Saturday, December 6, 2008
Gerbe gets 14th as Pirates slip
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Gerbe grabs 13th, Enroth stops 'em all in win
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Mancari effect hits five on farm
Friday, November 28, 2008
Pirates lose fourth in a row
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Kostka, Schutz steer ship in loss
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Pirates streak ends with weekend losses
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Eight straight for the farm ship
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Pirates sail to seventh straight
Gerbe, Pirates continue to cruise
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Pirates stay hot in win over Phantoms
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
11/5 Recap: On Pommer-like pace, Gerbe nets hatty
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Kennedy adds to streak; Mancari on pace to place
Friday, October 31, 2008
Enroth dismisses Admirals
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Zagrapan, Gerbe pace Pirates
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Enroth gets first start; Kennedy streaking
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Gerbe guns for two in Pirates win
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Pirates majestic in 6-3 win over Monarchs
"(Mancari) put some points on the board, and he was a presence," Dineen said. "I think he is very aware he's playing with some guys who have some special skills, and he's embracing that."The two "guys with special skills" happen to be prospects Tim Kennedy and Nathan Gerbe. Kennedy added a goal and two assists in his first professional game, while Gerbe posted a pair of helpers to propel the Pirates. Adam Dennis made 28 saves between the pipes to secure the win. The rundown: Mancari: 3 goals, 2 assists, Kennedy: 1 goal, two assists, +2 Gerbe: 2 assists, +2 Butler: 2 assists, +2 Gragnani: 1 assist, +1 Hunter: assist, +1 Whitmore: 1 assist Kostka: even Schutz: 2 PIM Zagrapan: -1 Weber: -2 Card: -2
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Dennis to start; Funk out indefinitely
F Mancari – Kennedy – Gerbe Darche – Zagrapan – Murphy Whitmore – Hunter – Bouck Fretter – Schutz – BonneauWith 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.D Weber – Card Butler – Baier Kostka – Gragnani
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.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."
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Kostka gets hometown pub
He'll attend the Sabres' rookie camp in June, which will include draft picks and free agents, and also the club's main camp in September. He expects to join the Sabres' American Hockey League affiliate, which is expected to be moved from Rochester to Portland, Maine in time for next season. Kostka says his association with the Sabres began a year ago while playing in the NCAA regionals with UMass that were held in Rochester. After the regionals, he spoke with Sabres' officials who proffered an invitation to Buffalo's rookie camp that summer. "I went there and it was a really good experience. There were draft picks and AHL players there and I got to meet the people in the organization. They told me, 'go play another year and we'll keep watching you and we'll get in touch at the end of next year', and they came through with the two-year contract, a two-way contract between Buffalo and their AHL team."
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The Butler, in the library, with the deal?
Two big question marks, and a smaller third one, exist with the Pios. One, will junior defenseman Chris Butler be back? DU’s best two-way player had a nice summer camp with the Buffalo Sabres last year and will probably have a tough decision to make. If he stays, he’ll be the WCHA’s top D-man and possible team captain. I talked to him briefly about it after Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Badgers, and he didn’t say much — other than the loss could inspire him to come back and give it another shot. But once he’s offered a contract and the Sabres present a plan for him next season, certainly the sting of the season-ending loss will be history. My take: 70-30 he signs.Chambers says 70/30 he signs. I'll say 89/11. Other than winning a college championship, which is a dangerous motivator for a player reknowned as a "team guy", there isn't a whole lot left for Butler to prove in the WCHA. Of course, completing his education has to be a primary goal, but that can always be done over the offseason. Developmentally, the St. Louis native is good to go as a professional hockey player. Andrej Sekera is certain to be on Buffalo's blueline next season, and it looks like Mike Weber is on the verge of joining him. With a twice-concussed Mike Card engaged in rehabilitation, and still-defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani showing chops best served as a left wing, Mike Funk and Mike Kostka could be the only defensive prospects under contract for the Sabres AHL affiliate in 2008-09. (The recently signed Kostka will attend training camp after leaving his Amerks ATO to finish his UMass coursework.) Enter Butler, 21, and perhaps even 2006 first-rounder Dennis Persson. Butler would obviously be an early signing, while the Sabres are inside of 60 days away from a decision on Persson. 2007 picks T.J. Brennan and Drew Schiestel both would benefit from another junior season, and as 19-year olds, would have to make the Sabres roster outright (unlikely) since they won't meet AHL age requirements. Harvard sophomore Alex Biega and St. Lawrence junior Matt Generous are expected to return to college, while '07 Drew MacKenzie hasn't even glanced at his first campus co-ed. SabresProspects is still keeping tabs on unsigned Miami D Mitch Ganzak, who recently completed his senior season with the Redhawks after attending Buffalo's prospect camp over the summer - the same camp that put Kostka on the radar.