Updated 6:30pm EDT:
Talk about an oil spill!
Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish better high tail it back home from the GM meeting in Toronto to have a heart to heart with his jead coach and former first overall draft choice.
The negative situation between player and head coach turned toxic on Tuesday when Nail Yakupov voiced his displeasure and expressed his unhappiness with his lack of playing time in Edmonton. Yakupov told 20+ Edmonton media members that he can't help his team score and earn points in the standings if he is riding the pine alongside his obstinate rookie head coach Dallas Eakins.
In his media scrum, Eakins was asked to elaborate on the Yakupov situation and to address the rumor that Yakupov's agent, Igor Larionov, will be traveling to Edmonton this week to discuss Yakupov's future with the Oilers. Larionov, like Yakupov wants answers from MacTavish and Eakins. Hell hath no fury like a star player and his agent scorned.
Eakins' response to the Yakupovbrouhaha, in not so many words:
"Suck it up. Earn your ice time".
Thank, Oilers TV
This situation has been festering for weeks, ever since Eakins scratched Yakupov for consecutive games against Toronto (on Hockey Night In Canada) and Washington. Now, Larionov is heading to Edmonton to act on his high profile client's behalf. ESPN reported Monday night that Larionov isn't opposed to a trade that will free his client from the "oppression" in Edmonton.
On Tuesday, Yakupov expressed his love for the City Of Champions.
"I wasn't asking for a trade. I wasn't saying anything bad."I don't want to talk about anything bad, but I just want to say, I'd like to be here. I love to be in Edmonton. I love the city, I love to play with these players. I've known for a couple of years, a couple of guys. It's a great atmosphere with great people around, great staff, great equipment managers, doctors and everybody. I just want to be a part of the Oilers."
Wasn't it last week, when in the midst of Yakupov trade rumours that Eakins went out of his way to sell the point that Yakupov isn't being traded? Eakins also said, on the record, that as the head coach, he is committed to making Yakupov a better player this season.
Eakins' actions today said that he isn't budging on the Yakupov matter. In fact said that he's okay with the frustration that Yakupov is feeling as a result of his limited role on the Oilers right now.
“We all want better, we all want more, but we have to earn the right to get more,… Eakins said. “If players want to make a stand or if an agent wants to make public things that are usually kept very private ... so be it.“It has absolutely no effect on how I’m going to run our team.…
Eakins has dug his skate edges in. Yakupov and his agent are fed up with the lip service.
Where's Mac T right now?
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The American Hockey League has a rule that states that no team shall skate more than five veteran players in one game.
Head coach Chadd Cassidy will lead his Amerks into Copps Coliseum to play a rare 10am matinee game on Wednesday morning. He’ll have his five veterans in the lineup with Pat Kaleta, Matt Ellis, Mike Zigomanis, Jamie Tardif, and Drew Bagnall.
That will change dramatically on Friday night when the Amerks travel to Utica. Things will get interesting and Cassidy will have to be creative with his roster. Injured vets Alexander Sulzer and Kevin Porter have healed from their injuries and will be looking to crack the starting lineup. The two veteran additions will give Cassidy seven healthy vets when only five at a time can play. It’s a good headache to have.
Makes me wonder if Pat Kaleta will be summoned to Buffalo from Rochester to dress for the home and home series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. John Scott’s suspension ended last Thursday after the 2-0 loss in Los Angeles. He will also be eligible to return to the lineup for the grudge matches with the Leafs. You better believe that Randy Carlyle will be starting his heavies Orr and McLaren.
If Kaleta is re-called by the Sabres, then Cassidy will have to sit one of his six remaining vets for the Utica game.
Lets just see what tomorrow brings.
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The Sabres selected Joel Armia with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 entry draft, and he’s played the past two seasons in his native Finland. Armia played great in the Buffalo’s exhibition games, however, suffered a broken hand in September. He’s been sidelined ever since. He’s been given a clean bill of health. Armia will make his pro hockey debut on Wednesday morning in “The Hammer….
The Sabres tweeted a curious picture on Monday morning: A picture of Armia’s nameplate being attached to his locker, in the Buffalo Sabres locker room.
Will Armia be making his NHL debut vs.Toronto this weekend?
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Last Thursday in LA, Jonathon Quick made 19 saves on all 19 shots he faced and blanked the Buffalo Sabres 2-0. Jhonas Enroth took the loss for the Sabres.
On Friday night in Anaheim, Ryan Miler allowed six goals on 34 shots against in just 40 minutes of play, then was replaced by Enroth. After the game Miller had nothing good to say about the beating that the Ducks applied to the Sabres.
“It was a disaster to be a part of,… Miller said. “Turn the page and move on. I’ve been a part of many disasters in my career.…
The Sabres haven’t played a game since being pecked by the Ducks.
Miller is ready to earn his team its first win on home ice. Hopefully, the Sabres can deliver the goods for the home fans tonight.
On Saturday night, the Kings slapped the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Hockey Night In Canada. Quick earned his 26th career shutout, in his 300th NHL game played.
Tyler Toffoli had scored two goals and an assist in the win over Vancouver, his second career multi-point game. Toffoli has scored 2 goals and added 3 assists in three games played in LA since being called up from AHL Manchester.
Tonight, the Sabres host the Kings. I’m expecting a Ryan Miller vs. Jonathon Quick showdown. In my opinion, its Miller, Quick, then everybody else for the starting goaltending job for the Team USA Sochi squad. Tonight will perhaps be the long-awaited Team USA goalie steel cage match that we were deprived of last Thursday in LA. However, Kings back-up Ben Scrivens hasn’t started a game since he lost to Phoenix on 10/29. The Kings won’t play again until Thursday night when they visit the NY Islanders.
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Several Kings players have tight connections to Buffalo.
Robyn Regehr retuned to Buffalo to play his first game since being traded away last April. Regehr still keeps in touch with many of his former Sabres teammates.
Kings captain Dustin Brown is an Ithaca, NY native and will have gfiends and family at the game in Buffalo.
Kings forward Trevor Lewis and D Matt Greene skate with Ryan Miller in LA over the summer break.
Power forward Jordan Nolan is a St. Catherine’s kid and is the son of former Sabers head coach Ted Nolan.
Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter are London natives.
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In case you missed it Monday....
Patrick Kaleta's road to hockey redemption has been a smooth and eventful ride thus far.
He's only three games in to his "back to the future" tour with the Rochester Amerks, however, the early returns suggest that he's changing his game for the better. He's playing a regular shift and is contributing on the scorer's sheet, with a goal and an assist in 3 games played.
Kaleta scored his first goal of the season to give the Amerks a 1-0 lead. The goal was Kaleta’s first as an Amerk since December 13, 2007.
His ferocious penalty killing skills came in handy on Monday afternoon when in trademark PK mode, he correctly anticipated a Lake Erie D's breakout pass at the high slot, jumped it and then took it to the house. Kaleta put a move on Monsters goalie Calvin Pickard and scored into the yawning net.
Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester D and C reported that Sabres GM Darcy Regier and head coach Ron Rolston were on attendance to watch The Amerks vs. Monsters Veterans Day matinee.
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Former Sabres netminder Martin Biron traded in his blocker and catching glove for an MSG microphone.
MSG Network announced Monday that the former Rangers goaltender will join Rangers broadcasts as an analyst. His first assignment comes Tuesday night when the Rangers play Devils.
Biron told the NY Daily News:
"
I'm going to try to keep it short, because I know it's been a challenge for me in locker rooms and in interviews, but when I'm on TV I'm going to try to get right to the point," the normally verbose Biron said on a conference call. "I'm very excited to join this group of professionals. Obviously being in New York over the past few years and being able to watch on TV, the work they do is some of the best, not only in the NHL, but across all sports. I'm really excited to be a part of it. To get started tomorrow night, you couldn't ask for any better than a Devils-Rangers matchup."
Biron will join former NHLers Anson Carter and Ron Duguay, as well as veteran hockey talkers Al Trautwig and Bill Pidto on the MSG Network's Rangers studio team and will make select appearances on the network's "Hockey Night Live."
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More to come after the game day skates.....