he'll have to invest a "significant amount of work" in his overall approach to them game, according to his GM Darcy Regier.

Kaleta will have to prove that he's learned a valuable lesson from his previous mistakes. Otherwise, he'll be locked out of the NHL until such time that his play is deemed improved.

Contrary to erroneous public opinions about him, Kaleta is a caring person. His H.I.T.S. Foundation does great work in teh Buffalo community. He loves the game. He'll do anything for his teammates and organization. He's not Hannibal Lector. He's not a criminal. To hear some of the idiots on TV and on radio in the U.S and Canada, you would think that Kaleta is a selfish, violent guy. He's not that at all. I've known him for 7 years. I've seen growth and maturity in his overall game. He's come a long way in his NHL career. he adds value to his Sabres team. I know for a fact that he's capable of changing his game for the better. I feel confident that he will. Coach Cunneyworth has had success with Kaleta in the past and likely will again. This change will do Kaleta a lot of good.



Thanks, Sabres TV

Question is: which player will be lambasted and devalued by the media and the NHL now that Kaleta is in the NHL. You know that they will find a new whipping boy to crack on. Thats how it works.


Kaleta's first step on the road to redemption is Thursday night when Hamilton Bulldogs.


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Sabres captain Steve Ott's car was vandalized Saturday night and he's not happy about it.






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The Toronto Maple Leafs were shutout in Vancouver (4-0) on Saturday night. To add insult to injury, veteran center Dave Bolland was taken on a stretcher from Roger's Arena after he was hit by former Buffalo Sabres winger Zack Kassian. Bolland suffered a lacerated leg and the required surgery. Its not known of the Achilles tendon was the tendon that was affected by Kassian's razor-sharp skate. A gruesome injury to be certain.

The injury is very similar to the one suffered by Ottawa Senators D Erik Karlsson when he was cut by former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke.



No time table has been set for Bolland's recover and return to the lineup. The Leafs are very thin at center right now, having placed Tyler Bozak on long term injured reserve on Saturday, the same day that Bolland was cut. Bozak will not be available to return to the Leafs lineup for two weeks (11/24).

Bolland scored six goals and added four assists in 14 games this season

With Bozak and Bolland sidelined, the Leafs have only three healthy pivots on their roster today. They are Nazem Kadri, Jay McClement and Trevor Smith.
.

Carlyle moved James van Riemsdyk to center after the Bolland injury. Jerred Smithson is across the street at the Marlies.

The Bolland and Bozak injuries couldn't have come at a worse time for a Leafs team that has played exceptionally well in their first 14 games. Now, Carlyle and his troops will have to deal with the adversity of losing key contributors. Its time for others to pick up the slack, and fast.

Kassian spoke about the his hit on Bolland in the victor's locker room



Thanks, Canucks TV

Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle was not very happy after the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Canucks.


Thanks, Leafs TV



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