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In: Atlantic Division, NHL
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The Buffalo Sabres have finally found their pot of gold: the fortune to draft first. The 2018 NHL Entry Draft is special as its top prospect is the uniquely gifted defenseman; Rasmus Dahlin. This player will add significant value to the dumpster fire that has been the Sabres. And before anyone asks: NO! They are not trading the top pick or taking anyone other than Dahlin. If they do, I will eat guacamole, which is no different to diarrhea. Dahlin possesses abilities that most forwards can only hope for and his addition to the Sabres affects the future of another defenseman: Rasmus Ristolainen. The 23Read More →

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In: Atlantic Division, NHL, Playoffs
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In a league where contact to the head continues, who would have thought a tongue to the face would require attention. The NHL obviously believed that Boston Bruins’ forward, Brad Marchand, would not repeat himself. HA! Wrong again! Gross!! Friday night during Game 4 of Round 2, the Bean Town pest licked Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan‘s,face. The sad part is that this was not a first. Marchand performed the same atrocity against Toronto forward, Leo Komarov. As usual, Marchand was drawing the opposition to commit and infraction as pests do. He may run his mouth, poke players, and contact the head but lickingRead More →

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In: Atlantic Division, Awards, NHL, Review
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The Hart Trophy: the National Hockey League’s prize for Most Valuable Player. Unlike the Art Ross and Rocket Richard Awards, the Hart is a subjective honor voted on by the media. As the regular season closes, Boston Bruins forward, Brad Marchand, garners attention. The Bruins top the Eastern Conference with 103 points with Marchand leading the way for the club (34-50-84). After Sunday afternoon’s matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers, there should be some debate over disgusting plays he imposes on others. Foul Play Despite his significance to the Bruins success, Brad Marchand continues to be the center of negative attention. During yesterday’s game, the 29Read More →

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In: Atlantic Division, NHL
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The Buffalo Sabres have nothing to play for with 7 games remaining. The importance of winning them is insignificant as it does not translate into the next season. For fans, the wish is to close the season and hope GM Jason Botterill is announcing Rasmus Dahlin’s name in June. There has not been anything to be interested in…until now. Late Monday morning, Bob McKenzie tweeted that forward prospect, Casey Mittelstadt, will join the Buffalo Sabres. After closing out his freshman season with the University of Minnesota, Mittelstadt will sign his entry level contract. Since development camp, the starving Buffalo sports fans observed a highly skilledRead More →

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In: Central Division, General, NHL
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Amateur Scouting for the NHL is far from an exact science despite improvement in player rankings over the past decade. Technology continues significantly impact player evaluation across the board, providing access to talent outside of North America. If Pavel Datsyuk were draft eligible in 2018, he would be a top-three prospect. Potential first overall selection, Rasmus Dahlin, would have fallen through the cracks back in the 90’s. Scouting staffs have nearly unlimited access to upcoming talent and it continues to drive Central Scouting reports. The Draft Pick Even with advances in talent evaluation, did Nashville Predators’ GM, David Poile, expect the impact that Viktor ArvidssonRead More →

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In: Atlantic Division, Central Division, General, NHL
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Growing up in the Buffalo area exposes one to every opinion on tanking for the best draft odds. The local media shares contrasting views as the Sabres were in last place, for two consecutive years. As Buffalo is close to last in the NHL again, the debate is ongoing. The 2015 race for 30th achieved the desired result: a franchise center. Before you comment; yes, Jack Eichel is a franchise center despite the suckfest that is the Buffalo Sabres. Lacking significant improvement since then, certain media claims that tanking leads to a losing culture. Just look at Twitter and notice the heated discussions about theRead More →

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In: Atlantic Division
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Another NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone leaving Buffalo Sabres’ fans with a bitter taste in their mouth. Last season, Tim Murray did nothing while Jason Botterill traded pending unrestricted free agent, Evander Kane. Embed from Getty Images And that was it. Not Josh Gorges, not Benoit Pouliot, not Jacob Josefson. People were expecting that Botterill would clean house of expiring contracts and under-performing talent. Many were under the impression that a higher-end prospect and a 2018 first round-pick (without conditions) would be traded for Kane. By 3pm EST, it did not happen. Players thought to be on the road out of Buffalo remainRead More →

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In: NHL
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Professional sports, as a business, strives to expand its following, either by adapting the game or creative marketing. The NBA, led by Adam Silver, has adapted the professional basketball experience by focusing on how to draw fan attention. The league stepped in when teams decided to bench their starters without notifying the public, who buys tickets. On the contrary, the NHL has proven, time and again, that it remains out of touch with the masses. The announcement of Kid Rock at the All-Star is the latest decision prompting thought that the league is stuck in the late 90’s. When was the last time anyone said,Read More →

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In: Atlantic Division, General, NHL, Review
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It almost seems that every move by Marc Bergevin sets the Montreal Canadiens back 10 years. Big trades have been executed by the fifth-year General Manager, one being historically bad, leaving his team to be the equivalent of the Kansas City Chiefs: good in the regular season but cannot get it done in the playoffs. And when it appeared they were going to be on the brink, it got worse. At this point, the direction of the team, as a result of decisions by Marc Bergevin, should have the Molson family (majority owners) focusing on the next guy as improvement. Embed from Getty Images HowRead More →

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In: Metropolitan Division, NHL
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Drawing the conclusion that the tenure of New York Islanders’ GM, Garth Snow, has been rocky would an understatement. At times, Twitter is ripe with people wondering why he still has a job. The Nino Neidereitter trade certainly was not great as Cal Clutterbuck could have come for less. Free agents have walked (Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen) but there are more factors at play when a player chooses to sign elsewhere. Many in the hockey world are wondering about the future of star center, John Tavares, but it appears there is more reason to stay now than to go to the highest bidder, as theRead More →