9/26 Recap: Busy night for CHLers

A trio of Sabres prospects are leading the way in the young season by registering points in every game since returning from Buffalo's training camp. Zack Kassian (+1) had a goal and an assist but tired Peterborough finished their third game in as many days with a 4-3 loss. The banging right wing has two goals and five assists to start the year, and will look to tie a career-best six-game point streak on Thursday against Oshawa. Ethan Werek (NYR) scored for the Fronts, while stud 2010 rearguard Erik Gudbranson had a pair of assists. In the QMJHL, Jacob Lagacé (-2) scored his fifth goal of the season then added another in the shootout as Chicoutimi came back to defeat Quebec, 4-3. Lagacé's tally at 10:27 of the third period knotted the game 3-3 and forced the extra time. Lagacé now has nine points through his first four games. Last season, he scored four goals and three assists in his first four games before notching just two assists in his next six. In the WHL, Brayden McNabb had an assist as Kootenay stumbled at home against Medicine Hat, 4-2. The Tigers, who were 1/5 on the power play, connected in the second period while McNabb served a roughing minor. The big defenseman will look to equal a career best five-game point streak when the Ice host Calgary on Friday. After scrapping on his first shift the night before, Marcus Foligno (+2) scored his first goal of the year in the opening minute on Saturday as Sudbury opened up a can on Belleville, 7-1. Showing no signs of wear from his energetic Friday, the grinding forward continued to throw his weight around in the second of a three-games-in-three-nights run. With an obvious affection for a fresh sheet of ice, Foligno was called for a checking from behind minor in the opening minute of the second period. Also from the OHL, Nick Crawford notched two assists as previously unbeaten Saginaw lost to Erie, 6-4. 2010's Andrew Yogan and Greg McKegg had goals for the Otters, while Anthony Camara ('11) had two goals and an assist for the Spirit. Rounding out QMJHL play, Jordon Southourn scored PEI's only goal of the game as the Rocket fell to Victoriaville, 3-1. The 6'2 defenseman beat Kevin Poulin (NYI) cleanly with :07 to play in the first period for his 2nd of the season. In Russia, Vjacheslav Buravchikov notched his first point of the year, an assist, as Ak Bars held on to defeat Salavat Yulayev, 4-3. Buravchikov's assist came late in the second period to put Ak Bars ahead 4-0. Salavat came back with third period goals by former NHLers Patrick Thoresen, Alexander Radulov, and Viktor Kozlov, but couldn't connect on a fourth with the goalie pulled and a power play in the final minute. In Sioux City, Mark Adams was even with 4 PIM as Chicago closed the USHL Fall Classic with a 4-3 shootout loss to Waterloo. Adams, who was earlier called for a tripping infraction, comitted a hook at 3:53 of the third period that led to the game-tying goal being scored on a penalty shot. Chicago finishes the pre-season with a 2-4 record.

9/24 Recap: Q forwards impress

Jacob Lagacé continued his hot start on Thursday, scoring a goal and adding an assist as Chicoutimi dropped a 4-2 decision to Val-d'Or. The reigning QMJHL Offensive Player of the week now has four goals and four assists in his first three games. Also in the Q, Luke Adam posted an assist in Cape Breton's 2-1 win over Gatineau. The big center had another strong all-around effort, showing dominance at the dot by winning 15 of 21 draws, while also pacing the Eagles with four shots on goal and four hits. In the OHL, Zack Kassian (-2) picked up an assist as Peterborough lost to Sault Ste. Marie, 5-3. The Petes held a 2-0 lead after the first period, but were outworked in the final forty minutes on home ice to take their first loss of the year. Nick Crawford was even as Saginaw remained undefeated with a 6-1 drubbing of Plymouth. 2010 eligible Ivan Telegin scored twice for the Spirit. In the KHL, Vjacheslav Buravchikov played even over 16:44 of action as Ak Bars defeated Barys in overtime, 5-4. The defenseman again skated bottom pair minutes with 23-year old Montreal Candiens prospect, Alexei Emelin. -------------------------------------- The USHL Fall Classic kicked off Thursday morning in Sioux City with the Chicago Steel falling to Sioux Falls, 3-1. Steel defenseman Mark Adams was -1 with a shot on goal in the loss. Russian scorer Andrei Kuchin had Chicago's lone goal, while Grand Island, NY native Matt Zarbo had two assists and team-best five shots on goal for the winners. Zarbo will join brother Joe next fall at Clarkson. The Fall Classic is highly scouted preseason tournament with all 14 clubs participating under two roofs. NHL teams will have eyes in the stands, as will all of the major NCAA D-I and D-III programs. The Steel open the regular season next Friday against Team USA. ------------------ Also of note, undrafted summer camp invite Michael Fine was sent home earlier this week by the Soo Greyhounds for disciplinary reasons. The 5'11 Fine will likely be traded to another OHL club this weekend as all parties agree that's the best option moving forward. With locker room troubles plaguing the Hounds last season, Fine reportedly had issues with attitude, focus, and committment in the early goings this year. He was moved from his natural center position in camp, and may have felt that his role was being diminished after not being selected for a shootout over weekend. This is the second early departure in the past six months for the skilled forward, who left Canada's U-18 camp last spring due to family issues. This can be a breakout year for the North York, Ontario native once he lands back with another team.

9/22 Recap: Pirates ship begins to fill; KHL heating up

The Sabres today announced their first batch of names leaving camp for farm assignments. Off to Portland of the AHL are the following 14 players: F: Tyler Ennis, Paul Byron, Maxime Legault, Travis Turnbull, Derek Whitmore, Kyle Rank, Brad Larsen, Mark McCutcheon D: T.J. Brennan, Drew Schiestel, Dennis Persson, Matt Generous, Mike Kostka D. J.P. Lamoureux No real surprising moves, as all were expected to start the year with the Pirates. Ennis had the potential to play one more game, but there are too many other battles to be won in other areas. Technically still the captain of the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL, Legault, 20, will shoot for an AHL roster spot and first NHL contract when he reports. The cutdown leaves 33 players still in camp including defensive prospects Tyler Myers, Mike Weber, and Marc-Andre Gragnani; forwards Nathan Gerbe, Tim Kennedy, Philip Gogulla, and Felix Schutz; and goaltender Jhonas Enroth. For those who've not watched any of the pre-season games, Myers has gradually gotten better with each of his three appearances. He's shown an adjustment to speed, demonstrated good escapability to start breakouts, and used his stick well to break up plays for quick clears. At this point I score him ahead of Gragnani and Weber, who committed several turnovers in Monday's win over Washington, but need more views to project him out against the current top-6. ---------------------------- Overseas, a pair of 2005 draft picks are getting deeper into their KHL seasons. Vjacheslav Buravchikov was -2 on as Ak Bars lost to Avangard on Tuesday, 3-1. The 6'1 dman manned the bottom pair with Alexei Yemelin (MTL) for 15:03 if action, a few ticks above his season average of 13:45. Ak Bars next plays on Thursday at Barys. On Monday, Marek Zagrapan was -1 as Severstal dropped a 3-1 decision to Metallurg. The 23-year old is -3 with four shots on goal in three games since scoring the winner in the season opener. Severstal will take the ice on Wednesday against an Amur club carrying former Sabres defenseman, Nolan Pratt. -------- Also of note, PEI's Jordon Southorn stayed away from practice Tuesday with a bug, and may not be ready to go for their Wednesday tilt with 4-0 Saint John. Brayden McNabb and Kootenay will host the Edmonton Oil Kings in a mid-week WHL battle.

9/11 Recap: Southorn lights lamp; KHL gets krackin'

Jordon Southorn cast the first Sabres-centric stone of the 2009-10 regular season, scoring a goal and adding five hits as PEI defeated Moncton, 2-1, in the QMJHL opener for both teams. Paired with Czech import Adam Polasek, Southorn (+1) put forth a strong effort by leading numerous rushes up-ice and getting shots to the goal area while settling his own zone. He put the Rocket on the board at 8:55 at the second period when his crisp rising wrist-shot beat Wendell Vye to tie the game 1-1. These are the types of tempo dictating efforts that the 19-year old lefty will have to regularly produce to remain in the Sabres mix after a suspension kept him from skating in his second NHL camp alongside fellow Q'ers Luke Adam, Jacob Lagacé, and Maxime Legault. At 6'2, 200-pounds, Southorn has the frame, skating, and two-way tools to develop into a solid professional. As the raw foundation is present, demonstrating growth in consistency and maturity could make the Sabres' contract decisions more interesting next offseason. If the money wasn't there to sign RW Andrew Orpik for depth, the Sabres are in no position to gamble with character when the blueline is already well-stocked. A Harvard educated leader with a two-year experience edge, Alex Biega, 21, appears to be the better bet for a deal at this point, but it will be interesting to monitor the year since Southorn has the potential to put up some big numbers on the Island. -------------- In Thursday's KHL opener, recently re-upped Vjacheslav Buravchikov logged nearly 14:00 of icetime and spent another 4:00 in the box as Ak Bars defeated Lokomotiv, 3-2 in OT. On Saturday, Ak Bars fell to Spartak by a 4-1 count. Severstal's Marek Zagrapan will make his KHL debut on Sunday against Motorist.

Sabres make play for Slava?

RussianProspects.com is reporting that the Sabres have extended a contract offer to 22-year old defenseman Vjacheslav Buravchikov (2005, 191st overall). The 6'1, 190-pound lefty collected four goals and 10 points this past season in the final year of his KHL deal. Russian Prospects feed:

Buffalo Sabres have once again extended an offer to the 22 year old Russian defenseman Vyacheslav Buravchikov (Buffalo Sabres). The club also reportedly offered the young defenseman an offer last summer, but at the time he was still under contract with HC Ak Bars. That contract is now over and Buravchikov is a free agent who is able to come to North America. Buravchikov has recently enjoyed several strong seasons in Russia with HC Ak Bars, this year earning the Gagarin Cup with his club.

The club's gesture likely marks the end of the road for free agent defensemen Mike Card, a 2004 pick who saw his past two seasons end due to concussions, and oft-injured Michael Funk.

12/21-23 Recap: Buravchikov scores; Enroth with big night

Holiday catch-up. Vjacheslav Buravchikov scored a goal for Kazan in their 6-1 trouncing of Spartak Moscow on Tuesday. The goal was Buravchikov's second of the season and his sixth point to go along with a +1 in 29 games for the KHL's third place club. Kazan will wrap up their two-game Moscow swing with a Christmas day game with CSKA. In Tuesday DEL play, Philip Gogulla had three shots on goal in Cologne's 4-3 loss to Hamburg. Two of his best chances came midway through the third when Cologne started applying some late-game heat. Former Sabre Andy Delmore scored the overtime winner for the Freezers. On Sunday, Gogulla (2PIM) had two shots on goal in their 3-2 OT loss to Ingolstadt. Also on Sunday, the Pirates earned their first back-to-back wins since their eight-game winning streak ended on November 19th with a 3-2 victory over Worcester. Jhonas Enroth lead the charge with a season-high 41 saves, while Marek Zagrapan scored his third game-winning goal of the season. Mark Mancari added a pair of helpers for Portland to hit the 30 point plateau on the season. With Chris Butler earning praise from the Sabres coaching staff while on recall, Mike Weber finshed +3 while getting an assist for his third point in the last eight games. The Rundown: Zagrapan: GWG, +3, 4 SOG Mancari: 2A, +2 Kennedy: 1A, +2, 3 SOG Hunter: 1A Weber: 1A, +3, 2 PIM Schutz: +1 Gragnani: -1 Kostka: -1 Whitmore: 1 SOG Enroth: 41 saves, W