Peters a scratch against Sabres
NEWARK, N.J. -- Andrew Peters' first game against his former team will have to wait.
New Jersey coach Jacques Lemaire has elected not to dress Peters for tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres in Prudential Center. Peters played 200 games for the Sabres before signing a two-year deal with the Devils in September.
"I'm disappointed when I don't play. I'm not angry," Peters said this morning. "You want to play every game, no more today than any other day, to be quite honest with you. All the games you sit you always want to be in but I don't look at this game any differently than any other game."
---John Vogl
does anyone have to argue that kaleta, like peters, is anything but a gimmick hockey player? neither will be anything but close to the league minimum and never, ever, ever a third line player unless a team suffers a torrent of injuries. does anyone really think a kaleta hit compares to an ovechkin hit?
Posted by: roy | October 30, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Alrighty, Mikey K. You are hockey god, and should be head referee. May I be the first to kiss your feet? Look, Kaleta plays on edge, he dances the fine line between what's tolerated and what's dirty. There is most definitely a place in the game for such a player, and that is to get under the skin of people like you. Some people like it, and some people don't. If he was leaving his feet before contacting someone, there's be more calls against him. (pay attention, and you'll see he explodes when he has made contact. not before (often). in fact, he hits similarly to Ovechkin. and I'll also say Kaleta's offensive presence has improved)
5 minutes in the box, Mike K, for being a hockey elitist. See, Kaleta's drawn yet another penalty.
Posted by: nysticks | October 30, 2009 at 04:51 PM
That's how the heavyweights fight...ask your mom. Kaleta should be mayor! He sets the physical tone of the game and draws retaliation penalties, every team knows when Kaleta comes to town!
Posted by: sabresfanaswell | October 30, 2009 at 02:21 PM
Oh yeah...
Players are coached to keep their heads up so a) they can actually see the play develope and where to either shoot or pass the puck and b) to be aware of headhunters and cheap players from trying to take their heads off
Thanks for the hockey lesson Pelican...?
Posted by: Mike K. | October 30, 2009 at 01:15 PM
Pelican, your real name should be Ostriche since your head is buried up your own a#@!
I don't know what moron taught you to play hockey but there should always be respect for the other players out there, its not a coached way of thinking.
When a player has their head down, yes you check them but you do not attempt to injure them like Kaleta does.
Kaleta quite often leaves his feet to throw body checks which is also illegal.
I have played competitive hockey for over 20 years and I've played all over the United States but regardless of that it's about what type of player a person is.
I play at over 200 lbs so if I hit you your going to feel it, I do not need to play cheap and I definately don't turtle.
There is no place in hockey for guys like Kaleta and for people with your mindset.
I think you should stick to what ever dumba$$ video game your talking about, I am not a child so I don't sit around playing with toys.
Posted by: Mike K. | October 30, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Mike K, have you ever played a game of competitive hockey in your life?
Players are instructed to hit people when their heads are down. That's not a cheap hit. That's why coaches from the peewee level on up coach their kids to keep their head up when they have the puck.
You prefer to hit people when they are looking right at you, eh? Yeah.. ok.. Where's that, on EA NHL '10?
Posted by: Pelican | October 30, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Oh yeah...who in their right mind even cares to watch Peters play hockey or much less stand there in that stupid stance, throwing blind punches with his head turned away. Guys like Korab; Shoenfeld; Playfair; Ruff and Ray must be pulling their hair out watching this guy fight...I for one wish I could make 6 figures for watching NHL games and doing absolutely nothing for a team. How does a person with no talent end up playing in the NHL? I want to find that agent and get a job like Peters has.
Posted by: Mike K. | October 29, 2009 at 01:04 AM
Kaleta does have some nice open ice hits but they usually do not create any significant scoring chances.
Kaleta is more of a cowering turtle who will not ever be a fighter. If you are going to take advantage of a defenseless player with even a clean hit you need to be able to man up and drop the gloves, he should know that he is going to have to answer to that hit.
I personally would not hit a defenseless player, I prefer to hit them when they are looking right at me, although they know its coming, they still get hit. Only people who play the game or who have played at a high level would understand the difference.
I can watch Gaustad; Mair or Ellis all day...watching Kaleta play is almost laughable.
Posted by: Mike K. | October 29, 2009 at 01:00 AM
BuffaloHoosier, I'm with you on this one. I love it when Kaleta is on the ice. He'll take on any any everyone with clean hits. Makes me laugh when I see him get someone. They'll learn to keep their heads up when he's on the ice. Run'em over Kaleta, Just what the Sabres need.
Posted by: Louis Martin | October 28, 2009 at 04:39 PM
Puck Bunny?
Anyone who knows the game the way it should be played knows that Kaleta is a scum rat who hides behind the instigator rule. God help him should the NHLPA / League come to their senses and shelf it. Atleast man up and face the music if you run around like a chicken with your head cut off.
Posted by: Maguire19 | October 28, 2009 at 04:29 PM
The day any one of you can play better than Kaleta is the day you can start to slam him. Jealous much? Those who can't do, pretend they know more than those who can.
Posted by: hockeygal | October 28, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Kaleta is the type of player who will tick off everyone on the opposing team, example; The Phoenix Coyotes game earlier this year, he gives us a chance on the power play, he's not out there to fight. He hits so hard that it looks dirty. I love when he is on the ice, its exciting to see who is going to get it next. He throws people off their game because they're looking to see where 36 is. Keep it up Kaleta, job well done.
Posted by: BuffaloHoosier | October 28, 2009 at 03:18 PM
Rick, I'm a Sabres fan and Kaleta certainly is a cheap shot artist and turtles all the time and only yaps when a couple guys are between him and a bigger opponent. Plus running around like that with that stupid visor. A real tough guy. No different than a player like Ken Linesman was. Oh wait a minute, he could score. I have no use for players like Kaleta. He'll get his someday.
Posted by: Kaleta = Hack | October 28, 2009 at 02:27 PM
I'm amused by opposing fans that call Kaleta a cheap shot artist. He's a nuisance to be sure. He gets under others players' skin and draws penalties, absolutley. And he will drop his gloves and fight when the time is right. But show me some of the alleged cheap shots he's delivered. They're clean. I LOVE how he plays the game. And now that he's putting the puck in the net, even better.
Posted by: BfloRick | October 28, 2009 at 01:36 PM
I was kind of hoping to get a good laugh at seeing Kaleta bowl over Peters with an open ice hit and then Peters trying to get up and do his usual boxing stance dance...
Posted by: TJ | October 28, 2009 at 01:25 PM
WE WANT RAY! WE WANT RAY!!
Posted by: Ken E | October 28, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Peters is great guy but completely lost the fire to fight. He's really stealing time from a great young enforcer, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. Oh, and Pat Kaleta is a cheapshot rat whose gloves are cemented on by crazy glue. He will get Ulf Samuelsson'd or Steve Moore'd before his career is done
Posted by: Maguire19 | October 28, 2009 at 12:56 PM
oh good...i was worried peters would put on an offensive clinic tonight, as he is known for.
Posted by: dale | October 28, 2009 at 12:37 PM
At least he's not cheep like Turtle 36 running around and hitting dirty.
Posted by: Derek | October 28, 2009 at 12:35 PM
He's not playing because he stinks. Although I bet if Peters was in the lineup, he would have went after Pat Kaleta...which might have been interesting...not that Kaleta would fight him, he's smarter than that. Peters is so YAWN.
Posted by: siket71 | October 28, 2009 at 12:27 PM
I agree with D, this isn't even a good story.
Posted by: Mister Rogers | October 28, 2009 at 12:23 PM
This is a story? Give me a break.
Posted by: D | October 28, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Even when Peters fights.....he is boring.
Posted by: SabresfanNJ | October 28, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Great! So we'll have to wait another few weeks to see Peters skate around for 2 minutes in the first period, not fight anyone, and ride the pine the rest of the way.
Its not worth putting Gaustad or Rivet in the box for 5 minutes to let a dozen losers cheer for a "fight" with Peters. The days of good, entertaining fights in the NHL are long gone, just like Peters should be.
Posted by: Brian | October 28, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I've been waiting for this game since the start of the season!! Hopefully, he's able to play when the Devils come here on December 7th.
Posted by: Amy | October 28, 2009 at 11:49 AM