I'm trying to turn this situation into a "half-full cup," and the best I can come up with is this:

At least we will now be able to get candid, objective and invaluable reviews of Grigorenko's play from our favorite scout in Rochester: Mr. Squirrell.


- Der Kaiser

call me crazy but i think florida will make a push for 8th this year .. Remember they have Roberto Luongo and the team is all Healthy
- gerbe75pts

When you look at the bottom 5, I can't ignore Florida. They weren't very good in the pre season (I know, means nothing) but I can't think of any other teams for the bottom 5 then what I listed. Maybe Nashville stinks it up.

But Calgary got Bennett . He should take them to the Cup !



- Maximum Signal

Now ur talking!

I see the Sabres and Canes barreling it out for 30th.
gMTM should trade Reinhart for their 1st in 2015!!
Both McDavid and Eichel are ours...
We have to make a bold move now that the friggin Isles improved likely out of a bottom 5, Maybe out of bottom 10.

I see the Sabres and Canes barreling it out for 30th.
gMTM should trade Reinhart for their 1st in 2015!!
Both McDavid and Eichel are ours...
We have to make a bold move now that the friggin Isles improved likely out of a bottom 5, Maybe out of bottom 10.
- IonSabres

I have faith that Garth Snow will make some move to totally take the wheels of the Islanders bandwagon . It is also time for a team revolt in St Louis against Hitchcock . Isn't this about the time the wheels fell off for him in his other head coaching jobs.

Playing fantasy hockey for the first time in 8 years. Yahoo. For fun, I simply decided to draft the best player available at an open position. I was going to call my team "Ted Nolan's Merry Band of Folk Heroes", but I settled with "Legion of Ineptitude" instead.

Joe Pavelski SJ - C,LW
Jason Spezza Dal - C
Chris Kunitz Pit - LW
Jeff Skinner Car - LW,RW
Jordan Eberle Edm - RW
Bobby Ryan Ott - LW,RW
Matt Niskanen Was - D
Mike Green Was - D
Brian Campbell Fla - D
Alex Goligoski Dal - D
Alexander Semin Car - LW,RW
Jonathan Huberdeau Fla - C,LW
Jason Garrison TB - D

Tuukka Rask Bos - G
Jonathan Quick LA - G
Jonathan Bernier Tor - G

I have faith that Garth Snow will make some move to totally take the wheels of the Islanders bandwagon . It is also time for a team revolt in St Louis against Hitchcock . Isn't this about the time the wheels fell off for him in his other head coaching jobs.



- Maximum Signal

Interesting idea. I keep forgetting about the STL 1st. That team is too talented to drop way down in the standings though.

Interesting idea. I keep forgetting about the STL 1st. That team is too talented to drop way down in the standings though.
- Der Kaiser

STL is a tough one . We need a double whammy there . A goaltending collapse and a player revolt.

Hey You never Know ?

This stinks of injustice. Sending Grigorenko down was in no way fair especially when they are giving Reinhart games. It ruined my day at work I was so pissed off.

They declared an open competition for jobs on this roster. Tim Murray's words, not mine. Nolan said the players that show they want to work and want to be here will be given the playing time. Nolan also said that 18 year olds(or maybe it was teenagers) don't belong in the NHL unless their name is Crosby.

That is very hypocritical when they are sending a defenseless kid out there against men. Honestly, the thing I heard the most about Reinhart this preseason was that he was consistently taking big hits. Paul Hamilton on WGR has said that at times he takes a little while to get up. Great!

I didn't hear about how great Reinhart looked, how well he was playing or how he was producing so many points. To be fair, I have heard that he plays well positionally, is smart, and Nolan complimented his performance under pressure for a select play where he was holding the puck behind the net. But mostly I heard that he is taking a lot of hard hits. The games I saw him play, he never looked bad, but he didn't look the part of a NHL player. And lets be honest, his goal was completely set up for him and if he didn't score there, we would all be criticizing him for not, calling him a bust, whatnot.

The only way his tryout is acceptable to me is if it for only a couple games(which i have to assume is the case) with the reasoning that it will be good for him to see what he needs to work at to succeed at this level. Even so, it is still very unfair when considering Grigo. And probably dangerous for a smaller kid who will be feeling the pressure to create offense against bigger, stronger, faster opponents who would love nothing more than to knock the kid out of the game.

Grigorenko won a spot on this roster. He played well at all times. He gave great effort. He drove the play a few times looking dominant. He played very well defensively. He was lauded for his effectiveness on the forecheck and backcheck, along with his defensive improvements both in print, and on the radio in the postgames. He produced many great passes, And set up a nice goal for McCabe on the PP. Unlike Reinhart, his goal was an exhibition of elite skills and was on Youtube about 3 minutes after he scored it, literally. He looked like one of our best forwards.

He was told, I am guessing, that he needed to get in better shape and improve his skating and defensive play. Checkmark, check, check. He was also told there would be a competition for jobs. He showed up and won it. And I am sorry, but if you are trying to say that he didn't outperform Reinhart in every area, or that it was even close, then I have no respect for your opinion or ability to evaluate a hockey player. Just my opinion, don't take it personally.

I have a couple of guesses as to why this went down so nefariously. First and foremost, I believe that they may think that Grigo will make us too good. If Murray was disingenuous when he talked about putting a team that can win on the ice, and is in fact in for the tank, then sending Grigo down will give the team a lot less firepower. I think Hodgson would much rather have Grigo as his center this year, and every player on that team knows that Grigorenko gives them a better chance to win right now. What sort of message do you think this sends to the rest of the team?

It is also possible that Murray thinks that Grigo can increase his trade value with a big year in the AHL, more so than with an okay year in the NHL. You never know how this year will shake out and what we are going to end up with as far as picks in the next draft. What we do know, is that we aren't winning anything this year.

So maybe Murray is keeping his options open and staying flexible, he does not know how his future roster will look until after this next draft, so having Grigo up his trade value the most would be advantageous if Murray decided he wasn't in the future plans and wanted to move him for a different piece or to move up in the draft. I couldn't imagine why he wouldn't be in the future plans, but having the option is better than not. The real question here is would a killer year in the AHL up his trade value more than if he were playing here? I think yes, but i am not sure how much.

The answer I refuse to accept, is that it is best for Grigorenko's development. That he is better off playing with worse players against worse competition to further develop his game. Why doesn't this same standard apply to Girgensons, Ristolainen or McCabe? They are the same age or younger. But if you even suggest that Girgensons be sent down to further his development you would be run out of town. If you even suggest that Grigorenko looked better than Girgensons this preseason and deserved a roster spot before he did, two hundred laughing emoticons would ensue. What is the difference here? Why are others permitted to develop at the NHL level and Grigo not? Why is the NHL a suitable place for Girgensons and Ristolainen to develop but not a good place for Grigorenko to develop?

Someone else said that Grigo never really had a chance at making the roster. I agree.

How would you feel about your employers if the following scenario happened to you?

Your management at work said they were going to give a select few a big promotion. One where you will make 20x or more than you make right now. They said that they will be evaluating your performance over the next few months to decide which employees deserve the promotions the most.

Then you dedicate yourself, your entire life and lifestyle to becoming the best you can be so that you can get that promotion. You start working out so that you can have more energy, you eat fight, sleep right, practice and prepare at home off the clock to improve your performance. At work you are killing it. You and everyone else see that you are doing better than those with whom you are competing, it is axiomatic. You are even doing better than most of the people that already have received that promotion.

It's in the bag right? Wrong, really you never had a chance. They had already decided who they wanted to give it to, and the whole charade about a evaluating your performance to see who deserves it was just for good PR.

Then you go to have a sit down with your boss and they tell you it is for your own good. Because it will give you time to get even better so that the next time the promotion comes around you'll be even more prepared. Yes you did outperform your competition, yes you are better than 6 or 7 of the 12 people currently in that job. Yes you have earned it, you do deserve it, we did say it. But TOO BAD!

Oh, and we know you can go back to your country of birth and do the same work for as much money or more than we might pay you in 4 or 5 years, you could be a star there and make big money today. But wouldn't you rather stick around here, be disrespected, put up with our BS and be paid much less?

All Tim Murray had to say was that they were in a position where they are rebuilding and don't want to rush any prospects that might benefit from further development in the minors. That every prospect is different and the team was going to do what it felt was best for each prospect on an individual case basis. Then he could have done whatever he wanted.

What he should not have done, is declare a competition for jobs, when he was not willing to honor his word.

Wow , step away from the computer . Buy your own NHL team . Then you can control it ,

This stinks of injustice. Sending Grigorenko down was in no way fair especially when they are giving Reinhart games. It ruined my day at work I was so pissed off.

They ..................
.............................
.............................
What he should not have done, is declare a competition for jobs, when he was not willing to honor his word.
- SabresPanacea

Dude, you know you can submit your own blogs? People will read and comment on them.

I am so jealous of this

http://bubblehockeyleague...weebly.com/our-chexx.html

This stinks of injustice. Sending Grigorenko down was in no way fair especially when they are giving Reinhart games. It ruined my day at work I was so pissed off.

Yada Yada Yada

What he should not have done, is declare a competition for jobs, when he was not willing to honor his word.
- SabresPanacea

You mean Timmy and Teddy BS'ed the media like every other coach and sports executive hired since the 70's? Say it ain't so!!!!!!

This stinks of injustice. Sending Grigorenko down was in no way fair especially when they are giving Reinhart games. It ruined my day at work I was so pissed off.

They declared an open competition for jobs on this roster. Tim Murray's words, not mine. Nolan said the players that show they want to work and want to be here will be given the playing time. Nolan also said that 18 year olds(or maybe it was teenagers) don't belong in the NHL unless their name is Crosby.

That is very hypocritical when they are sending a defenseless kid out there against men. Honestly, the thing I heard the most about Reinhart this preseason was that he was consistently taking big hits. Paul Hamilton on WGR has said that at times he takes a little while to get up. Great!

I didn't hear about how great Reinhart looked, how well he was playing or how he was producing so many points. To be fair, I have heard that he plays well positionally, is smart, and Nolan complimented his performance under pressure for a select play where he was holding the puck behind the net. But mostly I heard that he is taking a lot of hard hits. The games I saw him play, he never looked bad, but he didn't look the part of a NHL player. And lets be honest, his goal was completely set up for him and if he didn't score there, we would all be criticizing him for not, calling him a bust, whatnot.

The only way his tryout is acceptable to me is if it for only a couple games(which i have to assume is the case) with the reasoning that it will be good for him to see what he needs to work at to succeed at this level. Even so, it is still very unfair when considering Grigo. And probably dangerous for a smaller kid who will be feeling the pressure to create offense against bigger, stronger, faster opponents who would love nothing more than to knock the kid out of the game.

Grigorenko won a spot on this roster. He played well at all times. He gave great effort. He drove the play a few times looking dominant. He played very well defensively. He was lauded for his effectiveness on the forecheck and backcheck, along with his defensive improvements both in print, and on the radio in the postgames. He produced many great passes, And set up a nice goal for McCabe on the PP. Unlike Reinhart, his goal was an exhibition of elite skills and was on Youtube about 3 minutes after he scored it, literally. He looked like one of our best forwards.

He was told, I am guessing, that he needed to get in better shape and improve his skating and defensive play. Checkmark, check, check. He was also told there would be a competition for jobs. He showed up and won it. And I am sorry, but if you are trying to say that he didn't outperform Reinhart in every area, or that it was even close, then I have no respect for your opinion or ability to evaluate a hockey player. Just my opinion, don't take it personally.

I have a couple of guesses as to why this went down so nefariously. First and foremost, I believe that they may think that Grigo will make us too good. If Murray was disingenuous when he talked about putting a team that can win on the ice, and is in fact in for the tank, then sending Grigo down will give the team a lot less firepower. I think Hodgson would much rather have Grigo as his center this year, and every player on that team knows that Grigorenko gives them a better chance to win right now. What sort of message do you think this sends to the rest of the team?

It is also possible that Murray thinks that Grigo can increase his trade value with a big year in the AHL, more so than with an okay year in the NHL. You never know how this year will shake out and what we are going to end up with as far as picks in the next draft. What we do know, is that we aren't winning anything this year.

So maybe Murray is keeping his options open and staying flexible, he does not know how his future roster will look until after this next draft, so having Grigo up his trade value the most would be advantageous if Murray decided he wasn't in the future plans and wanted to move him for a different piece or to move up in the draft. I couldn't imagine why he wouldn't be in the future plans, but having the option is better than not. The real question here is would a killer year in the AHL up his trade value more than if he were playing here? I think yes, but i am not sure how much.

The answer I refuse to accept, is that it is best for Grigorenko's development. That he is better off playing with worse players against worse competition to further develop his game. Why doesn't this same standard apply to Girgensons, Ristolainen or McCabe? They are the same age or younger. But if you even suggest that Girgensons be sent down to further his development you would be run out of town. If you even suggest that Grigorenko looked better than Girgensons this preseason and deserved a roster spot before he did, two hundred laughing emoticons would ensue. What is the difference here? Why are others permitted to develop at the NHL level and Grigo not? Why is the NHL a suitable place for Girgensons and Ristolainen to develop but not a good place for Grigorenko to develop?

Someone else said that Grigo never really had a chance at making the roster. I agree.

How would you feel about your employers if the following scenario happened to you?

Your management at work said they were going to give a select few a big promotion. One where you will make 20x or more than you make right now. They said that they will be evaluating your performance over the next few months to decide which employees deserve the promotions the most.

Then you dedicate yourself, your entire life and lifestyle to becoming the best you can be so that you can get that promotion. You start working out so that you can have more energy, you eat fight, sleep right, practice and prepare at home off the clock to improve your performance. At work you are killing it. You and everyone else see that you are doing better than those with whom you are competing, it is axiomatic. You are even doing better than most of the people that already have received that promotion.

It's in the bag right? Wrong, really you never had a chance. They had already decided who they wanted to give it to, and the whole charade about a evaluating your performance to see who deserves it was just for good PR.

Then you go to have a sit down with your boss and they tell you it is for your own good. Because it will give you time to get even better so that the next time the promotion comes around you'll be even more prepared. Yes you did outperform your competition, yes you are better than 6 or 7 of the 12 people currently in that job. Yes you have earned it, you do deserve it, we did say it. But TOO BAD!

Oh, and we know you can go back to your country of birth and do the same work for as much money or more than we might pay you in 4 or 5 years, you could be a star there and make big money today. But wouldn't you rather stick around here, be disrespected, put up with our BS and be paid much less?

All Tim Murray had to say was that they were in a position where they are rebuilding and don't want to rush any prospects that might benefit from further development in the minors. That every prospect is different and the team was going to do what it felt was best for each prospect on an individual case basis. Then he could have done whatever he wanted.

What he should not have done, is declare a competition for jobs, when he was not willing to honor his word.
- SabresPanacea

Since no one else seems willing I will reply.

Grigorenko was in fact far better than Reinhart. This isn't a knock on Reinhart, it's a testament to how much Grigorenko improved in my eyes. Also, where he improved was the key for me. He dramatically improved along the boards and in his own end. The skill is there, will always be there. I was really impressed watching him compared to Reinhart, again not a knock on Reinhart but he just does not belong.

However.....I don't agree that him going to Rochester will hurt him. I think it's going to give Murray a month to monitor him and see if he's truly ready for a top 6 role.

I also think it's big for Armia to have someone like Grigo in Rochester with him

You mean Timmy and Teddy BS'ed the media like every other coach and sports executive hired since the 70's? Say it ain't so!!!!!!
- buffalofan19

BS the media all you want. But don't BS your own players.

Since no one else seems willing I will reply.

Grigorenko was in fact far better than Reinhart. This isn't a knock on Reinhart, it's a testament to how much Grigorenko improved in my eyes. Also, where he improved was the key for me. He dramatically improved along the boards and in his own end. The skill is there, will always be there. I was really impressed watching him compared to Reinhart, again not a knock on Reinhart but he just does not belong.

However.....I don't agree that him going to Rochester will hurt him. I think it's going to give Murray a month to monitor him and see if he's truly ready for a top 6 role.

I also think it's big for Armia to have someone like Grigo in Rochester with him
- sbroads24

The way going to Rochester can hurt Grigorenko is the same way that all negative confirmation hurts: it leads to destruction of trust and confidence. I hope you're right but this is a management bungle in my view.

Since no one else seems willing I will reply.

Grigorenko was in fact far better than Reinhart. This isn't a knock on Reinhart, it's a testament to how much Grigorenko improved in my eyes. Also, where he improved was the key for me. He dramatically improved along the boards and in his own end. The skill is there, will always be there. I was really impressed watching him compared to Reinhart, again not a knock on Reinhart but he just does not belong.

However.....I don't agree that him going to Rochester will hurt him. I think it's going to give Murray a month to monitor him and see if he's truly ready for a top 6 role.

I also think it's big for Armia to have someone like Grigo in Rochester with him
- sbroads24

I didn't mean to come across as saying that it would hurt him. I just am pointing out that many players do play in the NHL at his age who are expected to continue to develop at that level rather than down in the AHL. Why is it ok for Girgs but not Grigo?

The way going to Rochester can hurt Grigorenko is the same way that all negative confirmation hurts: it leads to destruction of trust and confidence. I hope you're right but this is a management bungle in my view.
- Der Kaiser

Good point.

I am so jealous of this

http://bubblehockeyleague...weebly.com/our-chexx.html



- Buffalo-Sabres

Sweet !

cory coanchor on the top line for NYI

1. NBC Sports has bulked up its hockey coverage with a pair of solid hires from Canada. The network has added Bob McKenzie, the longtime TSN Hockey Insider, as a full-time contributor. McKenzie will appear regularly on NBC and NBCSN including as an in-studio contributor to NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry telecasts. He’ll also do on-site commentary at NHL All-Star Weekend, the Stanley Cup Final, and NHL draft. NBC has also added TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. McKenzie and Dreger will continue in their respective roles for TSN in Canada.

http://www.si.com/more-sp...evision-deal-media-circus

I didn't mean to come across as saying that it would hurt him. I just am pointing out that many players do play in the NHL at his age who are expected to continue to develop at that level rather than down in the AHL. Why is it ok for Girgs but not Grigo?
- SabresPanacea

Because Girgs got it from day one and has been a tireless worker . Grigorenko just finally got it . They are both both going to have long careers here. Girgensons already spent a year in Rochester as well.

The way going to Rochester can hurt Grigorenko is the same way that all negative confirmation hurts: it leads to destruction of trust and confidence. I hope you're right but this is a management bungle in my view.
- Der Kaiser

Grigorenko can choose one of two paths on this one. He can let this affect him and affect his effort and play. He can flake out and run to the KHL, whatever. Or he can take this in stride, keep kicking ass and never look back.

1. NBC Sports has bulked up its hockey coverage with a pair of solid hires from Canada. The network has added Bob McKenzie, the longtime TSN Hockey Insider, as a full-time contributor. McKenzie will appear regularly on NBC and NBCSN including as an in-studio contributor to NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry telecasts. He’ll also do on-site commentary at NHL All-Star Weekend, the Stanley Cup Final, and NHL draft. NBC has also added TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. McKenzie and Dreger will continue in their respective roles for TSN in Canada.

http://www.si.com/more-sp...evision-deal-media-circus
- GilPerreault11

Now if they just get rid of Milbury and few others.

Now if they just get rid of Milbury and few others.
- SABRES 89

Wait till a few years when the Sabres are good and Milbury is slobbing Buffalo and Pegula's knob like he had something to do with it.