Funk in, Connolly out

The Jason Pominville defensive experiment has mercifully come to an end (at least until the next injury on the blue line). Michael Funk has been recalled from Rochester and will play tonight when the Sabres host the Carolina Hurricanes. So now half the Sabres' defensive corps is made up of players who were in Rochester two weeks ago (Funk, Mike Weber and Andrej Sekera).

Tim Connolly is again too sore to play and could miss Saturday's visit to Toronto.

For some enlightening reading (especially for conspiracy fans), check out today's article by Raleigh News and Observer reporter Luke DeCock. He provides an in-depth look at NHL suspensions and the league's tendency to punish players who commit fouls against Canadian teams. One stat Luke discovered is of the 50 suspensions since the lockout, 15 were for acts commited against Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Great stuff.

---John Vogl

Comments

[Mike]

I think we will be pleasantly surprised by these young defenseman. They are one of the few bright spots on an awful Rochester club

[Tim]

Placing the blame on Golisano is ill-conceived. The focus of your rage should be on Larry Quinn. He's the numbnuts that has no clue what he is doing in terms of personnel and who to keep and who leaves. It is not Golisano. And yes, Golisano is responsible as majority owner, but the blame falls on Quinn. And before you go and say "FIRE QUINN HE SUCKS", note that the guy is also an owner of the team and cannot be fired. He's here, whether we like it or not. And so are his ways of doing business. This is the guy, after all, that ran Briere out of town because Briere publicly questioned his negotiating tactics like not negotiating during the season. Believe me, I'm not happy with the decisions made. But I channel my rage on the correct individuals.

[ZAP]

Tim, It is fair to credit Golisano for giving us a team to cheer for, but he is respncible for the Mgt. team that has made the decisions on what players to keep or let go. You can not till me that you are happy with those choices. i also firmly believe that Quinn's approach to renewing our potentail free agents is largely influenced by Golisano. They have shown no loyalty to the players that should of been leading this team. The team has only by default choose to over pay Roy and Vanek by fear of totally alienating the fans. Thanks for saving hockey in Buffalo but if he is happy how this mgt team has failed to keep is top players hear n Buffalo and keep us competitive then that a problem.

[Tim]

You can't just stockpile defensemen... you have to put them somewhere or have them sit on the bench. If you want to send them to the minors, they have to be young or they get picked up on waivers. So we get young kids like Funk and Weber. I don't think there's too much we can do about that problem.

[Jan]

If this team wants to make the playoffs, everybody needs to step it up - no more excuses. The forwards and goalie need to help out the defense.

[Tim]

JB, you are full of baloney. Golisano is not cutting costs. He's spending record highs for this team. The problem is, his players are not fulfilling their end of things. That isn't Golisano's fault. Blaming the owner is not fair IN THIS CASE. Quick to forget are people, but Golisano saved the team from bankruptcy. He is not going to be dumb enough to put it right back to where it was. You all want him to spend to the cap, but they can't. You forget where we live. This is Buffalo. We're among the top 60 markets in the Unite States and have a shrinking population and an even worse economy. The team can't do all the stuff fans want. You have to get past that and hope that the team can find a way to win With the folks that ARE here, not the ones that should be.

[JB]

Bster, I generally agree with you that this is "a bit reminiscent of game 7 two years back" with one exception - The Sabres management has had two years to adress the lack of depth on defense and has done nothing. Prior to the Campbell deal, the Sabres have had multiple injuries on the blue line all season. Common sense would tell you that if you're going to trade your best offensive defenseman, you need to replace him with another defenseman, especially considering the inconsistency of the defense this season. Instead Golisano keeps looking to the bottom line, and is running the team less like the near-champions they were two years ago and more like the Indians in the 'Major League' movie.

[Bster]

A bit reminiscent of game 7 two years back. Granted, there was a whole lot more at stake then there is now but it smells somwhat like back then. A lot of Rochester, little hope from the "fans" and Carolina is the opponent. The lacking hope was justified then and still is now.

I would hope I see little of Mr. Funk and more of Weber. Sekera is looking like a vet in comparison to some of these lads.

The light aint out yet. It can't be. Bring a fricking heart to the game tonight. The Bruins and Flyers are in charge of putting the flickering flame out and they seem lacking in capabilities at the moment. The door is ajar. Walk in, place your hands firmly onto the mouths of the many and take what others can't seem to grasp. Don't let the Loafs do it!

[BC]

We're boned.

[Bobbo Kane]

WAAAAHAAAA. Now you have exactly one half of the defense that had led the Rochester Americans to the BOTTOM of the AHL.

Good Luck.....