Updated:
Ted Nolan is in desperate need of goal scoring. His team was shutout 2-0 by Roberto Luongo and the Florida Panthers on Friday night. They were trounced 6-1 on Broadway on Saturday night.
Sabres GM Tim Murray has recalled Phil Varone and Tim Schaller from the Rochester.
Johan Larsson has ben reassigned to the Amerks.
This is Varone's first call up of the season.
He currently leads the Amerks in total points (29) and assists (21) through 35 games played.
In four AHL seasons, he has amassed 177 points (48+129) in 242 games played. Last season, he played with the Sabres for a nine-game stint, during which he recorded two points (1+1). The Sabres signed the Vaughn, Ontario native to a three-year, entry-level contract in March 2012.
This is Schaller's fourth call up of the season. During a two-game stint with the club in December, Schaller scored his first NHL goal during the Sabres’ game against Boston on Dec. 21. He currently leads the Amerks in goals (10) and is tied for second on the team with 23 total points through 34 games played.
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The Detroit Red Wings are blessed by their bountiful cornucopia of sleekly skilled, high end forwards who can score and play the 200 by 85 foot game. You know about Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Justin Abdelkader, Tomas Jurco, Darren Helm, Gustav Nyqvist, Riley Sheahan and Tomas Tatar.
They are blessed with even more gifted players in Grand Rapids where their AHL squad is loaded with a constellation of young stars on the come in Teemu Pulkkinen, Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou and Andy Miele. Dylan Larkin (2014 first rounder) was Team USA's best player at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Team USA was bounced from the tourney on Friday afternoon. Larkin, the Michigan University star, will be a star in Detroit for years to come.
What they have been lacking is a right handed, top four D.
Mike Babcock's team is playing well and sport a 20-10-9 record. They are fifth overall in the Eastern Conference standings with 49 points. The Wings don't have much margin for error as they have the Rangers (46), Capitals (45), Maple Leafs (45), Panthers (43), and Bruins (43) nipping at their skate heels. The East is too close for comfort this season. Ken Holland may want to make a trade now to stabilize his backend and by extension his 5-v-5 play, PP, and PK.
The Red Wings are a rock solid team today, however, they are not a Stanley Cup contender unless and until they upgrade their top four D group. They will never replace future Hall of Famer Nik Lidstrom, however, they can improve their breakout, scoring, and puck possession by adding a difference making D like Myers.
Helene St. James from the Detroit Free Press reported on Sunday morning that the Red Wings may be inclined to trade Tatar to the Buffalo Sabres for Tyler Myers.
The two teams have been linked in trade rumors for the past nine months.
The Red Wings and Sabres first started talking about a Myers trade late the 2014 NHL trade deadline. Why hasn't a deal been done? Word is that Sabres GM Tim Murray is adamant about wanting to get his hands on former Quebec League scoring machine Anthony Mantha. Wings GM clearly doesn't want to part with Mantha otherwise, he would have done the deal months ago. Murray's asking price is high and well it should be because skyscraping, skilled big men like Tyler Myers don't grow on trees. For that reason, Murray is in no hurry to trade Myers. If Holland really wants Myers, he'll have to pay a premium price. Myers has missed the past six games with a lower body injury and his team has fallen into the abyss without him. You don't really understand the value and importance of Myers until he is out of the lineup. Historically, the Sabres have struggled when he's been out of the lineup due to injuries. Their PP and PK have suffered dramatically as has their ability to exit their zone in one pass. My colleague Mike Pachla did the homework on this pro-Myers measurable:
Since Nolan took over as head coach on November 13, 2013 the Buffalo Sabres are 27-39-8 (36.4% win percentage) with Myers in the lineup, 4-20-4 (14.3% win percentage) without him.
Most Sabres fans argue are vehement about trading Myers because they feel it will have a negative impact on their win/los record.
Psssst! Isn't that the object of tanking?
If the Sabres are serious about wanting to draft Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel first or second overall, they will embrace and strongly entertain all Myers proposals.
Would you trade Myers for McDavid? I would in a Western New York minute!
Besides the Sabres have capable, young, skilled D-men Mark Pysyk and Jake McCabe waiting in the wings to join the Sabres D corps.
Myers is averaging 25:21 TOI and he plays well in all phases of the game. The Red Wings don't have a player like Myers in their organization.
Would Holland be willing to trade Tomas Tatar, D-man Jakub Kindl, and a second round draft choice in exchange for Tyler Myers?
Tatar had 19 goals last season, and is well on his way to topping 20 this season. To essentially be a two-time 20-goal scorer at age 24 makes Tatar intriguing as a trade asset. The Wings are eager to add a top-four defenseman who shoots right, and to get someone of quality - like Buffalo's Tyler Myers - it would take a young hotshot. Maybe the Wings can sway the Sabres with Tatar and defenseman Jakub Kindl (who doesn't seem to have a future in Detroit), along with a second-round draft pick. It helps tremendously that another prospect is banging on the door, as Teemu Pulkkinen is having a standout season with Grand Rapids. He's already delivered an AHL-leading 19th goal of the season, and he shoots right, with NHL-caliber delivery.
Tatar is tied for third on the Red Wings with 16 goals and 10 assists in 39 games. He has taken 100 shots on goals, has 4 game winning goals and 5 PPGs.
The 24 year old Tatar would add immediate value to the Buffalo top six forward ranks. Adding him would improve Buffalo's struggling power play unit.
Tatar is one spoke in the Winged Wheel. He plays a defined role and is excelling despite his modest 15:19 TOI per game. Perhaps his production would blow up were he traded to Buffalo where Ted Nolan would bump his ice time up to the 18-20 minute range and feature him on the Buffalo PP.
Wings head coach Mike Babcock spoke glowingly about Tatar's progress.
Thanks, Freep,com
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I was shocked and saddened by the news that Capgeek.com is ceasing operations.
On Saturday night, Capgeek.com founder and director Matt Wuest posted the following message on his great website.
http://t.co/v7ePjuKKuU has permanently ceased operations. http://t.co/HzBhdiA0te
— CapGeek (@capgeek) January 4, 2015
Effective immediately, Jan. 3, 2015, CapGeek.com has permanently ceased operations. This sudden decision is made with a heavy heart and is due to the personal health of CapGeek.com founder and director Matthew Wuest. While this decision may raise many questions, it is requested that you respect Matthew's privacy and wish for no media or purchase inquiries. Thank you for your co-operation and understanding at this difficult time.
This news has sent shock waves through the online hockey community.
I am all about health and family above all else. I pray for Matt and his family in their time of need.
I visited Matt's site religiously since its inception. It was a game changer and a useful resource. I cant enough good things about it.
Capgeek.com is going to be a hard habit to break.
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