Okay, there are too many emotions and thoughts going through my head post-Brian Campbell trade not to blog about it:
12:57: On TSN’s TRADECENTRE, James Duthie looked like he was going to cry post-Brian Campbell interview. Great, now all I need is the broadcasters breaking down, too. That helps.
12:59: Caller on WGR:
“They’ve lost their two best forward and best defenseman in one calendar year. Who does that?”
Thank you. You need to worry about your top guys first (think Detroit’s GM Ken Holland), and then fill in the pieces. Don’t give me bullshit on how we need to save money to sign Paul Gaustad, Jason Pominville, etc. – those are the guys you can fill in. You can’t fill in Chris Drury, Daniel Briere or Brian Campbell. They are the core.
1:03: I so need to eat lunch.
1:17: What happens to the Sabres power play now? Does this mean Dmitri Kalinin automatically gets a much bigger role on the team? Scary. And get ready for the triumphant return of the Nate the not-so-great Paetsch.
1:26: Just realized the Red Wings are playing the Sharks on Friday night. I'm ready to pull my hair out.
Oh, and what happens to the Brian Campbell sweating commercial?
1:35: Yes, I hate that Campbell was traded. But how can you not be excited about his first Drew Remenda interview on Shark Byte?
Who is going to be the Sabres captain? Shit the Capitals are just picking up tons of people (Cristobel Huet, Sergei Fedorov, Matt Cook).
2:02: Less than an hour left. Have we seen the last from Regier and Co.?
2:15: More talk about the "future" on WGR. Tell me about potential, too. The last two years, it was beautiful to be a Sabres fan because for once in a long time, you could think about the present. Too often, you're left looking to the past, or hoping for the future. You're always being pulled away, plucked from the here-and-now because you just can't stay in the present. It's just too painful.
2:40:
"It was the greatest thing ever for two years ... and now it's gone." -Bulldog on WGR 550
Brokenhearted is the word of the day. Of the year. Of the past two years.
3:00: Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh. Wow. Lots of scoring.
Still, Pittsburgh hasn't proved anything past the regular season. They were atrocious in the playoffs last year. Hossa has 35 points in 55 playoff games, all with the Senators. Can Marc-Andre Fleury really rebound for the playoffs? Or is Ty Conklin for real? I'm not placing any bets - the Penguins are young, inexperienced, and I'm not sure how much they learned from the Ottawa series last year except that they had no business being there.
3:22: I thought I could get a lot done today. Stupid. Between WGR 550 and TSN TRADECENTRE, the day is almost gone.
Ken Holland finally makes a move, acquiring Brad Stuart. I used to be a big Stuart supporter back in his San Jose days, but is one of those "potential" guys that never really panned out. Definitely a minor move.
Al Montoya (and Marcel Hossa) land in Phoenix. Interesting collection of Wolverines assembling in the desert, with Hobey Baker-hopeful Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik joining the squad next year.
3:28: WGR finally got the Campbell audio up. Too bad Sabres.com didn't put video up. I know the official sites are half news, half marketing, but as a Sabres fan, I need time to lament Campbell leaving. Best stuff from the interview:
“I allowed them to call me Soupy, and that was fine."
"The disappointing part is that we didn't bring the prize home to Western New York."
Campbell describing scoring last week in Toronto, and Lindy Ruff subsequently tapping him on the shoulder and smiling, as being one of the best moments in his time in Buffalo.
"I can't sign for a three-year deal like that. You see what happens in the NHL. A person almost lost their life here a couple weeks ago. Life is short."
Keep tabs on the Sabres? "Yea, obviously. The coaching staff, everybody. It goes down the line. Everybody."
Mike Grier, Briere, Drury: "Wish I wasn't in that setup of names there."
"There's still potential in that (Buffalo) locker room."
"I've loved every minute of it, and I hope they enjoyed watching me play.
Don't boo me when I come back. C'mon. That's all. Don't boo me, c'mon."
"I'm a human being. I have friends here. That's basically what it comes down to."
And for a few laughs on Deadline Day: Steve Bernier aka Big Bear introduces himself to the Buffalo fans.
"I'm 22 years old, and I play right wing. I'm 6'2'', 220 pounds."
4:04: Here's another pipe dream: Maybe Buffalo will be so awful without Campbell the rest of the season that Regier/Golisano will have a change in heart about long-term contracts.
The ex-Sabre list: Brian Campbell, Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, Jay McKee, Marty Biron, JP Dumont, Mike Grier...
4:07: Wonder how Ryan Symth is feeling in Colorado. Last year this time, he was the crying player at deadline time. Now it's Campbell on the verge of tears. Wishing there were more Mats Sundins out there, willing and wanting to stay with "their" team. True, Sabres management has royally screwed over players and failed to sign players at the right time, right price. But Campbell ultimately can make the decision to stay, whether it was this morning or July 1.
4:15: Per TSN: number of trades: 23, players: 43, draft picks: 22. Fourth busiest deadline day in NHL history (1-2008, 2-2006, 3-2003).
Mike Schopp: "I think they needed a forward." Yea, that's what happens when you lose Briere, Drury, Zubrus, Grier and Dumont. It's not like they don't need defensemen, either. The pickings on the farm are getting very slim.