Sabres July 4th Fireworks

Go away for a parade and fireworks, and look at what you miss…

The Sabres traded away RW Steve Bernier (to Vancouver) and added D Craig Rivet in a deal with San Jose. See full coverage over at the Goose’s Roost.

Two things interesting about the moves: 1) Rivet is definitely a top-four defenseman, a step up from where I thought the Sabres would reach. I really thought they would go for a depth or lower-level guy (read: cheap) as an insurance policy against injury (Tallinder/Spacek), ineffectiveness (Paetsch) or inexperience (Weber). I don’t expect big things from Rivet, but he’s a minutes-eater and he’s steady, both of which are needed.

2) I’m a bit sorry to see Bernier go. His Sabres debut showed just how much potential this kid has. Unfortunately, the rest of the season showed just how far he has to go to reach it. He was all but invisible on most nights, never showing that toughness that was supposed to accompany his size. I’m sorry but we already have an Ales Kotalik.

In other news:

Jagr to Russia. No doubt Jaromir is fulfilling his gambling obligations from his stay in Russia during the lockout.

Satan to Pittsburgh.

Dan Boyle to San Jose for Matt Carle. So the Sabres made TWO deals with San Jose in what five months and STILL couldn’t get Carle??

Bad news for the Sabres, big Georges Laraque landed in Montreal for three years. Does that mean we have to keep Peters now? As for the Pens, that’s six players from last year’s squad to sign elsewhere, including some of their heart and soul players – Malone, Roberts, Laraque, Ruutu, Hall & Hossa. Now it’s really Sidney Crosby’s dressing room.

~ by Porky on July 5, 2008.