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Which Ex-Sabres Are You Rooting For??

April 19, 2014, 12:43 PM ET [583 Comments]
Augello: Team North America
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When the playoffs roll around, the common fallacy north of the border is that all hockey fans unite behind the last Canadian team in hopes that they will be the first to bring the Cup back to Canada in 21 years, when for most the exact opposite is true.

Literally no one outside of suburban Vancouver wanted the unlikable, diving Canucks to beat the hard-working, physical Boston Bruins in 2011 and there is little appetite on the part of Senators, Oilers and Maple Leafs fans to see the Bleu Blanc et Rouge win their 25th Stanley Cup.

For Buffalo Sabres fans, rooting for other NHL teams takes on a different feel, since many of their favorite players have been spread throughout the league due to the club’s decline and rebuild.

The diaspora of former Sabre stars mimics the exodus of friends and family from Western New York in the wake of chronic economic struggle and desire to live in a warmer climate.

The question is, which of the three teams populated with former Sabres are Buffalonians rooting for?

Is it the Habs with former captain Thomas Vanek and “Mr. Clutch” Danny Briere? Vanek has thrived in Montreal in his role as a trade deadline rent-a-player, while the 36-year-old Briere survived a difficult first season under coach Michael Therrien(13 goals in 69 games) but made his presence felt in a fourth line role in Game 1 against Tampa, assisting on Dale Weise’s overtime winner.

Is it the Minnesota Wild with another former captain Jason Pominville, forwards Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick, who blew a two-goal third-period lead to lose 5-4 to the Avalanche in Denver Thursday night?

Or could it be the team that could rightly be called the St. Louis Sabres or Sabres West, with a third former captain Steve Ott, forward Derek Roy, defenseman Jordan Leopold and goaltender Ryan Miller?

For Montreal or Minnesota, the benefits of the deals for Vanek, Moulson and McCormick have already been determined, while the Sabres have a stake in the Blues success or failure. Buffalo could reap another first round pick as a result of a condition in the Miller deal if St. Louis gets to the Western Conference Final or signs Miller to a contract extension.

The likelihood of Miller re-upping in Missouri is slim based on his desire to play on the West Coast, but the Blues took a good first step towards advancing winning a 4-3 decision over division rival Chicago in triple overtime Thursday.

Miller struggled early in the game, yielding three first-period goals on seven shots but stopped all 21 shots in extra time, while Ott assisted on Alexander Steen’s game-winner 26 seconds into the third overtime.

Does the draft pick implications put you squarely in the corner of the Blues or are you hoping for the Wild or Habs to make a long playoff run???


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