We Like Our Goalies Young...

We also like it when our goalies give us a shot at winning games, something LaBarbera only did less than a handful of times this season. Who would've thunk it that Ersberg's injury would essentially be the final straw for LaBarbera; instead of Barbs stepping up and solidifying his hold on the number one goaltending spot, he let it slip away and gave rookie Jonathan Quick a chance (actually multiple chances) to show off his skills and prove he's ready for the NHL.

(Photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)

With several strong performances in net from Quick, a healthier Ersberg, one highly touted goalie (Bernier) in Manchester and two additional promising goalies (Taylor and Zatkoff) in the pipeline, it was obvious from the start of the season that if Barbs didn't drastically improve his play in net his chances of returning next season would soon decrease to zero. Seeing that Barbs was only signed through this season (and not for a hefty price tag at all) and that it was highly unlikely he would be re-signed, unloading him and getting anything for him at this point is a bargain and a very smart move. Lombardi is pretty good at drafting players so I wouldn't be surprised if he snags a gem in the 7th round.

Photo Courtesy of kms2

He's tall...and really, really nice

See ya, Barbs. Good Luck with the Canucks this year and in the AHL or KHL after that.

x-posted to Purple Crushed Velvet

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Is it naive to be cautiously optimistic?

Okay, so a few days ago, I wasn't so impressed with the acquisition of Mr. Perreault. But he appears to be the only guy on the team that can score on something other than a hard slapshot (or that panicky mess in front of the net when the puck is loose and everyone is madly hacking away at its general vicinity hoping to get a piece of it)...and you know, you have to start from somewhere. And he actually made a little move on our shootout on Saturday Friday (oops...had an off brain moment), not like the usual modus operandi of the rest of the team, which seems to involve just skating really fast and trying to blast the puck through the goalie.
I don't think it's so bad that we gave up Brendan Bell. We have a lot of decent young defencemen, and nothing comes for free...although granted, I suppose we could have tried for more.

Anyway...
Here's the list of non-leafy men I cheer for.
Ovechkin -self explanatory, I think. I like to watch people having fun.
Spezza -Because he can score on a regular basis...and maybe because he's sorta cute. Did what's left of my credibility just fly out the window?
Roenick -Not that I see him play that often. But I'd cheer for him in any of his cheesy acting roles.
Anson Carter -A hometown boy. I was hoping he'd sign with the Leafs in the off-season. Maybe it's just as well, since his season hasn't been that spectacular so far. Wait...so he'd fit right in...

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I'll Miss You Marty!

I know how much everyone here at HLOG loves the sweet, funny, easy-to-like Marty Biron, so I'd thought I'd announce that he has indeed been traded. With out him- *ugh* I no longer have so many things-

• Someone to enjoy watching get into a goalie fight
• Someone to laugh at when ever they are mic'd
• Someone to relax the Sabres
• Someone to make me laugh, even when we lose a terrible game
• Someone to stand between the pipes, and give the ever hardworking Millsy an ever needed break

I now can only hope that the Sabres can find someone who has a personality like his, even though I don't think it can be done, especially among skilled hockey players. Of course, a goalie fight is a memorable way to say goodbye. I'm happy for him b/c he'll now have a chance to finally be a starter, just like he deserves. Yet, I do feel sorry, because after so many years, and now that we will have a best playoff run since forever, he won't be able to finish his legacy with a Stanley Cup. Marty, I'LL MISS YOU! :-( and so will the entire Buffalo area. Kristin- I'm afraid I am now nearly a Philly fan. Count your blessings, and take good care of him.

Along with Biron, the Sabres have also traded Jiri Novotny, but received Timo Helbling and Dainius Zubrus, from the Washington Capitals, even though Zurbus is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Also, to replace Marty, we have acquired Ty Conklin from the Columbus Blue Jackets for our new back-up. We also acquired another d-man from the Predators, Mikko Lehtonen. It's great to add some depth to our defence.

^The above has also been posted on my blog, along with some more.^

Now, since I didn't think I should just write about the trades done on the Sabres, I thought I'd answer the Weekly Challenge- so, who do I secretly cheer for? Let's see... there's a few.

Sidney Crosby- Yes, I have a soft side for this little wonder. Maybe it's because he's nearly my age and hot as hell. Maybe it's that he is the best player in the league. It just seems like he has it all. I'm actually a new semi-fan of the entire Penguins team. I also like Malkin- I love Russians.

Zdeno Chara- I know he a giant, I know he's scary, and I know he's just a little creepy, but I am in total awe. It's amazing someone as monstrous as Chara can be so graceful, and over a hundred mile shot, oh my god. If I was a goalie blocking that shot, I think I'd pee my pants.

Jaromir Jagr- I know everyone hates him, but as a player, I have a lot of respect. He has been through it all, and has the expeirence to prove it.

-Paige

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Trades! Trades! Trades!

If you've elected to take the smart route and try not to let Trade Deadline '07 consume your life Mirtle's Globe Blog and 2 Man Advantage both have very excellent Trade round-ups for you.

All I have to say about the Senators inaction is said at my blog. Other than that I don't know whether or not to feel sorry for my dear Marty Biron. Finally able to paint his mask and be a starter somewhere, but banished to Philly.

As for the Trade Deadline Network Battle? I'm going to say it's a Toss-Up between the Score and TSN. I think Sportsnet just gave up.

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See ya later alligator!

As the resident Flyers hlogger, I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't blog a bit about today's trade of Peter Forsberg.

First off, let me say that I am not a huge fan of Forsberg. I realize that he is a great player and playmaker, but he is not the reason I watch the Flyers. In fact, for most of the season, I routinely bad mouthed him and demanded to the hockey gods that he be traded. I drooled over all the awesome players we could get and who else we could buy with the money we'd be saving.

Well, a funny thing happened over the last few weeks. Forsberg's foot problems disappeared and he played like he was supposed to. He played like he wanted to be traded. And his level of play brought the Flyers level of play up a bit. They played like a team. And I was happy for a few fleeting days (hours?).

So today, basking in the glow of two wins in a row, I came to the realization that he was going to be traded. Yes, that's right...I was getting in my car after work and the realization hit me.

After work, I watched Daily News Live (local sports news show) and they mentioned that he had a meeting today but did not comment on the outcome. No big deal...he has had countless meetings about his contract over the past few weeks. But still, I had a nagging worry at the back of my brain.

I got to the game a few minutes late so I missed the scratches. When they announced the starting lineup, Mike Richards was in instead of Forsberg. I got an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Then the guys came out, and they played like crap. Really. A completely different team then the last two games, which I happened to be at in person. I text messaged my first row ticket buddy because I saw that he was not in his seats. He wrote back that he was in the bar and that Forsberg had been traded to Nashville.

Whoa.

I turned to Rod to give him the news, and then the strangest thing happened to me: I started crying. Tears welled up in my eyes and I had to fight to keep it together. I felt sad for the guys down on the ice. All the hard work and challenges that the guys had overcome now seemed meaningless. They lost their captain and team mate and friend, and now they had to play like things were still the same.

I realize that this season is a total loss anyhow and that we have a lot of rebuilding to do, but it doesn't make it hurt any less when you lose an integral part of the team...

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Sadness. Pure sadness for me.

To offer up the other side of Sasky's post... The Flames have lost a guy with one of the biggest hearts in the dressing room. On ice, Andrew Ference works hard. Off ice, he's one of the most cerebral players in the league. His environmental awareness and activism are well documented. I'm in a little bit of shock here. We're listening to the Fan 960 online for post-game reaction, listening to the people calling in when all of a sudden - BREAKING NEWS! The host goes on to inform listeners that the Flames have traded Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew to Boston for Brad Stuart, Wayne Primeau and a draft pick. My emotional reaction to this news shocked me - my stomach dropped, my heart hurt and my eyes teared up. Kobasew, fine, he's your average hockey player but Andy? Oh no...

Here is a guy who signed a 3 year contract earlier this year for less than he's worth so he could stay playing in Calgary. Here is a guy who gives back to the community immensely through his work with Right to Play. Here is a guy who plays with heart, who is defeated when the Flames lose. The other night after the Flames lost, he had a post-game interview and you could tell he felt horrible because it was his penalty he took late in the game that led to the loss.

The people on the radio and on the message boards are busy talking about whether or not the Flames picked up rentals in Stuart and Primeau, whether or not Sutter can sign Stuart (Primeau not so much) who is an UFA next year.

What gets me is how this trade went down - the team was sitting on the bus, waiting to go to the airport, waiting, waiting, waiting when assistant coach Rich Preston comes on, takes Andy off the bus to tell him the news. The news of the trade sucked the air from my lungs, I can't imagine what it did to Ference. I'm interested to see what he has to say about the trade.

I think that this moment right now defines one of the major differences between male and female fans - I sit here mourning the loss of Andrew as a person and as a player who is part of the Flames organization and others are talking numbers, looking at it logically. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the guys we picked up are great, but right now I can't look at that side, maybe in the morning... I apologize if this is rambly, I just had to get it out.

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