In The Crease

LIVE: Emotions on Trade Deadline Day

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.

Playoff notebook

Since I’ve failed to blog with any regularity, I put together a smorgasbord of off-ice thoughts through two rounds:

-Is it just me or does Madison Square Garden have the most pathetic horn in the entire NHL? It leaves me thinking, “Honey, the buns are ready!” at the end of each period.

-I’ve never liked Ray Emery as a player, but his off-ice antics are annoying, too:

“I’m not a big fan of Buffalo,” Emery said early this week. “There’s not a lot to do on days off.” ...

“He’ll find things to do,” Ruff said with a laugh. “Rent a Hummer truck, go for a ride. Drive around a little bit.” -TBN

Emery had the latest word Wednesday when asked if he'd have anything to say to Ruff if he saw him on the road - Emery quipped he'd greet him with a little ‘nudge.’ ” –CP

Don’t worry, Ray. WIVB has called fans to help him find something to keep him busy in Western New York. The best suggestions so far? “Go to a driving school!” and “Have you ever heard of a little place called Niagara Falls? I'm sure that they can find a barrel big enough to fit your ego.”

-Most hockey players have superstitions, but I doubt most involve a newspaper’s beat reporter:

"Ales Kotalik just one day asked me how my coffee was, I said it was delicious and we left at that. Then that night he scored two goals," said [TBN's Tim] Graham.

"I see him the next day and he says 'Timmy how's the coffee?' And as soon as he asked me that, I knew what he was talking about, and I said it was delicious and he kind of laughed about it and then went out and had a goal and an assist."

Says Kotalik, "It was always when he was holding a Dunkin' Donuts coffee that I had a good game, so I kind of told him make sure you have it before every game."

Check out the video here.

-Yes, Buffalo is crazy for the playoffs:

“I think [Sabres] fever is hot when I drive by the Catholic church near my house, and it doesn’t list the Mass times or the inspirational message,” Sabres public relations director Michael M. Gilbert said. “It says, ‘Go Sabres.’ ” –TBN

I also like the “Welcome to Pominville” sign on Rt. 33.

-Oh, and it’s not just Buffalo. It’s also Buffalo’s collection of fans around the globe. I’m listening to WGR right now, and people have called in everywhere from England to South Africa. Especially here in Detroit, people complain about those “late” west coast games. What if you’re a Sabres fan living across the ocean where the games don’t START until 1 a.m.? Now that’s dedication!

-Even the New York Times is taking notice of Buffalo's obsession:

"On Versus, Buffalo has the highest ratings and the most viewers. 'The Buffalo fans are a force of nature,' said Gavin Harvey, the president of Versus. 'We crushed ‘American Idol’ up there.'

In Game 4, Buffalo had a 24.8 rating from Versus, accounting for 158,000 households. Meanwhile, New York did a 1.5, the highest ever for a hockey game on Versus in that market. In Detroit, which appropriated the nickname Hockeytown in 1996, then backed it up by selling out 452 consecutive home games and winning the Stanley Cup three times, has failed to sell out its first five playoff home games this year. That has caused some hand-wringing in the Motor City, but it may be premature to cede top status to Buffalo and the Sabres."

-I’m begging Larry Quinn: Please get rid of the white pom pons! Doesn't he realize home teams wear COLOR now? And am I the only one that thinks HSBC is less enthusiastic about pom pons than other hockey-crazed cities?

-It’s no secret that Hockeytown has failed to sell out any of its playoff games. Living in Detroit, I have to chuck it up to the economy. With such a large corporate season ticket base and the decimation of the auto industry, businesses and its employees don’t have the disposable income to spend on Red Wings tickets, which are much higher than Pistons playoff tickets or the hottest ticket in town — the Detroit Tigers. Free Press columnist (and former Michigan Daily EIC) Michael Rosenberg wrote about the struggle to sell out:

“I don't blame people for staying home. People can spend their money however they'd like. It is just too bad that Mike Ilitch has chosen to alienate his fan base like this, by acting like the economy is still thriving and the Wings are still the only winner in town.

In the last few years, we have seen the state unemployment rate rise, the Pistons become one of the best franchises in sports, the Tigers make the World Series, Steve Yzerman retire and the Wings' payroll drop from almost $78 million in 2004 to $44 million this year. Yet the Wings expect fans to open the checkbook as they did in 2002.”

-Isn’t it funny how Ryan Miller sounds more and more like Chris Drury in his interviews? “It’s just a hockey game, it doesn’t matter who the opponent it is, I’m just focused on the game…”

-I was listening to the "60s on 6" channel on XM Radio this past Tuesday while driving to work. A Sabres fan called up, and he requested  "A Wonderful Dream" by The Majors, in honor of the Senators matchup. Pretty sweet.

-Best quote of the playoffs thus far, courtesy of TBN columnist Bucky Gleason: “Drury’s heart never skips a beat when everybody else is ready to drop dead.” Of course, it was in reference to Drury’s game-tying goal with 7.7 second remaining in Game Five against the Rangers. Rick Jeanneret’s call was great, too: “Who else? Who else?”

Playoff predictions: Round 1

They're back. I'm not ready. But it's time.

Eastern Conference
(1) BUFFALO Sabres vs. (8) NEW YORK Islanders
Series Breakdown
Buffalo (113 pts, 53-22-7), New York (92 pts, 40-30-12)
Season series: Sabres (3-1)
Let’s face it — Buffalo has been the number one team in the league for the majority of the regular season, playing a large chunk of that time with an AHL-laden roster. Now they’re completely healthy, minus Paul Gaustad. They shouldn’t have trouble dealing with an Islanders team that stumbled into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. The only way that I even see the Isles grabbing a game in this series is a miraculous comeback from Rick DiPietro, or if New York can draw Buffalo into a special teams game (and Tim Connolly’s return somehow has absolutely no affect on the power play). That’s a lot of if’s just to win a game. Buffalo should have this series easy.
Pick: Buffalo in 5

(2) NEW JERSEY Devils vs. (7) TAMPA BAY Lightning
Series Breakdown
New Jersey (107 pts, 49-24-9), Tampa Bay (93 pts, 44-33-5)
Season series: Tied (2-2)
Barring some crazy injury to Martin Brodeur, the Devils have a clear edge in this series. Tampa Bay has been up and down all season, while this has been one of Brodeur’s best — and maybe Hart-worthy — seasons. Lou Lamoriello’s head games are nothing new, so I don’t think the coaching change will throw the Devils off. Also, what’s made the Devils remarkable is how their defensemen, especially Brad Lukowich and Colin White, have really adjusted their game to become effective in the new NHL. Tampa Bay? No goaltending. Simple.
Pick: New Jersey in 4

(3) ATLANTA Thrashers vs. (6) NEW YORK Rangers
Series Breakdown
Atlanta (97 pts, 43-28-11), New York (94 pts, 42-30-10)
Season series: Thrashers (3-1)
Without a doubt, this is the series I’m least interested in, even though the league is probably very interested (just for TV ratings sake). While Kari Lehtonen has the ability to steal games on his own, I think New York’s offense combined with Henrik Lundqvist’s goaltending should be able to stop the Southern boys — even if it takes a while to do so.
Pick: New York in 6

(4) OTTAWA Senators vs. (5) PITTSBURGH Penguins
Series Breakdown
Ottawa (105 pts, 48-25-9), Pittsburgh (105 pts, 47-24-11)
Season series: Penguins (3-1)
This series has the potential to be the most exciting of the first round, emphasis on potential. Both teams favor an end-to-end style and have great, young offensive talent up front (think Dany Heatly, Sidney Crosby, Jason Spezza, Evgeni Malkin). And while Ottawa may be ranked fourth, its been playing its best hockey in the second half, much like Pittsburgh. But the playoffs are entirely different. You can remind Ottawa of playoff years past (see: Buffalo) with early series wins. Or you can remind Pittsburgh that they’ve never been here. I think one of the NBC commentators said it best: “Ottawa’s bad experience is better than Pittsburgh’s none.” Maybe that’s true, but Ottawa’s lack of playoff success and the possibility of shaky goaltending should balance out Pittsburgh’s youthful naivety of playing in the postseason and make for a long series.
Pick: Pittsburgh in 7

Western Conference
(1) DETROIT Red Wings vs. (8) CALGARY Flames
Series Breakdown
Detroit (113 pts, 50-19-13), Calgary (105 pts, 43-29-10)
Season series: Tied (2-2)
Will the Red Wings be again haunted by Alberta? Perhaps. And it will be tough for Detroit, who could be without Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. However, this Red Wings team is different than last season; there’s no more reliance on a crippled Steve Yzerman or worn-out-his-welcome Brendan Shanahan. Now there’s Todd Bertuzzi (to protect seven-year Pavel Datsyuk) and Dominik Hasek getting shutouts left and right. The Flames, much like the Islanders, stumbled their way into the playoffs after a late surge by the Avalanche. They have the offense, the defense, and the goaltending — but will they have it away from the Saddledome? And can they beat the Dominator? More questions than answers make this a longer series, but it should result in Detroit’s favor.
Pick: Detroit in 6

(2) ANAHEIM Ducks vs. (7) MINNESOTA Wild
Series Breakdown
Carolina (110 pts, 48-20-14), Buffalo (114 pts, 48-26-8)
Season series: Tied (2-2)
This has the possibility to be the most boring first-round series. By far. I haven’t been able to get into either of these teams this year. Anaheim has its dynamic duo on defense, Scott Niedermeyer and Chris Pronger, and always has Teemu Selanne. But the Wild have possibly the best coach in the playoffs, Jacques Lemaire. Well, I know I won’t be watching that much, but I’m leaning toward Anaheim here based on personnel.
Pick: Anaheim in 6

(3) VANCOUVER Canucks vs. (6) DALLAS Stars
Series Breakdown
Vancouver (105 pts, 49-26-7), Dallas (107 pts, 50-25-7)
Season series: Tied (2-2)
One of the best parts of the first round is the chance to see Roberto Luongo fight for the Stanley Cup for the first time. Night in and out, Luongo backstopped the Canucks to victory and made them a playoff team once again. And who doesn’t love Alain Vigneault? With Dallas, it’s always about Marty Turco: he has the great regular season numbers, and even NCAA championships, but he’s never had his A-game in the NHL’s second season. I’m not a believer that the Stars will shine.
Pick: Vancouver in 5

(4) NASHVILLE Predators vs. (5) SAN JOSE Sharks
Series Breakdown
Nashville (110 pts, 51-23-8), San Jose (107 pts, 51-26-5)
Season series: Predators (3-1)
If Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa is the most exciting series in the East, Nashville vs. San Jose definitely gets the billing in the West. From an offensive standpoint, both teams bring it in waves: Paul Kariya, Peter Forsberg, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau. Nashville narrowly missed winning the Western Conference. While neither of these teams deserves a first-round exit, I think the goaltending tandem of Evgeni Nabokov and Vesa Toskala is the difference in this series.
Pick: San Jose in 6

A few things to consider on Deadline Day

I'm not normally nervous on Deadline Day. Darcy Regier has never been the type of general manager to make a "splash" on the Deadline. He's more the let-me-find-a-great-player-when-we're-not-making-the-playoffs (see Daniel Briere) or please-forget-this-trade-as-soon-as-possible (see Bob Corkum).

But today's a little different. Call it contender syndrome. Call it the cap conundrum. Maybe I'm still in a little shock after seeing Chris Drury's blood splattered on the ice last Thursday. Whatever it is, while many Sabres fans are concerned about dollar signs, I'm boggled down by a few other thoughts today too:

1) Not biology or physics... it's the chemistry, baby!
The mayhem against Ottawa proved once again that the chemistry inside the Buffalo dressing room is second to none. Drew Stafford, a Rochester call-up and not seen as a rough-and-tumbler, leapt into action after Chris Neil nailed Drury. He didn't hesitate; he just started throwing punches. And while Stafford's only played a handful of games, he, like the other call-ups, plays right into the system that is Sabres hockey. The bind is stronger than defensive pairings or Buffalo-Rochester; it's engraved deeply into the organization that begins with Lindy Ruff and ends... who knows where. It continued on the next shift, when all five guys plus Marty Biron defended their captain. You can't teach that in the last couple of weeks of the season. If a guy is brought in, he must be of the personality that isn't going to detract from the chemistry established in Buffalo already. And the guy you take out -- well, that's another issue.

2) This year may be destiny -- or not
TBN columnist Jerry Sullivan was on WGR 550 today, spouting out how Regier must think differently because Buffalo has never won a championship in football or hockey. Thus, since the Sabres are so close, it has to be all about this year. I understand that Drury and Daniel Briere might be out of town after this season due to the economics of the game, but I disagree with anyone who thinks this year they win or that's it. Regier has built a system of young guys not only in the NHL, but also at the minor league level, understanding that in the new NHL there will be turnover. With the cap situation as such, Regier must be careful with the rent-a-player scenarios. He's worked hard to get this group under contract and locked up for the next few years; it may not be worth it to sacrifice one or two young forwards for a veteran for just this playoffs.

3) What the holes were last year at this time
Why did Buffalo eventually lose out last year? The easy answer is that injuries, mostly on defense, cost them a shot at Lord Stanley. But the reality is that rash of injuries, along with this current one, isn't just bad luck (as much as fans try to convince themselves that's the case). This team still lacks toughness and size. While Drury is no doubt gritty in the trenches, and there maybe be few forwards peskier than Derek Roy, no one in the lineup strikes fear in an opposing team. And there is the perception that a team can push Buffalo around and get players off their game. Philadelphia tried last year, and ultimately failed. But injuries continued to pile up. I don't think a fourth-line banger would hurt the cause. And you have to remember that this year's squad is without Mike Grier and Jay McKee, two from last year's crew that took care of a lot of the hitting required to "send a message."

4) The case for Marty Biron
I firmly agreed with Mike Robitaille and Co. that keeping goaltender Biron around this season was the right choice. Goaltending is by far the most important position; why not have depth where it counts most? And Biron's personality seems to perfectly complement Ryan Miller's intense, complex style. But with most of the season behind us, and Buffalo sitting comfortably at the top of the division, Biron's $2 million+ salary weighs heavy. With the recent injuries and the real possibility that Tim Connolly may not return this season, Biron is the obvious choice to help clear cap space. Besides, does any Sabre fan truly believe that Buffalo can win if Miller went down with an injury? Few, I suppose. Regier's difficulty here is the problem that he's faced since last season -- the market just doesn't seem ripe.

I firmly believe the Sabres can win as presently constituted. But no Connolly (or a half-strength Connolly)? A late return from Max? A no-show from Thomas Vanek again? The playoffs aren't fun and games like the regular season has been this season for the Sabres. The pressure's on Regier to make sure that the playoffs this year maybe could be.

Hockey's back, but will all fans be able to watch?

Despite NHL games being nationally televised on OLN this season, many fans might still be in the dark. According to Newsday, OLN is available in 64 million homes and is on basic cable in 90 percent of them. Still, many fans will end up paying extra to upgrade to a digital-tier or for a sports package if they want to see games on OLN. Just a few places where OLN is not on basic/basic-digital: Long Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Westchester and northern New Jersey, aka a good chunk of the NHL's biggest market. And Buffalo's Adelphia (sorry Sabres fans).

This could be a useful strategy to get OLN in more homes, MediaWeek reported on Monday:

"OLN’s pickup of the NHL cable rights could engender yet another war between a cable operator and a network.

According to a source close to the proceedings, NHL games will be blacked out in cable systems that relegate OLN to a digital sports tier, including all of Cablevision’s footprint and Cox Communications’ Phoenix system.

While 90 percent of OLN’s carriage is on standard analog tiers, the network is likely to use the threat of a blackout in order to win total analog carriage, which would significantly boost its number of homes reached."

But even updating to digital might not be good enough if you subscribe to Cablevision, Cox or Adelphia. Basic-cable subscribers without OLN could also be left out when games are shown locally (NESN, for example) and OLN at the same time. The NESN broadcast would be blacked out locally, according to the Boston Globe (8/19/05). Newsday reported a similar problem with MSG (8/19/05):

"...unless you receive OLN - formerly Outdoor Life Network - a digital channel on your cable system that sometimes costs extra, you'll miss the Rangers-Flyers regular-season opener Oct. 5. MSG Network, the team's local rights holder, is blacked out. Concerning the Rangers-Flyers opener, a league spokeswoman said, "We are aware of that situation, but no one should draw any conclusions just yet."

If OLN chose to show the Bruins hosting the Canadiens, MSG could carry Rangers-Flyers. But anytime OLN, which will televise 58 NHL regular-season games nationally this season - primarily on Monday and Tuesday nights - decides to televise a Rangers, Islanders or Devils game exclusively, New York metro area viewers without OLN will not see it."

Additional info from today's Newsday:

' "In markets where OLN is offered on a digital sports tier, which includes Cablevision, we are required through our contracts to black out the games," an OLN spokesperson confirmed yesterday. "There will be alternative programming in that time slot. We are working with our affiliates on the situation. We believe OLN should be included on expanded basic, not a sport tier." '

It seems that this Comcast-OLN-NHL deal still needs some kinks worked out, especially for the basic-cable sports fan. My advice? Unless you already get Comcast (who assured Philly-area fans they won't be blacked out), get satellite.

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The Toronto Star's Rick Westhead also has new insight on the deal with OLN. Even the Greensboro News-Record took a stab at the deal, making the case for ESPN while adding some humorous commentary:

"...maybe ESPN recognized the marketplace, and if so, such honesty actually is refreshing.

The bad part of all this is that hockey has been relegated to the Siberia of the cable planet.

If hockey is to be on something called the Outdoor Life Network, shouldn't the league relocate every team south of St. Paul to, say, International Falls?

Then and only then could they play outdoors on frozen ponds.

If the Anaheim Mighty Ducks are on Outdoor Life Network, what's next? A Jean-Claude Van Damme movie marathon on Lifetime? "Dead Man Walking" on Comedy Central?

It doesn't make sense, but neither does overpaying for televised sports rights fees. The people have spoken."

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More information is emerging about Comcast streaming games online, via Broadcaster Magazine:

"The partnership between OLN, Comcast and the NHL will redefine the sport for hockey viewers. More action on video on demand (VOD), in HDTV and online will create an experience like never before, including:
- VOD game highlights and library footage of hockey's greatest moments with full fast-forward, rewind and replay capability
- HDTV game coverage in a crisper, faster-moving, more exciting game for hockey fans every week
- Online streaming of two live games per night (subject to local blackout), broadband highlights, commentary, and library footage ...
- Comcast will have the ability to carry and/or syndicate additional games on Comcast's regional sports networks where it has the consent of the local team and team's rights holder."

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Is Comcast setting up as a competitor for ESPN? MediaWeek (8/22/05) also wrote about OLN eyeing the MLB to add to its line-up:

"Not only did it snatch away cable rights for the National Hockey League for the next several years last week, but now Comcast/OLN has set its sights on landing Major League Baseball’s Sunday-Wednesday-night cable package, the rights to which expire at the end of the current season.

That package also includes the MLB All-Star Game home run derby telecast, which produced hefty one-night ratings for ESPN this season."

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One final note... A big thank-you to James Mirtle for hosting Carnival of the NHL #6; he did a great job of rounding up posts from around the league. Mirtle wrote up "In The Crease" for it's love of Jochen Hecht and my take on the NHL/OLN deal. Check it out!

Circle your calendar

When the NHL released its schedule yesterday, I can't say I was jumping for joy. The Buffalo Sabres open against the New York Islanders on Oct. 5. Last season ('03-04, for those that have lost track), the Isles demolished the Sabres 6-0 on opening night at HSBC Arena. And we didn't beat Michael Peca and his crew a single time in the four meetings that season, either. The last time the Sabres defeated the Isles was Oct. 10, 2002. Ironically, that was also opening night.

Besides the "joy" of playing Boston, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto eight times a piece, Sidney Crosby will visit Buffalo twice -- Oct. 10 and Dec. 17. The later date conflicts with a Bills/Broncos home game.

If previous years mean anything, the Sabres, Canadians and Islanders will fight for the seventh and eight spot in the East the last month of the season. Buffalo plays Montreal in twice in the last four games of the season (Apr. 12 and 15)

Lucky for the Sabres, the change in inter-conference play means only one, three-game swing to the west coast (Jan. 16-21). No more seven-game road trips where every game ends at midnight or later.

More interesting points of the Sabres schedule from The Buffalo News:

"January will be interesting for the Sabres. The month begins with the last five games of a season-long seven-game home stretch but ends with a season-long, six-game road trip. From Jan. 16 to 31, the Sabres will travel to Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Manhattan, Toronto and Atlanta.

The whirlwind happens at a good time because the Sabres will have a chance to recover in February, when there are only six games, including four at home. ...

The home stretch will be a furious one for the Sabres.

Their last nine games include seven Northeast Division games, including three against the Maple Leafs."

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While Sabres fans look at the schedule, knowing it will tough but fun to play divisional rivals eight times, Red Wings fans are shaking their heads at the joy of Columbus, Nashville and Chicago eight times a season. The Detroit News:

' "It's an absolute joke," said David Miller, a 25-year season-ticket holder from West Bloomfield. "It used to be that there were games you wouldn't give up your tickets for, regular-season games you looked forward to.

"That isn't the case anymore." ...

How far has the NHL gone to stress divisional rivalries? Consider this: The Wings play at Columbus on Oct. 22 and Oct. 24, followed by three consecutive games against Chicago."

Hey, I'm glad it's not my team. And I never said I was thrilled about the new divisional-rivalry set-up. It will burn teams in tough divisions like the Northeast and Northwest, while benefiting good teams in the Southeast and Central divisions.

Red Wings fans were also mad that Joe Louis Arena will see four of the six original teams -- Boston, Montreal, New York and Toronto -- only every three years. So much for tradition.

However, the article also mentioned that a change in the playoff format -- which hasn't been announced yet -- could be the reason behind the schedule changes:

"There has been some speculation that the NHL will take the top two teams in each division, along with the next two best records, into the conference playoffs.

The current system takes the three division winners and the next five best records.

"If it's the top two teams (in the division), I can understand all the divisional play (in the regular season schedule)," Holland said. "It's a race within your division." '

In my opinion, this is even worse. Can you imagine taking two teams from EVERY division? And think of all of the teams that would be left out of the playoffs with more points. See: Carolina Hurricanes repeatedly making playoffs due to weak division.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE:

- Bob Goodenow steps down. Can't say I'm surprised. The players basically went over him to make the CBA deal since he was completely against a salary cap.

- The return of the Dominator. Toronto Star:

"Ottawa Senators GM John Muckler liked what he heard from Dominik Hasek when the two talked recently.

"I could hear that passion in his voice," Muckler said during a conference call yesterday. "He's on a mission and he wants to prove that he can become an elite player again." '

Great, eight times a year.

- Why Jack Johnson should go second in this Saturday's draft. No one is talking about anything but Sidney Crosby, but Johnson's a tough, solid-built defenseman with a good shot. I'm glad he's playing for the Wolverines this season, especially since goalie Al Montoya finally left to join the Rangers.

Teams go back to school

Why is it so quiet on the buyout front? Try learning a 600-page document in a few days. GMs, coaches, agents and players are busing studying the new CBA, leaving little time for player movement. What was supposed to be mass frenzy is currently a slow crawl. Sabres' coach Lindy Ruff is hitting the books, according to Tim Graham of The Buffalo News:

"The NHL on Friday announced several rule changes that will send coaches back to their dry-erase boards. Between the start of Sabres training camp Sept. 13 and opening night Oct. 5, Ruff will be adjusting his methods.

"It's a great unknown," Ruff said. "What is going to happen?"

It's anyone's guess until players get on the ice under the new guidelines. Ruff estimated about 20 percent of his system has become outdated.

"I think 80 percent of it will stay the same, but you're taking almost a quarter of what you play and saying, "We gotta adjust this now,' " he said.

"There's going to be homework. I want our coaches to be creative. Let's come up with a whole bunch of ideas, and let's eliminate by trial and error." '

It'll be interesting to see if coaches around the league actually change their game plan. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said he wouldn't change his defensive-minded strategy for New Jersey on MSG last week. However, I bet we'll see many coaches adjusting mid-season, especially with the numerous rule changes. Later in the article, Ruff even said that coaches might have a shootout-only goaltender on the bench. Will coaches push larger, slower players to the bottom of the lineup due to a new, more open format that allows for quickness and speed to flourish?

Still, the Philadelphia Flyers -- as expected -- bought out John Leclair and Tony Amonte. TSN.ca has a Daily Transaction Log to track all of the player movement.

Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News broke down likely moves from each team. About Buffalo:

"The Sabres could be dumping goalie Martin Biron. They really want to re-sign defenseman Alexei Zhitnik, a player who is in demand. The Sabres want to bolster their defense and goaltending."

A goaltender teeter-totter instead of a carousel in Buffalo? That just wouldn't be as much fun! Really, is Sabres GM Darcy Regier really going to dump Biron after he and Ruff praise him every spring for his "growth and development"? It would be terrific if Regier could bring in a solid, veteran goaltender to share the duty with Mika Noronen or Ryan Miller. I just don't see these kids learning from each other -- their collective mental toughness is softer than Charmin.

But yes, Darcy, get on Zhitnik RIGHT NOW. Defense wins championships -- or at least a trip to the Finals -- every now and then.

Other interesting rumors include many players going to back to their old teams for less money, or moving back to play in their home city. Kulfan rumored that Chris Osgood could return to the Wings, while Curtis Joseph could become a Blue again. Kulfan also said the Oilers could be interested in Doug Weight, while the Stars might pick up Derian Hatcher once the Wings unload his salary. Minnesota might even seek the return of an original North Star, Mike Modano.

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CROSBY WATCH: The Associated Press noted ticket-buyers and players flocking to be near the 17-year-old phenom:

"Sidney Crosby has yet to don a Penguins' No. 87 jersey but already the 17-year-phenom has changed everything about hockey in Pittsburgh.

The NHL's worst team when the league last played a regular-season game in 2004, the Penguins can now look upon the playoffs as a realistic goal this season. And ticket sales, which sagged after years of near-capacity crowds in the league's oldest and least fan-friendly arena, picked up substantially minutes after Pittsburgh won the No. 1 pick Friday in the NHL draft lottery.

The Penguins sold scores of season-ticket packages Friday night to fans from 10 states and Canada, even though ticket-buyers had to wait 45 minutes on hold just to get an operator.

Other phones are ringing, too. With hundreds of players about to be dumped on the free agent market Aug. 1, some had their agents call general manager Craig Patrick.

They are eager for the chance to play alongside Lemieux, Crosby and Mark Recchi, in front of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, to get back to the player-friendly venue which lost stars such as Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, Alex Kovalev and Martin Straka not because they wanted to leave, but because the Penguins couldn't afford them.

Thanks to a salary cap that will shrink the gap between the Penguins' payroll and that of the upper-tier teams from $55 million US in 2003-04 to about $10 million in 2005-06, the Penguins can compete again on the open market for top-tier players." '

Gosh, that must be nice.

March of the Penguins

So it's official: the Pittsburgh Penguins snagged golden boy Sidney Crosby. Three balls did pay off, but not for the Buffalo Sabres who received -- ironically -- the 13th spot in the draft. 13 ... yea, not the luckiest number.

When it came down to the last two picks (and holding my breath long enough to suffocate), I guess I was leaning my wishes toward Brian Burke and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. But the Steel City won out in the end, with its second number one draft pick in three years. Crosby will join the Penguins franchise, one that had for years lived in a bottomless pit, reinvigorating a team that includes Mario Lemieux (nice linemate), Mark Recchi and goaltender Marc Andre-Fleury. In a few seconds the team transformed from a checkmark on most team's schedules to a feared competitor.

Still, would have been "better" for Crosby to land in a bigger NHL market to promote the game instead of a dying franchise like Pittsburgh? Time will tell.

Congratulations to all Pittsburgh fans. On this historical day, you marched away with the most to look forward to on Oct. 5.

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Speaking of Oct. 5 (opening night -- all 30 teams will be in action), one of the most interesting things to come out of the announcement of the CBA ratification was the changes in the schedule (NHL.com):

• Each club will play eight games against each of its four division rivals (32 total).
• Each club will play four games against each of the 10 non-division clubs in its conference (40 total).
• Each club will play 10 inter-conference games, hosting one game each against all five clubs from a designated division and traveling for one game each against all five clubs from a different division. For the 2005-06 season, Northeast Division clubs will host the Pacific Division and visit the Northwest; Atlantic Division clubs will host the Northwest and visit the Central; and Southeast Division clubs will host the Central and visit the Pacific. Division vs. division assignments will rotate annually.

I don't really like this. First, the Sabres will not play the Detroit Red Wings this year, which means I can't see them play unless I drive to an Eastern Conference city. And playing division rivals eight times? Great if your team is an easier division, such as the Central or Southeast. But not so great if everyone in your division made the playoffs last season except your favorite team (Buffalo, Northeast Division).

Still, I'm glad every team will play the majority of the teams in the league and that they kept 82 games on the schedule. I think it's important that they didn't wipe out inter-conference games completely. As a fan, I like seeing the rest of the league. Granted, I won't miss not playing Nashville this season.

I just feel bad for the Pacific division, who will have to watch Crosby on TV.

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It's going to take some time for the media, players, GMs, coaches and fans to wrap their minds around the 600+ page CBA document. But in the meanwhile, here's a few links to sort through the madness:

NHL CBA FAQ: Great collection of questions (shootout? revenue sharing?) asked and answered on NHL.com.

Draft lottery results and NHL rule changes on TSN.ca

Sidney Crosby timeline on SLAM! Sports

Do you remember ... ?

When word came today that the Friday's NHL press conference and draft lottery would be televised on U.S. television I was first, shocked, and then memories flooded in.

Hockey. On TV. On multiple stations. And so many choices:

MSG -- Hockey's Back: Starting at 3 p.m. EDT, MSG will show both the press conference and draft lottery. Then, at 9 p.m., MSG will host a roundtable with John Davidson, Sam Rosen, Doc Emrick and Stan Fischler.

Comcast SportsNet (Chicago, Mid-Atlantic and Philadelphia) & Altitude Sports Network -- Press conference at 3 p.m. EDT and subsequent draft lottery.

ESPNEWS will also show cut-ins of TSN's coverage of the draft lottery. TSN's coverage spans from 2-7 p.m EDT.

Doesn't it remind you of the old days, flipping between games? Trying to catch the best intermission interviews, spellbounding saves and last-minute game-winners? Ah, yes. It's only a matter of time.

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It was no suprise that the players ratified the CBA today in Toronto. The majority of players -- 87 percent -- are sane individuals (CP). They know that while this might not be the best deal, it's not going to get any better right now. And sitting out another year will do nothing for their careers, especially the 40+ crew. Photo courtesy of AP.

What was extremely disturbing was seeing Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow -- omg! -- shake hands and sit side-by-side. ESPN columnist Scott Burnside couldn't believe it either:

"The two, appearing at a joint news conference for the first time since the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, practically killed each other with kindness Thursday as they came together to announce the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement by the players.

Please. Thank you. I agree. You're quite right. No, you first. I insist.

As for the fact the two have been at each other's throats in boardrooms and across bargaining tables for more than a decade? Completely blown out of proportion, they insisted -- a media fairy tale.

"I think there's been too much made about a fragmented relationship. It tends, I suppose, to make for interesting reading and telling," Bettman told reporters during a news conference that was broadcast live nationally in hockey-starved Canada. "But Bob and I have always had a professional relationship. On a personal level we've never had a problem dealing with each other. And I don't suspect there'll be any change in that.

"I have no doubt that labor and management can work together for the benefit of the game and the fans in an unprecedented way," Bettman added.

"I agree totally," Goodenow chimed in, and it was a wonder he didn't throw his arm over Bettman's shoulder to make the point."

I almost wanted to puke just then. Really, I hate them both equally. Goodenow is the grinch who stole our NHL season and Bettman was the annoying little dog, tagging along and dragging fans through the mud. Not to mention Bettman's tenure has driven the league to the brink of existence.

Oh well. Tomorrow, we'll get another goofy grin from Bettman and a deep sigh from Goodenow. They can put on the happy faces all they want. But tomorrow is only the beginning of a rocky road to opening night. Hey, at least it's a start!

Thank goodness for Friday

It's only Wednesday, but I all I can think about is Friday. Friday is the truly the beginning of it all -- the return of the NHL, the draft lottery, and Sidney Crosby's career as a Buffalo Sabre. Okay, the last part was wishful thinking, but hey, it could happen!

People like Toronto Sun columnist Bill Lankhof are jealous of Buffalo's three-ball chance at scoring Crosby:

"The New York Rangers, Columbus, Pittsburgh or Buffalo have the best chance of winning the draft lottery for Sidney Crosby.

So , he's either going to The City That Never Sleeps or some place where he'll be the biggest thing next to:

a) the intramural college flag football championship;

b) a controversy over who'll be the Steelers' third-string quarterback, or;

c) the arrival of a new fire truck in Lackawanna."

A fire truck? Honestly?

After the players ratify the CBA tomorrow, the spotlight turns on Friday's board of governors meeting. The meeting will include a vote on the CBA and new rule changes, and yes, the much anticipated "who's-the-luckiest-team-in-the-NHL" show, broadcast live on NHL.com.

And if you live in Canada, you get to enjoy five hours of SportsCentre Special: Game On, airing Friday on TSN from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT! Me, the poor American fan? I'll be sitting near my computer, awaiting the 4 p.m. lottery and praying a lot.

So while Friday gets the whole thing rolling, Saturday is truly when the craziness begins. GMs, agents and players will be scrambling: a six-day window for player buyouts (that don't count against the cap) and a nine-day period for teams to negotiate exclusively with their unrestricted free agents. And then -- boom -- free agency starts Aug. 1, promising to be one of the most explosive free agent seasons ever.

If you're crying because your team is one of those grossly overpaid franchises (see Philadelphia, Detroit) and you know some fan favorites will be hitting the road for -- gasp! -- Atlanta or Calgary, be comforted to know that my favorite team, the Buffalo Sabres, is in fine shape. Well, besides a certain goaltender merry-go-round and Alexei Zhitnik's unrestricted free agency status. Tim Graham (The Buffalo News):

"The Sabres, unlike some other NHL clubs, have an abundance of players. A few changes aside, they will look much like the team that finished the 2003-04 season with only 16 regulation losses in their last 47 games.

...

Buffalo has as many as nine players under contract for the upcoming season and holds the rights to at least 15 restricted free agents. Defensemen Alexei Zhitnik and James Patrick are the only two unrestricted free agents."

That means Buffalo only has $9,149,000 of the cap taken up, plenty left to sign important restricted free agents such as Daniel Briere and JP Dumont. But just because Sabres fans won't see a huge shake-up in the roster, is that really a good thing? Jay McKee thinks so (Buffalo News):

"I think our team is in one of the best situations possible. We have a group of young, talented players ready to step up," said defenseman Jay McKee, the Sabres' NHL Players' Association representative, who will be in Toronto for Thursday's union ratification meeting. ...

"Now, in a cap world, the playing field is on an even level. We won't be going into Colorado or Toronto against teams spending so much more money." '

Hmm... will it be enough? I'm not convinced that Sabres GM Darcy Regier is ready to shell out the bucks for streaky/moody forward Miro Satan. And what if Alexei Zhitnik goes elsewhere? That puts a lot of pressure on Dmitri Kalinin and the young defense core to protect either Marty Biron, Mika Noronen, or Ryan Miller. Yea, that terrific threesome -- again.

Regier is faced with the same challenge he has been faced with the past couple of years -- is it worth protecting his "promising and growing" group of young Sabres rather than adding some proven veterans to the mix? And I'm not talking about James Patrick. What about bringing in some free agents from the outside? I don't think I can take another year of "Biron is maturing" or "superstar-in-the-making Connolly" will return from his concussion to what, lead the fourth line in scoring?

I just hope Regier keeps reminding himself that this is the same team that has missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons -- last season by six points. To ensure that it's really a level playing field next season, Regier must bring in a few new faces to solidify Buffalo's chance at a playoff spot. See you Saturday, Darcy!