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Its a two year contract for Evan Rodrigues in Buffalo.
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Sabres GM Tim Murray knows he has some making up to do with Jack Eichel. In light of his post- NHL lottery remarks that he made on Saturday night, Murray needs to show Jack Eicel some love. An emotional Murray said that he felt sorry for Sabres fans because Buffalo lost out to Edmonton for the first overall pick in the June NHL Draft. That means that the Oilers will get Connor McDavid and the Sabres will presumably be selecting Jack Eichel with the second overall pick. Eichel ain't chopped liver, Tim.
WEEI Boston is reporting that the Sabres will be signing Eichel's BU line mate Evan Rodrigues . Rodrigues is from nearby Etobicoke, Ontario.
Murray identified Rodrigues while he was scouting Eichel and O'Connor this season.
“I’ve seen it ever since I got to BU,… Terrier head coach David Quinn said during the Beanpot tourney. “He’s just an incredibly smart player, works hard, competes, has a great skill set and he can skate. Other than that, he can’t really do too much.…
“He’s made so many clutch plays, might be our best penalty killer,… Quinn told The Boston Globe on April 9. “And he’s the most intelligent college hockey player I’ve ever seen.…
The undrafted free agent ranked second in the country with 61 points (21 G 40 A) in 41 games as a senior while playing on a line with freshman star Jack Eichel.
Murray will woo Eichel to Buffalo by signing his Terrier teammates. I expect Murray to sign free agent goalie Matt O'Connor in the near future.
Rodrigues is a 5-foot-11 right handed shot. He played left wing this season, but had also played on the right side for stretches of his BU career. Rodrigues is a rock solid two-way forward who plays at a high level 5 on 5, PP, and PK. BU coach David Quinn has said that Rodrigues is one of the smartest college hockey players he has ever coached.
Rodrigues helped lead the Terriers to Hockey East regular-season and tournament titles this season, as well as a Frozen Four appearance.
The Terriers lost the NCAA National Championship in heart breaking fashion to Providence College.
I like this signing a lot bacause having Rodrigues in Buffalo will give a familiar face to hang with.
Eichel and Rodrigues can form a Buffalo bond the same way that former BU teammates Chris Rury and Mike Grier did in their time together in Buffalo.
Murray would be wise to sign free agent BU goalie Matt O'Connor before he gets snapped up by Ottawa, Vancouver, or Boston.
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Congrats to Jack Eichel and Coach Quinn on their awards for New England Player and Coach of the Year! #ProudtoBU pic.twitter.com/Nu5z6AaEfo
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) April 22, 2015
Are you on the fence about Jack Eichel? Are you wondering if he is ready to play in the NHL or of he'll remain at Boston University for a second season?
His BU head coach David Quinn is an authority on Eichel. Quinn told Howard Simon Tuesday that his star pupil is ready to play at a high level in the NHL next season.
Thanks Howard Simon
What if Mike Babcock were to leave the Detroit Red Wings for the greener pastures of Pegulaville?
Who then would assume Babcock’s role as bench boss of the Red Wings?
The odds-on choice is Jeff Blashill, the head coach of AHL Grand Rapids.
In Grand Rapids, Blashill has run a model franchise. The Griffins won the AHL championship Calder Cup in 2013. They advanced to the Western Conference semifinals in 2014. In the days to come, Grand Rapids will open the AHL playoffs against Toronto Marlies. The Griffins are loaded with supremely skilled young players like Anthony Larkin and Dylan Larkin and are a favorite to win the Calder Cup again. Blashill and his staff have done a masterful job of developing Detroit prospects Petr Mrazek, Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Tomas Jurco, Riley Sheahan, Luke Glendening, and Brendan Smith.
Ken Holland may be thinking about promoting Blashill to the Detroit bench if and when Babcock leaves, however, he’s keeping his thoughts to himself. Mum’s the word.
On Saturday, Blashill told MLive that he has yet to speak with Red Wings GM Ken Holland about any such scenario that would see him return to the Red Wings’ bench to succeed his mentor Babcock. Blashill once served as Babcock’s assistant coach with the Red Wings before he took over the coaching duties in Grand Rapids.
“We have not had one conversation about it since Ken and I sat down last spring to talk about doing a new contract and me being the head coach of the Griffins,… said Blashill. “That’s the only conversation we’ve had.…
Babcock, 51, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. He will be looking to get paid to the tune of $25-$30 million over a 5-6 year term. The Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs won’t flinch at Babcock’s dollars and term demands. He will be in hot demand the minute the Wings are eliminated from the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. On Monday, the San Jose Sharks and their former head coach Todd McLellan, a Babcock disciple, decided to part ways. The Buffalo Sabres canned Ted Nolan two weeks ago. Babcock would would be wise to want to coach Jack Eichel, Evander Kane, Samson Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Zemgus Girgensons, the star studded Sabres prospect pool. The Toronto Maple Leafs fired their interim coach Peter Horachek two weeks ago. The Philadelphia Flyers fired Craig Berube. The Boston Bruins may well relieve Claude Julien once their new GM has been hired.
Blashill signed a three year contract extension last summer. The contract binds Blashill, 41, to the Red Wings organization for two more seasons. Perhaps the three year extension was a predictor for an eventual Babcock departure.
Blashill says he isn’t concerned about the Red Wings situation right now as he has a full plate of his own.
“As in the past, I honestly don’t even think about it,… Blashill said. “I have never been in a job and thought about what’s next. I’ve always thought about right now, and that’s a series with Toronto and that’s my sole focus.
“I signed a contract last year because I really enjoy my job and I really enjoy working for the Red Wings.…
Blashill just might find himself on the Detroit bench sooner than later. That's why Ken Holland's got him waiting in the wings.
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Winnipeg Jets aircraft carrier Dustin Byfuglien will not be facing another supplemental discipline hearing for his shenanigans in Monday’s OT loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
"Big Buff" was assessed only a two-minute roughing minor after he plastered Ducks power forward Corey Perry from behind seconds after Perry scored the go ahead goal to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead. Watch below as Perry out works and out skates Byfuglien to establish net front positioning. Beaten and embarrassed, Byfuglien slammed Perry to the ice from his blind side. That's a greasy, dangerous play by "Big Buffalo" who in three games vs. Anaheim in this series has zero points, 4 PIMs and is minus 3.
What possesses Byfuglien to act the fool at critical moments in games? Who knows what thoughts swim around his head when the game is on the line and the pressure is mounting in important games.
Maybe "Big Buff" is of the mind that he can do whatever he likes to whomever he likes whenever he likes.
Two weeks ago, Byfuglien was handed a four-game suspension for his vicious crosscheck to the spine and neck of NY Rangers forward J.T. Miller.
So much being acting on his best behavior.
The Ducks were not amused with Byfuglien's goon antics.
Their revenge is being served cold as they lead the series 3 games to none with Wednesday night's Game 4 at the MTS Center is The Peg. The Jets have frittered away three straight third period leads to allow the Ducks to extend and win games.
Imagine of the Jets get swept out of the playoffs in Game 4.
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