This Day in Buffalo Sports History

   Nov. 12, 1988 -- The Buffalo Sabres had a problem in the fall of 1988. They had too many goalies: two.

   Tom Barrasso and Daren Puppa were both capable of starting in the National Hockey League. Not only that, but the two goalies didn't like each other that much. General manager Gerry Meehan decided to deal one of them, and Barrasso, as a veteran, was likely to bring more talent.

   So Buffalo sent Barrasso and a draft choice to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Doug Bodger and prospect Darrin Shannon. Bodger was someone who came into the league at age 18 and had little trouble fitting in to the NHL from the start. He was never great, but he was always pretty good for quite a while. Shannon was considered one of the best prospects in hockey, a strong two-player who was tough to knock off his skates. However, Shannon never really panned out; his brother Darryl later proved useful to the Sabres years later.

   Pittsburgh had no complaints, as Barrasso helped the Penguins win two Stanley Cups.

--- Budd Bailey