Gragnani en route; Tyler keep your phone on

The Buffalo Sabres have recalled defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani from the Portland Pirates (AHL). In his second professional season, the 6'2 Quebec native has four goals and 26 assists and is +3. This is the second NHL call-up for Gragnani, and his first of the 2008-09 season. A puck moving defenseman drafted in the 3rd round in 2005 (PEI - QMJHL), Gragnani scored 14 goals and 52 total points for Rochester in 2007-08 while playing the majority of his shifts as a forward as the year wore on. In a two-game stint with Buffalo as a left wing, Gragnani was called for a pair of hooking minors. Allowed to focus on just one position this season, Gragnani has settled into a better defensive posture while excelling on the power play. Expect a better player with this visit. Buffalo was forced to make a call after Henrik Tallinder injured his shoulder in a mid-week loss at Tampa. The organizational depth is running on fumes with Andrej Sekera, Teppo Numminen, Mike Weber, and Mike Funk also banged up, and Mike Card ill. First-year man Mike Kostka is the only healthy contract on Portland's blueline at the moment. Aside from Kostka's availability, what would happen if another injury were to take place? I think there are two options to consider. The easy, financially responsible scenario is that, just like Gragnani and Nathan Paetsch, Mark Mancari has some two-way experience and it still shows in his game. Perhaps a hole could be patched on an emergency basis. The other, more intriguing emergency option would be to to call Tyler Myers out of Kelowna (WHL). Yes it is early, but those who don't think he's going to make a push to be in Buffalo next season after another eight months of development would benefit from a mid-season temperature check on his progress. The World Juniors is not the NHL, but his gold-medal showing was a solid step in the right direction, and a brief, well-managed call would be another confidence builder for the 12th overall pick last June. Heck, with a two-game swing through Alberta this week, it'd be a short, familiar trip for the 6'7-1/2 Calgary native.

Pirates lose; Kennedy on the mend

Mark Mancari put Portland up 1-0, but Hartford closed with three unanswered goals to beat the decimated Pirates, 3-1. The goal was Mancari's 17th on the season, with assists going to Marc-Andre Gragnani and Mathieu Darche. Jhonas Enroth made 27 stops in the loss. Add Tim Kennedy to the Pirates injury heap that already includes Mike Weber, Mike Funk, Dylan Hunter, Paul Baier, and Adam Dennis. Kennedy missed the game after having a number (7?) of teeth knocked out after taking a high stick from Gabe Gauthier in the Pirates Saturday loss to Manchester. Gauthier received a double minor on the play. Kennedy received oral surgery. With injuries and illness abound (Gerbe missed the contest due to sickness), Portland went to battle with just 16 skaters for the Monday afternoon tilt. The loss makes the Pirates 1-4 in their last five home games. The Rundown: Mancari: 1G, 4 SOG Gragnani: 1A, +1 Zagrapan: +1 Kostka: -1 Card: even Whitmore: 3 SOG Schutz: -2

Weber out after surgery; trade coming?

Portland defenseman Mike Weber is set to miss three weeks of action after getting his knee scoped earlier in the week. The leg was bothering the Pittsburgh native for quite some time, and could potentially force the Sabres into a trade with Andrej Sekera and Teppo Numminen injured, Craig Rivet still sore, and rookie Chris Butler already with Buffalo. The puck moving Marc-Andre Gragnani would be next on the call-up list, but Portland is already thin on the blueline with Mike Funk still shaking cobwebs from a concussion and Paul Baier out with a broken jaw. Nathan Gerbe could fill a roster spot as a forward, but that of course does little to alter the d-landscape. Currently seventh in the conference with a two-point lead over eighth-place Florida, the Sabres are about to embark on a six-game road trip with some holes on the blue. Per Lindy Ruff, Numminen will miss "some time" after taking a puck to the face in Saturday's win. It doesn't seem long term, but trade winds could be more of a reaction to Sekera's ankle injury. The Slovakian was logging monster minutes when healthy, and we're not too sure if Nathan Paetsch has enough in the tank to steady things in relief. Speaking of such a deal, The Toronto Sun states that league scuttlebut has Matthieu Schneider getting sent to Buffalo for the maligned Maxim Afinogenov.

The chatter is the Atlanta Thrashers are going to send veteran Mathieu Schneider to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for winger Maxim Afinogenov. Buffalo wants a blue-liner and hasn't been able to give away Afinogenov because no other team wants to pick up his $3.5-million salary ...

12/10 Recap: Brennan solid in win; Ennis heads east

T.J. Brennan (+3) had two assists, including a set-up on the game winner, as Montreal defeated the Q's top-club, Shawinigan, by a 4-1 score. Luke Adam (2 PIM) failed to hit the sheet for the fourth straight game as the Juniors take tail end of the home-and-home. Cedric-Lalonde McNicoll scored the lone Cataractes goal, extending his current point-streak to an alarming 21 games. In snowy Charlottetown, Jordon Southorn had an assist and his usual two hits for PEI in their 5-2 win over Halifax. The 6'2 defenseman is even with five points in his last three games. Also from the Q, Jean-Simon Allard was +1 but failed to register for the fourth straight game as Quebec stomped on Chicoutimi, 7-1. The 6'3, 193-pounder has been hot and cold all season long after getting traded to the Remparts at the Q draft last offseason, and he'll need to be a more consistent presence moving forward. The Sags' Jacob Lagacé posted a -5 in the loss, a season low amongst all of the Sabres prospects. In Michigan, Nick Crawford was -1 as Saginaw lost at Plymouth, 3-2. The minus took place when Crawford got beat on a play by Chris Terry, who skated past the sixth-rounder and bested Edward Pasquale from 20-feet out for the Whalers second goal of the night, and his 14th of the season. And now, catch-up time. On Monday, Tyler Ennis (-1) had an assist as Medicine Hat fell to Lethbridge, 4-3. The game was the final tune-up for the left wing before skating in Team Canada's camp beginning Thursday. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla was -1 with three shots on goal as Cologne dropped a shootout to Iserlohn, 3-2. The winger did not make the Sharks shooter list. In Tuesday evening action, Jean-Simon Allard was quiet for his third straight game, finishing -1 as Quebec was shutout by Baie-Comeau, 4-0. Over in Sweden, Dennis Persson dressed but did not get a shift as Timra lost to SSK, 3-2.

Funk injury mars Pirates victory

Marek Zagrapan scored his fourth goal of the season, and Tim Kennedy had three assists as Portland rode a Colton Fretter hat trick past Lowell, 5-2. Kennedy now has points in two consecutive nights after a six-game slumber. Jhonas Enroth made 31 saves for his eight win of the season, while Mark Mancari picked up an assist in his first game back from Buffalo. The game became secondary at 10:29 of the third period when Mike Funk was taken off the ice on a stretcher after getting checked from behind by the Devils' Anssi Salmela. He'll be hospitalized overnight with his injury status yet to be determined. The Rundown: Zagrapan: 1G, -1 Kennedy: 3A, -1 Mancari: 1A Butler: 2A, -1 Schutz: +1, 4 SOG Gragnani: 1 SOG Kostka: 1 SOG Whitmore: -1 Weber: 1A, 2 PIM Hunter: 2 PIM Funk: -1, injured Enroth: 31 saves, W

Gerbe gets 14th as Pirates slip

Nathan Gerbe scored his 14th goal of the season, and Marc-Andre Gragnani forced OT by one-timing a nice backhand pass from Felix Schutz while shorthanded as Portland fell to Springfield, 3-2 in a shootout. Jhonas Enroth made 30 saves, while Gerbe was only successful Pirate in the breakway drill. The Rundown: Gerbe: 1G, 4 SOG Gragnani: 1G, +1 Schutz: 1A, +1 Butler: 1A Kennedy: 1A Kostka: +1 Funk: even Weber: -1, 2 PIM Zagrapan: -1 Whitmore: 2 PIM Hunter: 2 PIM Enroth: 2 GA, 30 saves, SOL

Gerbe grabs 13th, Enroth stops 'em all in win

Nathan Gerbe and Derek Whitmore netted goals, and Jhonas Enroth made 23 saves for his second North American shutout as Portland defeated Manchester, 4-0. Whitmore found twine on a redirect early in the first period to put the Pirates up 1-0. Later, Felix Schutz fed a pass to Gerbe on a 2-1 break, who one-timed the puck past Jonathan Bernier for his 13th of the season. The win ends a five-game losing streak for the Pirates. The Rundown: Gerbe: 1G, +1, 7SOG Whitmore: 1G, +1 Schutz: 1A, +2 Zagrapan: 1A, +1 Gragnani: +3 Kostka: +2 Butler: +2 Weber: 2 PIM Hunter: 1SOG Kennedy: 1 SOG Funk: 1A, +1 Enroth: 23 saves, SO

Mancari effect hits five on farm

On Saturday, Portland came up empty for the fifth straight game without leading scorer Mark Mancari with a 5-1 loss to Lowell. Derek Whitmore assisted on the lone Pirates goal, while Jhonas Enroth made 13 saves after Adam Dennis was pulled after allowing three goals on nine shots in the first period. Devils goalie Jeff Frazee made 40 saves for the win, while Niklas Bergfors scored two goals and an assist. The Rundown: Whitmore: 1A, -1 Gerbe: -1, 4SOG Kennedy: -1, 4SOG Gragnani: -1, 3SOG Zagrapan: -1, 3SOG Weber: 2PIM Funk: 2PIM Kostka: 2SOG Hunter: 2SOG Schutz: -2 Butler: -3 Dennis: 3GA, 20:00, L Enroth: 13 saves The Pirates held an eight-game winning streak at the time of Mancari's call-up on November 21st.

Pirates lose fourth in a row

Kings prospect Jonathan Quick was sharp, stopping 41 of 42 shots as Manchester handed Portland its fourth straight loss, 3-1. The only Portland goal took place on the power play when Mike Funk found Chris Butler, whose point shot was tipped by Tyler Bouck past Quick. Felix Schutz saw his three game point streak snapped, while Adam Dennis made 27 saves in the loss. The Rundown: Butler: 1A, -2 Funk: 1A Weber: 4 PIM Schutz: even Hunter: even Kostka: even Whitmore: even Zagrapan: -1, 7 SOG Gerbe: -1, 6 SOG Kennedy: -1, 4 SOG Dennis: 27 saves, L

Kostka, Schutz steer ship in loss

Mike Kostka scored two goals, and Felix Schutz scored a goal and an assist as Portland lost to Worcester, 4-3. The goals were Kostka's first as a professional. With Mark Mancari in Buffalo, Schutz has stepped up with three goals in as many games. Jhonas Enroth made 26 saves in the loss, while Nathan Gerbe saw his eight-game point streak snapped. The Rundown: Kostka: 2G, +1, 5 SOG Schutz: 1G, 1A, -1 Whitmore: 1A +1 Zagrapan: 3 SOG Weber: -1 Kennedy: -1 Gragnani: -1 Gerbe: -1 Butler: -2, 2 PIM Funk: -2 Enroth: 26 saves, L

Pirates streak ends with weekend losses

Portland's eight-game winning streak came to an end this weekend with Friday-Saturday losses to Providence and Hartford. On Friday, Felix Schutz and Derek Whitmore each scored a goal and was solid with 31 saves in the loss, while Nathan Gerbe added an assist for his 21st point of the year. The 5'6 Gerbe also had his first fighting major (vs. Vladimir Sobotka) since a game versus Merrimack in his sophomore year with Boston College. The Pirates were playing without leading scorer Mark Mancari, who was named the game's #3 star for Buffalo in the Sabres loss to Philadelphia. On Saturday, Mancari scored his first NHL goal in another Sabres loss to the Isles. The Rundown: Schutz: 1G, 1A, +2 Whitmore: 1G, 1A, +2 Gerbe: 1A, +1, 7 PIM Butler: +1 Funk: +1 Zagrapan: -1 Kennedy: -1 Gragnani: -1 Weber: 2 PIM Kostka: -1 Enroth: 31 saves The Pirates returned to action on Saturday, suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time this season with a 6-2 loss to Hartford. Mike Funk scored his first of the year, while Schutz added his fourth to give him points in five straight games. Gerbe picked up an assist to extend his point streak to eight. With the Pirates losing two straight for the first time this season, Tim Kennedy went pointless in back-to-back games for the first time as well. The Rundown: Schutz: 1G, -1 Funk: 1G Gragnani: 1A -1 Gerbe: 1A, -2, 4 SOG Zagrapan: +1 Butler: +1 Kennedy: -1 Weber: -2 Kostka: 2 SOG Whitmore: 1 SOG Dennis: 22 saves, 6 GA Mike Card (cut face) and Dylan Hunter (foot) remained sidelined for Portland.

Eight straight for the farm ship

Down on the farm, Tim Kennedy and Chris Butler each scored a goal and an assist as Portland won their eighth straight game, 4-2 over Hartford. Marek Zagrapan, Nathan Gerbe, and Mark Mancari added helpers for the Pirates, who scored three times on the power play and once into an empty net, while Adam Dennis made 34 saves to earn his sixth win. Mike Card sat the game out with a facial injury. The Rundown: Butler: 1G, 1A, +1 Kennedy: 1G, 1A, -1 Zagrapan: 1A Gerbe: 1A Mancari: 1A, -1 Funk: +1 Kostka: -1 Gragnani: -1 Weber: 1 SOG Schutz: 1 SOG Whitmore: even Dennis: 34 saves, W

Pirates sail to seventh straight

Felix Schutz and Mark Mancari each potted a goal, and Tim Kennedy added two assists as Portland won their seventh straight, 5-2 over Providence. The goal gives Mancari points in all seven wins, while Nathan Gerbe had an assist to raise his point streak to five games. Adam Dennis made 27 stops to get the win. The Rundown: Mancari: 1G, +2 Schutz: 1G, +1 Kennedy: 2A, +2 Kostka: 1A, +2 Gerbe: 1A, +1 Zagrapan: 1A, +1 Gragnani: 1A Butler: +2 Funk: +2 Card: even Whitmore: -1 Weber: 4 PIM Dennis: 27 saves

Gerbe, Pirates continue to cruise

In Friday AHL action, Nathan Gerbe scored two goals and added an assist as the Portland Pirates beat the Albany River Rats, 6-3. The BC product now has 12 goals in as many games, good for second in the league. Marek Zagrapan and Mark Mancari (shortie) also added a goal and an assist each for the Pirates, while Derek Whitmore scored his first of the year in the win. With another two points, Mancari maintained his spot at the top of the AHL points leader board with 23 on the season. Jhonas Enroth made 27 saves for his sixth straight win. The Rundown: Gerbe: 2A, 1A, 6 SOG, +3 Zagrapan: 1G, 1A, +3 Mancari: 1G, 1A, 6 SOG, +1 Whitmore: 1G, +2 Kennedy: 1A, 5 SOG Kostka: 1A, +2 Gragnani: 1A, +3 Schutz: 1A, +1 Weber: +3 Card: +2 Funk: -1 Butler: -1 Enroth: 27 saves, W

Pirates stay hot in win over Phantoms

Mark Mancari continued his scoring tear with a goal and three assists, and Tim Kennedy got back on the sheet with a goal and an assist of his own as Portland defeated Philadelphia, 5-3. The victory makes it five in a row for the Pirates, as Mancari jumps into the AHL point lead with 22 (9+13) through 11 games. With the Pirates taking five straight, Jhonas Enroth made 16 saves to earn his fifth straight win. The Swedish rookie is now 5-1, with a 2.67 goals against average and a save percentage of .912. Mancari: 1G, 3A, +3 Kennedy: 1G, 1A, +2 Gragnani: 1A Gerbe: 1A Card: +2 Funk: +1 Kostka: +1 Weber: +1, 6 PIM Zagrapan: 2 SOG Schutz: even Butler: even Whitmore: even Enroth: 16 saves, W The Pirates will return to action on Friday when they host the Albany River Rats in Lewiston.

11/7 Recap: Eidsness bests #1; Adam pots pair

If you've been reading this space of late, we've talked about a looming shake-up in Gatineau where the Piques were riding a ten-game losing streak heading into Friday's game with Montreal. The shake-up came this week with Mario Richer resigning as coach, and being replaced by former NHLer Jerome Dupont. Gatineau owned the opening period of the new boss' debut, scoring three times on 17 shots, but Montreal stormed back with six unanswered goals for the win. Luke Adam lit the lamp twice, while the Juniors won their second straight game on T.J. Brennan's winner midway through the third period. Brennan and Adam also posted assists on the night, while the Piques' Paul Byron had a power play goal in the 6-3 loss. In other Q action from Friday, Jacob Lagacé scored a goal and an assist in Chicoutimi's 3-2 win over Victoriaville. Tied at one apiece heading into the third, Lagacé first set up Nicolas Deschamps (ANA) at 2:47, then scored his ninth of the year for the game winner about ten minutes later. Jordon Southorn scored a goal for PEI in their 4-3 loss to Cape Breton. The power play marker was Southorn's second of the season, and his play has been both improved and inspired since his return from suspension. J.S. Allard scored his fifth goal of the season as Quebec defeated Baie-Comeau, 8-6. The Remparts went 4/9 on the power play to earn the win. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was +2 in Saginaw's 7-2 win over Ottawa. His +8 for the season ranks him 20th overall in the O. From the WHL, Tyler Ennis scored his eighth goal of the year in Medicine Hat's 4-2 loss to Regina. Ennis tied the game at 2-2 early in the third when he raced in on a short-handed breakaway and made a nifty deke before roofing the puck over Linden Rowat (LA). The Pats would counter with two goals of their own to seal the victory. In NCAA play, Brad Eidsness made 29 saves as visiting North Dakota defeated #1 Colorado College, 3-1. Eidsness, who moved to 3-2 on the year, made many great saves to earn the W and should be back between the pipes when the two clubs play it back on Saturday. Freshman defenseman Corey Fienhage did not travel with the club for the weekend set. Alex Biega (+1) assisted on both Crimson goals as #18 Harvard lost to RPI, 3-2. The junior now has three points in three games. Matt Generous (+1) notched his first point* of the season, assisting on the overtime winner as St. Lawrence defeated Yale, 3-2. The senior started the game-winning play as he broke into the Yale zone and sent a shot just wide of the net. The puck was corralled and fed back to Brandon Bollig, who poked the puck over the line. Andrew Orpik was -1 as #2 Boston College suffered a 4-1 upset loss to #12 Notre Dame. The rematch of last year's NCAA final kicked off a Holy War weekend as the two school's football teams will also meet on Saturday. Corey Tropp (-1) returned to the #11 ranked Spartans lineup after a bout with mono in their 3-0 loss to Ohio State. In Alaska, Justin Jokinen (2 PIM) was even in #13 Minnesota State's 5-3 win over Anchorage. Freshman Drew MacKenzie was even in #16 Vermont's 2-2 tie with Providence. In the AHL, Tim Kennedy scored the shootout winner but saw his nine-game point streak snapped as Portland edged Springfield, 2-1. Mark Mancari scored on the power play, with Nathan Gerbe being credited with the assist. Adam Dennis made 26 saves to earn the win, while Mike Funk made his first appearance of the season after a concussion delayed the start of his schedule. The Rundown: Mancari: 1G, 6 SOG Gerbe: 1A, 7 SOG Kennedy: -1 Butler: 2 PIM Weber: even Schutz: 1 SOG Funk: 2 PIM Gragnani: 3 SOG Zagrapan: 2 PIM Funk: 2 PIM Kostka: -1 Whitmore: 2 SOG Card: even Dennis: 26 saves *Generous still hasn't been credited with an assist on Zach Miscovic's game winner against UNH a few weeks back.

10/29 Recap: Gerbe, Kennedy keep firing

Playing catch-up... In a mid-week AHL tilt, Nathan Gerbe scored on the power play and Tim Kennedy added another assist as Portland dropped a 3-2 decision to Hartford. Gerbe's goal was his sixth in as many games, while Kennedy now has a point all six. Chris Butler, Marek Zagrapan, and Mike Kostka also posted assists in the loss. The Rundown: Gerbe: 1 G, 4 SOG Kennedy: 1 A, -1 Zagrapan: 1 A, -2, 4 PIM Kostka: 1 A, -1 Butler: 1 A, 3 SOG Schutz: 2 SOG Gragnani: -1 Mancari: -1 Whitmore: -1 Card: -2 Dennis: 20 saves, L It was also announced this week that Dylan Hunter will be out four-six weeks after taking a puck in the foot during Sunday's win. Mike Funk (concussion) has started skating with the team, but is expected to be held back until next week. Also on Wednesday, Tyler Myers skated to a +2 as Kelowna cruised to a 7-2 win over Seattle. In the Q, Jacob Lagacé (+2, 5 SOG) scored an empty-netter as Chicoutimi topped Rimouski, 5-2.

Dennis to start; Funk out indefinitely

The Portland Pirates will kick off their 2008-09 season tonight with a skate against Manchester. The Maine Hockey Journal reports that Kevin Dineen will likely keep Jhonas Enroth in waiting, instead giving the start to veteran netminder Adam Dennis. MHJ has also posted what they feel will the line combos for the contest.

F Mancari – Kennedy – Gerbe Darche – Zagrapan – Murphy Whitmore – Hunter – Bouck Fretter – Schutz – Bonneau

D Weber – Card Butler – Baier Kostka – Gragnani

With Mike Funk concussed, the presence of Mike Weber should provide quite a spark to the Pirates blueline. Per the Portland Press Herald, Weber thinks there might be a natural flicker by no longer sharing an AHL affiliation with the Florida Panthers.

Portland Pirates defenseman Mike Weber had been in town less than 24 hours, but he already sensed a big difference between this AHL team and the one he played on last season in Rochester.

"It's a better setup than what we had in Rochester," Weber said Friday morning. "We had two different (NHL) teams barking at the coaching staff, and there was a divide in the locker room. Here, it's a different situation."

Last spring, the Sabres ended a 29-year relationship with the Rochester Americans after sharing the AHL affiliate with the Florida Panthers for three seasons.

"Florida said they wanted these systems, and Buffalo said they wanted these systems, and the players were in the middle," Weber recalled. "It was a little bit crazy."

In June, Buffalo became the new NHL parent of the Pirates after the Anaheim Ducks ended their three-year affiliation with Portland.

"Everyone's on the same page here," Weber said. "It provides a less stressful environment."

It's safe to say that these comments validate the patience that many have taken with promising talents like Marek Zagrapan. On top of lacking veterans, last year's Amerks lacked any sense of cohesion.

Pirates stop Rats, 5-3

Instead of writing up a long-winded recap of my own, I thought it best to steer you to our good friends at Maine Hockey Journal for a rundown of last night's pre-season victory by the Pirates. Pirates push past Albany in pre-season action

Fitchburg, Mass. – Marek Zagrapan scored two goals and an assist for the Portland Pirates as they battled past the Albany River Rats, 5-3, at the Wallace Civic Center on the campus of Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg Massachusetts. Zagrapan, who arrived in Portland late Saturday, was playing in his first action since being sent to the Pirates on Friday, but despite being demoted he was still excited to get on the ice. “I think we have a bunch of young and fun guys,” said Zagrapan. This was just our first day together as a team; hopefully we’ll have all week to practice and get together and try to have a good start (of the season).” After a scoreless first period, the Pirates found themselves down 1-0 on a goal from Matt Murley at 8:07 of the second period, but just a little over three minutes later Zagrapan tied the game for the Pirates when he found puck at his feet for the easy tap-in at the left post, beating River Rats goaltender Justin Peters At 14:52, the Pirates made it 2-1, as Nathan Gerbe, Buffalo’s 2005 fifth round draft pick, was in alone on a breakaway, beating Peters with a forehand-backhand deke. Tim Kennedy would receive an assist on the play. Just 38 seconds later, the game was tied at 2-2 when Mike Angelidis found the back of the net on Adam Dennis, who replaced Jhonas Enroth after the first 30 minutes of play. Enroth played exceptionally well in his first AHL action. In 30 minutes of play, Enroth stopped 14 of 15 shots including an amazing paddle save, while on his stomach.

Felix Schutz also scored a short-handed goal on a breakaway in the third period. There's more meat to the MHJ article, including:

Line Combinations: Colton Fretter – Marek Zagrapan – Mathieu Darche Derek Whitmore – Tim Kennedy – Nathan Gerbe Jimmy Bonneau – Felix Schutz – Mark Mancari Josh Vatri – Dylan Hunter – Colin Murphy Chris Butler – Paul Baier Marc-Andre Gragnani – Mike Kostka Tyler Bouck – Mike Card Jhonas Enroth Scratches: Mike Funk (injury)

Sabres make Pirates; Ennis interviewed

As expected, the Sabres sent eight more players down to Portland as they get closer to opening the regular season a week from tonight.

Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have assigned eight players to the Portland Pirates of the American League. Heading to Portland are: forwards Mathieu Darche (pending waivers), Mark Mancari (pending waivers), Nathan Gerbe, Tim Kennedy, Dylan Hunter and Marek Zagrapan; and defensemen Chris Butler and Michael Funk.

No real surprises with the moves. With a consistent, productive carry-over to start the season, Zagrapan seems poised for his first call-up. As rooks, Gerbe, Kennedy, and Butler should greatly benefit from getting their skates wet in the AHL. As of now, Mike Weber, 20, remains with the Sabres. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Worth a look: WHL Web-TV has an interview up with Medicine Hat forward Tyler Ennis. The shifty Alberta native speaks about a busy summer that included the NHL draft, Team Canada's development camp, and his first NHL training camp. The segment also contains some game footage for those who haven't seen him in action. Fresh Rollout: The Burlington Free Press introduced first-year defender Drew MacKenzie to their readers as they profiled the UVM incoming freshman class.

Drew MacKenzie, freshman defenseman, 6-2, 200: Vermont’s young defense has another player of outstanding potential. MacKenzie has size and he offers a combination of defense and offense. With his hands, he could be a critical component on one of the UVM power play units.