Archives for October 3, 2007

'MacArthur, Buffalo's third-round choice (74th overall) in the 2003 Entry Draft, was tied for fourth on the Sabres in exhibition scoring with three points in four games. Sekera, Buffalo's third-round choice (71st overall) in the 2004 Entry Draft, registered a single assist in five preseason appearances.'

'"With Rochester's proximity and schedule, it's better that both players are playing," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.'

'You lose that much top-flight talent, you’re bound to finish lower in the standings. Not so fast.'

'"As much as I respect what Danny and Chris did for us, I think people need to give this team more credit," Miller said. "Without detracting from Chris and Danny, and this'll come off wrong, but they didn't do it all."'

'The Sabres are trimming their roster for Friday's season opener against the Islanders at the H.S.B.C. Arena.'

'“I feel good. I wouldn’t play if I wasn’t ready to go,” Connolly said. “I felt that I was and it was good to get in there and get that one game under your belt, get back some of the timing. Now we’ve got all week to prepare for the home opener.”'

‘“That’s something we’d talked about over the years,” Jeanneret said of his new partnership, “never thinking it was ever going to happen because both of us were comfortable and Jimmy Lorentz was comfortable in his situation. But when Lorenzo retired it just opened all those doors.”’

‘Overall, looking at this new season, there is no reason why the Sabres fans can’t get just as excited as they did before last season. Yes, Briere and Drury are gone, but this team still has the talent and the will to go very far.’

‘Ruff said Hecht deserves to serve as captain. “Jochen brings everything,” Ruff said. “He plays in every situation. He’s got a strong voice in the room and he’s been through all the battles with us. He’s been there. I think he’ll be good with our younger players.”‘

'Bettman said the logistics of holding a hockey game in a football stadium is "very difficult, very expensive." He said the ice rink will be built from scratch and crews will need all the time from the end of the Bills/New York Giants game on Dec. 23 to New Year's Eve to complete the project. Bettman admitted that the showcase will probably not be profitable but said it's still worth it as "a great tribute to the game."'