Teppo's back!!!!

Well the Sabres signed some more defensive depth, which makes the corp even stronger heading into the new season. Thats right Teppo is back for another go at it. After last years heart nightmare. Then the suspension and the fallout from that. The contract hasn't been released. But from Mike Weber thinking he has a chance to Mike Weber finding an apartment in Portland.

So the Defense is now

Toni Lydman
Henrik Tallinder
Jaroslav Spacek
Craig Rivet
Teppo Numminen
Nathan Paetsch
Andrej Sekera
Mike Weber

The fight for 6th and 7th spot should be pretty good between the 3 of Paetsch, Sekera and Weber. And who knows if they bring back Pratt. Then does Sekera and Weber head down to Portland? But I'm feeling better about the Sabres defense. They are now full of veterans. I was rather down on Paetsch last year. He took a step back and was rather terrible in several games. But thats good. He'll work hard in the offseason, and knows he'll be pushed by a couple kids who had tons of playing time at the end of the year. Competition shows true character and gives you the best team possible.

The more interesting tidbit in that article, the Portland Pirates will play a game in february at HSBC, so we can see all the kids play. But who knows at that part that the kids won't be in Buffalo by then, with injuries or disappointing play. But ifs its cheap, I might go to it.

Ps. Its always good to still have Winnipeg Jets in the league. And Teppo is always a Jet to me.

Sabres stocking Portland

Sabres made some news yesterday and really it all had to to with Portland. Because they guys they have signed lately are depth guys and vets that fill out the Pirates lineup. Sabre fans aren't used to that with Rochester being shared, so they could just have young guys in the lineup. Now they have to sign older guys to help the young kids in Portland.

A bit ago they signed Mathieu Darche, who is a career AHLer, with some NHL action. Perfect type guy when the injury bug strikes. And yesterday they bring in Colton Fretter and Colin Murphy. Who no aren't guys in a boy band. They are minor league hockey players. Really you don't have to worry about them, unless the injury bug turns epidemic, then we will worry which line Colton Fretter plays on. Hopefully we won't have to worry. They'll play in Portland, help the kids, provide some punch and get a paycheck. Thats about it.

Also they unofficially named the coach of the Pirates. The old Coach of the Pirates and former Whaler, Kevin Dineen. Well that sounds good for me. A guy like this will show the young guys the way, hopefully buy into the "system", and with Eric Weinrich, the young D men will also learn from a long term NHLer.

I don't know about you, but I'm excited about this AHL team. They should have a lot of talent and will be lead by guys who know what they are doing. I'm sure here at GCFB, we'll detail the Pirates exploits and their looting of the AHL.