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Sabres Swiss Army knife Nic Deslauriers didn't take the game day skate in Columbus this morning due to sickness. He participated in Monday's practice in Buffalo and played in Sunday night's loss to Nashville.
After Tuesday's skate, Ted Nolan said that Deslauriers is questionable for tonight's 7:05pm puck drop. In the event that the forward-D cannot play tonight, Nolan said that he will consider rolling 7 D and 11 forwards.
Thanks, Sabres.com
The Sabres cannot call up a player from AHL Rochester right now because the Amerks are playing a daytime matinee in Ohio against Lake Erie. It would be virtually impossible for an Amerk to play for his team then drive across the state of Ohio to play tonight for the Sabres.
If Nolan rolls 7 D, then Nikita Zadorov would be in the Buffalo lineup against the Blue Jax.
Personally, I'm not a fan of letting the 19 year old jump back into the lineup tonight after he was disciplined for being late for a team meeting on Sunday morning. Zadorov was benched for the Predators game. He had to apologize to his team for the second time in less than a month, (see: Dominican Republic All Star Weekend travel snafu) was scolded by his GM and head coach.
I'd love it if Ted Nolan and Tim Murray told the kid to sit this game out, too. If you can't respect the team and show up to game day meetings on time, you can't play for a while.
Given my druthers, I'd call up Chad Ruhwedel and limo him to Columbus to play tonight.
If it seems like I'm being hard on Zadorov, I am. I can't tolerate this kid's frequent momentary lapses of reason.There are guy's busting their butts in the minors and in juniors for the opportunity to get noticed and to earn an opportunity to play in the NHL. To me, Zadorov is contrite and apologetic after he screws up, however, he doesn't think of the consequences of his actions before he commits his acts of poor punctuality. His poor decision making processes have put his team at a disadvantage in recent days. I'm all for sitting him tonight, then leaving him home in Buffalo while the team travels to Florida later this week. He's a 16th overall pick with a million dollar skill set and a twenty cent brain right now. I guess I expect more maturity and accountability from the big Russian. I was always told that the NHL is a privilege, not a right. Privileges can be revoked at any time for failure to comply with team rules and mandates.
Am I being to hard of the kid? Should I expect less from him?
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Connor McDavid mania has been sweeping Western New York and Southern Ontario since the ceremonial puck dropped on the 2014-15 NHL regular season.
When the Erie Otters hosted the Mississauga Ice Dogs at the First Niagara Center, the McDavid buss grew exponentially.
McDavid is a big deal in these parts. Sabres fans just can't get enough of watching him play live and in person. McDavid has become the soothing salve that has softened the sting of Buffalo's historically bad season. The Sabres enter tonight's game in Columbus with a kung fu grip on 30th place in the NHL standings.
Its all or nothing for Sabres fans. They continue to embrace the tank so that they can win the lottery so that Tim Murray can select McDavid first overall in the June NHL Draft.
Earlier this month, I attended the Erie Otters vs. Soo Greyhounds game in McDavid By Lake Erie.
I was impressed to see hundreds of Buffalo Sabres fans rocking their Sabres logo gear inside the Erie Insurance Arena. Some fans wore toques and t-shirts, other official NHL sweaters and replicas. I was most impressed to see several Connor McDavid #97 sweaters dotting the lower bowl as well.
I'll be in attendance when the Otters host the Guelph Storm tomorrow night.
I'd bet my house on the fact that I will see at least one Sabres sweater with he #97 emblazoned on the back of it.
It turns out that McDavid is embracing the tank himself these days.
Super fan @ColinKuznik tweeted this pick that shows McDavid's signature on his #97 Sabres sweater. Colin attended the Erie vs. Peterborough game last Saturday night and McDavid took his Sharpie to this very cool sweater.
Got my McDavid Sabres jersey signed last night at the Otters vs Petes game! @NHLexpertpicks @SWhyno pic.twitter.com/OVhmPlNWpT
— Kuznik (@CollinKuznik) February 22, 2015Thanks @ColinKuznik, @SWhyno
I've spoken with McDavid about Buffalo's love for him. He appreciates the support and seems blown away by the love, respect and adoration that the Sabres are showing him this season. He takes it all with a grain of salt and with a sense of hu,ore. He is totally impressed at the lengths that Sabres fans will go to show him their appreciation and respect.
He better get used to it. If Sabres fans have their way McDavid will be getting the keys to the city of Buffalo in the near future.
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BU skated into the third period leading 3-1.
Northeastern scored twice to tie it and force OT.
Eichel drew the assist on the Beanpot winning goal.
He now has 50 goals in 30 games played.
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@SabresBuzz pic.twitter.com/YUDR0rLKkY
— Kevin Zola (@kevinzola) February 24, 2015
Jack. Eichel. Hobey. Baker.
Two great things that go great together.
If Jack Eichel doesn't win the 2015 Hobey Baker Award, then the voters should have to submit a urine sample to be analyzed for illegal drugs .
Seriously.
Eichel is the bomb. He is the odds-on favorite to win the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which is awarded annually to the top college hockey player in the USA.
Eichel enters tonight's Beanpot Championship game with 49 points in 29 games.
At present, Eichel is ranked the #2 draft eligible prospect in the world by Central Scouting Service (CSS) and International Scouting Servce (ISS).
Boston University has produced this very cool Hobey Baker campaign video featuring Eichel.
BU has also created this cool “I Like Ike… campaign buttons to distribute to its raucous, loyal fans.
Eichel led BU into it's first Beanpot title since 2009.