There is no denying the mutual admiration that exists between the Buffalo Sabres and the Erie Otters.
The 30th place Sabres would no doubt love to get their mitts on Connor McDavid at the June Entry Draft. Heck, the Sabres and Otters partnered to have McDavid and his boys play inside the Buffalo arena back in October.
Last week, I reported in this space that former Sabres goaltender Marty Biron was working as a consultant with Erie's goalies.
Today comes news that the Sabres and their Academy of Hockey have partnered with the Otters for goalie coaching.
Here's the team's release:
The Erie Otters announce that they have partnered with The Academy of Hockey out of Buffalo, New York, as the team’s goaltending consultant led by former NHL goaltender Martin Biron.“Our mission at The Academy of Hockey is to provide the dedicated hockey player with a structured program that encourages and motivates them to reach their highest potential,… said Kevyn Adams, Vice President and Director of The Academy of Hockey. "This opportunity and outreach to the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League is just another step in our goal of becoming a premier global development destination for hockey players and coaches. Over the last 12 months our staff has worked with hundreds of players from the professional to youth levels, offering a wide range of services that help take their game to the next level. Martin Biron and The Academy staff are excited to partner with the Erie Otters team, and look forward to working closely with a talented group of goaltenders.…
The partnership with The Academy of Hockey will tutor the Erie Otters goaltenders with on-ice sessions, in Erie and at the HarborCenter in Buffalo, as well as video sessions for the remainder of the season.
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Thank you, Edmonton Oilers.
You didn't have to make a trade for former Buffalo Sabres center Derek Roy, but you did. The city of Buffalo thanks you. Roysie is a great guy and we knew he'd find greener pastures in the City of Champions. What we didn't know was that Roy would be the leader of the crusade to pick the lock on the cell that would free the oilers from their NHL incarceration.
Since being traded from the Nashville Predators, Roy has played 11 games for the Oilers. He has scored 3 goals and has added 5 assists in those games. On Tuesday night in Washington, Roy scored Edmonton's first goal that would act as the catalyst in a wild come-from-behind shootout win. Roy also scored in the shootout to help his team snatch victory from the clenched jaws of defeat against one of the best teams in the NHL. Very impressive win by the Oilers if I do say so myself.
The Oilers rallied from a 4-2 third period deficit to force OT.
The Oilers have now won two straight games and appear to be getting their act in order. Conversely, the Sabres limped into the All Star break losers of 11 straight games.
Sabres fans are rejoicing because the Oilers are now two points ahead of Buffalo for 30th place in the NHL cellar. The Oilers have 33 points to the Sabres 31 points. Both teams enter the NHL All Star break having played 47 games.
At this point in the season from H-E- Double Hockey Sticks, Sabres fans are looking forward to the NHL Draft. Every Oilers win puts them one step closer to drafting Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel.
Here's a look at the next five opponents of the teams that are battling for the basement:
The Oilers will play Minnesota, Buffalo, Calgary, San Jose and Pittsburgh after the All Star Game.
The Sabres will play Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal and St. Louis.
The Arizona Coyotes will play Philly, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Columbus.
Sabres fans may want to keep a watchful eye on the Arizona Coyotes who lost 6-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night. The Yotes (37 points) own 28th place in the NHL standings and are about to embark on a campaign of taking tactics. Yotes managers Don Maloney and Darcy Regier, yes THAT Darcy Regier are about to trade away veteran talent in Keith Yandle, Antoine Vermette, and others. The Yotes lost young forward Mikael Boedeker last weekend to a spleen injury that will keep him out of their lineup for the next week or weeks, according to the team. Yotes starting goalie Mike Smith has been a sieve all season long (sub .900 save %). The team traded his back up Devan Dubnyk to Minnesota last week.
If I'm Sabres GM Tim Murray, I start moving my pending UFAs today. With the Al Star break upon us, NHL GMs will be looking to get a jump of the March 2 NHL Trade deadline. Murray has been fielding inquiries all season long on his power forwards Chris Stewart and Drew Stafford. The two veteran wingers have been attracting attention lately from Pittsburgh, Boston, NY Islanders, Nashville, Calgary, Minnesota, Ottawa, and NY Rangers.
Murray also has two pending UFA goalies in Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth.
Presumably, Murray also has the Tyler Myers-Ryan O'Reilly trade opportunity sitting at the top of his to-do list. In my opinion, trading Myers for O'Reilly should be acted upon. by the Sabres. Myers has been in hot demand from several NHL teams this season. He has high value around the NHL. Trading him away would not hurt the Buffalo D corps. Tim Murray has slick skating D Mark Pysyk warming in the Rochester incubator to be promoted to the NHL. Jake McCabe is also champing at the bit to get into the Buffalo lineup.
O'Reilly is the second coming of Michael Peca and would add immediate value to the Buffalo lineup for the next 10 seasons.
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On Tuesday, Connor McDavid was interviewed in advance of the CHL Top Prospects game which will take place in St. Catherines on Thursday night.
To the surprise of nobody, NHL Central Scouting has dubbed McDavid their top prospect for the midterm grading period.
McDavid was rated #1, Jack Eichel #2, Noah Hanifin #3, Lawson Crouse #4, Dylan Strome #5.
CSS raised a few eye brows when it ranked McDavid's Erie Otters teammate Dylan Strome #5, two positions ahead of of London Knights scoring ace Mitch Marner.
Strome will have a bright and successful NHL career. He's an amazing playmaker and finisher.