Sabres’ Promotion of Appert Shows Potential Blueprint

BY Nate Moser

The Buffalo Sabres recently announced Lindy Ruff was returning as head coach of the club after last behind the bench for them during the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season. Now, Ruff’s coaching staff has been revealed. The organization announced that Rochester Americans head coach Seth Appert will be promoted to a Sabres assistant coach for next season. Matt Ellis and Marty Wilford, part of Don Granato’s staff last season, will also return as assistants along with goalie coach Mike Bales. Amir Gulati was also promoted to video coordinator.

It is very apparent that the Sabres view Appert as a key figure in the organization’s structure moving forward. He had previously been head coach for the Americans for four seasons. During that span of time, Rochester made the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs three straight years in a row. Appert also has a track record of developing talent during his time down there, coaching eventual Sabres regulars in Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen among others. He recently has been helping develop some of the potential future talents in Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, and Devon Levi.

As much as it will be beneficial to reunite Appert to some of his former players he coached down in Rochester, I think there is more to this promotion, as many have already pointed out. Ruff’s contract with the Sabres is for two years. It is very possible that Ruff could get an extension if both sides are happy with the team direction and Ruff also wants to continue to coach. Whenever Ruff does step away from the Sabres bench though, it is very possible Appert becomes his successor. Ruff can show Appert the ropes for a couple seasons in the NHL in order to get him comfortable. He will get to know the locker room players better than he did previously and build relationships and trust. Ruff will essentially mentor him, and when the time comes, Appert can take the reins.

Now, this of course, is all reliant on whether the Sabres take the next step under Ruff. This can be the blueprint by Ruff and general manager Kevyn Adams, but if any progress fails to be made in a certain amount of time, it is very possible the Sabres management does not make it to an Appert coaching stint. Adams and Ruff could both be out. Much needs to transpire though. This can be a potentially great move having Appert gain some NHL coaching experience under the winningest coach in Sabres history, or it could create no results and the postseason drought will continue to grow in number. For the sake of this management group, hopefully it is the former.

Killing It

By Mike Rifkin

The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2 in Overtime to take a 3-0 series lead in the series. One of the big reasons the Rangers are having success is their special teams, but in particular their Penalty Kill. 

The Rangers penalty kill was third in the NHL during the regular season at 84.48% only trailing the Kings and the Hurricanes. But this postseason the Rangers PK is 93.8%. The Rangers gave up two power play goals in game two of the first round against the Capitals. Outside of that the Rangers PK has been sensational including a 5-5 performance Thursday night and added a shorthanded goal from Chris Kreider. Carolina had the top ranked power play during the regular season, but the Rangers have held them in check. 

Yes, Igor Shesterkin has been sensational, but this is where I have to give Chris Drury some credit. The Rangers needed a third line center and they acquired Alex Wennberg from the Kraken. But what the acquisition of Wennberg has given the Rangers is three reliable sets of forwards to help kill penalties. 

NHL Lookback: The Mika Zibanejad-Derick Brassard Trade

BY Nate Moser

The New York Rangers have made some significant trades in their organization’s history. The most famous one they made no doubt is getting Mark Messier from the Edmonton Oilers back in October 1991. There is also the Scott Gomez trade with the Montreal Canadiens back in June 2009 that led to New York acquiring defenseman and future captain Ryan McDonagh. Watching the Rangers, though, right now in the 2024 playoffs; I want to talk about the Mika Zibanejad-Derick Brassard trade that occurred between the Rangers and Ottawa Senators.

Mika Zibanejad was drafted by Ottawa sixth overall during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He played in parts of five seasons with the Senators, and he put up decent numbers for the franchise. His regular-season stats with Ottawa are the following:

  • 2011-12: zero goals and one assist for one point in nine games
  • 2012-13: seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 42 games
  • 2013-14: 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points in 69 games
  • 2014-15: 20 goals and 26 assists for 46 points in 80 games
  • 2015-16: 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 81 games

Additionally, in the postseason, Zibanejad chalked up the following stats for the organization in the playoffs:

  • 2013: one goal and three assists for four points in 10 games
  • 2015: one goal and three assists for four points in six games

Zibanejad learned from some solid NHL teammates while he was developing his game. The lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign saw Zibanejad on a Senators roster along with veterans Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and Sergei Gonchar. That is some solid leadership to learn from.

Fast forward a few years, and Zibanejad was a victim of change by being dealt to the Rangers. The transaction took place on July 18, 2016. The full trade was Zibanejad and a second-round pick in 2018 for forward Derick Brassard and a seventh round pick in 2018. It appears that the Senators did not realize the future steps Zibanejad would make to his game, because that move aged poorly looking back. Zibanejad has become one of the best players in this era of Rangers hockey. His point production per season amped up, and has developed impressive chemistry with teammates like Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin. Since being traded to New York, these are the stats Zibanejad has produced:

  • 2016-17: 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 56 games
  • 2017-18: 27 goals and 20 assists for 47 points in 72 games
  • 2018-19: 30 goals and 44 assists for 74 points in 82 games
  • 2019-20: 41 goals and 34 assists for 75 points in 57 games
  • 2020-21: 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points in 56 games
  • 2021-22: 29 goals and 52 assists for 81 points in 81 games
  • 2022-23: 39 goals and 52 assists for 91 points in 82 games
  • 2023-24: 26 goals and 46 assists for 72 points in 81 games

This past regular season, Zibanejad’s 72 points was fifth on the Rangers. Panarin (120 points), Vincent Trocheck (77), Kreider (75), and Adam Fox (73) were the players who had more. The Blueshirts have such a stacked lineup, but Zibanejad has proven time and time again that he is such a skilled forward in his own right. As this article is being written, he is showing off his talents in the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes. He finished Game 2 of the semifinals having recorded three goals and eight assists for 11 points in six playoff games. He leads the Rangers in postseason points, with Trocheck just behind him by a point himself (five goals and five assists for 10 points in six games).

Zibanejad is looking incredible out on the ice. If the Senators could turn back time, they would probably undo that trade with the Rangers and keep him around. He could’ve hit his stride wearing the Senators sweater, and become a household name alongside Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone (who also has broken out further since going to the Vegas Golden Knights). The Rangers are one of the deepest teams in the Eastern Conference, and that Zibanejad trade is a big reason why that is the case. It will never top the Messier trade with the Oilers, but Zibanejad may be able to retire a Blueshirt with a ring on his finger if everything continues to go well. Time will tell.

Curtis Samuel Has Big Shoes to Fill on Bills

By Nate Moser

The wide receiver department for the Buffalo Bills roster has changed massively over this offseason. Gabe Davis, Deonte Harty, and Trent Sherfield all left the team through free agency to go to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, and Minnesota Vikings respectively. The Bills also traded star Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans to join a squad already containing the likes of CJ Stroud, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins. Safe to say, for Buffalo, there are a lot of holes that need to be filled.

One of the new faces in the Bills wide receiver room to help replace some of the players leaving is Curtis Samuel. The 27-year-old inked a three-year contract back in March with Buffalo after spending the previous three seasons with the Washington Commanders. He originally was drafted in the second round (40th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and spent the first four seasons in the league with the club.

Samuel joined a 2017 Panthers team that contained quarterback Cam Newton, rookie running back Christian McCaffrey, running back Jonathan Stewart, and fellow wide receiver Devin Funchess. His best productive season came in the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. 2018 saw Samuel play in 13 games, while starting in eight of those. He was targeted 65 times and made 39 receptions, along with five touchdowns. 2019 saw Samuel start 15 out of the 16 games he played with Carolina. He was targeted 105 times, made 54 receptions, got 627 yards, and accrued six touchdowns. That is currently the most he has had in his career so far in games started, targets, and touchdowns for a single season.

I don’t believe we have not seen Samuel’s best football yet in the NFL. As I previously mentioned in my Chase Claypool piece, Samuel’s best quarterback that he has played with was probably Newton. The total list of quarterbacks Samuel has gotten at least one touchdown with are the following:

Cam Newton, Teddy Bridgewater, Kyle Allen, PJ Walker, Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke, Sam Howell, and Jacoby Brissett

Part of Samuel’s tenure in Washington was affected by injuries. He only played in five games during the 2021 season, where he accumulated just six receptions for 27 yards and no touchdowns. The other two years he played for Washington though, he made an impact and played in most of the games. He shared the wide receiver room with teammates like Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson as well, and the three played key roles in that Washington offense under head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner. Samuel during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns posted the following numbers:

  • 2022: 17 games played, 92 targets, 64 receptions, 656 yards, 4 TDs
  • 2023: 16 games played, 91 targets, 62 receptions, 613 yards, 4 TDs

Now, Samuel finds himself on the Bills who are transitioning from the first portion of the Josh Allen Era to the next. Putting Samuel on the Bills with Allen should help him put up career stats. This will be the best quarterback he plays with now, and he will get more targets with other wide receivers having left in Diggs and Davis. Samuel will not have to carry the offensive load just him and Allen though. Second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid looks to be an offensive weapon on the rise, and a potential breakout campaign could be on the horizon. Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman will also potentially gain some chemistry and knowledge in the offense to become a core member of the Bills for years to come. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir should be able to take the next step as well for Buffalo. Samuel does not have to take care of business alone and all he will have to do is focus on playing his brand of football. He should be a welcome member to the Bills roster, and we will see how impactful he can be in the coming months.

CH-CH-CHANGES

BY MIKE RIFKIN

David Pastrnak scored 1:54 into overtime in Boston to propel the Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game seven of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For the Leafs, it’s another first round exit and they have won ONE playoff series since 2004. 

Every year we sit here and ask what has to change for the Toronto Maple Leafs for them to attempt to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1967. So let’s take an in depth look at what changes we should expect to happen this summer. 

Front Office : In 2014 Brendan Shanahan was named the President of the Maple Leafs. Brendan Shanahan coined the term “Shanaplan” and the Leafs have won one playoff series since. There have been other fall guys in Toronto. Whether it was Lou Lamoriello, Kyle Dubas, Mike Babcock (although he did it to himself), or any member of the roster the one constant has been Shanahan. If Shanahan is relieved of his duties, what happens with Brad Treliving? Treliving, replaced Kyle Dubas this past summer and did a really good job by adding Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi over the summer. He added Ilya Lubushkin and Joel Edmundson at the trade deadline to bolster the Blue line. Could the Leafs promote Treliving to President & GM? Yes they can, but would you hire someone who is inheriting Treliving? Here’s the other question: would the Leafs be okay with going Treliving full autonomy similar to what they did with Kyle Dubas? 

 Coaching : Sheldon Keefe replaced Mike Babcock in 2019 and posted a 212-97-40 record in the regular season. In five playoff appearances Keefe has a 16-21 record and won one playoff series win. But one thing about Keefe’s Leafs is that they would have these meltdowns in series and be unable to close the door. But just like Shannahan, it’s time for the Leafs to move on from Keefe and allow Trelving to hire his own coach. Some names to look at include former Stanley Cup Champion Craig Berube, Todd Mclellan, and I wouldn’t rule out the Leafs looking into Joel Queeneville (pending reinstatement). 

CORE FOUR : Now I can break down the entire Leafs roster (but that’ll be the next episode of Breakaway Bandits. Cheap Plug) But when you look at the Leafs you look at the core four forwards of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Mitch Marner. Some like to include defenseman Morgan Reilly in this group as well, but I’m only talking about the forwards. Matthews and Nylander missed time during the series against the Bruins, but Nylander led the Leafs with three goals and Matthews was tied for the team lead with four points. Both Matthews and Nylander both signed extensions to remain in Toronto. Which leaves Marner and Tavares, who combined for two goals and five points against Boston. Both are entering the final year of their respective contracts. Tavares will be 34 at the start of next season, and his game is declining and doesn’t have big value across the league. Marner is 27 and is entering his prime. Now I’ve been saying for a few years the Leafs should move Nylander, but with his play the past few seasons he has shut me up. But Marner, even as talented as he is, is someone who the Leafs should move. Now depending on if Marner is willing to sign an extension with a team he is moved to, it can help the Leafs get a very nice return for him. Now if Treliving and whoever the next President of the Leafs decide to run it back with the same group there will be a lot of eyebrows raised.

The “Shanaplan” has failed, this core has failed and it is time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to enter the next phase of their franchise. Changes should be coming and if they aren’t and the team continues to fail there will be a one word question going on WHY?

R.I.P Peter OOSTERHUIS

BY MARK HALPERN

The Golf world lost a great golfer and analyst this past week. Peter Oosterhuis passed away at 75 after a long battle of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease on May 2nd, 2024. 

        Oosterhuis will go down as one of Europe’s most elite golfers. During the 70’s we reigned as the Europe’s #1 golfer for four years but his play during the Ryder Cup was really where his fame was known as he most of his matches. In total he won 20 matches including the 1973,74 French open and the 1974 Italian open. In 1975 he made a decision to join the PGA to play in the states and did so until 1986 when he decided to become a full-time analyst for CBS. 

       In 1994 he became an analyst in Europe after getting married for the second time and would continue to be one of Europe’s most treasured Golf reporters. The Golf Channel came to be in the 1990’s but wasn’t really huge but from 1995-1997 he was the Golf Channels #1 European analyst and was said to be like the great Verene Lundquist (America’s top Golf Analyst.) In 1998 he re-joined CBS and remained as one of the Golf World’s favorite analysts with his smooth delivery and British accent. In 2015 he began his fight with early onset Alzheimer’s and in 2018 he retired after a storied career. He will be sorely missed as he was an encyclopedia of golf knowledge and wouldn’t need a break to make a comment on a rule, he knew all.

Josh Allen Key in Showing the True Chase Claypool

BY Nate Moser

The Buffalo Bills continued to remodel their wide receiver room on Friday, signing 25-year-old Chase Claypool to a one-year contract. This comes after the club also added to the position by drafting Keon Coleman with the first pick of the second round of the NFL Draft. The franchise also signed Curtis Samuel to a three-year deal, as well as Quintez Cephus and Mack Hollins for one year each.

There has been mixed reaction among Bills fans for adding Claypool to the mix. Many think that this was not a great signing, given Claypool’s track record in the NFL so far. Looking at it, there is definitely reason to be concerned. On the other hand, there are fans who think it is fine, because it is only a one-year contract that is essentially a prove-it deal with him. There is little-to-no risk at all. If he does not work out, move on to the next guy next season. No matter what side of the coin fans fall on, I think that both are right in their own ways.

One thing that some people can agree with though is that this is a solid chance for Claypool to really show what he can do. His career had started out promising. He was picked in the second round (49th overall) in the 2020 Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played his rookie season alongside some of the best to ever wear the Black and Gold in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker TJ Watt. He was inserted into a wide receiver room that included Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster. He fit right in and had a great rookie campaign. During the 2020 season, Claypool played in 16 games and started six of those. He had 62 receptions on the year for 873 yards, and topped all of it off with nine touchdowns. Things looked great to start, but then the stats changed once 2021 came around.

In Claypool’s second year with the Steelers, he started in 13 games for the team and got 59 receptions for 860 yards and only two touchdowns. It has not been the same for the young receiver since. 2022 saw Claypool get one touchdown in eight games for Pittsburgh, before he was dealt to the Chicago Bears for a 2023 second-round draft choice. He scored no touchdowns with the Bears to finish off that season, and he had a combined 451 yards from 46 receptions between both Pittsburgh and Chicago. 2023 saw no changes either, as the Bears would move on from Claypool as well just a few games into the campaign. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins this past October, along with a 2025 seventh-round pick, for Miami’s 2025 sixth-round choice. He only played in nine regular-season games for the Dolphins, getting just four receptions for 26 yards and recording no touchdowns. Between the Bears and Dolphins in total for 2023; Claypool started two games out of 12, got eight receptions for 77 yards and just one touchdown. Now, he finds himself on his fourth team since the start of the 2022 season.

The opportunities Claypool has had so far have not led to as much success as expected, but I believe that the Bills will prove how good of a talent he is, if there is any more talent to pull out of him. It starts with the quarterback they have in Josh Allen. Heading into his seventh season for the Bills, Allen has become one of the best at his position and has taken over as the face of the organization after Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly held that title for decades. While Allen does not have a Super Bowl championship yet on his resume, he has the abilities needed to help lead this team to the promised land. He helps make guys better around him. Stefon Diggs is a solid NFL wide receiver on his own, but having Allen throwing him the football made the Bills that much more dangerous. Along with Claypool, another new face wide receiver for Buffalo that I imagine will take off in production is Curtis Samuel. The best quarterback Samuel has probably played with to this point in his career is Cam Newton when he was on the decline. Allen will become the best quarterback that Samuel has played with come September, and I expect that to help put Samuel in better positions to succeed and put up career numbers. That same logic can be used with Claypool as well.

By no means am I saying Allen is definitely going to make Claypool into a star. What I am saying is that having a quarterback like Allen, and a core around him like what the Bills have with other guys like Samuel and Dalton Kincaid, the football world is going to find out whether or not Claypool has the tools required to become a star wide receiver, or whether he is going to be closer to a bust in the league. Time will tell about whether things will click on the Bills for Claypool. If they do not, it might be a tough road ahead when it comes time for him to find another NFL team come next offseason. Claypool is one of the interesting players to watch come training camp later on in the year.

SNUBBED 

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Friday the NHL announced the three finalists for the Jack Adams Trophy for coach of the year. The three finalists for the award are Rick Tocchet of the Canucks, Andrew Brunette of the Predators, and Rick Bowness of the Jets. Tocchet and Brunette are very deserving of their nominations, but Bowness is the one that makes me scratch my head. Not because Bowness is a bad coach, but because did Winnipeg exceed their expectations? They did tie their franchise record in wins (52), had the second most points in franchise history (110) and were fantastic defensively giving up the fewest goals in the league (199). Bowness did miss some games this year due to health concerns with himself and his family. Here are a few coaches I’d give the go ahead over Rick Bowness for the Jack Adams.

Kris Knoblauch – Oilers : After taking over for Jay Woodcroft and his 3-9-1 record. Knoblauch led the Oilers to a 46-18-5 record. The Oilers looked like a juggernaut at times during the regular season, and because you coach the best player on the planet overlooks the job the coach did. Knoblauch did a fantastic job.

John Tortorella – Flyers : When most experts talked about the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the season, they were talking about the draft lottery. Most of the Flyers’ season was spent in the third spot of the Metro and even though they collapsed down the stretch it doesn’t change the fact that Torts didn’t do a great job. I’ve been on team Torts for the award all season long and even though he’s not nominated I’d still vote for him. 

Peter Laviolette – Rangers : The Rangers bench boss helped the team win the President’s Trophy, for the first time since 2015. The last coach to win the President’s Trophy and not be nominated for the Jack Adams was Laviolette in 2018 with the Predators. The one decision that sticks for Laviolette was the decision to give Igor Shesterkin a mental rest after the All-Star Break and since Shesterkin has been fantastic.

I’ve seen other people put Spencer Carbery in this conversation, but to me these other three guys are a little more deserving after having the regular seasons that they led their respective teams to.

BRADY DISSES FANS

  BY MARK HALPERN 

   Tom Brady is used to being in the news for usually the right reasons. However, the 7-time Super Bowl champion is being accused of sloppy penmanship and ruining memorabilia.  People shelled out $3,600.00 to go to a conference and  have the pleasure to have their treasures signed. Fans brought various items from Stadium seats, Draft Tickets and other memorabilia. Brady reportedly refused to sign any trading cards and people who brought them ended up not getting any autographs.

   When you think of hard autographs to get you look at these four athletes right now Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Tom Brady. Tom Brady knows what is going to happen to some of the items that people brought but he should not have a say at the last moment not to sign something and lose $3,600. 

   Tom Brady’s autograph is very distinctive and if it comes without a Tri-Star or fanatics COA (Certificate Of Authenticity) then Caveat Emptor. The sports card market is flooded with fakes and people do lose money but that doesn’t give him the right to DEFACE peoples collectibles by not signing that true signature.

   As of right now there is rumor of a class action being formed. Brady was at the convention to talk about teamwork and was made aware of V.I.P’s who would be getting meet and autographs. He was not informed that it was going to be 100 fans and wasn’t given enough notice. That being said it does not give him the right to disgrace fans collectibles because he was not fully informed. If it was 1000 people yeah he might have had a gripe but, we are talking a hundred people who paid a heavy price and some had treasured collectibles ruined because it will be very hard to get authenticated.

FEED ZEKE AGAIN

BY MARK HALPERN

     Free agency began with some of the finest Running Backs in as many years. Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, D’Andre Swift, Austin Ekeler and Josh Jacobs were among the headliners. The moment they could be signed and one by one they fell off the board but none of them for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones had Promised “We are all in this year.” That statement alone excited Dallas fans but we signed none of them. Jerry seemed to be lost back in the glory days of when Emmitt and Troy and Michael ran the show. 

   The Cowboys did very well in the draft picking up a ton of pieces for the Offensive line and Defensive side but missed out on their target Jonathon Brooks who went to the Panthers. After that the Cowboys didn’t draft a running back but, there were rumors flying around that Elliott and the Cowboys are interested in a reunion. Nothing could have made me happier because he knows the Dallas system and the fans love him. It was hard when he left for New England but showed he still could do things. 

   Early this week reports came in from all over that Zeke has returned to the Cowboys on a one year very team friendly deal and can be lucrative for him on incentives such as Yards, TD’s and playoffs.  Ezekiel Elliot has amassed 8,904 yards with 71 touchdowns  rushing, to go along with 356 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns. 

   Elliott is no longer a #1 running back who can take 20 touches a game. Look for Zeke to see starting status but will share time with Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn also serving as a mentor and kind a coach to help bring these two young rookies along. The two areas Zeke excels will be finally having somebody back with Dak to help block (something he is fantastic at) but, the fact that he had 51 receptions for the Patriots last season and this gives Dallas another option (screen passes to Zeke were often very successful.)

   Nothing would be more fitting than for Dallas to win the Super Bowl in not only Zeke’s final year but Prescott’s as well. They came to this team together in the same year and will get to reunite and have some good chemistry for this upcoming season.