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So, Connor McDavid will visit the orthopedics doctor on Tuesday and will have his cast removed from his hand. McDavid hasn't played in four weeks due to a broken metacarpal bone in his hand that he suffered in his second fist fight of the season on November 11.
I don't have one iota of a problem with McDavid dropping the gloves to protect himself. He's been skating around with a bullseye target on his back since he was 7 years old. Opposing coaches and players are always looking for ways to intimidate him and to prevent him from scoring. I love that the kid has a passionate, mean streak and that he doesn't want to be a victim of abuse.
McDavid has been skating all the while with his Otters mates to keep his conditioning levels up. Once the cast comes off, he can begin shooting the puck. If all goes well, he could return to the lineup as early as next week.
McDavid was at the ACC for the Leafs-Canucks game on HNIC and he told David Amber that he's hoping to get his cast off his injured hand this Tuesday. If all goes according to plan, he will be available to play for Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Montreal and Toronto. The tourney begins on Boxing Day.
McDavid scored 16 goals and added 35 assists in just 18 games played before his injury.
Otters owner/GM Sherry Bassin made a blockbuster trade last with the Sudbury Wolves last week to deliver sniper Nick Baptiste (Buffalo Sabres 3rd rounder 2012 NHL Draft) to play alongside McDavid on the top line in Erie. Last week, Team Canada announced that McDavid, Baptiste and Dylan Strome will be invited to Canada's WJC training camp in two weeks. All three are mortal locks to make the squad as is Sabres 2014 first rounder Samson Reinhart.
The trade positions Erie as the prohibitive favorites to win the Memorial Cup.
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Miami Herald writer George Richards is in the press box in Sunrise tonighgt and he has tweeted that Sabres owner Terry Pegula is none to pleased with the hospitality inside the building. Florida GM Dale Tallon said that he had not seen the infuriating video and that he understands why Pegula and Sabres GM Tim Murray are upset with the Panthers right now.
Pegula, who lives in nearby Palm Beach County, was not amused with the comedy sketch.
“People died in that storm,” Pegula was overheard telling Dale Tallon.
“That’s not funny.”
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What's hilarious about freakish winter storm that killed 13 Western York residents?
The Western New York community is still mourning the loss of thirteen citizens who lots their lives in the recent storm that dropped up to eight feet of snow on south Buffalo and surrounding counties. The storm made nation al news for its death count, destruction and devastation.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo declared large portions of Western New York a state of emergency. Local police and fore agencies deployed all assets to support the rescue and clean up efforts. The state of New York also deployed assets to Buffalo to assist in the clean up. The Federal government and National Guard played a huge role in the clean up and rescue efforts as well.
The Florida Panthers felt the need to trivialize and poke fun at the Buffalo Sabres and the residents of Buffalo by way this classless, ignorant and insulting video presentation that was broadcast via their jumbotron during Saturday night's Sabres-Panthers game in Sunrise.
I'm going to put pressure on the pathetic Panthers to have their game presentation team disciplined for ridiculing the good people of Buffalo with their insensitivity and utter stupidity.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones, eh Panther fans? Good thing only 3,000 Panthers fans got to view the insulting video during the Cats-Sabres game. I'm being generous by giving the Panthers 3,000 fans. It won't be long until Gary Bettman relocates the Cats to either Quebec City or Las Vegas. Who will be laughing then?
I think that you should join me in ripping the Panthers and their front office. I want the organization ti apologize publicly for their ignorance and arrogance.
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There you go. The Ducks have confirmed Corey Perry's knee injury.
The collective blood pressure in Anaheim has just risen to 200 over 100.
I told you last night that the Perry injury is more bad news that the the Anaheim Ducks don't need right now.
On the same night that Emerson Etem was diagnosed with mumps (the fourth such diagnosis of the season for Anaheim organization), Corey Perry was injured by a heavy Keith Ballard hip check. After the game, Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau wasn't thrilled with the Ballard hit.
Ballard crunched Perry with an old school hip check along the boards in the first period of Friday’s game.
Perry was driving wide with speed through the offensive zone, when Ballard clobbered him.Ballard ended up in a fight with Ducks’ forward Nate Thompson later in the period.
The Ballard hit injured Perry's left knee. The injury is non weight bearing. Perry could not apply his body weight to the injured leg while being assisted off the ice.
The collision looked very similar to Josh Gorges nailing Patrick Maroon in Buffalo in early October. Maroon suffered a sprained left MCL and missed 2 1/2 weeks of action.
The Ducks have recalled youngster Rickard Rackell from AHL Norfolk, however, Bob Murray may be in the market to add a veteran winger to replace Perry in the lineup. The Buffalo Sabres have Drew Stafford and Chris Stewart as trade options. Both men are big, strong on the puck and can play the 200 foot game. Each have scored 25+ goals in their NHL careers. Each are pending UFAs.
Perry leads the Ducks with 14 goals. The Ducks are having trouble keeping pucks out of their own net. The Ducks have a +5 goal differential. The Ducks have scored 81 goals while allowing 76 goals against. Seemingly, every time they score a goal, they give one up. Having Perry's 14 goals in the lineup helps. Having him in street clothes for an extended period of time will put a serious crimp in Anaheim's goal differential.
Take Perry's goal scoring prowess out of the lineup and the Ducks' decimated D will be all the more exposed.
Perry traveled with the Ducks to Winnipeg where the team announced that he will be further evaluated upon the return to SoCal.
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Lots of hockey buzz coming out of Long Island today as Jaro Halak and the Islanders are hosting the St. Louis Blues.
The Blues are playing without two of their regular skaters in Alex Steen and Ian Cole.
Steen took the warm-ups, however, was scratched, which has fueled trade speculation.
Boston GM Peter Chiarelli, who is interested in adding scoring and D depth, was scouting Chris Stewart in person in Buffalo on Tuesday night. He then made his way to Chicago to watch the Blues -Hawks game. Was Chiarelli watching Steen, who reportedly had been suffering from a hand ailment. Now comes word that Steen has a lower body deal today.
The 30 year old Steen scored 33 goals and 62 points last season for the Blues. He has 5 goals and 11 assists in 26 games played this season. He has 80 shots on goal.
Halak leads his former team 3-0 after one period of play.
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Samson Reinhart is averaging two points per game for his Kootenay Ice this season. In his 12 games played since being demoted from Buffalo, the second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft has scored 7 goals and has assisted on 17 others. Reinhart potted the game winning goal against Spokane on Friday night. Reinhart has authored 8 multi-point games in his 12 games played in Kootenay, and he's just getting warmed up.
The Kootenay ice are now on a scorching hot 10-2 streak since Samson skated back into town.
I've never been concerned about Reinhart's offensive and defensive measurables. The kid has evolved into a complete, 200 foot player who was worthy of his second overall draft selection.
What I'm wondering about as I read his box scores and watch his games on line is this:
Is Samson hitting the weight room with passion and regularity these days? In his brief time in Buffalo, Reinhart learned firsthand that the NHL is a man's game. Its not for the faint of heart, nor the flat of foot. Veteran NHLers love to hit, grind and talk junk at the young bloods. Reinhart was served a few notices by aggressive opponents that you have to hold your head on a swivel and be prepared to deliver and receive heavy contact on each and every shift inside the NHL game. Reinhart was understandably slow to adjust to the physicality and heavy pressure game that he experienced against Western he-men like Getzlaf, Perry, Kesler, Kopitar, Carter, and the like. These players had learning curves as well. They didn't pop out of the womb in the peak physical condition that they are in today. They had to do the work. They still have to ride the bike, do their squats, do their plyometrics,hit the bench press, and give their bodies massive amounts of hydration and rest/recovery time.
Reinhart should look no further than his teammate Zemgus Girgensons for inspiration and a "How To" guide to playing a heavier, brawny/brainy NHL style of game. Girgensons is a man-child who is being rewarded for his grueling hard work and his dedication to the fundamentals of the game. Yes, he has talent. But his ditch digger's work ethic is what sets him apart from his competition. Girgensons refuses to be out worked on the ice and in the weight room. He's earning the respect of not only his teammates but vets all over the NHL.
Reinhart would be wise to mirror Girgensons and his dedication to building his physique while maintaining a solid hold on his skills. Mikhail Grigorenko did and look what its done for his hockey career. Look at what its done for Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov.
Were I Murray, I'd insist that Reinhart watch Thursday night's Sabres-Bolts game on an endless loop. What he'd see is 19, 20 and 22 year olds leading the team into battle. Watch as Girgensons destroyed Paquette in a fight that needed to be fought by the young Latvian.
I don't expect Reinhart to fight, however, he will have to play the game with a swagger and a sense of confidence when he finally returns back to Buffalo. Toughness permeates the Buffalo lineup. Its going to be that way for years to come, so Samson should start playing the Ted Nolan Way while in Kootenay.
All for one, one for all. Lose the game? Win the battles and the fights.
I'm not suggesting that Reinhart drop gloves and fight. That's not in his DNA. What I am hoping for is that he delivers the body before he gets hit. Be proactive, not reactive. Stick up for oneself and others.
When he's not collecting two points a night against kids his own age, Reinhart should be working his core, strengthening his upper body and legs, and hitting the heavy bag to prepare for the rigors of the NHL wars.
I'm not expecting Reinhart to destroy guys with heard body checks and to fight every night. That's not his game. However, it would be nice to see him use his body more to create separation for himself on the ice and to fight to the dirty areas in the blue ice. That's what Tim Murray is looking for from Reinhart. We all know that he has a deadly shot and a strong perimeter game. However, the NHL game is played from the face off dots to the goal line. That's where the majority of goals are scored. I'd like to see Reinhart follow the lead set forth by Girgensons and Grigorenko and to fight for every inch of his ice while in Kootenay. Don't take the path of least resistance. Fight for inside position and add more depth and value to one's game.
Here's to Reinhart building his physique and then mowing opponents down in The Dub and at the upcoming IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Montreal and Toronto.
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