Kelly the Dog

To me there are certain times and certain players in any pro sport that it is a good business move to overpay for someone. The Sabres are trying to change the culture of their team into one that is tough to play against. They're about halfway now with getting rid of some soft players, and getting Ott and Scott, and now signing Gergensons. We get a little bigger signing Grigs. Doan would not only complete the culture change but with that contract would pay dividends down the road for players wanting to come to Hockey Heaven. Now the Sabres are not only a wild spending team, they are a nasty no nonsense team. Guys won't be able to get away with being soft when you have Doan and Ott and Gergensons (even as a rookie if he plays) playing the way they do. Ott is a great change for this team but he is not enough to complete the change. Doan would go a long way to make the transformation for the 3-4 years he would be here, and would help the overall attraction of the team. IMO, he would be worth paying that money to, especially considering that we will have a LOT of players in the next three years between Foligno, Armia, Grigs and Gergs, McNabb, etc, playing on entry level contracts.

I don't think so. Injuries aside, Roy has always been the same kind of player on the Sabres. I'm not saying his effectiveness has always been the same, but we wouldn't be having this conversation if, say, Roy was always the #3 C on this team like he was when he was at his best, and wasnt asked to carry the load. Roy wore out his welcome here, and became stale, and became synonymous with the old way, and had difficulties with his coach. But for most of his career, the team was better with Roy on it than they would have been without him, regardless of the fact we didn't win anything with him. I think any rational observer of the NHL and the team would argue with that. His detractors, and I have been one of them lately, IMO have a distorted image and memory of his career and playing time. It was surely time for him to go. It's arguable that last year it was time for him to go. But he has been a good player and valuable member of the team the vast majority of his career, even if he was never a #1 C and an NHL all-star. Semin, too, seemed to have gotten stale in Washington.

If only Semin could play like that guy can write. That really was one terrific article. IMO, too many players in all sports are overly criticized for what people want them to be or think they should be, rather than what they are. That's okay only if you're willing to admit, like this article does, that what they are is still much better than the 90% of players who play to their potential. As far as Semin goes, it's really a tough choice as the Sabres try to change the culture of their team. We are looking for MORE compete and grit out of our players and that is not what Semin is. The thing is, however, when you played the Sabres before, you knew they were not going to be physical with you, you knew the entire game they were not going to do certain things or react certain ways, so you could temper your game before it really started toward a kind of play, or knew what liberties you could take. With a guy like Semin, while you knew he wouldn't necessarily give 100% every shift, it's not as though you knew when that was going to be. You always have to pay attention to him. He is a serious threat every time on the ice whether he is trying or not because he turns it on and off. We still need players that other teams fear and he is one of them. He may not be the best choice, but are the Sabres a better team with him than without? Hell, yes.

He is much better suited as a #3 or #2 C without a need to carry a team because he is not the kind of player that can or will. He is a better player than his reputation here, and people put too much expectation on him and too much pressure on him. He is a diver and a whiner and a little bitch at times, will whine to the refs without getting back on D. He's extremely frustrating to watch but is also capable of being very exciting. He's a surprisingly good penalty killer, and for some reason most always seems to be trying when on the PK, which can't be said for a lot of shifts. Like most guys who score 65-70, he is streaky. Sometimes he looks great but just as often disappears. It's hard to know where his head is at. He sounded pretty depressed in his interview. It's possible that he could be re-invigorated, especially in a contract year and because he is, or should be, finally healthy. Chances are, he is going to have a good year in the contract year. The problem is, if you try to sign him up now so you don't lose him, he might never get going. That's the issue as I see it. And if he has a great season, he is going to be a hot commodity in FA. Also he is likely to love the Dallas nightlife.

It could easily be that this is one of few trades in any sport at any time that actually works out well for both teams and players. I hate getting rid of Kassian but Hodgson is a guy we sorely need, too.

He's gotten kicked out a few times lately, but his FO% is 51.4. Not too bad for a guy just starting to do it in the NHL. There is no question this team missed his spark and creativity while he was out, playing C or not. He's really played well. I wish they would just give him linemates and stick with it though.

A bunch of us are going to watch the game at Busby's on Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica. A mile or two west of the 405. It's a Bills backers bar and will be fun.

I heard that on GR. ;)

Miller is scratched, and is day to day. Lalime is supposed to start but it hasn't been announced I don't think.

My buddy was flying today from Boston to Buffalo and Jonas Enroth was on his flight which was delayed. Talked to him for awhile and Enroth was called up today from Portland. Not sure what it means or if he will start but he's definitely in Buffalo right now.