subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published: April 28, 2008 10:52 pm    print this story  

SCHMITT: Gerbe's signing a must for Sabres' image

By Tim Schmitt
E-mail Tim

They insist things have changed. They’ll be proactive. The emphasis is putting the lockdown on good, young talent and creating a stable foundation for the future.

All of which makes the signing of Boston College star Nathan Gerbe an even bigger priority for the Buffalo Sabres.

Gerbe is a rocket. Some say he’s the next Martin St. Louis. Others insist he could be Paul Kariya. Either way, the Sabres need him on their roster if they plan to rebuild from a disastrous tumble from grace.

Yet despite all the rhetoric that a postseason pow-wow with Larry Quinn and Darcy Regier offered up, the Sabres have yet to make any noise about signing Gerbe or home-grown talent Tim Kennedy, who again finished as Michigan State’s leading scorer.

Granted both are juniors. But as Niagara University can attest, a year of remaining eligibility hardly means a college player needs to stay.

And both Gerbe and Kennedy have absolutely nothing left to prove in college.

Kennedy’s Spartans won the NCAA crown in 2007 as he scored in the championship game, then assisted on the title-winning goal by Justin Abdelkader. Gerbe, meanwhile, stole the show at this year’s event, finishing with five goals and three assists in the two games of the Frozen Four.

Gerbe was the nation’s leading scorer. He had one of college hockey’s most dynamic moments, when he pulled a Brian Campbell-like spin-o-rama on a penalty shot earlier this year.

And although he’s tiny, everyone who sees him live agrees he’s a can’t-miss prospect. He’s got attitude, speed and a lethal shot. Gerbe was an invite to the United States team’s training camp leading into this week’s World Championships, and it hasn’t taken him long to get comfy — he scored a goal and added an assist as the Americans topped Sweden 5-1 in an exhibition tune-up Sunday night. This while sharing shifts with potential Sabre teammates Drew Stafford and Jason Pominville, not to mention other NHLers Zach Parise, Lee Stempniak, Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane.

Gerbe didn’t miss a beat.

He also got a resounding ovation from the crowd in Lewiston, Maine, an interesting note since the University of Maine and Boston College are bitter Hockey East rivals. He’s likable, talented, and a proven winner.

But the trials of Gerbe — and to a degree, Kennedy — illustrate the best and worst the Sabres organization has to offer. Buffalo pulled Gerbe out of a fifth-round hat, the latest in a long line of draft-day heists. Regier snatched Kennedy for a sixth-round pick.

If the Sabres let Gerbe get into his senior season, look out. His stock has already jumped exponentially, and if Buffalo fails to tie him up this summer, expect him to flirt with the idea of holding out until next August, when he can become an unrestricted free agent.

Regier insists players like Gerbe and Kennedy are bargaining in good faith. But word has it the Sabres are tossing their typical low-ball offer, assuming fifth-round money will appease a fifth-round draft choice.

It won’t.

Gerbe holds most of the cards on this one. The Sabres faithful will burn HSBC Arena to the ground if he plays out his senior season, then goes elsewhere and makes an impact.

And you can’t say Quinn and Co. deserve anything else. The Sabres have taken a beating in the press and from former players, all of whom question their commitment to winning a Stanley Cup.

Quinn stared into a crowd of local media members a month ago and insisted that’s what the organization is all about.

Lip service? Another summer of uneasiness will tell.

Contact group sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.



print this story  

Photos


Boston College forward Nathan Gerbe (9) looks for the puck as he storms the net in front of Notre Dame goalie Jordan Pearce, left, during the third period of Boston College's 4-1 victory in the NCAA championship hockey game at the Frozen Four tournament, in Denver on Saturday, April 12, 2008. Gerbe scored twice and added two assists in the win. (AP Photo/Doug Pensinger, pool) Doug Pensinger/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Housekeeper Director
HOUSEKEEPER Director FT. Send resume to Heritage Manor of Ransomville, 3509 Ransomville Rd, Ransomville. NY...>MORE

Director of Laboratory Services

DIRECTOR OF
LABORATORY SERVICES

Mount St. Mary's Hospital is offering an
excellent op
...>MORE

FLOOR MAINTENANCE
Floor Maintenance, 3rd shift, exp. in stripping & waxing need only apply, f/t & p/t, 632-2259 ...>MORE

Certified Pharmacy Technician & Medication Technician
Certified Pharmacy Tech’s, Certified
Medication Tech’s & PCA’s Competitive wages. Call Lisa McKensie Ransomville
...>MORE

Human Services
HUMAN SERVICES. Transitional Specialist: (PT) Niagara Falls. Assist youth with 90 day transition programming, intake and...>MORE

Production
Reliable persons. Permanent Full Time Position. Must be willing to learn production skills in book binding, DAYS $8.00/...>MORE

Government Affairs Manager
Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce is seeking a Manager of Government Affairs. Qualified applicants will be required to hav...>MORE

General Laborer
GENERAL LABORER to do yard work, pick papers etc. Competitive wages, 401k and medical. Apply Allied Waste Scale House, 5...>MORE

PHONE SALES
Phone sales, high profile fundraisers, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. plus, Pete or Mike, 694-12...>MORE

Youth Job Training
Niagara County YOUTH ages 18-21. Out of School? Looking for Work?
We may have the program for YOU! Call Liz for fur
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1986 Ford Mustang
FORD 1986 Mustang convertible, 5.0 body kit, 3.8L V6, 40k on new motor, runs but needs work. $700 or BO. 417-1611...>MORE

Ford 1999 Escort ZX2
FORD 1999 ESCORT, ZX2 Coupe, runs great, NYS inspected, exc. cond. $1650. 694-0441...>MORE

1993 Chevy Silverado
CHEVY Silverado 4x4 1993 new alt, starter, exhaust, rebuilt trans., etc. Reliable. Call 282-0465....>MORE

Ford 1997 TAURUS
FORD 1997 taurus, runs exc. fully loaded, must see $1400 or best offer. 205-7711...>MORE

1991 Lincoln Executive Town Car
LINCOLN 1991 Executive Town Car, 42k miles, no rust, runs, needs work, $600. 990-8895....>MORE

Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI
Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI, 4 door, one owner, exc. condition, power windows, power steering, power locks, $5000 or best ...>MORE

Pontiac 2000 Grand Prix XL
PONTIAC 2000 Grand Prix XL, black,
good condition
531-2669
...>MORE

1998 Dodge Dakota Sport
DODGE 1998 Dakota Sport 3.9 V6, regular cab, exc in & out, no rust, real sharp, $2750. 523-7102...>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
DODGE 2001Neon, 4 dr, 4 cyl, auto, 58k mi. am/fm CD player, n o rust, like new, $3950. 525-7796...>MORE

1999 Chevy Malibu
CHEVY 1999 Malibu, needs fuel pump, $700. 282-6141 or 990-6026....>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index