Archives for October 4, 2007

'"I don't think you ever know what it's like until you experience it. … But we're going to be there to help him," Campbell said. "He's smiling. He's having fun. Let him be. He'll be fine."'

'"That's what we've done for the last two years when we've faced injuries and everything else," Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell said. "Nothing's changed in that atmosphere. That's the atmosphere the coaching staff brings to us and has brought to us over the years and will continue doing that. It wasn't a two-man hockey club before. We're fine with everything. We'll just roll along with it."'

'Numminen said he's been walking — but not allowed to drive a car — and intends to begin riding a stationary bike soon. He said his ribs are still sore from surgery, and he won't be allowed to have any strenuous hockey-related workouts for at least another six weeks.'

The following are rough English translations from Austrian newspapers:

The Left Wing and its line (Der Standard)

Thomas went through a hard school (Der Standard)

New season, old luck (Der Standard)

It is now once in America (Der Standard)

Thomas Vanek, number 1 of the world (Der Standard)

Wools third approach take (Der Standard)

Thomas Vanek (Der Standard)

New season, old luck (Der Standard)

'Numminen, who has not even been cleared to drive a car, will begin rehab next week in Buffalo and expects to begin preparing for his return in about six weeks.'

'"We've got a lot of quality leaders on this team and a lot of guys that are going to pick up the goal scoring," said Roy, a fourth-year center. "Guys have got to look themselves in the mirror and do that."'

'“When you put a Tim Connolly in full time and a Drew Stafford in full time in the place of Chris Drury and Danny Briere, you’re putting two good offensive players in the lineup,” Ruff said. “From that standpoint, I think we’re going to be fine offensively.”'

'Never mind the scoring explosion that came at the end of the preseason. Ruff’s going to have to keep a close eye on matters and judge whether he still has a team capable of dictating an uptempo game. If he doesn’t have the horses, he might need to slow the pace, which will be no easy task after two seasons played full throttle.'

'Afinogenov is entering his eighth season with Buffalo, making him the team’s longest-tenured player. Yet most people, including his teammates, know next to nothing about him.'

'“It’s a testament to the character of the locker room, not getting too caught up in the hype and what people are saying about you,” Orpik said last week during the Penguins’ trip to HSBC Arena. “We can’t get complacent. We have to remember what made us successful. All those accolades don’t really mean anything at the end of the day."'