Thanks to PJ for hosting the latest Carnival of the NHL, in which he both compliments my choice of Typepad template but also wonders what I think about the loss of Satan from the Sabres lineup. Well, aside from losing the distinction of having the guy with the coolest name the Sabres lose a player of unquestioned skill and abilities. Honestly, though, I think the loss of Zhitnik to a team already thin on defense is of greater concern and as much as I like the acquistion of Teppo Numminen he cannot, at this stage of his career, replace all that Z brought to the team. Of course, if Kalinin continues his upward progression he won't need to.
The loss of those two guys may not, though, be as big as it may seem on the surface. By the end of the 2003-04 season neither really wanted to be in Buffalo anymore. This was more true of Satan than Z, and his lack of production post-deadline had me believing he thought he was, as his namesake, living in hell. After Z's season-ending injury the team in general and Dmitri Kalinin in specific responded positively to the pressure. Had it not been for an unbelievable run by the Isles, the Sabres had a real chance to make the playoffs without their, presumably, two best players. The best part of those final weeks of the season was watching a group of guys wearing the Angry Goat Head become a team for the first time since Kasparitis beat Hasek glove-side high.
Darth Regier has stated that Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek will replace The Dark Lord's production. Neither myself or my co-author and lifelong Sabres fan, Chainshot, are convinced this will happen. Fortunately, I think that the rest of the team will respond to the extra ice-time and the lack of distractions created by a sulking superstar and his difficult relationship with Lindy Ruff. If Vanek can give us 20-25 goals and one of our numerous 2nd-liners {*cough* Afinogenov *cough* }can have a career year, then this team will not miss Satan in the least.
The problem comes when one considers just how they're going to keep the pucks out of the net and while all three goalies have bright futures ahead of them, half of the guys in front of them do not. While I don't mind winning games 6-5, I don't think our forwards are capable of 6 GF/game.
And for that reason, we need to see a marked improvement in the game of Henrik Tallinder. If he comes to camp ready to be the second coming of Mattias Ohlund then this team, right now, can make the playoffs. Because even though there's been all sorts of movement around the Eastern Conference, I don't really think many teams outside of Pennsylvania and Georgia have improved themselves.
If not, well, there's always Phil Kessel.
Ta,
Nice writing! Good blog-- I found out about it through Sharkspage, of course.
Posted by: Brushback | Monday, 15 August 2005 at 07:13 AM
Brushback,
I appreciate the compliment and thanks for stopping by.
Ta,
Posted by: Tom L | Monday, 15 August 2005 at 07:27 AM