Well so much for that idea

(In which I use a ridiculous number of (parentheses) for some reason that is probably grammatically wrong, but I'm too tired and lazy to sort them all out. You get the point.)

I had this New Year's resolution of a sort to blog more.. then MSG and TWC decided to have a little spat and I wasn't able to watch my team for most of January and half of February (aside from a few games on NBCSPorts) It's hard to write about a team you can't watch.

So I fell off the wagon a little. But now the boys are back on tv, and they are playing much better hockey since the All-Star break so there's something to be said for all that.

They will probably still make a valiant (but ultimately too late) push to the playoffs, only to fall short by a point or 2 and thus getting a middling draft pick. (we should be used to this by now). or they might surprise us and squeak in at the 11th hour. Time will tell.

But tomorrow is DOOMSDAY - (AKA Trade Deadline Day) Last year I missed the madness because I was in New Zealand (or en route, the "time travel" to get there was a little whacky and kind of made my head hurt) and away from internets and computers and anything resembling hockey, as I was chillin the summer of the southern hemisphere (totally weird, btw, in a cool way) and didn't really worry too much about it. (ANd the Sabres didn't do much so that was little to worry about.)

But this year is (or may be) different. Roy is a name we've heard being tossed about quite a bit, as well as Gaustad (even The Hockey News mentions him as a decent pickup) and the thing is.. unlike last year when I was practically BEGGING someone to take Timmay Connolly off our hands and please for the loveofSabretooth SELL SELL SELL Stafford (while the selling was hot) I actually LIKE those two guys. I mean, really, who doesn't love Goose, with his funny nickname and his GreenTeam-ness and his good attitude and foxy faceoff skills? Right?

And Royzie, well, he's Royzie. He's infuriating at times, and occasionally quite skillful and brilliant with the puck (when he's not giftwrapping and presenting it to his opponents' sticks!) When he's playing hard (as he has been lately and did in the early days of his career when I fell for him in the first place), he's a great asset. When he's being lazy and boneheaded, he's a nusicance and you want him as far away as possible so he doesn't contaminate anyone else. He seems to be one of those polarizing player- you either love him or he drives you nuts. (And sometimes he does both at the same time, what a multi-tasker!)

But, from the time when I really started watching the Sabres in earnest (the playoff run of 2006, though I was living far away at the time) and the next season (when I came back), Roy always stood out. I picked him as "my" Sabre, and thus he remained. I officially switched my allegiance to Nathan Gerbe (you may recall my many soul-searchings and arguments with myself on the blog about it)... but even though I went with my gut and bought a Gerbe jersey with my Christmas money this year, I still love Royzie. He's still one of my favs and I will always have a place for him in my heart.

I don't want him to leave Buffalo, but I've felt it in my gut that he's going to be gone for a while now. (I even wrote about it here.) He's young enough and talented enough that in the right setting he could really thrive. His contract is not insane. The Sabres could actually get a decent return for him and he could be a legit #2 center on a team with a solid #1. He doesn't seem to do that well in the #1 role (though his faceoffs have improved significantly this season, I've noticed.)

Back to Goose for a second. On paper, he's not all that thrilling. Not a lot of goals, not a lot of flash and dash. BUT he owns faceoffs (and is very consistent about it) and he is the definition of "intangibles". He's a tough customer who will stand up for his boys (put aside for a moment the "Lucic incident-- I still maintain that the referees were letting nothing happen that night- I was AT the game and I noticed that from the beginning, AND any Sabre who had challenged Lucic would have been destroyed and they didn't need that. Moving on..) He generally plays tough and is not afraid to get his hands dirty. I like that about Goose. He seems to be a good guy in the room, and is a proven leader- again with the intangibles, things that aren't recorded, other than in the visual of watching him play. But those are the details that win hockey games, not just the goals and statbits.

So who knows what the next day will bring.. but we'll be here watching it happen. And I'll write some sort of recap of what news there is.

(Also in my "guys I don't want to see leave" category is Rick Nash from Columbus. He's the face of the franchise, and though he's maybe been coasting for a bit, during this terrible run of a season, I still think he wants to stay there- he SAID HE DID in an interview a few weeks back. And I'd prefer to see him in a CBJ uniform for a few more years at least. Just till they get a legit shot at the playoffs. It would be good for my home state.)

sure

Perhaps I should write about how excited about the Sabres I am (totally) and remark upon their improved roster and their chances of making it happen this year.. but you've already read that from people who write better than me.

In the next week or so, I'll share with you some new nicknames, a hockey separated at birth (yeah, I still do those) and perhaps some informed hockey commentary (don't hold your breath).

But all I really can think about is seeing Derek Roy play again (I don't really count game 7 cuz he wasn't up to par) for the first time since last December, and my newfound love for Nathan Gerbe (that really has been building since 2008- go back and read posts tagged with his name if you don't believe me) and hoping that the boys (any of them!) do some fun "documentary" work like the 'Hawks did when they went overseas. The Sabres aren't known for their off-ice fun (at least not on the website) but maybe things are changing. I hope so because I love the player-run funtimes (take your cue from the Blackhawks my friends- they KNOW) and hopefully they will share their experience with the fans. :)

So let's go Buffalo! I'm ready to get this show on the road already..

Re-

The Sabres re-signed Gerbe! :) YAY! I really like him.

Now, as long as they also re-sign Montador and don't lose Roy or Goose, but get rid of Connolly, I don't care what else they do.

See, I'm pretty easy to please.

And the re-affiliation with the Amerks is a good thing for sure.

I'm pretty curious and excited to see what happens on Friday with free agency. The Sabres are (for once) buyers this time.

WOOHOO!

In other news, I re-subscribed to The Hockey News today. Yay!

this is it

Game 7- someone goes on, someone goes home.

I'm ready.

Are the Sabres ready?

Guess we'll see.

DEREK ROY IS READY!!! So no matter what else happens tonight, I will get to see my main man play at least one more game this year.. first time since December! YAAAAAYYY!

Will he be the difference maker?

Is this the year?

I don't want to see or hear anything more about Danny Effing Briere after tonight. (and I don't want too much tonight either, get it?)

I want Tyler Myers to stay mean.

I want Tyler Ennis to be all smiles after the game.

I want Derek Roy to step in and step up and be the hero.

I want Mike Weber to beat someone's face.

I want Rob Niedermayer to continue to show just why the Sabres picked him up.. THIS is why!

I want Brad Boyes to show up.... is he still on the team?

I want Drew Stafford to return to mid-season form.

I want Thomas Vanek to continue to shine.

I want Gaustad to own all comers in the faceoff circle.

I want to yell "The Butler Did it!"

I want to scream Let's Go BUFF-A-LO at the end of a game 7 win!

I want more SABRES hockey after tonight.

That's not too much to ask, is it?

Broken Boys

Good news is all around for my broken boys:

Sharpie may begin skating this weekend and is hoping for an end-of-season return from a knee injury.

AND

Royzie skated today and said he could be back for the 2nd round (if the Sabres get there)..

WOOOOOHOOOO!

thanks!

I am going through Derek Roy withdrawal... yeah, I'm pathetic like that. And since it's been said that he will not be re-joining the team in the playoffs, I decided to google search and see what I could find.

And I found this beautiful page of happiness from a recent signing at Dave and Adam's (sports memoribilia place, for those of you not familiar with Buffalo) and it just made my day.

I've missed that face. :) I'd prefer to see it on the ice at HSBC but I'm not gonna lie, I just enjoy seeing Derek Roy in general. Haha.

I told you I'm pathetic. I'm just not afraid to admit it.

I wonder as I wander

So the Sabres seem to be on quite a roll these days. I saw the end of last night's game- and that smokin OT goal by the new guy. What spunk, what drive-- who are these Sabres and where have they been all my life?

Good on them. :) I will continue my practice of sort of ignoring them, because they seem to play better when I do. I can take one for the team.. for a while at least. Doesn't mean I don't care, just means I know when to not care. Or something of the sort.

In other news... anyone heard or seen anything about Derek Roy lately? I miss my boy- haven't heard a peep about his rehab since January. I wonder how he's doing. Maybe I'll send a note to the Sabres suggestion box that they give him a shout..

spread the love

I told you I'd get back to my Derek Roy pining- and here we go.

I googled him (this is hardly a new activity but sometimes random things appear) and found some gems today- I did the picture search. There's the always classic laser background shot from his bantam hockey days (he would be 13 or 14 in this pic) -



And then this really nice shot of him signing at Dave&Adam's. I don't know why I like it so much but I have a thing for the pics of hockey players signing things with their heads down-- and looking very concentratedly-(is that a word?) at what they are doing. I have one of Brendan Morrow that's brilliant and a rather old hockey card of Pavel Bure with the same situation going on that just melts me. Thank you, whoever took this picture. Plus, I just love how his hair is curly- it looks soft and I want to touch it! (I know, I'm terrible!)




And then there's this- which could rightly be called a "Hockey Freak of Nature". I don't even know what to think about this one- they are on cafepress- and you can get shirts and whatnot that say "I <3 {insert Sabre here}" but I think that Royzie has the only teddy bear. What the?



But ya know what- that bear looks really soft and snuggly. But then again, I dunno if even I- a self-proclaimed and unashamed Derek Roy fangirl- could go there. It's just too weird. (this coming from the girl who has a Derek Roy light switch plate cover- it was on ebay and cheap and I love it LOL)

I know.. I need help. I probably just shot whatever credibility that I gained by that decent and well-thought out post about the World Juniors all to hell. Oh well, I am who I am and I don't plan to change. I love Derek Roy primarily for his hockey talent (when he chooses to share it with the general public- which was happening quite a bit this year, for a change.) I also happen to be a woman who enjoys a good looking man. And Derek is a good looking man. Good combination in my book- you really can't go wrong with that. :)


And one more link of fun before I stop embarrassing myself
some old pics of Derek that I found on a site for his old bantam team. The pic from draft day is hilarious- his dad looks kinda scary though!

get over it

Still being sad Roy. In lieu of actual Sabres hockey (I was in Ohio for the last week and unable to see any games), I watched some random Derek Roy videos on youtube today.

Yeah, I have issues.

In other news, I attended a Cincinnati Cyclones and Toledo Walleye game on Tuesday. It was fun.. there were a lot of people there! The Cyclones lost but I had a good time with my friends.

And there were three former Purple Eagles playing in that game. Barret Ehgoetz- captain of the Cyclones, and Kyle Rogers and Tyler Gotto of the Walleye were all representin for NU. That was cool. I actually knew Ehgo from his time in Utah but only knew the other guys from announcing their names. Good to see Niagara boys making their mark in the ECHL. :)

That's it for tonight.

Merry Christmas, Derek Roy

http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=547282

Torn quad tendon? That sounds awful. 4-6 months? That sounds worse. :(

This is not the first time my favorite player has missed half of the season, but this is the first time it's been Royzie.

He is the Sabres leading scorer. Not that they are any good with him, but this can't help. Unless they magically rally and start playing well for him. wouldn't that be ironic?

:(

show and tell

A few things to share tonight-

Hellooooo Ryan Kesler. I'm down with that.

and our little Roy boy is growing up. . Nice article, Jerry Sullivan. :) I really liked this quote: ""I want to be an elite player in this league," Roy said. "I don't want to cruise through my career and just get 60, 70 points or whatever. I think that's a part of being a human being and growing up. Whatever you do in life, you want to be skilled at it. You want to be the best. I'm trying to approach it that way every day."

Let's hope he continues this growing up process. 21 pts in 20 games is not a bad way to start. Good on ya, Royzie. :)

I have some rambling memory and nostalgia-inducing thoughts from last night's game, but they aren't quite in coherent form yet. Expect that braindump post soonish (if anyone still reads this drivel).

The game last night was a superbly awesome time. The action was good, the crowd was fun, OT was out of this world.. just a fantastic night all around. I was really stressed before the game because I have a lot going on right now and I felt bad to be taking the time to go.. yet this game was on my radar since July, when the schedule came out- and I really felt like I *needed* to go. I'm so glad I did. It brought up a lot of emotions (back to that not-yet-written post) and was just a heck of a game. Besides, I like going to Sabres games. Hockey has always felt like 'home', and I've been missing it a lot lately. It's never too late to go home, and last night was a much-needed reminder of that.

Now I'm getting rambly (which isn't technically a word, but you know what I mean, right?) and that means it's time for bed. G'night friends!

nothing to say

I feel like I should post about THE HIT and Monday's game in general, but I don't have much to say. I missed the game- took my nephews to Scouts- but saw the hit on the replay and it was ugly. Not intention to injure, but ugly and unnecessary and caused injury anyway. Tough call on that one but I'm glad he got a suspension. Should it have been more games? Probably. But at least they did something. Now the Sabres have to move on (AND PLAY CLEAN, HARD HOCKEY ON SATURDAY- NO BERTUZZI-LIKE RETRIBUTION BOYS!).

Poor Pommers. It sounds like he will be okay- we can hope so. Concussions are tricky things, so hopefully he will recover completely and get back to playing soon.

I'm going to tonight's game against the super strugglin Devils- so maybe the Sabres will win! I do like the Devils, but I want the Sabres to win. Although, in typical Buffalo fashion, the Devils will probably have their comeback game and play perfectly and the Sabres will roll over and die or try but get nowhere. Ugh. We'll see. It should at least be fun. :)

And how about Derek Roy? I know I've been a Roy apologist for pretty much my whole time as a Sabres fan.. but he's finally playing like the player we all KNOW he can be. Hopefully he will keep it up. The Sabres need his goals (since that POS Connolly is still around and playing terribly, and Vanek can't get out of his own way right now). I love seeing Roy play solid, goal-scoring hockey. Keep it up, my man! :)

Let's Go Buffalo!

yeah yeah

SABRES hockey is baaaaaaaack!

Royzie scored the first goal for the Sabres. Man was it pretty.. wooooweee. :) Good job, lad. :)

Can we PLEASE just part ways with Connolly now? I am tired of his lazy play. Get some hustle, bro. Lindy needs to put Niedermayer on the 2nd line, keep Goose at 3rd and throw Gerbe in the mix on the 4th line and let Connolly sit. I would take 42 Gerbes over one Timmay. Sick. Of. Him.

Can I say how happy I am that Sabre-killer Spezza isn't playing tonight? It's such a relief. my dude is like the boogeyman for the Sabres. It's better when he's not there. Alfie has been suspiciously quiet tonight too. (knock on wood) In fact, all the Sens seem to be a bit slow. Fine by me. :)

Gotta go do some laundry. Last time I left the room, Royzie scored. ;)Didn't work this time.. maybe when I go to put my nephews to bed in a little while..

Nope, kids are in bed and still the score is 1-1. 3rd period now.

WOOOOO Royzie with another goal. Vanek was on the doorstep, so even if it hadn't bounced off Leclaire's skate, he probably would have popped it in. Either way, a goal is a goal. 2-1 Sabres!

Oh my goodness the end of this game is crazy. 1.3 seconds left? ahhh just end it!

YAY! Sabres WIN! Over Ottawa, even. Way to go boys! YYYYYAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

**though I'm a little worried about Royzie. He blocked that Kovalev shot point blank late in the game on the penalty kill. It clearly was hurting him but he gutted it out and finished the shift and blocked another shot (he shared that one with Pommers.) I don't believe he was on the ice any more during the game. Then at the end when they won, he was sitting on the end of the bench (they did a pan of the bench and Lindy walked by and patted him on the head.. lol) and he did jump on the ice but didn't go all the way over to the congratulatory line for Ryan Miller. He just came out at the end... doesn't look good, but I hope he's just a little sore and it's nothing serious. My boy is on fire, you can't shut him down now with an injury!!!!!!!!!!!!!!**

Post game EDIT: Just saw the new Green Team commercial. How adorable is Goose? And Hellllooooo Mr. Montador. I LIKE the new hair. I liked it long but the short and messy thing might be even hotter. Not gonna lie, I have the hots for Monty. :)

Riddle me this...

Derek Roy played 21.5 minutes of tonight's game. It was by far the most minutes of any forward on the Sabres. Yet he has nothing to show for it except 6 faceoff wins. NOTHING else. Not a shot, not a point, not even a +/- rating.

WHAT THE?????

Words fail me.

WOOOOT

DEREK ROY SCORED A GOAL! YAY!

Also, Tyler Sloan scored a goal for the Caps tonight. He's been randomly playing on the left wing. Good for him! :)

Yay hockey! More to come- I was AT the game tonight and I have some thoughts but I'm really tired.

I figured it out

Guys, I know why Derek Roy isn't scoring goals:

it's MY fault!

See, when I got my Roy jersey for Christmas, almost 2 years ago, the Sabres had that pathetic 10 game winless streak, and Royzie didn't score a single goal in that stretch. Before that, he was the team's leading scorer- pts AND goals.

Then he finally broke out of that slump (and the injury that happened during it) and scored a hat trick in that bust-up of Atlanta and actually did very well for the rest of the season. That was the time when Royzie and Pommer were in the Top 5 goal scorers for the 2nd half of the year. Ah, memories.

Flash forward to this summer. I met Derek Roy in August and had him autograph my jersey. He hasn't scored a goal since.

I think I even joked that I hoped it didn't curse him, and here we are, 10 games into the season and Roy has 8 assists and ZERO goals.

I blame myself. Apparently my fandom is dooming my boy. I shall have to renounce all Derek Roy love until such time as he finds his scoring touch again.

I'm quite sorry to have deprived the Sabres of a top scoring threat, but I am quite happy that the rest of the boys have stepped up. So, from now until he gets his act together, I shall try to treat Derek as "just one of the boys" and give him no more notice than I would.. say, Steve Montador.

Derek, you're on notice.

Helloooooo Mr. Roy

Guys I got a picture taken WITH Derek Roy today! This made me very excited and I almost embarassed myself by squeeeee-ing like a fangirl. But I managed to keep it all inside, at least until I walked away and called my sis.

Seriously, he was at Great Skate signing autographs. It was cool- well no actually it was HOT because it was outside, and someone decided it would actually be summer today. (I hate summer weather.) But I managed to not melt (or get sunburned- thank you SPF 50!) and got an autograph on my jersey and a picture with Derek.

I did not enter the store of Great Skate, nor did I peruse the merchandise at their tent sale because I do not need or really want anything from there. I'm sure there is tons of lovely hockey-ness inside/outside but I dearly love and am very attached to my 12 year old pair of hockey skates (Bauer Supreme 76s- my 16th birtday present) which are perfectly molded to my feet through years of skating in them. Similarly I love my old, used Easton wood 95 something or other Steve Yzerman model stick that I bought about 7 years ago from a used sporting goods store that has a wicked sweet (probably illegal) curve on it. My scraggly hockey gloves could possibly use replacing, but I use them so rarely that it doesn't really matter.

So the point of all that rambling is that while there is lovely merchandise at Great Skate, I did not need (nor could really afford) it so I stayed away. Wise of me, eh? But they were kind enough to hold the signing outside so I was still able to "meet" my favorite Sabre and get his autograph and picture.

For those who are wondering- Derek looked pretty good. (and I don't mean (just) his face LOL) Maybe he's been working out this summer so he can be ready for camp and not some fat lazy slob like he was at the start of last season. I hope he comes out on fire and we can get some of the old, feisty, scrappy Derek back. He was fun. He was very pleasant and polite, chatting it up with all the little kids, which was cute. he didn't quite smile for my pic, but it's still pretty good. I'm not complaining. :)

So without further ado (and no more babbling, I'm sure y'all are sick of me already) here is the pic of Derek Roy and I! :)

Hockey time

First off, WE INTERRUPT THIS PATRICK SHARP FANGIRL SQUEEING TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT-

TODAY IS DEREK ROY'S 26TH BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROYZIE!

You may be a bit of a brat, and somewhat inconsistent in your scoring, but you are still my favorite Sabre. I hope you'll have a fantastic year. :)

Watching the Caps/Pens tonight. My man Sloaner is playing for Washington!!!!! HIs first NHL playoff game- I'm so excited for him. He also has an assist. :):):):) I KNOW THAT GUY!

Ovie had a hat trick. So did Sid. My goodness, but the League powers that be must be dying over this.. and YAY the Caps won! :)

I'm currently watching Oklahoma!, the stage version starring Hugh Jackman. Ahhh I've seen it before but it's quite enjoyable. So I'm back to that, just had to share those announcements. :)

this video makes my heart happy.

No, Royzie may not be the best singer out there.. and his choice of song was.. interesting and perhaps not best suited to his vocal talents but he got up in front of people and sang. I think that's HOT. well done, my boy. :)

I loves him. <3

I'm going to tonight's game. (again I know!) I have an extra ticket. If you want to join me, call or text me (if we're facebook friends, it's on there) and maybe we can work something out.

Happy Mardi Gras!

let's go around the NHL

I don't want to talk about the Sabres. I missed all of last night's game. (My nephew is now officially an Eagle Scout- last night was his Court of Honor) But I think I'm pretty glad I didn't see it.. since things looked a bit ugly.

So I'm hoping the boys will rally and forget about the game and win the next one.

Instead of blabbling about the boys, here is news from elsewhere in the League:

From Yahoo:
Sun, Feb 15 G Martin Brodeur says he's within 10 days of his return to the lineup. He was to accompany the team on its trip to Florida but won't play in the two games down there. "He'll take the next step and go on the trip with us," Devils coach Brent Sutter said of Brodeur, who hasn't played since Nov. 1, when he tore the triceps in his left arm and then underwent surgery. He has been practicing and said, after Saturday's first full practice with the team, he could play if he had to.

And to that I say- EEEEEEEEEEE!!! MARTY MARTY MARTY! :)

But.. my boy Sharpie left the last game with a "lower body injury" after having to be hellped off the ice following a knee-on-knee collision. That is NOT GOOD. :( No word yet on the severity but it doesn't sound good. (and I really don't want to lose him for my fantasy team!) However, he looks quite foxy in this video

Oh Blackhawks, will you stop distracting me from the Sabres? (Note to Sabres: If you had posted video of Derek Roy SINGINGat the Catwalk for Charity III, YOU would be in the link. But alas.. you don't seem to get it. More Derek Roy!)

I'm done.