Pirates Notebook: Speculation on Sabres/Pirates relationship; Dineen will be in demand

It could be nothing, it could be something, but a New York paper has some interesting quotes from Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black on the affiliation between the Sabres and Portland Pirates.

“We have a deal in place with Portland (and) it extends for two or three more years,” Black told the radio station AM 550. “But, I also know affiliations change.”

Locals in upstate New York are longing for the Sabres to reunite with former AHL club, the Rochester Amerks....

The CBC's Glenn Healy stated last night on Canadian television that Portland Pirates head coach Kevin Dineen will be in high demand this off-season (my children would say "duh" to this news), but also said the Sabres have given permission for him to seek other jobs already if he desires. Dineen was a candidate for jobs in Columbus and in Tampa Bay last season, and with the success Guy Boucher has had jumping from Hamilton to Tampa, it's possible a team takes chance on Dineen without NHL head-coaching experience.

New York paper speculates on the future of the Sabres/Pirates relationship

Came across an interesting article today in the Brighton Pittsford Post today about the future of the AHL's Rochester Americans. The Amerks, as they are affectionately known, are looking for a new parent club after their agreement with the Florida Panthers expired at the conclusion of this season. Here's some nuggets:

The Anaheim-Syracuse agreement has two years remaining, but reportedly has been a rocky relationship, which might bring about a change for next season.

The Buffalo Sabres have two years remaining on their current arrangement with the Portland Pirates.

Rochester club officials have said that they have talked with two of the 30 NHL teams, but they are not at liberty to say, at the present time, which two teams because the season is not over for all the teams.

The news here isn't about the length of the Pirates/Sabres agreement, it's the sentence above it involving Syracuse and Anaheim. Anaheim and the Pirates had a very successful relationship here earlier in the decade, and it makes one wonder if the Sabres wanted to renew their old relationship with Rochester if the Pirates would reunite with Anaheim, leaving Florida, Atlanta, Phoenix/Winnipeg/Quebec City for Syracuse.

"Styres could sign a one- or two-year agreement with a NHL team, then try to seek an agreement with Buffalo after their present term expires with Portland. It has been done in the past where an agreement was terminated early. The perception is that most Amerks fans want to see an eventual return to a working relationship with the Sabres."

This is not the first I have heard of the Buffalo-Rochester flirting, but this is the first time I have seen it speculated in print.

To read the full article by Craig Potter, click here.

Gragnani gets some hardware

The American Hockey League announced today that Marc-Andre Gragnani of the Portland Pirates has been named the winner of the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenseman for the 2010-11 season, as voted by AHL coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 30 cities.

Gragnani leads all AHL defensemen in assists (48) and points (60) and ranks fourth among blueliners with a plus-22 rating – all career highs – in 63 games for Portland this season. On the Pirates’ roster, Gragnani is tops in assists and plus/minus and second in points to help lead his team’s bid for an Atlantic Division title. The 24-year-old native of Montreal has set Pirates franchise records for assists and points in a season by a defenseman, and he tied the club’s single-game mark with five assists vs. Worcester on Jan. 15. He also had a string of six consecutive multiple-point games from Mar. 1-12, part of a seven-game scoring streak overall, and ranked second in the entire AHL during March with 20 points (3-17-20) in 13 contests.

Gragnani, a third-round draft pick by Buffalo in 2005, has also appeared in six games with the Sabres this season. His first career NHL point was the assist on the game-winning goal vs. the New York Rangers on Mar. 30, and his first NHL goal was the overtime winner at Carolina on Apr. 3.

A fourth-year pro, Gragnani has totaled 47 goals and 159 assists for 206 points in 283 career AHL games.

This award, which was first presented by the AHL in 1959, honors the late Eddie Shore, a member of both the Hockey Hall of Fame and the American Hockey League Hall of Fame who is widely regarded as one of hockey’s greatest defensemen. Shore won a total of five Calder Cups in his career, including two as the general manager of the Buffalo Bisons and three as the longtime owner of the Springfield Indians. Previous winners of the Eddie Shore Award include Steve Kraftcheck (1959), Al Arbour (1965), Noel Price (1970, ’72, ’76), Brian Engblom (1977), Terry Murray (1978, ’79), Brad Shaw (1987), Dave Fenyves (1988, ’89), Eric Weinrich (1990), Darren Rumble (1997), John Slaney (2001, ’02), Curtis Murphy (2003, ’04), Niklas Kronwall (2005), Sheldon Brookbank (2007), Andrew Hutchinson (2008) and Johnny Boychuk (2009).

-AHL COMMUNICATIONS-

Monarchs crown Pirates

David Kolomatis, Bud Holloway, Justin Azevedo, Justin Johnson and David Meckler each scored to lead the Manchester Monarchs to a 5-2 win over the Portland Pirates in an American Hockey League game played tonight in front of 9,127 at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The win moved the Monarchs (43-25-3-6) to within one point of the Pirates (44-22-6-2) for first place in the Atlantic Division. Portland still holds three games in hands.

Luke Adam and Derek Whitmore scored for the Pirates.

Adam opened the scoring with a power-play strike six-and-a-half minutes into the game but the Monarchs would connect twice in the final five minutes of the first period, on goals by Kolomatis and Holloway (on the power play), to carry a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The Monarchs carried the momentum into the second building a 4-1 lead before the midway point of the period on goals by Azevedo (on the power play) and Johnson. The Pirates got one back only 49 seconds after the Johnson goal as Whitmore brought the visitors back to within two heading into the third. Meckler hit the open net with under five seconds left in regulation to complete the scoring.

The Monarchs out-shot the Pirates 40-25 in the game.

David Leggio started for the Pirates and turned aside 20 of the 24 shots he faced before being replace by Jeff Jakaitis midway through the second period with the Monarchs leading 4-1. Jakaitis turned aside all 16 shots he faced.

The Allied Home Mortgage Three Stars of the Game were all from the Monarchs. Azevedo was the firs, Holloway the second and Kolomatis the third.

The Pirates continue a three-game road trip tomorrow (Sunday) in Hartford against the Connecticut Whale in a 3 p.m. start. The game can be heard live on 95.5 News Talk WLOB and on line at portlandpirates.com beginning with the pre-game show at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday the Pirates are in Worcester to face the Sharks in a 7 p.m. start.

Mancari and Gragnani named First-team AHL All-Stars

Portland Pirates forward Mark Mancari and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani were two of six players announced today by the American Hockey League as members of the 2010-11 AHL All-Star First Team as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities.

Mancari has again put up offensive numbers that rank amongst the AHL leaders, ranking tied for third in goals (32), and eighth in overall points (64) in 56 games for Portland. The London, Ontario native has been on recall to Buffalo since March 10th and has earned six points on a goal and five assists in 15 games with the Sabres. Another Pirates player currently on recall to Buffalo, Gragnani has had a record-breaking season for Portland. In 63 games, the veteran defenseman leads the AHL in points by a defenseman (60) and assists (48). Gragnani’s 60 points and 48 assists are both Portland Pirates franchise records for a defenseman. The 24-year-old Montreal, Quebec native has skated in four games for Buffalo this season, while earning his first career NHL point on an assist against the New York Rangers on March 30th.

Rounding out the First Team are Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender Brad Thiessen, Houston defenseman Maxim Noreau, Oklahoma City left wing Alex Giroux, and Binghamton center Corey Locke.

Players named to the 2010-11 AHL All-Star Second Team include Hamilton goaltender Curtis Sanford, Binghamton defenseman Andre Benoit, Manchester defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov, Hamilton left wing Nigel Dawes, Hershey center Keith Aucoin, and Chicago Wolves right wing Darren Haydar.

--Pirates Communications--

Gragnani recalled by Sabres

With Sabres defenseman Jordan Leopold expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time due to injury, Pirates defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani was recalled from Portland (AHL) and practiced with the Sabres on Monday.

Gragnani has appeared in three games with Buffalo already this season, averaging 13:32 of ice time in those games. He also ranks second on the Pirates in scoring this season with 60 points (12-48-60) in 63 games.

Gragnani is currently the seventh defenseman on the roster but also has the ability to play forward, which played into the decision to call him up, according to Ruff.

“We’ve looked at our defense, and it’s easier to have an extra defenseman here. (Gragnani) has played some forward, so we’ve talked about that,” Ruff said.

Mark Mancari also practiced with the Sabres on Monday. He had been returned to Portland prior to Saturday night’s game, but Ruff informed the media today that Mancari had been brought back under emergency conditions because Mike Grier aggravated his knee on Saturday and did not practice Monday. However, Ruff does not expect Grier to miss Tuesday’s game at Toronto.

“(Grier) is doing ok, we just decided to give him an extra day. He’s a little sore but I don’t expect it to be anything that will keep him away from playing,” Ruff said.

--PIRATES/SABRES COMMUNICATIONS--

Sabres recall Adam, Parrish from Pirates

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that Luke Adam and Mark Parrish have been recalled from the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.

This is Adam’s (6’2”, 215 lbs., 6/18/1990) fourth recall of the season, and he has produced four points (3+1) in 18 combined games with the Sabres. Adam currently sits third on the Pirates in scoring with 42 points (21+21) in 40 games, along with a team-leading plus-20. Adam was selected by the Sabres in the second round (44th overall) of the 2008 Entry Draft.

An 11-year NHL veteran, Parrish (5’11”, 199 lbs., 2/2/1977) returns to the NHL for the first time this season after posting back-to-back four-point games with Portland this past weekend. Parrish has 35 points in 42 games for Portland this season, including 15 (4+11) in the last 13. The 34-year-old Parrish has totaled 387 points (216+171) in 720 career NHL games with Florida, NY Islanders, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Dallas and Tampa Bay. He was signed as a free agent by the Sabres in October after being a training camp invitee. Parrish was originally drafted by Colorado in the third round (79th overall) of the 1996 Entry Draft.

--PIRATES/SABRES COMMUNICATIONS--

Portland Pirates game in Worcester postponed

The AHL announced via Twitter that the Portland Pirates game tonight in Worcester has been postponed due to the snow storm heading New England's way!

Luke Adam called up to play tonight!

According to Sabres.com's Twitter feed, Luke Adam gets called up to the big club.

Adam didn't stay long in Portland. In 8 games he has 5 goals and 5 assists with a +/- rating of +4.

The Move is Official

From The Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today that forward Luke Adam has been recalled from the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.

Adam (6’2”, 215 lbs., 6/18/1990) is currently second on the Pirates in scoring with 10 points (5+5) in 8 games. The native of St. John’s, Nfld., was named the AHL’s Player of the Week after recording a four-point game (2+2) in his professional debut with Portland on October 9.

Adam was selected by the Sabres in the second round (44th overall) of the 2008 Entry Draft.

Pirates take down Monarchs in long Shootout

Derek Whitmore finds the back of the net in the 9th round of Shootout for the win.
Photo Jeff Schools

POST GAME AUDIO AND PHOTO GALLERY BELOW
On a night when the Pirates orginatztion tried to get folks in for an early start time (6:30 PM), the team on the ice didn't co-operate, going 9 rounds deep in a shootout with Manchester before Derek Whitmore put home the game winner. Whitmore sent the early arriving crowd home happy with the 3 - 2 win.

Coach Kevin Dineen said "it was a fun way to finish it..but I was running out of bodies." Dineen said "it may have been the longest one I have been part of since I've been here."

Pirates forward Derek Whimore said he ended a long run of futility with the shootout winner. "I was 0 - 5 in my pro career, so it was nice to get the first one"

This was a typical physical Manchester/Portland tilt right from the start. Defense was the name early and all the way through as both sides eliminated rebounds and didn't allow for many quality chances.

The Pirates decided to start David Leggio in net, for his 1st AHL start. Dineen said "Tough job he had..I made the decision today, so he didn't have that day in advance, but boy he put a heck of an effort in for us." Leggio said the pressure of a shootout didn't bother him "I regained my focus, it's on me to make the save(s)"

The Monarchs broke the scoring drought at the 15:32 mark of the 2nd, as Dwight Kings poked one past Leggio for the Monarchs 1 - 0 lead.

The Pirates got on the board in a way they hadn't all season, on the power play. The team mired in a 0 - 32

Portland Pirates beat Bridgeport 3 - 1

Luke Adam catches air in the 2nd

Eric Weinrich

Matt Ellis

Tim Conboy

Brian Petrovek

Play by Play Voice Mark Jeanneret


POST GAME AUDIO AND PHOTOS BELOW

GAME STORY
Dennis McCauley expected a battle from the start, Bridgeport did not disappoint in the Pirates 3 -1 win in front of 3,003 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

It was evident from the drop of the puck, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers would throw the body around, not totally unexpected. McCauley said "They are notorious for that...a tough team to play against. They didn't waste much time as the Pirates Tim Conboy and the Sound Tigers Michael Haley went toe to toe in a big scrap just 29 seconds in. Both got 5 minutes for fighting.

Bridgeport's intensity paid dividends on the scoreboard as they tallied the 1st goal a power play, at the 2:38 mark of the 1st. The Pirates were down a man as Corey Tropp was off for interference.

Portland matched Bridgeport's intensity hit for hit. The Pirates Marc Mancari said "We have a little bit of everything, look at Paul Byron, Byron is probably one of the smallest guys on the team, he can hit and take a hit. Everyone here is capable of taking a hit
or giving a hit..and sticking up for themselves."

Portland broke into the scoring column at the 8:35 mark of the 1st. Derek Whitmore gathered the puck at the blue line, streaked to the bottom of the right circle and somehow beat Sound Tigers' goalie Kevin Poulin through the 3 hole. The goal was Whitmores 3rd of the season. Game was tied at 1.

The score stayed at one apiece deep into the 2nd Period,  when Mark Mancari  unleashed a blast inside the blue line for a 2-1 lead with 16 seconds left in the 2nd. The Civic Center crowd hadn't settled down yet when Dennis McCauley tallied one some 13 seconds later for a Pirate 3-1 lead.

Coach Kevin Dineen was very happy with his teams play in the 3rd. 'I liked our game in the 2rd" said Coach Dineen, "i thought we were responsible, and did a lot of good things."

There was no scoring the rest of the way as the Portland Pirates took care of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3 - 1

- JEFF SCHOOLS -

POST GAME AUDIO
Kevin Dineen

Mark Mancari

Dennis McCauley



PHOTO GALLERY

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Portland Pirates vs Charlotte Checkers TODAY 1PM @portlandpirates @checkershockey #SABRES #CANES

FOLLOW ON TWITTER - @JeffCMSB for in game pictures and game updates.

Scenes from Portland Pirates practice Enroth arrives #portlandpirates #sabres #theahl

Check out photos from Portland Pirates practice on Thursday. Jhonas Enroth arrived in town to take place.

#PortlandPirates Get Enroth, Parrish, Ellis #sabres

Two press releases, one from the Pirates, one from the Sabres. Hit it!

Sabres:
Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today that goaltender Jhonas Enroth and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani have been assigned to Portland of the American Hockey League. This leaves the Sabres with 23 players on the roster: 13 forwards, 8 defensemen and two goaltenders.

The Sabres have also signed forward Mark Parrish, and loaned him to Portland. The 33-year-old Parrish has 387 points (216+171) in 720 career NHL games with Florida, NY Islanders, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Dallas and Tampa Bay.

Pirates
Buffalo Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff reported today that goaltender Jhonas Enroth and forward Matt Ellis are on their way to join the Portland Pirates.

Enroth was reassigned to the Pirates while Ellis cleared waivers allowing him to join the team.
Enroth, selected 46th overall by the Sabres in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, returns for his third season in Portland. The 22 year-old Stockholm, Sweden native has appeared in 108 games between the pipes for the Pirates over the past two seasons. Last season he went 28-18-1 with five shutouts and 2.37 goals against average before ending the season on the injury list.

Ellis returns for his second stint with the Pirates after having played 12 games during the 2008-09 season. The 29 year-old Welland, Ontario native is a veteran of 187 NHL games with Buffalo, Detroit and Los Angeles. Last season with the Sabres the 6-foot-1 forward has three goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 72 games with the Sabres.

In other Pirates roster news, Rob Ricci was released from his training camp tryout.

--PIRATES AND SABRES COMMUNICATIONS--

#Pirates Fall in final tune-up with #Monarchs

David Meckler scored a goal and an assist to lead the Manchester Monarchs to a 5-2 win over the Portland Pirates in an American Hockey League pre-season game played tonight at the Conway Arena in Nashua, NH.

Bud Holloway, Justin Azevedo, Thomas Hickey and Corey Elkins also scored for the Monarchs while Andrew Campbell collected two assists.

Luke Adam and Mark Mancari replied for the Pirates.

Manchester jumped out quickly and posted a 2-0 advantage at the end of one on goals by Meckler and Holloway. They added to the advantage with three goals in the opening half of the second period (Hickey, Azevedo and Elkins did the damage) to up the count to 5-0 after two. Adam and Mancari, on the power play, got the Pirates on the board in the third to complete the scoring.

Scenes from Portland Pirates practice Day 2 #portlandpirates #sabres #theahl

#Sabres assign more player to #PortlandPirates

The seven players being assigned to Portland are: forwards Luke Adam, Paul Byron and Mark Mancari; defensemen Drew Schiestel, T.J. Brennan and Dennis Persson; and goaltender David Leggio. In addition, forward Zack Kassian was returned to his junior team in Windsor (OHL). The Sabres also released forward Mark Parrish from his training camp tryout.

Portland Pirates Practice today at PIA - Interviews and Photos

Even though is was a small group of players, the Portland Pirates got in a little ice time before their 1st Pre Season game in Manchester, NH. Here are some photos and interviews from practice.

PHOTO GALLERY PRESENTED BY MBR.ORG

INTERVIEWS
Coach Kevin Dineen

Derek Whitmore

Colin Stuart

Sabres Trim Roster, Pirates Roster Takes Shape

Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have trimmed their training camp roster by 14 players. This leaves the Sabres with 35 players remaining in camp: 19 forwards, 12 defensemen and four goaltenders.

Heading to Portland are: forwards Jacob Lagace, Maxime Legault, Dennis McCauley, Brian Roloff, Felix Schutz, Colin Stuart (pending waivers), Corey Tropp, Travis Turnbull and Derek Whitmore (pending waivers); defensemen Alex Biega, Tim Conboy (pending waivers) and Nick Crawford. In addition, two players were also returned to their junior teams: forward Marcus Foligno (Sudbury, OHL) and defenseman Brayden McNabb (Kootenay, WHL).