So, lots of exciting things have happened!

The Sabres signed Drew Stafford. Very exciting, he has a lot of potential and I think he'll do great this season.

I got tickets for the Penguins/Devils game (in Pittsburgh) on October 24th. SO exciting, my first (& only) game in Mellon Arena :D

Preseason is almost over. The Sabres are 3-1-1, which isn't bad. Lots of trouble last night at the Habs game - Paul got 17 penalty minutes, Kaleta got 20 minutes and a game misconduct! Can't wait to see what spills over to the home opener.

Mairsy is back and skating with the team. Good to see he's getting better.

The Sabres had a red carpet event before the Leafs/Sabres game on Wednesday, September 23rd. It was fabulous.

Regular season hockey is just a few days away!

28 days!

The NHL regular season begins in 28 days!
Preseason... much earlier than that.

The Sabres' Puck Drop Event? 10 days away. The days are winding down and the excitement is building up! Hockey is coming!

The major point of this post was this: The Sabres are close to signing Drew Stafford! Darcy Regier spoke to several news sources recently, including the Buffalo News, and said he expects Drew to be signed (with the Sabres) by next weekend.

All I can say is... THANK GOD. I've been getting concerned, with us signing other guys, that maybe Drew wasn't going to be signed at all. But it sounds like Darcy is finally doing his job, signing the guys that matter. Will Staffy be overpaid this season? Possibly. But he should improve from last season and he's got the potential to be, in a few years, a top player on the team. Darcy's also working on contracts with Ennis & Mancari.

Taylor Pyatt signed with the Coyotes. As a Pyatt fanatic, this leaves me with mixed emotions. I love Taylor, and I'm glad to see he'll have a job this coming season. There are a lot of free agents out there who haven't signed with a team... I'm glad he'll still be in the NHL now. But, it also makes me sad. I would really have liked for him to sign with the Sabres (... dreaming!) or at the very least, with an Eastern Conference team. The Sabres play the 'Yotes twice (one home, one away), but I would have liked it to be more.

Oh yeah... classes have started at Buff State! I'm taking 18 credits this semester, plus working a new job at the library, plus working as managing editor for the school paper. Basically.. I'm going to be super busy! But there's ALWAYS time for hockey (:

I leave you with a lovely picture of Andy McDonald, my favorite Blue!

Well, my trip to Pittsburgh was amazing. I was able to do just about everything I wanted (the Incline, Strip District, Station Square, to name a few), including a trip to MELLON ARENA!

Now, I had never seen that arena up close before. Driven past it? Sure, but then it seemed like only a blur, and I didn't begin to really love the Penguins until two seasons ago. So to be able to go there - and visit PenStation, the team store - was amazing.

It seems like such a small arena when I first saw it - but then you get right in front of it, standing on the sidewalk, and you're literally looking up at this giant igloo. You can tell it's an old arena not from the outside, which is gorgeous, but from the inside. Being that it's the offseason, the pavilion/concourse area wasn't open, but I was able to sneak a couple peeks through the windows in PenStation and the windows on the outside of the arena.

I was able to go into the pavilion area for a minute, when the lady at the store graciously allowed me to in order to buy one of those pressed pennies. I simply can't wait until I get to the game in October (that is, willing I can get tickets, which is going to be super hard!)

Also, when we walked around the exterior of Mellon Arena, we were up semi-high on a ramp and got a nice view of construction on the Consol Energy Center. It's really coming along, and I can just imagine how much more work will be done by the time I see it again. The last steel beam was put in place today (I wish I had been in Pittsburgh to see that!), and it's moving along at a really good pace.

I'm at work, so I'll talk more about hockey in an update later, but can I just say:

WHY HAVEN'T THE SABRES SIGNED DREW STAFFORD YET?!?!?!?!?!?

I am SO sorry for not writing for so long! But in my defense, I've been busy writing for Bleacher Report and with my job and such, plus news has been scarce at best.

But now! There's much to discuss.

Like the fact that Martin Biron is now a member of the NY Islanders! Wow. The most amazing thing is that he went so cheap (1 year, $1.4 mil). I really expected him to go faster and for more money, but I suppose it's better than not having a job at all, which is the other possibility. And with Dipietro's constant injuries, the Islanders could really use another goalie.

The most amusing thing to me? Two former Sabres goalies are now playing on the Islanders: Biron & Roloson. They played together here, and now they're together once more.

What else... Hossa's supposedly nursing a shoulder injury that could keep him out for a while. Yikes! With all the money Chicago's paying him... I mean... come on. That's not a good sign.

Also.. I was listening to my hockey songs (153!) on the bus to work today and I realized I REALLY REALLY REALLY miss hockey. Like, I knew I missed it.. but I realized just how much. September 17th is the Sabres' first pre-season game. Training camp begins shortly before that. Regular season, October 3rd for us, but the 2nd for others.

I realized as of late that I really have grown to love the Penguins and Blackhawks more and more. I mean, I liked them all season, but it's only now that I realize to what extent. I'm going to a game in Pittsburgh this season - to see Mellon Arena before it closes - and I am no longer certain if I want a Malkin jersey. I love him, but I also really like Letang... so I'm just not sure which to get!

Oh, and I'm going to Pittsburgh for a week from August 1st-8th, so I may not post until I get back unless something major happens. We'll just have to wait and see.

So.. here's some videos to enjoy :)

Free Agency Frenzy

Well, we've survived 2 and a half days of free agency thus far. The first day was CRAZY... yesterday, not so much.

Since free agency began, there have been 61 signings (as reported on TSN.ca/nhl, as of 2:08.) 20 of those signings were re-signings - and a whopping 41 have seen the relocation of players.

The Marian Hossa deal... just... wow. 12 years is a LONG time (Hossa will be 42 when it ends!) People are bashing Blackhawks management for not thinking enough, because Toews and several other prominent players will be free agents come next summer - and I agree, it'll be tough for them to fit everyone in. I love the Hawks, but let's be honest... I don't like Hossa.

I'm going to miss Spacek so much. It's so sad that he's going to be in Montreal now, and we'll have to see him a lot. He wanted a multi-year and stupid Regier was only offering him one-year. We are going to lose so many guys this year because Regier isn't willing to give multi-year deals.

Oh, and on that note... MONTREAL went insane. They signed Spacek, Hal Gill (who will be missed in Pittsburgh!), and Mike Camalleri, losing Mike Komisarek to the Leafs. Wowww. Word has it they also signed Mathieu Darche, but I haven't heard anything else about it (terms, etc.)

I'm also depressed to hear that Martin Havlat is going to Minnesota. ILY, Martin. He's promised the whole story through his Twitter, because a few weeks ago he said that Chicago was the only team he was even thinking about signing with. Now, he's saying Minnesota is great and he feels appreciated there. More to the story?

Oh, and let me just say... the idea of Avery and Brashear on the same team is kind of scary :O

What else will happen? More trades? Where will Heatley end up? Let's just wait and see!

Shameless promotion of my profile on Bleacher Report: http://bleacherreport.com/users/126501-melissa-kania. Check it out, read my articles and what-not.

OH AND GUESS WHAT? THE SABRES ACTUALLY SIGNED SOMEONE.

After Darcy said that trade would be the only way we'd acquire anyone this year, he signed Steve Montador. He's a fighter, and his first game in the NHL was IN BUFFALO. How insanely funny is that?

Here's a video of Steve fighting his future teammate Craig Rivet on February 2, 2009.

Prepping for the Draft

Several news points to cover in this entry.

First: SERGEI FEDEROV HAS SIGNED WITH THE KHL.
That depresses me. I remember Feds back in the glory days of the Red Wings, when Yzerman and Shanahan were still there. I wasn't his biggest fan, but I did like him, and he'll be missed. His agent says that the move is to fulfill his father's lifelong dream of watching both his sons play together (as signing with Metallurg reunites him with his brother.) It's a good reasoning, that's for sure. But he'll be missed.

Second: ALL THE TRADE RUMOURS
I don't know what to believe, and I try not to look at rumours until they become fact. It all just gets too confusing. For instance, TSN has been told by a "reliable source" that Boston may trade Kessel to Toronto for Kaberle and a pick. That'd be one hell of a move if it happens.

Third: FREE AGENCY LOOMING
My relationship with free agency is a complicated one. Most of the time, it's been tragic. But it could be good... maybe. The Sabres have quite a few guys to sign, and of course Regier says he's working towards deals. Well... maybe he should start working HARDER.

---
- OMG just saw a super young Marc Crawford (from his Nordiques days) on NHL Network.
- Draft (and draft party) today! I'm excited. Tavares or Hedman? I think they're both great players and wherever they end up, they'll succeed. DRAFT PARTYYYY ftw.

In honor of Draft Day, I'd like to wind back time. 11 years ago tomorrow, the NHL draft of 1998 was held in Buffalo, NY, at what was then called "Marine Midland Arena." I was there. It was amazing. If my scanner worked, I could scan in pictures I have of the event, but it's not working right now. I MET VINCENT LECAVALIER at the pre-draft events. They had the top prospects sitting at tables, signing stuff. I have a pennant from that day with various signatures on it, some of which are not legible. But I also have a signed Lecavalier Team Canada card, which I got signed on that day. *swoon*

NHL Awards

NOTE: SPOILERS LIE AHEAD. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE AWARDS YET AND/OR DON'T KNOW WHO WINS, STOP READING NOW!

I always love watching the Awards; seeing the guys get recognized for their hard work, get all dressed up in suits & ties, walk the red carpet. The whole atmosphere is just amazing.

Calder Trophy: Steve Mason. No shock there... ten shutouts in his rookie season is simply amazing. I really liked Bobby Ryan, and Kris Versteeg had a good year too. But hands down, Mason deserved it.

Lester B. Pearson Trophy: Alex Ovechkin. Mmk. But in my eyes.... Malkin > Ovechkin any day.

Masterton Trophy: Steve Sullivan. I can deal with this. He missed 142 games with a back injury, then made an amazing comeback! I was originally pulling for Zednik (obviously, the incident happened in Buffalo, and I feel a strong connection to him. But then again, he's left the NHL to pursue his Russian interests... so.... no.) Anyone but Chelios. Yes, he's 42 and I give him credit for playing so long... but just... no.

Lady Byng & Selke Trophies: Pavel Datsyuk. That's four Lady Byngs in a row for Datsyuk... which makes it pretty obvious that he MUST be a gentleman. I appreciate and respect that in a player. It's easy to get dirty, but Datsyuk doesn't. The Selke... okay. I can't bring myself to dislike Datsyuk.

King Clancy Trophy: Ethan Moreau. After reading up about all the stuff this guy has done in the community.... definitely well deserved.

Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas. Uh.... I wanted Steve Mason :(

Jack Adams Award: Claude Julien. I wanted McLellan... but then again, almost none of these awards went how I wanted them to.

Norris Trophy: Zdeno Chara. Didn't expect. I really thought (and hoped) that Green was going to get it.

Hart Trophy: Alex Ovechkin. I WANTED MALKIN. DAMN IT.

(But guess what? It's okay, because GENO got the Cup. So while Ovie goes home and cuddles with his mini Hart and Lester Pearson trophies.. Geno can snuggle with the Holy Grail.)

::: Note: I don't hate Ovechkin. I actually sometimes adore him. But Malkin is much higher on the list:::

----- SPOILERS END HERE!

So that's that for another year. Hopefully next year some Sabres will be nominated so I can see them in suits and *swooon* over them. Nice to see Pat Kane (hometowner) presenting the Calder, and Pat Lafontaine (I sat on his lap when I was five!) presenting the Masterton.

Oh... and in other news. Blackhawks GM Rick Dudley has suddenly resigned "to pursue other options." I'm thinking maybe he got offered a coaching job somewhere?

Dan Bylsma received a call from PRESIDENT OBAMA to congratulate the Pens on winning the Cup.

And (based on this week's Sabres Lunch Express), Tim Kennedy is pretty awesome. He played with Justin Abdelkader at Michigan and dressed up like Scooby Doo, he's a hometown boy, and he went on vacation with Chris Butler. Sweettttt.

ps. The All-Star and All-Rookie teams were just announced. Geno (and Mike Green) FTW. Nice to see Steve Mason there too. And I'm pretty much in love with the All-Rookie team. Mason, Schenn, Patrik Berglund (my newest love), Bobby Ryan, Kris Versteeg, and Drew Doughty. Full of awesomeness.