August 1, 2011
Fischler: The Maven on DeBoer and More
by Stan Fischler/Columnist
PETER DEBOER’s hire by the Devils proves a few points: 1. Lou Lamoriello found a solid, savvy citizen to revive New Jersey’s fortunes. 2. Lou keeps a no-leak secret as well as any sports executive. 3. Some awfully competent experienced coaches -- Ken Hitchcock, Marc Crawford, et. al. -- are left without jobs.
GOSSIP
Any daydreams of an NHL team relocating to Brooklyn are just that – dreams. The future home of the NBA Nets – called the Barclays Center – has been re-configured for cost-cutting purposes. As a result, the revised architect’s plan does not allow for a standard NHL ice surface… Now that the Rangers have signed Brandon Dubinsky to a four-year, $16.8 million deal, the next question will be his positioning. One possibility would have John Tortorella placing Dubi on the top line alongside Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik. Then again, Dubinsky could wind up back with Ryan Callahan, who should be next to ink a Blueshirt pact. … With the recent departure of Tim Connolly from the Sabres to the Leafs, it seems the reporters’ backlash was quick to cross the border alongside him. The Buffalo and Toronto media were quick to slay the controversial center before his first season as a Leaf had even begun. Ryan Miller was quick to come to his former teammate’s defense. “It’s unfortunate the media hasn’t even let him get on the ice before starting with this,” the goaltender said. “Some people in the media felt like he owed them explanations beyond what he cared to share, and it just became a little bit of a vendetta. From my perspective, the only thing Tim doesn’t care about is what the media thinks about him. He cares about hockey fans, winning, and his teammates.”
WILL THE SABRES CUT A CUP-CAKE IN 2011-12?
Terry Pegula, Buffalo’s new no-nonsense owner has given the Sabres’ general staff plenty of ammunition to produce a winner.
What remains to be seen is whether the chemistry is right for a Cup contender.
Our new columnist-editor Lauren Borsuk offers this view:
A look at the current, revamped, Buffalo roster features the additions of skilled players such as Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino; as well as the usual suspects. The skill is there, but how about a leader? The Sabres have had a vacancy in the captain department since Craig Rivet’s departure for Columbus. From season to season, the Sabres’ downfall has been rooted in every players’ unwillingness to step up and grab the team’s leadership reins. Or perhaps the problem dates back to July 1, 2007, when both Daniel Briere and Chris Drury left for greener pastures. They took with them the leadership credentials that have yet to be matched by any current member of the Sabres.
The solution would be to assign the “C” to Thomas Vanek, who’s entering his sixth season with the squad. But it’s still uncertain whether he’s ready for the added pressure, which his seven-year, $50 million mega deal, has already put on him. Vanek had a career-year in 2007-2008, posting 43 goals and 41 assists. He has since been unable to match those totals – or for that matter, such a level of play. Although 32 goals and 41 assists in his 2010-11 campaign was impressive, the Sabres need Vanek to step up and play to his full potential. Leadership also rests with the coaching staff led by Lindy Ruff, who won a contract extension from Pegula.
Since Lindy took over in Buffalo 14 years ago – he is the third-longest tenured coach in professional sports – the NHL has overseen 162 coaching changes. Although Ruff is highly-regarded throughout the NHL, there’s a clamor for a Cup in Sabreland. As relentless as he’s been, Lindy has come close but, still, with no cigar. Watch out, Lindy; boss Terry could get impatient if the new edition falters. It would help the veteran coach if he could find a leader in the Drury-Briere mold.
MORE GOSSIP: Our man on Long Island, James Ryan offers an interesting insight into the thinking of Nassau high command: “In an unheralded move compared with the John Tavares pick in 2009 draft, one sign that Garth Snow is planning, long-range for the Stanley Cup, was the trading up for the 12th slot of the first round for the selection Calvin de Haan, a defenseman he knew would not immediately be competing for an NHL Job. De Haan has since captained the Oshawa Generals and started for Team Canada. But, Calvin has a shot at making the Isles’ varsity this Fall. Snow made a similar move in the 2010 draft, trading up into the first round again to draft Brock Nelson who was assuredly spending a number of seasons at the University of North Dakota before he can be seriously considered for a professional roster.”
AHL NEWS – MEDIA AWARDS NAMED
One of the most impressive aspects of the AHL’s operation is its awareness of media contributions.?Each year the league honors excellent coverage with the James H. Ellery Awards in recognition of outstanding media coverage.?This year’s winners are sportswriter Tim Leone of the Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News (in the newspaper category); Binghamton Senators director of broadcasting Grady Whittenburg (radio); and sports directorJamie Staton of WMUR-TV in Manchester, N.H. (television).
Well-respected throughout the AHL for his knowledge, dedication and passion at the microphone, Whittenburg recently completed his eighth season as the Binghamton Senators’ radio play-by-play voice by calling the city’s first-ever Calder Cup championship.
Whittenburg produced all aspects of Senators game-night broadcasts, along with “Sens Game Day,” a two-minute preview which aired on game days; in addition to “Sens Rewind,” a 60-second highlight piece for the following morning’s drive time.
At the beginning of the season, Whittenburg spearheaded the creation and production of a weekly audio highlights package, which aired on radio broadcasts across the league as well as on SiriusXM satellite radio’s NHL Home Ice channel.
Whittenburg also provided the radio call of the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic and coordinated the addition of TEAM 1200 in Ottawa to the Senators Broadcast Network for the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs.
