By:
On:
In: Atlantic Division, General, NHL
With: 0 Comments

With the NHL Draft lottery complete, the Buffalo Sabres know where their selections fall. As the draft order is known, Kevyn Adams and company likely have an idea about where draft prospects lie. What remains less clear, however, is how the team will address its other priorities. The elephant in the room, in terms of question marks, is goaltending. If the situation in goal was confusing last offseason, I do not know what to say about the Sabres’ path forward. Surprisingly enough, 40 year old, Craig Anderson, could have been worse. Ukka Pekka Luokkonen showed positive signs prior to an injury. After that, the gapRead More →

By:
On:
In: General, NHL, Playoffs
With: 0 Comments

It has been a while! After taking some much needed time to focus on life, I am pleased to return to writing on hockey again. Since my last article, I have changed careers (again), witnessed the birth of my daughter, and have regained work-life harmony for the first time in seven years.  Changes in life, however, were not the only reason. Hockey, for as long as I can remember, was enjoyable to watch, play, and discuss with friends and family. My first ever NHL game was the Buffalo Sabres vs the Vancouver Canucks in 1998 and I was falling in love with the game evenRead More →

By:
On:
In: General
With: 0 Comments

The NHL equivalent to Black Friday is approaching. On July 1st teams will be scrambling to get their free agents. This year’s options are some of the deepest we have seen for some time. However, some of these players will face tough choices. Two team legends will need to decide to either stay and cement their legacy, or face a new challenge elsewhere. Here are the 4th Line’s top five choices: Alex Ovechkin It feels weird that Ovi will officially be a free agent this summer. His 13-year $124 million dollar Caps contract has run dry. Word around D.C is that Ovechkin is keen toRead More →

By:
On:
In: General
With: 0 Comments

After the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 win over Montreal, one fact became clear. Thatcher Demko is the clear first choice in net. His eight straight starts are an indicator that his form is paying off. Particularly as he has won seven of those starts. While Vancouver is in the process of patching this season together, Demko has been a ray of light. This franchise has never handled goalie situations well. Remember the horrific ending of the Cory Schneider/Roberto Luongo fiasco? Then its terrible sequel: Luongo/Eddie Lack! Well, it appears we have another contender in our midst. Embed from Getty Images Canucks fans howled when Jacob MarkstromRead More →

By:
On:
In: General
With: 0 Comments

As we mentioned in one of our previous articles, the Buffalo Sabres are looking at losing key stars. Jack Eichel and Taylor Hall are both showing obvious signs of displeasure. Based on how this season is progressing, it seems only a matter of time before they are on the trading block. In the past, we have had a number of NHL trades that have been difficult, surprising or even game-changing. The trades listed below didn’t all happen because things were running smoothly and often they have caught fans, players and front-office personnel off guard. Let’s look at some of the best NHL trade sagas. PerhapsRead More →

By:
On:
In: General
With: 0 Comments

On Thursday Jack Eichel was left out of the Buffalo lineup against New Jersey. Trade rumours are swirling once again. This ugly marriage has hit another speed bump. The Sabres and their marquee captain are in another untenable situation. Sadly, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this and unless things change drastically it won’t be the last. As much as he is beloved in Buffalo, Sabres fans have to ask themselves how much longer can this drag on? Should the Sabres trade Eichel and risk more obscurity or is he a talent worth keeping? Alex Watson, Mike Laybourne, Brodie Cotnam and Joe Martini areRead More →

By:
On:
In: General
With: 0 Comments

#FireBenning is trending once again, but when hasn’t it been for Vancouver fans? It’s been a bad week for hockey in B.C. and last night’s 5-1 loss in Toronto confirmed the underlying issues. Like so many off-seasons before it, fans called into question the moves made by GM Jim Benning. This team has serious potential, but it appears like this might be another learning year for the Canucks. After a great four-win streak, they are now winless in February. Currently, Vancouver’s record stands at 6-9-0, which in a competitive division might not seem terrible, however, there’s no denying that they lack sharpness and competency atRead More →

By:
On:
In: General
With: 0 Comments

One of the most glittering hockey dynasties came to an end this week. After 15 seasons, Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers have parted ways. The King had the last year of his contract bought out and now he faces free agency for the first time. I’m sure this was not the end they envisioned, but it was a respectful and amicable one. Tributes from the Rangers brass and fans have flooded in and they know for sure just how much gratitude they owe him. Lundqvist will always remain a legend in the Big Apple. Voted Rangers MVP no fewer than nine times andRead More →

By:
On:
In: General, NHL
With: 0 Comments

“Republicans buy shoes too” we heard a young Michael Jordan say when he was asked to back a young black politician in his home state. And it’s been a quote that has haunted Jordan’s life since it was published in Sam Smith’s book “The Second Coming.” For all the accomplishments that Michael Jordan has had, the championships, the Olympic glory, the records, the prestige, the sneakers, the title of best basketball player of all time, this quote has followed him as an example of his so-called apolitical and pro-capitalist over everything stance. It spits in the face of the image of the strong leader thatRead More →

By:
On:
In: General, Review
With: 1 Comment

When signing a new player, the dollar amount on the contract is key. I recently wrote a piece on Vancouver’s potential cap space issues. They have a lot of average players on big-money ‘no-trade’ contracts. Often, teams will shell out big bucks to get their man. However, this does not always guarantee success. For every Connor McDavid, there is an overpaid Loui Eriksson. NHL contracts are always closely scrutinized, here are some of the worst offenders. 1. Rick DiPietro In 2006, the New York Islanders were so confident in the ability of their starting goalie. DiPietro became the first-ever goalie to be drafted first overallRead More →