I don't quite understand why anyone in Europe would want to watch the Sabres.
Usually they have teams play that have lots of European players or big name Europeans.
We have three on our roster, five total in the organization, and haven't drafted one since 2006.
Maybe we'll play in Austria or something.
It'd be interesting to see us play a KHL team too.
I don't quite understand why anyone in Europe would want to watch the Sabres.
Usually they have teams play that have lots of European players or big name Europeans.
We have three on our roster, five total in the organization, and haven't drafted one since 2006.
Maybe we'll play in Austria or something.
It'd be interesting to see us play a KHL team too.
essentially what it means is a sped up training Camp----doubtful of the annual Rookie Orientation Camp @ Williams.
it also messes up the beginning of the season since it's like opening the season a day ahead of what it is in NA.
Add in the Pegula evaluation process should Buffalo accept the invitation right now...
John Vogl of the news has a piece on this. Hecht thinks it is Germany. "I heard the rumor, too, that we’re going to Germany to my hometown," Sabres left wing Jochen Hecht, who is from Mannheim, told The News. "That would be nice. We’ll see."
Makes sense. Hecht is German and Vanek is Austrian and there aren't a lot of other Europeans on the squad.
John Vogl of the news has a piece on this. Hecht thinks it is Germany. "I heard the rumor, too, that we’re going to Germany to my hometown," Sabres left wing Jochen Hecht, who is from Mannheim, told The News. "That would be nice. We’ll see."
Makes sense. Hecht is German and Vanek is Austrian and there aren't a lot of other Europeans on the squad.
Hopefully this doesn't change the Sabres shopping either of them for long-term improvement deals come the deadline.
__________________
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle
John Vogl of the news has a piece on this. Hecht thinks it is Germany. "I heard the rumor, too, that we’re going to Germany to my hometown," Sabres left wing Jochen Hecht, who is from Mannheim, told The News. "That would be nice. We’ll see."
Makes sense. Hecht is German and Vanek is Austrian and there aren't a lot of other Europeans on the squad.
Germany would be awesome, there are a lot of Sabres Fans in Germany.
If this in any way helps us sign Christian Ehrhoff, I'd be all for it.
That was the first thought that ran through my head. I would rather not lose a home game but hey whatever helps the team and NHL market itself I guess.
The NHL's original plan to have six of its teams open the regular season overseas next season has been downsized to four, sources told ESPN.com Saturday.
The Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals, part of the original six teams asked to go over, are no longer in the mix. The New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres remain slated to open next season in Europe.
But certainly not in Russia. As reportedly earlier this week, talks between the KHL and NHL have fallen through and there won't be any Premiere Games in Russia as originally hoped. That's why Alex Ovechkin and the Caps are no longer in the Premiere Games mix. They were only a fit if Ovechkin could play a game in his home country.
And here's where it gets interesting. While KHL president Alexander Medvedev said this week in Russia that the NHL had asked for too much money and that's why the games are a no-go, two sources told ESPN.com Saturday that another reason for the collapse in talks was that Medvedev was "resistant" to the notion of two NHL teams playing each other in Russia. Instead, the KHL president wanted the two NHL teams to face off against KHL clubs. A total no-go -- the point of the Premiere Games is to feature regular-season NHL games between NHL teams.
Look for Stockholm, Helsinki and possibly Berlin to be in the Premiere Games mix as host cities next fall.
The Ducks are still expected to participate in the Premiere Games and are likely open the 2011-12 season against the Buffalo Sabres in Helsinki, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
It does, but the thought of a monster trip like this to open the season doesn't sit well with me.
Usually (I think) you get a week off when you come home after playing overseas, but I thought you also try to play 2 games there? Home-Home with ANH?
Yeah, you do a home and home.
I wonder if they will make it a back-to-back.
And just some observations: if it's in Helsinki, we'll either be playing at Hartwall Arena (home of Jokerit) or Helsinki Ice Hall (HIFK).
It will most likely be Hartwall like last year because it has a higher capacity.
If we're going to be playing Germany (more specifically, Hecht's hometown), we'll most likely be playing Adler Mannheim as a pre-season game.
They put up a good fight against the Sharks last year.
Also, all of the teams last year except the Bruins played one European club.
The Bruins played two, one in the Czech Republic and one in Ireland, which was an all-star team.
The game in Ireland was likely because they held their training camp there.
However, since only four teams are participating this season instead of six, perhaps they will revert back to the format used prior, where each team plays two European teams.
If one of them is assumed to be Germany, maybe the other will be against an Austrian team because of Vanek.
NHL teams haven't faced an Austrian team since 2007.
Red Bull Salzburg or Vienna Capitals are good options IMO.
The only other European players we have are Slovakian and Swedish, so those places could also be options.
The decision to have us play the Ducks in Finland is kind of weird though, since we have exactly zero Finnish players in the organization (although David Leggio did play for TPS in Finland).
Yeah, you do a home and home.
I wonder if they will make it a back-to-back.
And just some observations: if it's in Helsinki, we'll either be playing at Hartwall Arena (home of Jokerit) or Helsinki Ice Hall (HIFK).
It will most likely be Hartwall like last year because it has a higher capacity.
If we're going to be playing Germany (more specifically, Hecht's hometown), we'll most likely be playing Adler Mannheim as a pre-season game.
They put up a good fight against the Sharks last year.
Also, all of the teams last year except the Bruins played one European club.
The Bruins played two, one in the Czech Republic and one in Ireland, which was an all-star team.
The game in Ireland was likely because they held their training camp there.
However, since only four teams are participating this season instead of six, perhaps they will revert back to the format used prior, where each team plays two European teams.
If one of them is assumed to be Germany, maybe the other will be against an Austrian team because of Vanek.
NHL teams haven't faced an Austrian team since 2007.
Red Bull Salzburg or Vienna Capitals are good options IMO.
The only other European players we have are Slovakian and Swedish, so those places could also be options.
The decision to have us play the Ducks in Finland is kind of weird though, since we have exactly zero Finnish players in the organization (although David Leggio did play for TPS in Finland).
The Finnish decision was made for the league's most underrated defenseman in Toni Lydman - poised to lead the league in +/- ...just kidding.
But while this is good for our *seemingly?* strong fanbase overseas courtesy of our Germans and Vanek...how could this possibly be good for the team, traveling such a far distance and playing in an arena they don't know at all for 2 games. I don't like it at all, and when the league started doing it, I always cringed at the thought of Buffalo partaking in the event, and prayed it never happened.
And we always play better on the road anyways. How often do we get to watch the team play against another league? And fans overseas would get a chance to see our boys live.
The Finnish decision was made for the league's most underrated defenseman in Toni Lydman - poised to lead the league in +/- ...just kidding.
But while this is good for our *seemingly?* strong fanbase overseas courtesy of our Germans and Vanek...how could this possibly be good for the team, traveling such a far distance and playing in an arena they don't know at all for 2 games. I don't like it at all, and when the league started doing it, I always cringed at the thought of Buffalo partaking in the event, and prayed it never happened.
*insert Stevie Johnson quote*
If only we had kept him..
I don't know if the games make more revenue than regular games or what, but that would be a reason to participate.
The travel can be good for bringing a team together too probably, as they spend a couple days in the cities they are playing in and it's basically like a team vacation.
I've actually always wanted the Sabres to participate but thought it was unlikely because of our lack of European players.
I just hope they are streamed on NHL.com like they were last year because I enjoy watching European hockey.
.
