Nothing but smiles for @Giostyle21 upon seeing his new @BuffaloSabres jersey at the #NHLStore in NYC today. pic.twitter.com/YqyoZrP4Mf
— NHL (@NHL) September 8, 2014A word to the wise:
When you see Brian Gionta walking around the Buffalo community, don’t mention the name Connor McDavid to him.
Like his new teammate Chris Stewart, Gionta is old school. He’s heard all of the love for the young Erie Otter phenom in the Buffalo region, however, Gionta is not impressed with the notion of deliberately losing games just to position his club in the bottom of the NHL standings for the opportunity to select McDavid or Jack Eichel with the first or second pick in the 2015 entry draft.
The 35 year old Gionta isn’t going there.
“My expectation is to make the playoffs. I didn’t go there to sit around and watch the playoffs on TV,… Gionta told ESPN.com on Monday.
Gionta was invited to the annual NHL Media eevent in New Jack City. You’ll recall that Steve Ott repped the Sabres at the event last September. Ott was eventually named co-captain of the Sabres along with fellow winger Thomas Vanek. When Vanek was traded in late October, Ott assumed 100% of the captain’s responsibilities in Buffalo until he was traded along with Ryan Miller to St. Louis just before the 2014 NHL trade deadline. Gionta, my choice to be named the next captain of the Sabres, is not biting on the “Dishonor For Connor… bait.
"The expectation is to make the playoffs and continue to grow and build. I think that’s the first step. I think it’s a realistic step to try to get in there in the playoffs."
So, Gio is okay with his Sabres being competitive, winning games, and blowing their shot to draft McDavid of Eichel?
“That’s alright,… Gionta said with a smile.
Gionta is a native of Rochester, NY. He knows the I-90 East Corridor like the back of his hockey glove. He jumped at the opportunity to sign a three year deal with his hometown club. “For myself, it’s a childhood team I grew up watching and following them (the Sabres) and the prospect of being a part of something pretty special, a turnaround and being a piece of that was very intriguing to me,… Gionta said.
For Gionta, his wife and their kids, moving home to Buffalo was a decision that was easily made because it was equal parts family and business. Gionta has balance in his life right now that he hasn’t had in quite some time. Its agreeing with him.
“It’s been weird. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there (Buffalo-Rochester), college, pro; I’ve been away from home for a long time, so it still feels weird," Gionta said. "We moved into our house and we’re about an hour from our summer residence. We’ve already gone back and forth a couple of times. Family’s come up, grandparents come up to see the kids. It’s pretty special that everyone can be a part of it. At the age (I'm at), towards the end of my career, it’s nice for all those people to really enjoy it and kind of see it through and see the process of it.…
Ted Nolan and Tim Murray are looking for Gionta to make immediate, impactful statements both on the ice and in the room. Youngsters like Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Ristolainen, Sam Reinhart, Nikita Zaorov, Mikhail Grigorenko, Joel Armia, Mark Pysyk, Jake McCabe, Cody Hodgson, Marcus Foligno, and Tyler Ennis need only look at Gionta’s Stanley Cup ring to know that he is indeed a respected leader. Now, its his opportunity to pay it forward with his Buffalo teammates. Gionta was the captain of the Montreal Canadiens club that against all odds, advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals by disposing of the big, bad, Boston Bruins five months ago. Gionta loves being the underdog.
“The biggest thing is how you prepare day in and day out, whether it’s practice or a game. Going to the rink, being energetic to be there no matter what’s going on,… Gionta said. “Every team does it, they go through highs and lows throughout the year. So you’ve got to manage those highs and lows. Part of that is how you prepare, always preparing the same way. Always prepping the same way. Hard work all the time. Whether it’s studying film or being ready for your opponent. Those things come into play. Not accepting losing. There’s no other way to say it -- it’s not being happy with losing games. I think that’s how you create that culture of winning is not accepting that.…
Will the Sabres go 82-0 this season? No. Will they go 0-82? No.
Gionta and other Sabres vets think that they have a playoff team. Who is to say that they are wrong?
Photo shoot time for Hockey Fights Cancer campaign.. pic.twitter.com/wPxCdNtEOj
— Chris Bandura (@cbandura) September 8, 2014***
The Buffalo Sabres have FINALLY RSVP'd to the Traverse City Prospects Tourney and they have released their star-studded roster in trademark Tim Murray style. Who can forget Murray at this past June's NHL entry draft. He stalked to the mic on stage, and matter of factly said:
"With the second overall pick in the draft, the Buffalo Sabres select Sam Reinhart".
Good night now. No chit chat No thanking of the team sponsors or propping of teh local gin mills where sabers fans were watching the draft.
Like Joe Friday from "Dragnet", Murray is all about the just the facts, ma'am.
Murray was the eighth and final NHL GM to unveil his roster during the supper hour on Monday.
The Buffalo Sabres will deliver a tourney-high 10, count them 10 first and second round draft picks to T-City. Their roster includes four first-rounders, including center Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Nikita Zadorov and Joel Armia.
The Sabres ' second-Round Picks include:
Eric Cornel (2014), Vaclav Karabacek (2014), Brendan Lemieux (2014), Justin Bailey (2013), William Carrier (STL 2013), Jake McCabe (2012)
Also representing the Sabres at T-City are Amerks players Justin Kea, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Andrey Makarov, Dan Catenacci, Colin Jacobs and Brady Austin.
Sprinkle in a couple of free agents and you have a highly competitive Buffalo roster that will be a formidable opponent at Traverse City.
The eight-team tournament will commence on Friday 9/11 and will conclude with the championship game on Tuesday 9/16.
Buffalo will play the Rangers on Friday, the Rangers on Saturday and the Stars on Monday.
I'm calling my shot now:
Buffalo v. Detroit in a rematch of teh 2013 championship game. This time around, the Sabres will win it all.
The Sabres won the tourney in their first ever appearance in 2011. The NHL lockout washed out the 2012 event, however, the baby Sabres finished second to the host Detroit Red Wings last September.