The Instigator Podcast

Three losses with little push from the Sabres has left fans spinning and national outlets honing in on Buffalo's sad-sack hockey team. The future looks bleak for Lindy Ruff and Kevyn Adams but the path forward isn't exactly clear. How the Sabres manage another season that's slipping away is the question of the moment given the murky outlook for the hockey braintrust and a startling lack of offense in the wake of their spate of preseason injuries.   Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-878-9777
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The Sabres shuffled the deck in net ahead of their home opener. Alexandar Georgiev is out and Colten Ellis is in. We talk about the swap, what Ellis will need to bring to the table and just how tough some of Buffalo's injuries are for a team that can't afford many hiccups to start the year. We also touch on the new contracts for Connor McDavid, Kyle Connor and Jack Eichel and how they reflect the league's new salary expectations as the cap rises.   Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-878-9777
or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas).Fees may apply in IL. 21-plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. Minimum minus 500 odds required. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos.For additional terms and
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For the first time in a long time advanced models like the Sabres as a potential playoff team. We talk about the reasons this team has received these favorable reviews and discuss what we see in the team that could bring those predictions to fruition. We also touch on the injury issues dogging Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the Sabres plans in net. Other topics include Buffalo's special teams and Radim Mrtka's impressive preseason.   Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-878-9777
or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas).Fees may apply in IL. 21-plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. Minimum minus 500 odds required. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos.For additional terms and
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Konsta Helenius and Radim Mrtka both showed well in Buffalo's first two preseason tilts. Does that mean they should land in Buffalo and Rochester, respectively? Maybe not yet, but how the Sabres handle their two most recent first rounders has been a topic of conversation and I meet it head on in this week's show. Also on the show is some additional thoughts on Buffalo's first two preseason games and answers to listener-submitted questions.   Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-878-9777
or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas).Fees may apply in IL. 21-plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube.com/go/nflsundayticket/terms. Limited time offer.

Goaltending will be the key storyline at Sabres training camp after it was reported that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is injured. Alex Georgiev is here as an insurance policy and we run through the problems a Luukkonen injury creates for the Sabres. We also talk through some of the other storylines of note at training camp while celebrating the anniversary of the Slug jerseys.   Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-878-9777
or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas).Fees may apply in IL. 21-plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube.com/go/nflsundayticket/terms. Limited time offer.

The 2025-26 NHL season is right around the corner and there will be Sabres' games played this weekend as the annual Prospects Challenge kicks off. The Sabres Prospects Challenge roster was released on Tuesday and we highlight some of the most notable players expected to play on the weekend. In addition to big name prospects like Radim Mrtka, Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius, the Sabres will have four goaltenders at the tournament. We walk through those storylines along with some thoughts on reports that Kirill Kaprizov turned down a big money contract along with the latest on Connor McDavid's future in Edmonton.   Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-878-9777
or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas).Fees may apply in IL. 21-plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube.com/go/nflsundayticket/terms. Limited time offer.

The DL&W Terminal is coming back to life. The NFTA will be welcoming light rail service to the facility in the coming weeks and the second floor of the sprawling facility is poised for an impressive redevelopment plan led by Savarino DL&W Development. Sam Savarino, CEO and President of the Savarino Companies is the subject of the latest Instigator Interview and provides excellent insights as to the challenges the project faces along with the exciting features that will define the second floor space. Sam offers historical perspective on the building's former uses while highlighting what the development will bring to Buffalo's waterfront once it's complete. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-878-9777
or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas).Fees may apply in IL. 21-plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube.com/go/nflsundayticket/terms. Limited time offer.

Serving up a short episode to touch on a few news items as we are just a week away from the Prospects Challenge. This episode opens up with some thoughts on the report from Expected Buffalo that Alex Tuch may be inching closer to an extension in addition to a few thoughts on the brief drama surrounding the offer of swapping nameplates on Josh Norris and Zach Benson jerseys. The episode also covers the new Carolina Hurricanes jerseys, the latest on the World Cup and my thoughts on Tage Thompson's outlook for the US Olympic team.   Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call eight seven seven eight HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-878-9777
or visit ccpg dot org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Kansas).Fees may apply in IL. 21-plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos. NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto-renews until cancelled. Digital games and commercial use excluded. Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday Ticket terms at youtube.com/go/nflsundayticket/terms. Limited time offer.

Kevin Woodley of InGoal Magazine and NHL.com returns to the show for a conversation about Buffalo's goaltenders. We go deep on technical and team aspects that affected Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen last year and look ahead to what he and Alex Lyon can do together as a tandem. We also discuss Devon Levi's growth and the best way the Sabres can manage their minor league goaltenders as Levi is set to be joined by Scott Ratlzaff and Topias Leinonen in Rochester this year.

The latest Instigator Interview features Craig Barnett, the executive director of the ACHA. Our wide ranging conversation covers several topics pertaining to the latest developments in college hockey and how the ACHA stands to benefit from them. We talk through the key aspects of how the ACHA functions and the players and schools they serve. Along the way, Craig highlights the newest initiative from the ACHA, a conference designed to help cultivate new collegiate hockey programs.