Will the Buffalo Sabres leverage the NHL Scouting Combine away from the city of Toronto?
The Associated Press reports that the NHL is considering the Sabres' proposal to relocate the NHL's annual pre-draft scouting combine from Toronto to Buffalo.
"It's something that's being discussed, and I know it's something that Ted Black is vigorously pursuing," Bettman said by phone, referring to the Sabres president. "It's a work in progress. We haven't made any decisions. But we're taking the expression of interest very seriously."Bettman made the revelation during an interview regarding Pegula and the facility he's building. It's called HarborCenter, and is currently under construction across the street from the Sabres arena.
In a text to the AP, Black said discussions with the NHL regarding Buffalo hosting the combine have been taking place for the past several months.
"The NHL's interest in Buffalo is very flattering and it is another example of the ways that we're trying to promote Buffalo and HarborCenter as an international hockey destination," Black wrote.
The facility is set to open in October and feature two ice rinks, 11 locker rooms, classroom space and a high-performance training facility.
HarborCenter will be connected to the Sabres arena and eventually also include a full-service hotel, which is set to open next year.
The combine is run by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau and is traditionally held in Toronto in late May. It brings together the league's top draft-eligible prospects for testing and workouts that are open to the NHL's 30 teams.
The testing is exclusively done off-ice inside a convention center room.
Some teams, including the Sabres, prefer to also hold additional on-ice workouts with prospects. HarborCenter has the potential to do both on- and off-ice testing under one roof.
The complex is already attracting interest in hockey circles.
Earlier this month, USA Hockey announced its annual All-American Prospects game will be played in Buffalo for the next two years.
USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean has called HarborCenter a one-of-a-kind hockey facility in America. Ogrean anticipates HarborCenter will lead to USA Hockey hosting other events in Buffalo.
The Sabres are preparing to make a bid to host the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championships.
#HockeyHeaven
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I get a kick out of Alex Ovechkin. When he's on top of his game, he's one the top two hockey players in the world. Right now, he's a one man wrecking ball this season.
The Sabres did Ovi a huge solid by playing Jhonas Enroth in net on Tuesday night. In their two previous meeting with Buffalo this season, Ryan Miller had turned away 77 of 79 Caps' shots on goal, including 18 from Ovechkin. Miller has been kryptonite to Superman Ovechkin this season. Enroth didn't have the same effect on Ovi's super powers that Miller has
On Tuesday night, Ovi surely seemed to have fully recovered from his recent lower body injury. Two goals and two assists. Sick mitts!
In Buffalo, there was no fear of missing out on Ovi's hockey prowess. In his words, "it was a boring game, but it was a fun game too".
Ovechin scored twice ( #37 and #38), plus he added two helpers in the 5-4 Caps win. This dude is on fire.
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Could it be that NY Rangers captain Ryan Callahan is on the move?
Pierre LeBrun reports that the Rochester native and pending UFA hasn't had a smooth negotiation with the Rangers.
One player whose name I would have never predicted to be even possibly in the mix before the season is that of New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan.But he’s a pending UFA July 1 and so far contract talks have not gone well at all, a source told ESPN.com Tuesday.
All of which led to some rumblings that the Rangers are exploring the trade market in case talks don’t produce a contract extension before the March 5 trade deadline. My colleague Darren Dreger also reported on Callahan’s trade possibility during our Insider Trading segment Tuesday evening on TSN in Canada.
You can imagine the reaction when Rangers GM Glen Sather called some teams over the past week to inform them that Callahan might be available.
"That’s a pretty big name," one Western Conference source said.
What I'd give to have Cally in Buffalo, eh?
He'd add immediate respect and credibility to a youthful Sabres room. He adds instant leadership as well. The kind of player the Pegulas , Pat Lafontaine and Tim Murray should want to re-build their team around.
The 28 year old right winger ( 5'10" 190 lbs., Guelph Storm) alum has scored 130 goals and has added 119 assists in 442 career games on Broadway. In 59 career playoff games, he has 14 goals and 10 assists.
He is in the final year of a 3 year, $12,825,000 contract ($4.25 million AAV).
Callahan is reportedly looking to cash in on this next contract to the tune of seven years and $6 million per season. The term and dollars are not in line with Rangers GM Glen Sather is willing to pay his captain. Conversely, the Sabres will have to spend $25-$26 million to get to the salary cap floor in 2014-15. I can't see the Sabres having a problem paying a dynamic player like Callahan $6 million per season, especially if he continues to hang numbers on the board. He has 9 goals and 11 assists in 37 games played this season. He missed a whack of games due to a knee sprain in December. He's just now beginning to round back in to his normal form.
Callahan is represented by Rochester-based agent Steve Bartlett, who also reps Thomas Vanek and Brian Gionta.
Coming home to Buffalo-Rochester will reunite Callahan with his family. I'm always moved when I watch the "HBO 24/7" episode that features Callahan and his grandmother after a Sabres-Rangers game in Buffalo.
Who says you can't go home?
Hell, if the Sabres can land home grown star Callahan, why not make it a daily double by making a hard run at pending UFA D Dan Girardi. The Welland native is reportedly seeking a Jay Bouwmeester style deal in the $5.5 million per year range for 7 seasons.
Again, if I'm spending Pegula's money, I make a run at Callahan AND Girardi.
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