The Sabres are continuing their trend of signing tough guys. This morning the team announced the signings TJ Brennan and Nick Tarnasky to one year contracts. Brennan is a former 2nd round draft selection of the Sabres and Tarnasky was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 9th round of the 2003 draft.

Nick Tarnasky played last season in the KHL after playing parts of 5 season with the Lightning, the Nashville Predators and the Florida Panthers. In those 5 season 30 points, 297 PIM’s in 245 games. Tarnasky also appeared in 36 games while playing for Vityaz Chekov of the KHL and racked up 12 points and 173 PIM’s.

While the point total is not impressive, the tough guy mentality is something the Sabres felt they needed to acquire in bulk quantities this off season. Tarnasky joins the list of John Scott and Steve Ott as the tough guys acquired through free agency/trades. The 3 of them will join Patrick Kaleta (hopefully), Cody McCormick, Marcus Foligno and Corey Tropp. Apparently our goal this offseason was to get mean, very, very mean… Should be an interesting experiment.

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The Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins will face off in what will be the final game of the regular season and a lackluster final game it will be. Both teams have nothing to play for, with the Bruins already clinching the Northeast Division and the 2 seed in the post season and the Sabres being eliminated from post season contention after a loss to the Flyers two nights ago.

If there is anything right in the world, Jhonas Enroth will play tonight’s game in its entirety. There is no need to play Ryan Miller in this game, no need to risk injury, no need to make him more tired than he most likely already is. There is nothing on the line in this game and Enroth deserves a chance to play.

Marcus Foligno and Corey Tropp were returned to Rochester today as they are no longer needed in Buffalo. Its better to get them playing time and let them have a chance for postseason play, even if its not NHL postseason play. Both Foligno and Tropp provided and injection of energy for this team and now they can go back to Rochester better players and give the Amerks a better chance at the AHL Playoffs. Once tonight’s game is over, Brayden McNabb will also return to the Amerks.

» Continue reading “Sabres Face Bruins In Season Finale”