Buffalo, NY - After tearing out the gate with a 6-0-2 start in their first eight games of the season, it appeared the Buffalo Sabres had hit a wall. Buffalo was on a five game losing streak and had dropped 10 of the last 13 games played.

If you believe as we do at FDH that the NHL still comprises part of the "big four" of the American sports landscape (with allowances for NASCAR and perhaps college football and college hoops on that level as well), then one of the more significant long-term stories of the year - - which materialized in the past 24 hours -- is sliding under the radar. Brian Burke has agreed to a six-year contract to take over as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Albany, NY - Nikita Filatov of the Syracuse Crunch (14-7-0-1) skated fast and flashed his quick hands throughout the game, but in the end it was the Albany River Rats' (6-9-3-2) Mike Ryan whose skills shined the most as his two goals helped his team beat up their opponents 6-3.

Binghamton, NY - Saturday the Binghamton Senators received word that the parent Ottawa Senators recalled forwards Brian Lee and Zack Smith, further depleting the B-Sens already thin roster; the result of injuries and call-ups. Coupling that with the fact that the Senators are nearing the end of a 7 games in 10 days stretch, it made hosting the North Division leading Hamilton Bulldogs seem like a daunting task.

I know you were probably expecting a piece on a player from yesteryear but instead I am focusing on a player who is invisible in broad daylight and that's Rangers forward Petr Prucha.