Archives for March 2004

'Witt and Kolzig both said they were surprised that Grier would not be helping them lead the franchise back to respectability. Grier, 29, had eight goals and 20 points in 67 games this season, and was considered the team's de-facto captain; he could not have been more popular and respected within the team.' … [Read more...] about Capitals Trade Grier, Retain Kolzig and Witt

'Grier, 29, was a Cap for less than two full seasons and scored 52 points in 150 games but made an impact with his work ethic and leadership. "This is the hardest one for me," Hanlon said. "Mike exemplified everything we like in a player. He was one of the glue guys who has kept this team together through adversity."' … [Read more...] about Kolzig, Witt stay with Caps

'Mike Robitaille, a former Sabres player and current hockey analyst on Buffalo's Empire Sports Network, said the Sharks were getting ``an honest player'' who should be able to contribute 15 to 20 goals a season. Brown won't provide all the offense lost when Sturm was injured, Robitaille said, but he should become a better player in San Jose than if he … [Read more...] about San Jose acquires forward from Sabres

'His success in the postseason was another attractive facet of Brown's game. Brown has 14 goals and 25 points in 52 career playoff games, and unless the Sharks pull a major choke down the stretch, they figure to be involved in the postseason after missing last spring for the first time in six years. "His character, his playoff performances, he reminds me a lot of … [Read more...] about Sharks lose 3rd straight

'"He is the type of player we're always looking for," said Wilson, who compared Brown to another Shark, center Alyn McCauley. "He's a guy with character, a great playoff performer. He's the type of guy who can play in any situation."' … [Read more...] about Struggling Sharks can't catch Wild

'Buffalo picked up RW Mike Grier and talented young defenseman Jeff Jillson, giving them more size and grit on the wing and boosting their blue line for a playoff run. They lost a good prospect in Jakub Klepis, but the roster wasn't dramatically affected by the loss of fourth-line center Curtis Brown and little-used defenseman Andy Delmore.' … [Read more...] about Sabres, Avs and even Rangers big winners at trade deadline

'Miroslav Satan’s “phantom phone call” after a goal in Toronto the other night probably seemed like a good idea at the time, but it turns out his Singular moment was visual proof of his miscalculation of the Sabres long range game plan. Satan perhaps underestimates the Sabres organization, starting with owner Tom Golisano and filtering on down through … [Read more...] about Sabres value now, too

'Buffalo made three NHL trade deadline beating deals on Tuesday. The Sabres dealt with San Jose, Boston and Washington.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Beat NHL Deadline

'Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn supported Regier's decisions. ''We all took our temperature last week about whether we wanted to go for it, including the players, and from top to bottom, we all said, 'Yeah,''' Quinn said.' … [Read more...] about Trades reflect Sabres' desire to stay in playoff hunt

'"Mike Grier is one of the finest individuals we have ever had in Washington. It was difficult to trade Mike, but as we look to the future, we couldn't pass on the opportunity to acquire Klepis," Capitals general manager George McPhee said.' … [Read more...] about Sabres acquire RW Grier from Caps for C Klepis

'With Friday's season-ending injury to forward Marco Sturm, the Sharks had a need for someone with offensive abilities. Brown has seen time on Buffalo's power play as well as its penalty kill over the years.' … [Read more...] about Sharks acquire Curtis Brown

'Buffalo entered the day with 67 points, six behind the eighth-place New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Miroslav Satan, the team's leading goal scorer, has been on the trading block, but the Sabres decided to be buyers instead of sellers. ``We could have very easily sold, and a lot of people expected us to sell,'' Sabres general … [Read more...] about Jillson, Boyes, Brown move in three-way deal

'The Sabres end up with Jillson, a former first-round pick who has yet to establish himself in the NHL. Also traded at last year's deadline, he scored two goals in Boston's season opener but had just two and 10 assists in 49 games the rest of the campaign.' … [Read more...] about Sharks get C Brown in three-team trade with Sabres, Bruins

'In Jillson, Buffalo gets a tremendously skilled two-way defender who was taken with the 14th overall selection in the 1999 Entry Draft. The 23-year-old defenseman was acquired from San Jose with Jeff Hackett last season for Kyle McLaren. He appeared in 50 games for the Bruins this year, scoring four goals and 10 assists. The defenseman played three seasons at Michigan and … [Read more...] about Sharks land Brown; Jillson to Sabres; Boyes to Bruins

'Brown had spent his entire career with the Sabres until Tuesday's trade to San Jose. "It is part of the business," said Brown. "I don't know what to expect. When I got the call, I was very excited to be part of a group playing so well. The most important time of the season is coming up."' … [Read more...] about Brown Excited About Trade