millbank

regarding goalies, Buffalo for a rather extended period has not just good but excellent goal tending, for some they having average goal tending purgatory. Just maybe this rebuild team will be a team with players able to play systems to defend and score rather than rely on fantastic exploits of their goal tending. Could team work can make a average goal tender very good, just as poor team work can make a good goalie average at best. Generations that has got used to having the best goalies in world tend goal for Sabres a good one may be a come down.

He was just having fun with hosts. What he did say of note was he still currently evaluating Ted Nolan, still a process, that Nolan could be the coach of a young team, given he a players coach, that it not all on the head coach to teach but the entire staff. He stated a number of times he views rebuilding team at present via draft and youth. Regarding trading Ott and losing leadership, he felt this would be a need that could be addressed through free agency or internally. Will say he does come across a straight forward competent guy. No that it matters but likable and media friendly.

Think the front office has decided to build through youth and be patient. They going to trade for youth and picks. Tim Murray has been straight forward with this. He has has not be insincere , he saying straightforward this not a very good team, that he does not have a five year plan expects progress sooner than later, this done through the next two drafts building on what assets team currently has on Parent team and in minors. He stated this right from the first day of his hiring. He at no time stated he felt current group good enough to build on through free agents , trades and draft. He has said this a rebuild. Like it or no, he has been straight forward with this. Believe he see's another tough year upcoming, expecting to see a much improved competitive team there after. Not 4 -5 years down the road. He has stated this .

true enough . but many of these could be linemen for Bills, 5- 5, five hundred pounds, skinny ones weigh in at around 350.. :o

watching hockey central at noon they saying that IOC will pay Tavares salary for remainder of season. This resolves Islander Insurance issues.

good grief a pack of drunked up old ladies kicking my behind,... I see visions of Roadhouse partying at the Double Deuce,

I old man..(73) :o

went to bingo last night and got out muscled of all the bingo's by a pack of tough old ladies. They have all their gear, padded seats, fancy dabber bags, filled with caramel corn, tick tacks, licorice. Try to sit in a regulars seat and all hell breaks loose. Bingo a tough game..

It said Ducks at present thinking more in terms of dealing Hiller to Edmonton during next draft. Is it possible they wanting to keep Miller away from St. Louis, would do a deal with Edmonton now, with they getting back a number of young assets, from which they could use to trade for Miller. In this scenario perhaps everyone gets what they want. Sabres getting a young position player or pick plus a young goalie from Ducks. You never do know. Could be one possibility.

Based on all the variables at hand , what is realistic to expect to get in return for Ryan Miller. Increasing chatter St. Louis interested, Jonas Hiller a free agent at seasons. end Ducks said to have three young goalies to step in next season. Is it possible Ducks would want to keep Miller from St. Louis thus making a credible offer for Miller thus two teams competing for Miller , Sabres getting better value. ?

I ok with being alone on this . The argument of NBC monies no doubt a significant one, but a World Cup of hockey in prime time in U.S in U.S cities of great value as well. I a old guy , 73 now, lucky i around for next Olympics, but stand by my comments, NHL will go to World Cup format they far more interested in growing game in U.S than in Europe on other parts of World, most bums in seats in U.S markets , watching television. Noted on this board, once U.S out of medal round not as avid a following. Can't imagine apart from avid hockey markets many in U.S cared a dam about Canada- Sweden or any other nations competing against each other. Hockey in or out of Olympics not going to change viewship over all apart from when U.S involved. Not sure the NHL or NBC for that matter cares a whip who is watching in Europe . They can and will make more money with a World Cup and is why it will be done . Archive the post, hang me if i wrong.

Does get down to with market as weak as it is presently , what would it take to get Miller to sign in Buffalo that would be mutually beneficial to both player and team. Owner agreeing to allow as much signing bonus as allowed under agreement and monies that make contract attractive to other teams, the Sabres in fact paying much of the burden, they in return get time for market to become better. For Miller he getting the money essentially guaranteed, where as free agent no such guarantee's . As talked for a long period on this forum new GM has his nuts in a vise, it on him to find best way out. They going to get ripped it just a matter of how much .

the open market may not be as lucrative for Miller in summer, team with cap issues ect not necessarily going to be able to offer more than what Miller could sign with Buffalo now , he getting front loaded money now, it in the bank for he. There is only so much money available for him given the cap, Sabres could pay him now what he will get elsewhere via extended contract, be able to wait for better market and not trade him for nothing or at least him value. What is in it for Miller is he gets paid now, where waiting until summer no assurance he going to get paid the same. This on new general manager, does he get pressured to trade Miller for far less than his worth or find a way to sign him , giving team time for better return.

It may be a possibility that in both Millers interest and team he does sign in Buffalo as at this time the market for goalie not high , signing Miller for Sabres would make him in fact more desirable in a year or two if they front end a contract with substantial bonuses , he later term money not as high a cap hit. At present Sabres not going to get value for him and Miller not going to be offered the money he would wish in terms of contract extension. A surprise in terms of a contract signing may very well be in the offing . They do it this way or get in return for him not very much.

Hard to say if and how Ted Nolan's perspective on coaching , player effort has been effected by coaching what was said to be a far less talented team in Latvia who with effort and a plan played the best players in the world (all nations) hardly a walkover . Got to think on Latvia there were similar players in terms of skill sets who with effort and following a plan excelled. Perhaps this the message to Scott ..?

levels of 150 or less allowed, he had 190, and this amount very much so is a stimulant ....

It being said NHL allowed its players to participate in this recent Olympics because simply they were concerned about losing Russian players to KHL . With injuries season ending to Tavaras, Zetterberg will take time to heal, who knows what others and how it will effect remaining season, playoffs ect. team owners many were not proponents from the outset, with such injury fears. Much talk taking place where the NHL will return to a World Cup format, this more practical in terms of presentation, time zones and so forth, plus simply they will be able to make a great deal of money . This format will still offer the nationalistic format that fans enjoy. (generally so) Will you be unhappy if this was the last NHL Olympics? Much of this current format originated before the influx of European players where in North America sent amateur teams, many in Europe through various means were in fact masked true professionals. The argument then was if they could use their professionals, so should we. Soviets for one recognized hockey as a vehicle they could use, skilled athletes played on club teams year round, Soviet Red Army, Soviet Wings, and so forth. What i would like to see given the inconsistent judgements as to who professionals are or who are not, restrict teams to be composed of players 20 and under. ( if teams composed of College age players, it arguable if they students or professionals) Question will/would you be in agreement with NHL not participating in Olympic games and a Professional World Cup , perhaps every four years?

you know maybe that is the point what European refs call and what North American ones call. If North American refs call Womens hockey game, just maybe the crap penalties on both sides that altered the game would not have been called. You want to talk appearance, look at the womens game, refs constantly in huddles trying to decide what to do badgered by both teams. Total incompetence. This is why when NHL players participate part of agreement is competent referees do the games. History of European - North American hockey littered with outrageous examples of officiating at is most biased, worst. Want to get along here, but you folks at times make it tough.

Teemu Selanne was named MVP tournament All-Star team: Goalkeeper: Henrik Lundqvist, Sweden Defenseman: Erik Karlsson, Sweden Defenseman: Drew Doughty, Canada Forward: Teemu Selanne, Finland Forward: Phil Kessel, USA Forward: Mikael Granlund, Finland

Credit to Canadian team management who selected this group of players. On a unfortunate note Backstrom was out of game because of testing positive for a banned substance. Again what this tournament shows is just how many people play the game excellently from all over the world and just how close the talent is at the top with so many nations able to assemble a team any of which could win a gold medal. Glad it is over for another four years, it concerns me at times with the national bias each of us would have it could cause bad feelings amongst us. I ponder at times just what these competitions are or what they have become, but the import does seem to be more than a game. Wish it were not so. Good for Canada to win, full credit, over all they were the best these two weeks, but it good to remember the best of players come from all over the world not just one nation. Hockey is not for Cowards, (Russian Hockey Song) The ears ring with the bold music of an attack... Make an accurate pass, shoot hard! And everything is right, if on the ice is The Magnificent Five and a Goalkeeper! Chorus: The ice brotherhood combats hard And we trust in courage of daring guys Real men play hockey, No coward plays hockey! Let the place behind the rival's net to be more frequently Illuminated by red lamp's victorious flash! But if there's a need, defends brilliantly The Magnificent Five and a Goalkeeper! Chorus Many beautiful games would be seen And we won't forget, we'll never forget as long ago Gold and cups have been won at ice battles by The Magnificent Five and a Goalkeeper! Chorus

eteran Swedish defenceman Niklas Kronwall of the Detroit Red Wings believes that both teams can benefit from North American officials. "We are used to having referees from USA and Canada in the NHL," said Kronwall. "We know their standards so I think it's easier for us too if the referees are from there." Former Norris Trophy winner and Ottawa Senators standout Erik Karlsson agreed with his fellow blueliner. "I think most referees over there [in the National Hockey League] are Canadian, too," said Karlsson. "They probably support Montreal or Toronto, but they don't make any difference there. I couldn't care less about what the referees do. As you saw yesterday, we had two power plays, Finland had a lot, and we still won the game. It's nothing we can control and neither can Canada. the referee's where chosen by their experience and skill level not nationality. Was a time international hockey did otherwise and the game was adversely effected. These are professional referees, who would not be able to live down the same of doing nothing less than the best job they can possibly do. The comments otherwise flat out nonsense.

Quick never seen the shot. Would be shame folks put the boots to Quick now. They playing in game that most just want to get over, not get injured and get back home. No chance do these guys see themselves as bronze medal anything. ( i get the Miller bias of course. Mind you got to wonder if he wanted in this game. )

Quick has played well in this tournament , you do not reward him after a tough 1-0 loss , a shot at a medal not play him/ remove him . I they did this to me, I tell them next time around I not feeling well. get yourself another man. Goes were about U.S defense getting caught , not Quick faltering.

right off the post

penalty shot,