sabres lemieux

Like Father, Like Son

Jun 28, 2014 • 10:44 pm

While you were enjoying the 87 degree heat and humidity in Buffalo on Saturday, I was writing about rounds 2 through 7 of the 014 NHL Draft.

I grade the Sabres out as a "A" final grade for their draft haul. Tim Murray loaded up on the area that he needed the most: skilled, sizable, and snarly forwards.

Round Pick # Overall Team Player Position 1 2 2 BUF SAM REINHART C 6' 0" 185 WHL KOOTENAY 2 1 31 BUF BRENDAN LEMIEUX L 6' 0" 206 OHL BARRIE 2 14 44 WSH-BUF ERIC CORNEL C 6' 1" 186 OHL PETERBOROUGH 2 19 49 MIN-BUF VACLAV KARABACEK R 5' 11" 196 QMJHL GATINEAU 3 1 61 BUF JONAS JOHANSSON G 6' 3" 198 SWEDEN-JR. BRYNAS JR. 3 14 74 WSH-BUF BRYCEN MARTIN D 6' 1" 195 WHL SWIFT CURRENT 5 1 121 BUF MAXWELL WILLMAN C 5' 11" 181 HIGH-MA WILLISTON-NORTHAMPTON 6 1 151 BUF CHRISTOPHER BROWN C 6' 0" 179 HIGH-MI CRANBROOK KINGSWOOD 7 1 181 BUF VICTOR OLOFSSON R 5' 7" 157 SWEDEN-JR. MODO JR.

So proud of @blemieux22 ... Perfect fit for the rebuild in Buffalo. #NHLDraft2014 pic.twitter.com/IdKyzfvPH5
— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) June 28, 2014

For you Millenials who think that Matt Cooke wrote the book on being a rat, I'm here to give you a lesson in the etymology of NHL pest.

Ken "The Rat" Linseman perfected the art form of getting under the skin of opponents when he slithered across ice surfaces while representing the Flyers and Oilers in the '80s and '90s.

Linseman handed the mantle of rat boy to a natural born hellion named Claude Lemieux. Sabres fans loved to hate Lemieux while he terrorize the Eastern Conference while playing for Montrea, New Jersey and Colorado.

Lemieux was drafted in the second round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He played with the Canadiens from 1983–1990, winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 1986.

In September 1990, Lemieux was traded to the New Jersey Devils for Sylvain Turgeon. Lemieux won his second Stanley Cup in 1995 as New Jersey defeated the Detroit Red Wings. Completing the post-season with 13 goals, he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy that year as the playoff MVP.

Shortly before the beginning of the 1995–96 season, Lemieux was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in a three-team deal that also involved Wendel Clark and Steve Thomas. When the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 1996, Lemieux became only the tenth player to win back-to-back Stanley Cups with different teams.[2]

In November 1999, Lemieux was traded back to New Jersey in a deal that sent Brian Rolston to Colorado. He won his fourth and final Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2000. In that off-season, Lemieux signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes.

In January 2003, the Coyotes traded him to the Dallas Stars for Scott Pellerin and a conditional draft pick. Lemieux ended his NHL playing career with Dallas at the conclusion of the 2002–03 season. He played briefly the following season for EV Zug of the Swiss Nationalliga A.

On Saturday, Buffalo opened the second round of the NHL Draft by selecting hell raiser Brendan Lemieux from the OHL’s Barrie Colts with the 31st overall pick. Like father, like son. Lemieux had a team-leading 145 PIMs along with 53 points (27G, 26)A last season. He makes no apologies for the way that he plays. He'll stick you, run you from behind, tussle your hair, face wash you, punch you in the throat and then bury a top shelf dagger through your larynx.

Just like his old man.

Claude was a second round pick who likely should have been selected in round one. Ditto Brendan, who will carry the first round snub as another massive chip on his shoulder as he hones his craft to get himself to the NHL as quickly as he possibly can.