The Sabres re-signed Marc-Andre Gragnani to a one-year extension... reports say it's a two-way deal (which doesn't really matter as he has to clear waivers to be sent down).  He was the AHL Dman of the Year last season with 12+48=60 in 63 games and then had 2+8=10 in 16 games (regular & playoffs) with Buffalo.  Others seemed pretty convinced that this guy was the real deal but then the Sabres went and added Ehrhoff & Regehr in the offseason and have seven NHL dmen already signed heading into training camp so we don't like MAGs chances.  I keep coming back to the fact that if the Sabres were so in love with this guy why did they wait until he had played four AHL seasons before giving him a shot.  You should be hoping that he gets scooped up on waivers and gets a chance to play somewhere else (likely Long Island) as if he sticks with the Sabres he's unlikely to see much ice-time.

Andrei Kostitsyn shows everyone the worst way to deal with a coach you don't like... slam him in media:

My relationship with the coach is not too good. It wasn't me who started to play badly. It's just that I was being put into (the) third and fourth line... I've tried talking to (Jacques Martin) more than once. But he doesn't care.

Kostitsyn had exactly the same season last year (.56 ppg) as he did the two prior years and his most frequent linemates last year were Plekanec & Cammalleri... so take his statement for what it's worth.  But it's not likely to land him in Martin's good graces this season and with Erik Cole being signed this summer, he'll likely be buried on the 3rd line again.

The Jets will reportedly have Janne Pesonen in training camp on a try-out basis.  He had a good AHL season in 2008/09 (32+50=82 in 70 games) playing in the Penguins system but hasn't done much in the KHL the past two years.  I think he's a longshot to make the team but if you like overhyped Euro-vets, then get excited!!!

The US defeated Finland 4-1 last night at the Junior Evaluation Camp [recap & summary]... Nick Bjugstad, J.T. Miller and Shane Prince (x2) with the goals, while Vincent Trocheck had 2A for the US.

Was doing some checking for the Breakout Bible last night and trying to figure out where the F Tyler Kennedy is going to play this season???  He has some nice numbers in his favour, 234 shots, low ratio of ES 2nd assists (10%), low ES on-ice team sh% (6.6%)... makes you think he has more to give.  Do you think he did enough last season to warrant a scoring line job even after Crosby & Malkin return or is he back to L3 with Staal again.  I'm torn.