A New Legend?

With the Sabres calling up newly signed Joe Finley, is there a new legend being born?

My take: I can't wait to see what a pairing of Brayden McNabb and Joe Finley looks like tomorrow night versus Detroit. At  roughly a combined height of 13 feet tall and weighing in at 450+ pounds combined, the two definitely add some beef to the Sabres back end.

The Anaheim Ducks fire head coach Randy Carlyle and hire former Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau


My take: I think this can end most of the major trade rumors involving the Ducks. I can't see them replacing a coach and also making a major roster move right away. They will likely give BB at least until the trade deadline to get guys like Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and other going before they pull off a major trade. Now if the Sabres and Ducks were talking about a lesser deal, I could see that happening.

The Sabres have a lot of size and grit on the verge of being NHL ready


My take: For a while, and especially after the Lucic on Miller fiasco, people have said that the Sabres NHL roster is long on talent and short on toughness. Well, it would appear that the Sabres have plenty of in-house solutions to that issue with Zack Kassian, Brayden McNabb, Joe Finley, and Corey Tropp having been called up and guys like Marcus Foligno still down in Rochester. Add in that the call ups haven't looked out of place and it will be interesting to see how open the Sabres are to moving out established NHLers that are small and less gritty in place of a tough kid. For instance, has Kassian's play made a guy Drew Stafford more likely to get dealt? Has McNabb's play made a guy like Marc-Andre Gragnani more likely to get dealt? And could the kids allow Regier to package multiple NHLers to get a front line player? Like say the top 1 or 2 center that the team still needs?

That would be nice.......

Ryan Miller shoots down that he wouldn't mind a deal out of Buffalo


My take: I never really bought into that Miller wanted out or that the Sabres were shopping him. And while I accept his word that he's happy in Buffalo and he doesn't see the grass being greener elsewhere with Terry Pegula in place as the Sabres owner, his new gloves and pads will give the doubters fuel to speculate.

For those that don't know, many people believe that goalies get generic, all white gear, when they expect to be dealt because they can wear it with their new team without clashing.

My guess is that Reebok gave Miller a new set to try out. If he doesn't like them, I could use a new set. Ryan, hook a brother up for Christmas!