Ted Nolan says that Mark Pysyk's demotion to Rochester is nothing more than a learning situation. Its not punitive in any way. Nolan said after today's morning skate that Pysyk will be back when the Amerks return from the Spengler Cup tournament.
Nolan wants Pysyk to eat heavy minutes and play in all aspects of the game on his brief stint in "The 585".
The former Edmonton Oil Kings star will get to experience high level of competition while playing in Europe with his Amerks peers.
“He needs a little bit more time to mature. He’s going to be a different send down. He’s not going down for a long time. He’s going down a few days. They’re going over to the Spengler Cup, and he’ll join us right after that.
“We’re going to try to find the best way to get him quality minutes and develop him mature-wise. He’s not a big guy yet. As we go in the season, the games are going to get tougher and tougher.…
Pysyk was a healthy scratch for Saturday's 2-1 OT loss to Calgary.
“Mark Pysyk is one of those guys we feel can be a future leader on this team,… Nolan said. “‘Future’ is the word, though.…
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The Winnipeg Jets are looking for more offense. They'll certainly get it from their hot shot scoring forward Eric O'Dell.
The @NHLJets have recalled @3ricODell from the #IceCaps. Read more>> http://t.co/PyqeCSWzAB pic.twitter.com/2pzRK0T9Xt
— St. John's IceCaps (@IceCapsAHL) December 17, 2013
#NHLJets recall forward Eric O'Dell from @IceCapsAHL
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) December 17, 2013This will be O'Dell's NHL debut in Buffalo.
O’Dell has scored 12 goals and 29 points in 28 games for AHL St. John's this season.
He's the 5th leading scorer in the AHL in scoring.
****
Updated 9:25am:
The Sabres announced on Tuesday morning that there will be changes made to the lineup effective immediately.
The numbers game on D is causing nightly lineup changes. Veteran Alex Sulzer is slated to return to action tonight. Nolan has Myers, Ehrhoff, Weber, McBain, Tallinder. The vets will play.
Chad Ruhwedel has been recalled along with forward Kevin Porter.
Defensemen Mark Pysyk, Brayden McNabb and forward Luke Adam are all headed down the I-90 East to Rochester.
Look for Cody Hodgson to return tonight. Matt Ellis still in Buffalo.
More to come….
________________________________________________________________________
If it weren't for bad luck, there'd be no luck at all in Hockeytown.
The Red Wings have lost yet another difference-maker at a most inopportune time. Part man, part mule, Johan Franzen suffered a concussion in Tampa. Justin Abdelkader also suffered a bell-ringer of his own this past weekend. Henrik Zetterberg's herniated disc in his back has forced to the LTIR list and he's not eligible to return until December 29. Stephen Weiss's groin is a big concern and he's been rendered inactive until he gets imaging done to determine the next course of action. Darren Helm has been nicked up too.
Jeez, Louise!
Red Wings GM Ken Holland has had to dip his beak in the Grand Rapids fountain of youth twice in the past 48 hours. Holland has recalled forwards Riley Sheahan to take Franzen's place in the lineup when the Red Wings and Ducks play on Tuesday night. Tomas Jurco made his NHL debut on Sunday night against Tampa.
The Red Wings roster is dotted with Grand Rapids kids right now with goalie Petr Mrazek, forwards Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Luke Glendening, Joakim Andersson and D-man Brian Lashoff.
Mike Babcock will have to preach patience and persistence to his veterans while all of the kids get acclimated to the NHL.
Speaking of Babcock, you'll learn to love his passion and his level of expertise when you watch episode one of HBO's "24/7". The guy is a tremendous hockey coach.
***
What is it going to take to get NHL players to stop targeting the heads of their opponents? Seriously. What part of "Don't hit guys in the head" don't these offending players get? Why so dense and ignorant?
On Monday night, yet another Rule 48 violation occurred when Penguins D Robert Bortuzzo popped Maple Leafs winger Jerry D'Amigo squarely in the head. Bortuzzo will be getting a call from the NHL Department of Player Safety for his idiotic hit to D'Amigo's head.
ANIMATED: Penguins defenceman Robert Bortuzzo hits Maple Leafs winger Jerry D'Amigo in the head: http://t.co/H5ZxCwRQb9
— Josh Gold-Smith (@GoldAndOrSmith) December 17, 2013_____________________________________________________________________
According to reports, Boston Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton will appeal the 15 game suspension that Brendan Shanahan's handed down on Saturday night.
You'll recall that Buffalo Sabres energy winger Patrick Kaleta was the firt NHL player in the post-lockout era to appeal his 10-game suspension in October. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman heard the facts of the Kaleta appeal and upheld the heavy suspension. Thornton's fate rests in Bettman's hands. In light of the recent NHL concussion lawsuit settlement and the ensuing lawsuit brought forth by former NHLers against the NHL, Bettman and the Department of Player safety have been cracking down heavy on hits to the head and illegal body checks. Thornton doesn't stand a chance of having his suspension reduced. Its well within his rights to try.
If Bettman upholds the Thornton suspension (as he had with Kaleta's ban), then Thornton has yet another appeal option.
NHL players have a second option for an appeal with a neutral arbiter following the appeal to Bettman's office on suspensions of more than six games, but no player has tested that part of the process in the new CBA.
My take:
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
Thornton's attack on Orpik was embarrassing. He lost his cool and put himself above his team and his organization. Who cares if he's a first time offender. He assaulted a man in front of 19,000 and millions more watching on TV.
He should be thankful and grateful that the NHL hasn't banned him for 30+ games like some pundits were predicting would be the final verdict.
Finally, the NHL has gotten tough on cleaning up its game and protecting its players. They should not capitulate now. The standards of discipline have to be more firm and less negotiable. Who care is Thornton is employed by Jeremy Jacobs and the Bruins. He violated "the code" that he's upheld his entire NHL career and he seriously injured a fellow NHLPA member with a heinous attack.
Others will learn from Thornton's mistake. If you are going to play, you are going to pay.
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The Winnipeg jets are 2-3-1 since their young power forward Evander Kane left the lineup with a lower body injury on November 29th in Philly. Kane has been cleared for take off and will play in Columbus tonight.
Thanks, jets.nhl.com
Barring a setback, Kane will be in the lineup when teh Jets play in Buffalo on Tuesday night.
Trade rumors have been percolating with frequency since Kane and his head coach Claude Noel butted heads publicly when Kane suggested that he was a healthy scratch for a Jets-Blackhawks game in November. Noel went on record with the Kane was injured, not healthy scratched.
Buffalo is averaging 1.54 goals scored per game this season. Sabres fans would love for teh Jets to leave Kane in Buffalo when they leave town late Tuesday night.
The Jets have been scouting the Sabres vigorously since before the Thomas Vanek trade in late October.