Archives for October 2008

'“That wasn’t really my focus, to show guys that I’m just going to be there to fight,” Rivet said Wednesday. “There are things you never forget. . . . Hollweg tried to take advantage of one of our guys that enforces and has one of the hardest jobs on our team, and that’s Peters. And there’s always going to be payback. You’re not … [Read more...] about Newcomer is new captain

'“We had a winning year last year, but it wasn’t a playoff year,” Ruff said of the 10th-place campaign that featured a 39-31-12 record. “In my book, winning is calculated by being able to play past the regular season. We didn’t quite make it, and the character part of this is you learn from your disappointments."' … [Read more...] about Eye on the playoffs

'“It’s fun to see that everybody has done well for themselves,” Pominville said while marveling at the past six years. “It was a great experience for us. We’ve matured together. We’ve grown together. It’s just great to look around the room and see the faces are the same ones that have been here for five, six, seven years … [Read more...] about Core strength

'“It starts with the goalie,” said winger Jason Pominville, who signed a five-year extension. “It’s how you build your team. We have Ryan locked up for the next six years. He’s our best player, and we need him at the top of his game to have success. He’s so talented and works extremely hard in every practice. It’s fun to know you have a … [Read more...] about Miller banks on the Sabres being on the money

'“The contract never really bugged me,” Vanek said during training camp. “I always said I put more pressure on myself than anyone else. I never thought about money and that’s not the reason I’m here. Now I’m back looking to just get off on the right foot, play the first half like I did in the second half.”' … [Read more...] about Vanek puts pressure on himself to make sure season not half full

'“I’m by far in the best condition of my life, bar none,” Connolly said. “All the physical testing results are the highest I’ve had in my career. It was a long summer of rehab and training and getting ready. The goal is playing every game. Contribute at both ends of the rink and contribute on the special teams because I feel like I can make the … [Read more...] about Despite nagging injuries, Connolly still considered a difference maker

'The Sabres are a year older but, more importantly, they seem a year wiser. They needed to mature, and they're talking as if they have. To them, points now mean numbers in the standings rather than numbers on the score sheet. It's a good start.' … [Read more...] about Five reasons for optimism

'Only 14 points separated fifth place from 12th last season in the Eastern Conference. It could be closer now. Even if the Sabres are improved, they could be fighting several teams for a postseason spot down the stretch. Their last seven games will be played in an 11-day span, so that could force their playoff bubble to burst.' … [Read more...] about Five reasons for pessimism

'“My reaction to the Sabres is very emotion driven, and I think that that emotional reaction is far more interesting to certain readers than my thoughts on how Thomas Vanek needs to shoot the puck more often,” she said.' … [Read more...] about For two bloggers, home is where the Sabres are

'“Looking back now, I took it out on Lindy, that it was his fault that he came in and Teddy was gone,” said Barnaby. “And that’s a maturing process. Looking back now, was I wrong? Probably. Do I regret it? No. I got to play 14 years in a lot of great cities. Would I have loved to have been a Sabre my whole career? For sure.”' … [Read more...] about ESPN wants Barnaby to continue to speak his mind

'The Sabres remember what happened last year. They won't let it happen again.' … [Read more...] about Expect Sabres to learn from mistakes

'Will Thomas Vanek shed the cobwebs which plagued him last season and become the Vanek of old? Ditto for Maxim Afinogenov. Will Tim Connolly finally get healthy? Will the defense overachieve? Answer yes to all these questions and the Sabres should be playing hockey come late April.' … [Read more...] about Sizing Up The Northeast Division

'Rivet's appointing, which was voted upon by the players, even surprised the head coach. "Was I a little bit surprised? Yeah," said Lindy Ruff. "But to come in and garner that much trust and respect from your teammates in a short period of time says a lot."' … [Read more...] about Follow the leader

'"We felt this group was old enough and mature enough to have one captain to represent this team," said Ruff. "Part of the process was allowing the players a say in who that captain should be."' … [Read more...] about Oh captain, my captain

'Gaustad is expected to miss the first month of the season after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb last week. Weber, demoted to AHL Portland, Maine, proved to be the odd-man out and was the final player cut as the Sabres were carrying eight defensemen.' … [Read more...] about Sabres place Gaustad on IR; demote D Weber