fire bucky gleason, stick to your own sport edition

It's not that I'm surprised we got this column. I am surprised that it's not who I expected it to be from, and that we got it today instead of Sunday. Oh, Jerry. Stick to football, sir. This is your second hockey column in a while, and both get you on here.

Now, admittedly, there's a kernel of actual accuracy in this giant Buffalo News Pets lovefest. Lindy Ruff clearly does not trust Patrick Lalime, and as a result, plays Ryan Miller to death. Normally that's not a huge deal, but there are two notable problems here. First, that's a great way to make it to the playoffs only to tank (See: Devils, New Jersey). Second, Ryan Miller is playing himself into being the #1 goalie for Team USA and the Olympics in February. So, unlike 2006, where he could play with a chip on his shoulder after getting snubbed (and being rested, since he got a couple weeks off), Miller will likely be gassed later in the season if Ruff doesn't rest him enough. And the Sabres will tank.

Also, I admit, Marty Biron is an excellent back-up goalie. To reiterate, Marty is an excellent back-up goalie. He's an above average starting goalie. He wants to play, and be paid, like a starting goalie. So, here's the problem: we've already got one of the best five goalies in the NHL right now starting for us. If not the best five, then the best three. Yes, Miller is that good. Meaning Marty isn't really a good fit for Buffalo because he wants to start. Got it? Good.

Last July, after Martin Biron became a free agent, he drove his wife, Anne Marie, and three children from Philadelphia to Buffalo. Biron got off Interstate 90 at the Pembroke exit so he could take a nice, leisurely drive through the country roads.

Um, ok.

"We drove down Main Street and got to our house in Clarence," Biron said Wednesday before the Islanders lost to the Sabres, 3-0, at HSBC Arena. Biron made 36 saves. "We told each other it felt like we were coming home."

Oh, god. Here we go. "He still lives in Buffalo!" "He loves Buffalo!"

Biron has never really left Buffalo, not in his heart.

But he did in terms of his loyalty and his wallet. Right? Doesn't everybody forget that? And that he openly recruited Danny Briere in Philly? I'm surprised the Erie County Legislature didn't pass an ordinance, written by the Buffalo News, prohibiting such an act.

Maybe that's why the former Sabres goalie got that standing ovation here last month.

Because he left? Or because his heart is still here? What? And don't get me started on that standing o. If Biron deserves a standing ovation, Max deserved one twice as long, and NOT any boos. Check the stats, folks. Marty backstopped the Sabres to zero playoff appearances. None. He made his playoff debut for the Philadelphia Flyers. Max¹ not only led the Sabres in points, but actually generated goals in the playoffs (remember when he clinched the series against the Rangers?). So, in sum: nice guy who was a strong insurance policy but didn't actually accomplish much on the ice, standing ovation; nice guy who scored a bunch of goals and produced something (not a whole lot, true, but still something) in the playoffs, boos.

But, instead of pointing out that disparity, you know what I'd rather have? Pointless drivel about where the Biron family lives.

Fans know he's one of them, a Buffalo guy, an NHL player who came of age here and grew to love the place. So when Biron signed with the Islanders, he left his wife and kids in Clarence.

Sa-weeeeeeet!!

Anne Marie, a Buffalo native, is pregnant with their fourth child. The "summer" house will likely be their permanent home. Biron is fairly certain he will settle here, like so many people in the extended family of professional hockey.

Like Scotty Bowman! Another guy who "loves" Buffalo, but yet does absolutely nothing relating to the Sabres, let alone assisting their Stanley Cup efforts! Brooks Orpik! Patrick Kane! Tim Kennedy! Yay!!

"We've got a network of friends around here," Biron said, "so it's definitely a very good possibility.

Wait, I thought he was settling here. Now he's waffling. What the hell?

I have liked it here from the day I got drafted. I always said I wanted to be part of this for a long time. I remember walking through this building when it was being built. I played a game in the Aud."

[Bracing myself for waxing nostalgic about the Aud. Well played, Mr. Biron. Well played indeed.]

Biron spent 12 years with the Sabres, who traded him to the Flyers late in the 2006-07 season. He talked with the Sabres about returning as a free agent last summer. But he signed a one-year deal with the Isles, hoping to parlay regular playing time into a better free-agent deal next year.

Because.

He.

Wants.

To.

Start.

But Biron, who calls himself a "French-Buffalonian," would love to return here sooner or later.

I'm beginning to see why the Buffalo News loves Marty so much. He gives them exactly what they want in order to write the columns they love.

My vote goes for "sooner."

Really? Based on what you've said up to this point, and what you've glossed over, I thought this was going to be about how we're all set in the back-up goalie department and our French-Buffalonian friend should look elsewhere.

A month from now, Biron could be part of a three-man goalie rotation on Long Island. Biron has been splitting the duties with Dwayne Roloson, who is in the first year of a two-year, $5 million contract.

Whoa. No mention that Dwayne Roloson is also a former Sabre? Well, that just proves this was written by Jerry Sullivan and not ghost-written by Bucky or John Vogl.

...Isles General Manager Garth Snow knew that when he signed Biron in late July, giving him three capable NHL goalies. The Isles will need to trade a goalie, and Biron is the obvious candidate.

Because he's a one year rental, DiPietro's got that millstone contract and Roloson's overpriced.

It's equally clear that the Sabres need a more reliable backup goaltender. Ryan Miller started for the 11th time in 12 games Wednesday night. Coach Lindy Ruff claims to have confidence in Patrick Lalime, but his actions suggest otherwise.

Please see above where I articulate how I agree with this, and how Lindy pisses me off by not relying on his back-up more. It's one of two knocks I have on Ruff, and really the only knock I have against Darcy at this point: if you as the GM know your coach will only rely on a rock solid back-up goalie, go out and sign him one. If it's Biron, so be it. But there are others, too (Ty Conklin², just as one example).

The Sabres needed Lalime last year when Miller went down with an ankle injury. He played well at first, but went 1-4-1 with a 4.35 GAA in his last six starts. It's a harsh judgment in retrospect, but Lalime might have cost the Sabres a playoff spot.

Whoa whoa whoa! I thought the Sabres cost themselves their playoff spot because they didn't have enough grit and intangible-ness to supply the heart and leadership in the dressing-room (which is apparently a hyphenated word now). Yes? Now it's the injury and reliance on Lalime? You're making excuses, Jerry. Be careful. Keep it up and Bucky's going to pour salt in your coffee.

Lalime missed Wednesday's game with a groin injury, which could further complicate the issue. Lalime had surgery on his hip to repair a sports hernia last spring. Ruff said the groin injury was unrelated. But as we learned with Dominik Hasek, groin injuries can be a lingering issue with goalies.

I smell an "injury" that allows the Sabres to clear cap space to bring up the rookie to see if there's a goalie already in the organization Lindy's willing to trust. Kind of like Briere's "injury" last year, clearing cap space for the Flyers.

In the meantime, Jhonas Enroth is Miller's backup.

Enroth has been slow to develop in the AHL. Ruff said there's a good chance Enroth will play one of the back-to-back games this weekend if Lalime isn't ready. "We're going to stick with the program," Ruff said.

The program? Only not playing Miller if Miller happens to be missing a limb.

Presumably, the "program" calls for Ruff to sit Miller when the Sabres play three times in four nights, or in other busy stretches. It'll happen soon enough, when the NHL schedule becomes compacted in the weeks leading to the Olympic break.

Given Lindy's track record, I doubt it.

Miller has a good chance to be the No. 1 goalie for the U.S., even more reason for Ruff not to overuse him. But you know Lindy. Hasek spoiled him. Ruff can't resist using his goalie when he's on a roll. Last Saturday, he deviated from the program, playing Miller a third time in four nights. He wound up pulling him.

Already been discussed. By me. Above. All of it.

The stakes are higher this year. Ruff might be coaching for his job.

Buckyperbole. Jerryperbole? Nah, buckyperbole.

The Sabres are off to a good start, but the coach hates to give away points in the standings.

As opposed to Joel Quinneville, Mike Babcock, and Bruce Boudreau, who love giving away points. They put them in gift baskets to fellow coaches around the holidays, the spirit of the season.

He says he believes in Lalime, but if the playoff race tightens, he might be even more reluctant to use the backup. That's why going after Biron makes sense.

Or Ty Conklin. Who's cheaper, just as good, and willing to accept a back-up role.

The Sabres were serious about it in the summer. That tells you they were uneasy about Lalime. Biron is a top-level backup. You know what you're getting.

A guy who will bolt town once again because he desperately wants a chance to start? Oh, you're talking about a quality back-up.

Biron still believes he can be a starter in the NHL.

Hang on. You just say "you know what you're getting" referring to a top-level backup, and then say this same guy believes he can start? Does the paragraph break confuse you guys? Are you unaware of when you contradict yourselves?

But his options are limited. If he has to be a backup for a year, he'd just as soon it be in Buffalo.

Then why didn't he sign here for less if he loves it here so much?

He's making only $1.4 million. It's not about money, though it'll be worth it if Biron helps the Sabres advance in the playoffs.

Not about the money for whom? The Sabres? Who are approaching the salary cap? Or Biron? If it's not about the money for Biron, then why didn't he sign for less if he loves it here so much?

Also, please note that if Biron were to help the Sabres advance in the playoffs it would be the first time he's done anything for them in the playoffs in the history of all time ever, amen. Unless you consider "keeping the end of the bench warm" or "rocking the baseball (or, possibly, knit) cap" doing something to "help the Sabres advance in the playoffs."

This is a critical year for the Sabres. Why not fix the team's No. 1 weakness and bring home a beloved Buffalo guy in the bargain?

I look forward to this statement being written again about 34,963,873,269,309,453,458 times when Drury, Briere, and Campbell, are all "available" at the trade deadline.

¹ - OK, I don't love Max as much as it may seem on here. He was a better than decent player, whose skills deteriorated. Buffalo didn't have any reason to keep him. However, he is the perfect (and most recent) example of the ridiculousness of the love showered on some former Sabres, while others get whipped.

² - ANOTHER FORMER SABRE!