Lydman getting closer
PHILADELPHIA-- Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman continued making progress today after missing nine straight games with a strained groin. He's not playing tonight against the Flyers but is hoping to be back in the lineup sometime next week.
"It's getting better now," Lydman said after the Sabres' morning workout. "We're definitely almost there. I think so. That's my humble opinion. I don't know for sure."
Lydman was hesitant because he thought he would be back several times over the past three weeks only to suffer setbacks. The Sabres don't play again until Wednesday, which gives him another three days to recover before they make a decision. Mike Grier (groin) had a light skate but will not play tonight.
Lydman's return would put the Sabres at the 23-man roster limit. It would include eight defensemen, including defenseman-forward Nathan Paetsch. Most teams carry only seven. The Sabres will likely stick with eight unless they figure out a way to make room.
Ryan Miller did not participate in the optional practice this morning but will likely be back in net for the third straight game. Veteran backup Patrick Lalime had a full workout this morning.
--- Bucky Gleason
Good riddance to deadweight. Just go ahead and leave Lydman in the press box while you're at it.
Posted by: NV in COSpgs | November 14, 2009 at 07:48 PM
Max is playing better because he is on a team with a well respected countryman (Kovalchuk) and does not want to let him down. He was not going to do that here unless Darcy found a way to add a well respected Russian to the lineup. And it is pretty hard to complain when you look at how the Sabres are playing this year without him. Now Kotalik I always wanted to keep and that was a bad trade which is even worse with hindsight.
Posted by: CalgarySabre2 | November 14, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Spill it will ya Chris?
Posted by: LindyHatesVanek | November 14, 2009 at 05:22 PM
the only players the sabres could use today are drury and campbell....the others will stale with their new teams over time.... most ex-sabres don't really blossom with their new teams... one exception would have to be andreychuk several years back.....for you "old timers", calle johansen played many years with the caps after buffalo traded him...maybe boucher....
Posted by: vegastom | November 14, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Ennis got called up.........The News nor WGR has this story.......but I do :)
Posted by: Chris | November 14, 2009 at 03:08 PM
No one here ever said Max wasn't a hard worker. He was often the hardest worker out there. I don't think anyone doubted that he could resurrect his career once he was out of here. His problem here was his schizophrenic play. The amazing rushes up the ice that resulted in...an offsides. The 3 brilliant stickhandles followed by the 4th which resulted in....a giveaway.
Considering how much screaming the fans did over the last couple of years regarding Max and Kotalik, I'm shocked that there are people who really want them back here. Does anyone honestly think that they would be doing what they are doing now if they were here? No of course not. What's next.....bringing back Kalinin?
Posted by: Ken E | November 14, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Max and Ales wouldn't blend well on the team we have now. They would have to play on the fourth line and that's just silly.
Posted by: jason | November 14, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Are you kidding me!? Let's see where Atlanta, New York, Philly, and even Chicago have gone since they've taken these "vaunted" players away from our team.
You can make an argument for Drury....Briere can't stay on the ice....Cambpell has slipped to the third defensive pairing and Tallon said "that contract was a mistake"...and Afinegenov is just another soft Euro on a constantly underachieving squad that will once again not make the playoffs.
Also, Kotalik is still irresponsible in his own end and his only offensive skill is his shot. Weak.
Posted by: Upper Gold Seats Forever | November 14, 2009 at 02:54 PM
Yeah Sniper, Campbell and Drury are just tearing it up for their respective teams at their overpaid salaries.
Posted by: Whatever | November 14, 2009 at 02:50 PM
Afinogenov is tearing it up in Atlanta, by Sabre standards.
6 goals/10 assists, played in all 16 games.
Seems like a lot of players that Regier and Ruff write off, do pretty well after they leave.
Seen Kotalik this season?
He's playing much better, did last season after he left, also!
So, Sabre die hards, go ahead and tell me it's the players! The stream of them that go elsewhere and their careers blossom.
Posted by: Sniper | November 14, 2009 at 02:39 PM
Further evidence that Darcy waited too long to pull the trigger once Ruff soured on Max:
"Max looks like he got a second life," Kovalchuk said. "In Buffalo, he took a beating by the coach. He's one of the hardest workers. Every day, he's smiling."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=291113028
Posted by: eric | November 14, 2009 at 02:02 PM
Um - Toni who?
Posted by: CalgarySabre2 | November 14, 2009 at 02:01 PM