On Saturday, Grigorenko sent shockwaves through Pegulaville when he posted a heartfelt message on his Facebook page. The 19 year old asked that people respect his decision to take some time to consider his hockey future.
On Sunday in Washington, Sabres head coach Ted Nolan told media that he had no idea that Grigorenko would not be accepting his assignment to the Quebec Remparts.
Sabres GM Tim Murray and President of Hockey Ops Pat Lafontaine didn't travel to Washington with the team on Saturday. Its believed that they staid behind and had dialogue about Grigo's situation with his agent Jay Grossman.
It was a dicey situation because Grigo is too young to be assigned to the Rochester Amerks. To put a point on the pencil, Grigo is too good to play in junior, however he could use time in the AHL playing against other prospects and 20 and 30 somethings.
He produced 85 points in 59 games in Quebec in 2011-12 and 54 in 33 games with the Remparts in 2012-13. In Buffalo, Grigo has scored only eight points in 43 career NHL games.
USA Hockey will make a "significant announcement" in Buffalo on Tuesday. Perhaps USA Hockey will be announcing an affiliate program with Terry Pegula's HarborCenter and the Buffalo Academy of Hockey Excellence.
Speakers at the presser will include: Dave Ogrean, Jim Johansson and Pat LaFontaine
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Thanks, Sabres.com
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record:
Ryan Miller was brilliant for his team. Again.
This time he posted 28 saves on 29 shots against Ovi and the Caps in Buffalo's 2-1 shootout win. Miller made 6 saves on Ovechkin alone. He made a gorgeous save on the NHL's leading goal scorer I the shootout.
Ovi tipped his bucket to Miller.
Thanks, Caps TV
Ovi better get used to Miller's dominance in the cage. They'll see a lot of each other in Sochi next month.
Next time someone tells you that Miller doesn't have high trade value, tell that person to close his mouth. Today, there are 2-3 teams who would be willing to trade a first rounder, a top six forward, and 2 prospects in order to land Miller at or before the March 5 NHL trade deadline.
Sabres GM Tim Murray may want to have his sit down with Miller soon.
On Saturday in Buffalo, Miller said that he has yet to sit down and have a conversation with his new boss yet. Miller says he still wants to know the big picture plan in Buffalo. Might Murray read Miller's word's to mean that he doesn't want to stay in Buffalo?
Thanks, Sabres.com
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Ted Nolan can't coach players that are not on his team. Therefore, he's resigned himself to coach his Sabres while Mikhail Grigorenko contemplates his future in hockey.
Nolan spoke about the Grigo Saga in his pregame media availability in Washington on Sunday afternoon.
According to Sabres.com, Nolan had no idea that Grigo would decline his assignment to the Quebec Remparts.
Nolan knows a thing or ten thousand about young players in major junior hockey having coached (and won championships) in The Soo and also in Moncton.
“We knew obviously players would be disappointed when things like that happen, but [we had] no indication that he wouldn’t report,” Nolan said. “It’s one thing that you learn what you can control, what you can’t control. Tim (Murray) and Pat (Lafontaine) will take care of that. I’ve got this group of guys to worry about that are here."
Nolan pointed to PK Subban as a great example of a kid with sick talent who benefited from a full four year education in major junior hockey. Talent gets a player only so far.
“I come from the junior background. P.K. Subban played four years in Belleville [of the Ontario Hockey League] and he turned out pretty good,” he said. “There are different leagues for different players. Some guys turn out better playing college hockey. Some guys turn out better playing junior hockey. It’s just one of those situations that whatever’s a good fit but junior hockey’s a good place to develop.”
Neither LaFontaine nor Murray traveled with the team to Washington.
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Remember how I told you yesterday that Adam Oates has one ugly three-headed goalie monster to deal with right now?
Michal Neuvrith defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday night, his first win since November. One would think that this would beget another start right? Wrongo, pal.
Oates will start rookie Philip Grubauer against Buffalo today. Braden Holtby will back-up Grubauer.
Neuvirth isn't injured. However, his ego is likely bruised from going from hero to zer oin 36 hours time.
Can you say trade-bait?
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It appears as though Evander Kane has won the game of "chicken" between he and his head coach Claude Noel.
The Jets have canned Claude Noel.
The Jets are currently in 12th place in the Western standings.
The Winnipeg Jets announced today they have relieved Claude Noel of his duties as Head Coach of the hockey club. The team also announced they have relieved Assistant Coach Perry Pearn of his duties.
The Winnipeg Jets also announced they have hired Paul Maurice as the second Head Coach in franchise history since their move from Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011.
Maurice, 46, has earned a career NHL coaching record of 460-457-167 in 14 seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won his 400th career NHL game when the Hurricanes defeated the Buffalo Sabres in overtime on Feb. 11, 2010, and on Nov. 28, 2010, he became the 19th coach, and the youngest in history, to coach 1,000 NHL games. In his first head coaching stint with the Hurricanes, Maurice guided Carolina to the 2002 Eastern Conference title and two Southeast Division crowns as well as four consecutive winning seasons from 1998-2002. On March 16, 2010, he became just the 10th coach in NHL history to spend more than 800 games behind the bench for one franchise.
Prior to re-joining the Hurricanes, the Sault Ste. Marie, ON native collected a record of 76-66-22 during two full seasons as Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2006-08. Maurice earned a career-high in wins with Toronto during the 2006-07 season, leading the Maple Leafs to 40 victories, and recording his 300th NHL victory on March 6, 2007.
Most recently, Maurice spent the 2012-13 season as Head Coach of Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the KHL. After 52 games, the club earned a 27-13-12 record and 0.635 winning percentage.
Jets captain Andrew Ladd was asked his opinion on the Noel firing:
Thanks, Jets TV
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Earlier this week the Buffalo Sabres hired former Ottawa Senators AGM Tim Murray to be their new GM. Since Murray was announced as the new GM, there has been speculation that he will be hiring an assistant general manager. One name that is front and center is Craig Oster, who is not presently employed by an NHL club.
Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch offers this:
The talk is Newport Sports agent Craig Oster, who has Ottawa D Erik Karlsson in his stable, is the leading contender to be named GM Tim Murray’s assistant in Buffalo. The two have a close relationship and Oster could be introduced soon ...
I like the sound of this idea. Why?
If the Sabres want to have direct access to the top players in the NHL, it would stand to reason that they form a relationship with arguably the best agency for NHL hockey players and top prospects. That is Newport Sports. The only current Sabres player that they represent right now is UFA-to-be Matt Moulson and Mark Pysyk.
Their A-list client list includes: Steven Stamkos, Henrik Lundqvist, Brad Richards, PK Subban, Corey Perry, Phil Kessel, Bobby Ryan, James Neal, Drew Doughty, David Backes, Zach Parise, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Mike Richards, Dion Phaneuf, Brad Marchand, Troy Brouwer, Tyler Bozak, Jarome Iginla, and other notable quotables.
Newport also reps three players that I have have been banging the drum for to come to Buffalo:
Ryan O'Reilly
Evander Kane
Dan Girardi
Now we're talking!
O'Reilly will become a free agent in late February (one year from the date that he signed his one year offer sheet). He would look great in Blue and Gold for a decade or more. He's Jonathon Toews, Jr. Kane has been in and out of Claude Noel's dog house this whole season. He's a 30/30 guy who is only 21 years old. Girardi, a Welland native will command an annual salary of $6.5+ million and the Sabres can afford that type of contract over 6-7 years.
If/when the Sabres hire Oster, they will be a slam dunk to be invited to the July UFA feeding frenzy. Maybe this time around, with Oster's help, the Sabres can land a huge whale like a Brad Richards rather than settling for and grossly overpaying a guppy like Ville Leino. Wouldn't it be nice to be invited into the Newport Sports Agency offices on UFA Day for face to face meetings with the best of the best players, rather than being told to sit in the car in the parking lot to see if you can come inside. In my opinion, hiring Oster would earn Murray, LaFontaine, and Pegula face time with the star players and their agents. Pegula should love that type of access. Membership has its privileges.
For whatever reason, the Sabres under Darcy Regier's leadership didn't do a lot of business with Newport Sports. That all can change with one phone call to Oster, who has relationships with high profile players and their high-profile agents. The Sabres should be leveraging great relationships with the top agents, rather than hoping and wishing for a cell phone call back, if the agents are not busy.
In business, you are who you roll with. Murray and Oster is an exciting management model because it features two young, bright hockey minds who have proven track records. I'm not suggesting for a minute that Oster is duct tape and will fix every problem in Buffalo. What I am suggesting is that Oster and Murray represent the new paradigm in the NHL. Strong Predident of Hockey Ops, an aggressive GM talent evalustor, plus a smart AGM to scout players and negotiate contracts. Its not a one man job anymore. Three men, or four in Buffalo's case when Craig Patrick is included, is the new normal these days.
Murray and predumably Oster are plugged in from having sat in tens of thousands of freezing cold rinks in North America and in Europe in search of the future stars and difference makers of the NHL. Their respective records speak volumes to their level of commitment and need to succeed.
Murray should hire Oster straight away. The Sabres will have $40-$41 million in cap space to invest on July 4. This team can be re-built into a winner immediately with smart selections with the premium first and second round draft choices it holds in the next two NHL drafts. Murray and Oster can sign excellent UFAs, who want to be in Buffalo, to augment the young core.
I love this idea. Git 'r dun, Murray!
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Here's Oster's bio, as published on the Newport Sports Agency website:
Craig who was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, joined NSM and became an NHLPA Certified Agent in 1995 after playing hockey at Major Junior, University, and European Professional levels. A Lawyer by training, Craig obtained his Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree from Faculty of Business at the University of Manitoba, his LLB from the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario Law School and was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
As one of the senior management personnel at NSM, Craig has been a significant contributor to the firm's success and has assisted many young players and their families in ensuring their best interests are protected in every respect. Craig is an invaluable resource in NHL contract negotiations for Newport's entire clientele and Craig has extensive experience dealing with many areas of the hockey industry including, the NHL-NHLPA's CBA, the Entry Level System, the NHL Entry Draft, Restricted and Unrestricted NHL Free Agents, Salary Arbitration, International Transfer Agreements, CHL Import Draft and junior hockey contract issues.
With Craig's significant experience and knowledge in the markets of Western Canada and Europe, he is also primarily responsible for the recruitment and management for NSM clients coming from those regions and managing Newport's associates in these areas
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