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Picture the scene if you will: it’s the year 2000 and my family has embarked on a Christmas vacation to the Big Apple. Being from the UK, our winters are normally damp and full of rain. Coming to the sub-zero temperatures of a New York December meant pounding the sidewalks was a real task. New York seemed like a metropolis compared to life in buttoned-down Winchester. Standing under the bright neon advertisements in Time Square, I felt like the luckiest kid in the world. Keen to make the most of our trip, whilst sheltering from the cold in Macy’s, my Dad suggested the possibility of headingRead More →

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Sunday night ended any speculation about Center, Ryan O’Reilly, being traded to the St. Louis Blues. He is no longer a Buffalo Sabre. GM Jason Botterill was essentially given what he asked for. Two roster players (Patrik Berglund, Vladmir Sobotka), a prospect (Tage Thompson), and two higher draft picks (1st-2019 with conditions, 2nd-2021). Scoring and forward depth plagued Buffalo but Berglund and Sobotka will improve the bottom-six eventually. Thompson likely starts in the minors and could elevate someone from Rochester (C.J. Smith, Sean Malone) if they are ready. A first round pick never hurts although it is Top 10 protected. The Blues, adding two centersRead More →

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The Buffalo Sabres held their annual development camp this past week, followed by the 3 on 3 scrimmage. For some, this was the first chance to view Rasmus Dahlin, the highlight, in a game-like setting. Yesterday’s scrimmage results ended with 2017 1st round pick, Casey Mittelstadt‘s, group winning the tournament, again. Over 40 draftees, signees and invitees worked on skills, on and off the ice, while concluding the camp with some game simulation. Season ticket holders filed into the Harbor Center in downtown Buffalo to watch potential pros. Though not that close to an real game, the youngsters had the opportunity to show off. EmbedRead More →

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After the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 win over Winnipeg, debut goalie Scott Foster was named 1st star. Despite only playing 14 minutes, Foster saved all seven shots he faced. While this might be his only NHL appearance, Foster has shown everyone you never give up. Chicago is currently facing a severe goalie crisis. Corey Crawford and Anton Forsberg are out through injury. Foster was signed to as an emergency backup. Before this game, the 36-year-old had played college hockey for WMU from 2002-2006. Before this game, he had been working an accountant. When starter Collin Delia went out, Foster was forced into action. He now holdsRead 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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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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On pace for their worst season since the 1996-1997 season (excluding the half season played after the 2012-2013 lockout), the Sens need a face lift. Twelve games into the season with a 5-2-5 record, they had 15 out of a possible 24 points which was above .500, the team looked a little shaky but they showed a lot of promise. Derick Brassard and Mark Stone looked like one of the best duo in the NHL. Stone was looking like the All Star he is and Kyle Turris was still in a Sens jersey. With 5 OT loses it was just a matter of tweaking aRead More →

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A player goes down on your favorite team. It looks like a bad injury. They had to be helped off the ice. You stop paying attention to the game because, hell, it is one out of 82. You just constantly refresh Twitter waiting for a beat reporter to give injury news. Embed from Getty Images This comes to two separate paths: One, the beat reporter says that they have returned to the bench, the other more dreaded tweet to read “Player X is out for the rest of the game”. As a Tampa Bay Lightning fan I’ve been through this more times in the pastRead 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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Two points out of a playoff spot with two games at hand, you could be confident that the Calgary Flames will land a spot in the 2017-2018 NHL playoffs. How deep will they go? That’s a different story. After being swept in the 1st round of the playoffs last season, Calgary has made enough changes to avoid being eliminated in the 1st round again. With the strong play of newly acquired Mike Smith, surprising rookie Mark Jankowski and highly sawed out defenseman Travis Hamonic the Flames have added stability between the pipes, gritty, producing forward and hockey sense on the blue line so what elseRead More →