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His name is Connor McDavid. He is pretty good at hockey.
On Saturday night, the boy who would be king dazzled his home fans while torching the pride of the Peterborough Petes.
McDavid scored twice and added three assist in Erie's 8-2 victory. McDavid was +4 on Saturday night. He's +45 on the season.
McDavid now has 32 goals , 60 assists and 92 points in just 36 games played. He's on his way to blowing away personal best offensive production numbers from last season.
Last season, McDavid 28 goals and added 71 assists for 99 points in 56 games played. He was +47 last season.
The kid is magical. He seems to get better every time he jumps on the ice.
He will be the #1 pick in the June NHL Draft. Buffalo Sabres fans continue to respect and embrace the tank because they see #97 as the light at the end of their long, dark tunnel.
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Happy Pegula Day!
Actually,Terry and Kim Pegula assumed ownership of the Buffalo Sabres on February 22, 2011. We can sing Happy Pegula Day at Sunday's home game vs. Smashville.
Four years after the historic purchase of the Sabres, the tear-down-rebuild is on course. The Sabres are primed to land either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel in the NHL Draft in June.
The suffering seems worth it all, doesn't it?
Today, the Sabres introduced Evander Kane to the media and the fans of Buffalo.
.@evanderkane_9 excited for fresh start: "I'm happy to be a Buffalo Sabre." #Sabres (@BWipp) pic.twitter.com/SO5UDeFmmA
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 21, 2015If he said it once, he said it a dozen times.
Evander Kane met the Buffalo media on Saturday afternoon and its abundantly clear that the talented left winger needed to get out of the "fishbowl" (his words) of Winnipeg. "Winnipeg is a very small town but it’s a big hockey market," Kane said. "It’s a little tougher than a Vancouver or Toronto where you can maybe get away a little bit. It’s a fishbowl. Being a Winnipeg Jet is something that everybody knew who you were, and they always wanted to talk to you, which is great. That was one of the things that you definitely enjoy, but negative things can take a toll a little bit."
Kane has landed in another unique hockey mad market on the shores of Lake Erie. Kane is going to love Buffalo's small town charm and its unbridled passion for its Sabres. Kane really isn't that concerned with the trials and tribulations of his off ice past in Winnipeg. He's on to th enext chapter in his impressive career.
His journey to Buffalo began with a conversation between his agent and Sabres GM Tim Murray. The more Kane's agent spoke glowingly of Buffalo and the Sabres organization, the more Evander became excited.
The rest is history.
On February 11, Kane was notified that he had been traded to Buffalo a blockbuster deal that saw Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Joel Armia, Brenden Lemieux and a first round draft choice traded to Winnipeg in exchange for the 30 goal scoring power winger and human Peterbilt 18-wheeler Zach Bogosian.
Kane's Buffalo presser has been delayed because he underwent successful shoulder surgery on February 6. Kane spoke about his surgery at the beginning of today's presser.
"The surgery was a little bit more complicated in terms of what they originally thought it was," Kane said. "There’s a hole actually in my shoulder as well, but everything’s fixed and good to go now. I’m looking forward to getting back healthy."
The hole in his shoulder has been repaired and he is now on the mend. Kane is in Buffalo for the weekend to make acquaintances with his new teammates, the team's coaches and its training staff. He said that he will begin the rehab process at home in Vancouver.
Yeah. THAT Vancouver. The site of the infamous "Track Suit Incident".
Kane would not speak about the incident, however, said that he was not wearing a track suit at the time. Kane said that there has been far too much speculation about the incident and that fans and media have had "fun with it".
"It was just speculation,"the power left winger said. "I’m not really going to get into the details of what happened. Was I wearing a track suit? No, but like I said, it’s something that tends to get blown out of proportion, especially playing in a Canadian market. There’s been numerous things that have happened in the past that are completely false, and we’ll leave it at that."
Kane said its time to move along.
Kane would rather speak about his future in Buffalo than his mercurial off ice past in Winnipeg.
"Let’s just put it this way. I think I’m definitely excited to have a fresh start," Kane said. "I’m looking forward to moving on to bigger and better things here in Buffalo. The organization has been fantastic in how they’ve treated me so far and the way they’ve brought me in. I’m really happy, my parents are happy, and that’s a good thing as well."
He's excited to skate with his new teammates and will be intently watching the McEichel Sweepstakes. He looks forward to playing with Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. "Obviously, the organization is in a position to most likely be picking really high, if not number one, so that’s definitely an exciting possibility," Kane said. "I think both those guys are really good players. We’ll see what happens at the draft and come training camp."
Kane noted that he wants to win in Buffalo. He won in juniors and at many points along his path to the NHL. Playing for the expansion Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets have not been winning experiences for Kane. He wants to be an agent of change in Buffalo.
"Before I got to the NHL, I won at all levels and won a lot," Kane said. "It’s definitely been tough not winning at this level, so that’s something I want to change for sure."
Thanks, Sabres.com
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Congratulations are in order for Sabres captain Steve Ott and his wife Erica on the birth of their son Maverick Bradley Ott.
The couple also have a young daughter.
Beautiful family!
Maverick Bradley Ott came into the world screaming and wires crossed at 9:37. So proud of momma @EricaRene4 #RockStar pic.twitter.com/YZIXUP79VQ
— Steve Ott (@otterN9NE) February 21, 2015***
For the past month and a half, Mike Weber has been playing his best hockey of the season.
Weber may now be lost to the Sabres for an extended period of time after he was injured in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return to the game.
The Sabres have been playing without the truculence of Josh Gorges who may be done for the season.
Weber wasn't available to speak with media after the Friday night loss, however, from my vantage point it looked like Weber was injured by a Tanner Glass collision on the glass.
After the loss to the Rangers, Ted Nolan didn't sound too cheery and optimistic about Weber's prognosis:
“He took a pretty good hit so he’s getting evaluated now as Josh Gorges is,… Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. “So it looks like we could lose a couple there for sure.…
Nicolas Deslauriers, a defenseman by trade, moved down the bench to the forward group during the game. Deslauriers played D in AHL Manchester and the Sabres converted him to a power winger after the Brayden McNabb trade last year. The rugged young man played nine shifts on D alongside Rasmus Ristolainen. He played exceptionally well.
“It was weird a little bit,… Deslauriers said. “My second shift, I got caught in the D-zone for maybe two minutes. But when somebody goes down, I’m always ready to help the boys there"
It took Deslauriers a while to get comfortable against the high octane Rangers who featured the sick skills of St. Louis, Nash, Zuccarello, Brassard, Stepan, Hagelin and others. “…they’re a great team. They have a lot of speed,… he said. “Adjusting was a little hard and in the third, we were trailing, so we needed our good D-men to jump in the rush so I played less minutes. But I felt better than my first shift in the second though."
Nolan scratched Nikita Zadorov on Friday night so that Tyson Strachan could play in his place. Nolan will have to activate Zadorov for the Nashville game on Sunday night. What will he do about a seventh D in the event of an injury? The likely move is recalling either Mark Pysyk or Jake McCabe to act as the seventh D-man.
Look for Nolan to beef up the minutes of Zach Bogosian, Rasmus Ristolainen, Andre Benoit, and Andrej Meszaros against the high-flying Predators.
The Sabres are off on Saturday.
More on Weber when it becomes available.
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I don't care what happened to Evander Kane in Winnipeg. Its ancient history now. He needed a break. The fans, management, and players of the Jets needed a break. Its over. Kane doesn't work in Winnipeg anymore.
He's a Buffalo Sabre and the fans here are thrilled to have him play for their team. I feel like Kane will represent the Sabres very well. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. He's a 23 year old kid who is getting a new lease on his hockey life. I for one could not be happier for him. He has a sick suite of hockey talents that will improve the Buffalo offense for years to come.
Buffalo.
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) February 21, 2015
Evander Kane has finally arrived in Buffalo.
No, he was not wearing a track suit. He wore a slick grey suit that he accentuated with gorgeous silver and black Jimmy Choo shoes. Kane's Buffalo snow tires will serve him well.
These are the shoes @evanderkane_9 was rocking last night during MSG TV interview. @JimmyChooWorld @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/E5tQSg5SQC
— Dan Dunleavy (@dan_dunleavy) February 21, 2015
The Sabres acquired Kane two weeks ago. The Sabres fans have yet to be officially introduced to him. That's like buying a 50 foot high def TV only to have it delivered to your house two weeks later. Sabres fans want immediate gratification. They want to get to know their new power forward. They will get that chance in the near future.
Kane underwent shoulder surgery to repair a labrum injury two weeks ago. He will likely meet with Buffalo team doctors while he is in town.
The newly minted Sabres power forward created quite the buzz when he and a Sabres representative made their way through the press box during the second period intermission. Kane stopped to say hello and shake hands with his new boss Tim Murray.
Before he made the rounds on press row, kane spoke with my good man Dan Dunleavy during MSG's intermission report.
Thanks, Sabres.com
Kane joined Murray and other team personnel in the owner's suite during the third period.
The Sabres lost 3-1 to the Rangers. Who cares at this point? The Sabres still lead the Oilers by 6 points in the McEichel standings and Evander Kane is a Buffalo Sabre.
He will meet with the Buffalo media on Saturday afternoon. Good luck with that.
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The Boston Bruins are now in full blown panic mode.
The Bruins lost their sixth game in a row (four straight on the road) in St. Louis.
Center David Krejci left the game early in the second period and did not return due to an undisclosed injury.
“Don’t know quite the severity of it so we’ll have to see here,… a somber Claude Julien told the team's website.
Rookie goalie Malcolm Subban was given the quick hook after he allowed three goals on just six shots in the second period. The Bruins led 1-0 after twenty minutes then the walls fell down. Julien put Subban back in the net late in the game with the Bruins trailing 5-1..
Malcolm: "What doesnt kill U makes U stronger. Got to take that approach...got to challenge more. If it was the AHL I wouldve been out more"
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) February 21, 2015Malcolm Subban: "Obviously its not the way I wanted it to be for the team. I was way too deep on all 3 goals regardless of how they went in"
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) February 21, 2015
The Bruins are now in a fight for their playoff lives. The Florida Panthers trail Boston by only one point for the second Eastern wild card berth.
The Bruins will end their road trip in Chicago on Sunday.
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