As the old adage goes, "like father, like son."

Mike Foligno, a member of the Buffalo Sabres for a decade that spanned most of the 1980's, was and still is a popular figure in the city. Receiving five consecutive Frank Eddolls Memorial Trophies at one point, which went to the team's favorite player, the fans certainly appreciated him.

Unafraid to barge to the net or fight for teammates, Foligno was a scrappy forward who was willing to put himself in danger for the greater good of the club. His 1,450 penalty minutes are second-highest among all Sabre players.

More than that though, the Sudbury native had a great scoring touch, evidenced by his 247 goals with Buffalo. After each one, he'd show his enthusiasm by leaping in the air in celebration.

For all the impressive numbers he compiled, Foligno's greatest attributes were his leadership and hard work. Neither trait ever seemed to be missing on any given night, as he was constantly ready to help the club however he could.

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Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption.

Suspects: Samuel Pahlsson, Justin Williams and Christopher Higgins

Setting: Rogers Arena

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The 2003 NHL Entry Draft, perceived as one of the best in league history, churned out a bundle of cornerstone players in the first round–a few were also snagged in round two. And to think, such a coveted collection of players was forced to be put on hold for one year due to the lock-out. That distinction should have went to the class of 1999.

Going No.1 overall, Marc-Andre Fleury was chosen to fill the void in the Pittsburgh Penguins' net. Ask, and you shall receive. The 27-year-old has decently done what he's supposed to–the Philadelphia Flyers beg to differ–after a rookie season that saw much trial-and-error experimenting within the club.

As the second player to have his name called, Eric Staal went straight to work with the Carolina Hurricanes by amassing 100 points as a sophomore and sparking the group towards a Stanley Cup. Florida picked up Nathan Horton and while he wasn't exactly a leader, he wasn't a bust either. Nikolai Zherdev, as talented as they come offensively, didn't solidify his selection with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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EA Sports is opening the opportunity of a lifetime for fans. Actually, it's not that exciting, but here it goes: they want people to vote and decide who will grace the cover of NHL 13. Each club will have two representatives to select from, as a total of 60 players will be available.

Starting with 60, the number will shrink down to 32 by April 12 and the final 16 will be decided by June 4. The winner, may it be someone from the Buffalo Sabres, will be announced at the NHL Awards Show. There is no limit on the voting and all of the other relevant information can be found here.

With that out of the way, let's look at Buffalo's two options. It's between Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek. Not only do we want you to vote for them, but we want to hear who you would opt for if there were more logical options at hand. As the club's most valuable player up to now, Jason Pominville deserves mentioning. Ryan Miller's play after the All-Star break has been nothing short of spectacular. Then again, the last goalie to be on the cover was John Vanbiesbrouck, so it's a tough one to crack for netminders. The way I see it, nobody else warrants inclusion if we are looking at the entire season. Otherwise, Drew Stafford, Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno would be up for grabs too due to their recent offensive explosions.

But don't take it personally, because there are more absurd choices out there. Let's look at some of the more humorous ones and why we might vote for them.

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With the first round of the fantasy hockey playoffs passing the halfway mark, I thought it would be an ideal time to provide an update. We garnered so much interest from the readers this year and as a result, created two separate leagues to include as many people as possible.

Both pools were deep, which is unique because it makes almost every player relevant (from the first line to the fourth line). A few people surrendered early, but that's almost unavoidable for leagues of this size. For those who remained competitive and played the waiver wire constantly, many thanks for your dedication. Best of luck to all of the clubs currently duking it out in the postseason.

Below, you'll find the final standings for both leagues, starting with the one entitled 'DBTB'.

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For years, the Buffalo Sabres have built from within. One peek at their roster reveals a team that places extreme importance on drafting players and properly preparing them for the future. For better or for worse, it is a strategy that both the general manager Darcy Regier and head coach Lindy Ruff have stood by.

Strangely, and perhaps in desperation, Buffalo broke away from that tradition at this season's trade deadline. Involved in two separate deals on the rather underwhelming day, their second one grabbed the headlines and was perceived to be the major transaction of them all. Before the deal in its entirety was shared, the two confirmed names that switched sides were Cody Hodgson of the Vancouver Canucks and Zack Kassian.

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Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption.

Suspect: Andrej Sekera

Setting: Wells Fargo Center

Follow Rafal Ladysz on Twitter.

Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption.     

Suspects: Steve Montador and Manny Malhotra.

Setting: Rogers Arena.

Note: For anyone who is interested, have a look at my latest article which focuses on Claude Giroux's rise to stardom in the National Hockey League.

Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption.    

Suspects: Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz.

Setting: Air Canada Centre.

Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption.   

Suspects: Tyler Myers and Jamie McBain.

Setting: First Niagara Center.

Jason Pominville has a lot going for him nowadays. He's playing a sport he loves for a living, knowing full well that he's a key member of the Buffalo Sabres after six years of working his way up the ladder. As a rookie, he excitingly netted a shorthanded overtime winner in the second round of the postseason which elevated the team to the Conference Finals. Now, the 28-year-old can add the honor of the historic club's captaincy, that has been bestowed upon him, to the list.

The waiving of Craig Rivet last year had to happen; he was an aged veteran who had lost a step and the game's speed isn't exactly accommodating these shortcomings. Experience is taking a backseat, as the influx of youth is pouring into the league rapidly and pushing some of the older players out of a job. Sure, Teemu Selanne and Nicklas Lidstrom have it in them to defy this logic, but they are rare exceptions. For every Taylor Hall or Jeff Skinner, there is not a Ray Whitney or Mark Recchi to cancel them out.

In Rivet's place, Lindy Ruff selected Pominville as his new leader for the upcoming season. You might ask why, especially with the arrival of the hard-nosed Robyn Regehr, a man who led by example in Calgary. Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy, two of the team's other long-serving forwards, were considered as well. Along with Drew Stafford and Paul Gaustad, they accepted an alternate captain position, while Pominville was the correct choice that the coach opted for.

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If there's one thing Ville Leino knows, it's how to assemble a great first impression. With the Detroit Red Wings, he drew up a terrific goal in his first ever National Hockey League contest. In Philadelphia, the Finn erupted in the postseason and really prospered after it seemed as if he would be a talented, but largely ineffective forward.

Without a doubt, the biggest moment of Leino's career (to date) occurred in Buffalo, as his Game Six marker just a few months ago plunged a dagger into the hearts of their supporters. Signing with the Sabres in the summer, he got on the board in their season opener, which fitfully played out in his native FInland.

Taking the pass off his skate and quickly snapping the shot, it was a quality execution to say the least.

I've got a bit of a problem. Before you offer me medical advice, I should point out that it's about our fantasy hockey league here on Die By The Blade, which is entering its second year. Invitations were sent out to all of the general managers involved in last season's competition, but only nine slots have been filled.

With the draft precisely one week away, I have no choice but to open up the 11 remaining spots to the public. It is an extremely deep league, as third and fourth line players will be fought over in the latter rounds. We hope to pride ourselves with another competitive campaign, filled with waiver wire pick-ups and day-to-day roster tweaking.

For those of you who wish to join, sign up as quickly as possible. All of the relevant information can be found below. Thanks in advance and best of luck to everyone.

League ID: 18133

League Name: DBTB

Password: hasekmiller

Athletes pride themselves on their conditioning and exercise routines, even Kyle Wellwood is starting to catch on. Growing up, Nathan Gerbe had a very intensive tactic to help him build leg strength: pushing an automobile all on his own. In his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, he'd find an empty parking lot or rural road, shift the car in neutral and push on the rear bumper.

"I never pushed it home, but on workout days I would push it around the track to try to gain strength any way I could," Gerbe said. "I’d use whatever car was available – sometimes an SUV, sometimes a sports car."

That commitment brought the winger to NCAA greatness, including MVP honors in the Frozen Four Tournament, a Dudley Garret Memorial Trophy in the American Hockey League which goes to the best rookie and now a permanent roster spot with the Buffalo Sabres.

At 5' 5", Gerbe is shorter than the stick he uses—the longest shaft that the league will allow is 63 inches, and that's what the 23-year-old opts for. Although his measurement is two inches higher than that, the blade's attachment still has to enter the foray. But Gerbe is not the first player below six-feet vertically to surge into the National Hockey League; far from it.

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Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption.  

Suspects: Dan Hamhuis, Milan Lucic and David Krejci.

Setting: Rogers Arena, Vancouver.

It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey began with Luke Adam and will conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Tyler Myers.

Tyler Myers

#57 / Defenseman / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-8

Weight: 227

Born: Feb 01, 1990

Contract Situation: One year remaining on entry level deal, in which he earns $875,000

2010 Grade: A

Lowdown: Tyler Myers arm wrestled with the sophomore slump all season and over the first half of the campaign, he was losing the battle. Short on points and struggling to prevent goals against in even strength shifts, the 21-year-old atoned for his loose play: he averaged a point every other game, pulled himself from a minus-13 to an even rating and was unforgiving to forwards. That final characteristic is the most crucial, as Myers made opponents pay the price for their space and seemed to relish a spot in scrums. At a point of his career that suffocated plenty of his predecessors when they were second-year players, Myers bent, but he did not break down.

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Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption. 

Suspects: Kevin Bieksa, Alexander Edler, Daniel Sedin, and Mason Raymond.

Setting: Rogers Arena, Vancouver.

If the National Hockey League’s 1999 Entry Draft became a ship, it would be the Titanic. Leading role would go to Patrik Stefan as the protagonist, not Leonardo DiCaprio. The first round is our iceberg, and…well you get the idea.

There’s little doubt that this class played with the emotions of clubs, as there was so much promise from the talent pool, yet how much was solidified? Stefan, the first overall pick, garnered a huge amount of press attention for his shortcomings, and put the exclamation point on his career by blundering an empty net break-away.

For anyone who purchased his hockey cards in the hopes that they’d be worth a substantial amount of money in the future like myself, you might as well treat it as toilet paper because they are estimated to be that expensive today.

Pavel Brendl, who was chosen fourth overall by the New York Rangers, did wonders for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western League. Too bad he swung, and missed with three teams, and couldn’t play a full season’s worth of games in his short career. Washington’s pick at No.7, Kris Beech, made his biggest impact as being tacked onto the package that brought Jaromir Jagr over in 2001.

The stories don’t get much better down the list, and from that year’s opening round of 28 players, only six are still hanging around in the NHL. While much of the 1999 class was woeful or non-existent. some of the general managers made out just fine. Here is a rundown of the players who are employed in the world’s elite league 12 years after their involvement in a despicable draft year.

They came, they saw, but only a few conquered. I use the word conquered loosely.

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It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey began with Luke Adam and will conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Cody McCormick.

Cody McCormick

#8 / Center / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-3

Weight: 221

Born: Apr 18, 1983

Contract Situation: Pending unrestricted free agent who earned $500,000 this year

2010 Grade: A

Lowdown: Hired to be the club's muscle, Cody McCormick completed his duties, and then some. When he wasn't busy trying to clobber someone, the former Colorado Avalanche forward chipped in with decent offense. McCormick, with his feisty play and willingness to be a combatant against anyone who wanted to fight, got himself on the audience's good side. McCormick's first shift for the Sabres came in Game Four of their first round match-up with the Boston Bruins last year, and he set up a goal straightaway. Although they were defeated in six games, McCormick did no harm to his character—quite the opposite, in fact.

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It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey began with Luke Adam and will conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Jordan Leopold.

Jordan Leopold

#3 / Defenseman / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 206

Born: Aug 03, 1980

Contract Situation: Signed for two more years at an annual $3 million pay out

2010 Grade: Unavailable

Lowdown: Jordan Leopold put together a welcoming first impression with the Buffalo Sabres, setting a career-high in points and logging tons of ice time. Actually, he played the most on average and hovered above 23 minutes per game. Curiously, the 30-year-old played better from October to December, and withered from January to March when the club got on a roll. Sitting on 21 points after three months and a minus-5 rating, Leopold produced 14 more points and a minus-6 rating — but he did miss seven matches with a broken hand. At a fair price, he became a nice upgrade on the back end and you can't ask for much more.

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It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey began with Luke Adam and will conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Jochen Hecht.

Jochen Hecht

#55 / Left Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 198

Born: Jun 21, 1977

Contract Situation: One year left on contract. A $3.525 million cap hit and $3.5 million salary

2010 Grade: A

Lowdown: First thing's first; you can't help but feel relaxed when Jochen Hecht is in the line-up. A versatile German with great two-way strengths, he's been a mainstay in Buffalo after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers eight years ago. It was a fair deal for both sides, as Edmonton received two second round selections from the 2002 draft and made good use of them - they picked up Jeff Deslauriers and Jarret Stoll. His homeland manufactures a few extravagant cars and Hecht is like a Volkswagen; not as fancy as the BMW or quick as the Porsche, just providing the mileage you desire and an appearance that's respected.

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It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey began with Luke Adam and will conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Marc-Andre Gragnani.

Marc-Andre Gragnani

#17 / Defenseman / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-2

Weight: 201

Born: Mar 11, 1987

Contract Situation: $500,000 salary and $51,000 cap hit. Restricted free agent-to-be

2010 Grade: Unavailable

Lowdown: What a month for Marc-Andre Gragnani. Brought aboard from the Portland Pirates for his second stint of this season, the 24-year-old stood out with some timely plays and conclusively ended up as Buffalo's leader in playoff scoring. Recipient of the Eddie Shore Award as the American Hockey League's cream of the crop on defense, Gragnani plugged the gap left by the ailing Andrej Sekera and kept himself undaunted. We weren't expecting him to spill his guts into a garbage bin in light of the adrenaline, but he had ice flowing through his veins and that is a prodigious feat for postseason hockey. Take a bow.

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Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption.

Suspect: Guy Boucher.

Setting: TD Garden, Boston.

It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey will begin with Luke Adam and conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Nathan Gerbe.

Nathan Gerbe

#42 / Center / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 5-5

Weight: 178

Born: Jul 24, 1987

Contract Situation: $850,000 cap hit, pending restricted free agent.

2010 Grade: B

Lowdown: Get over his height, Nathan Gerbe belongs in the National Hockey League. Capable of lining up on the left or right wing, the 23-year-old finally got his chance to impress the Buffalo Sabres and Lindy Ruff. On the back of a good showing in a limited capacity last year, where he weighed in with numerous impassioned performances, Gerbe looked ready for more first team action. Tyler Ennis was the club's rookie who was closest to a Calder Trophy nomination, but Gerbe received the approval of supporters because of his tenacity and judgment. The similarities with a certain Martin St. Louis are striking.

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It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey will begin with Luke Adam and conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Paul Gaustad.

Paul Gaustad

#28 / Center / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-5

Weight: 212

Born: Feb 03, 1982

Contract Situation: $2.5 million salary and $2.3 million cap hit. One year left on current deal.

2010 Grade: C

Lowdown: Of all the animals Paul Gaustad could be tagged as, a goose doesn't resonate loudly to the ears. The 6-4, 224 pound forward intervenes with jolting hits, swings away in fights, back-checks, and is a master in the face-off circle. Egotistical players are damaging to the dressing room and a club's teamwork, but Gaustad is a person who does his multiple jobs respectfully without a care in the world for glamor. Heralded as a character guy by those closest to him, Gaustad finishes battles that others start and absorbs bullets for teammates. Added to the United States' roster for the World Championships, he'll always stick to the facets he knows best. That is no goose. A moose is more like it.

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It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey will begin with Luke Adam and conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Jhonas Enroth.

Lowdown: The days of Ryan Miller's resting turning into a death sentence for the Buffalo Sabres are over, as their reliable second goaltender has arrived. Apologies in advance for the missing picture on the widget, which is because of Enroth's name being lost on the list of roster players. Illogically, Dennis Persson is included instead; wrap your head around that. Don't worry, we'll make it up to him. Back to our Swedish ally. Simply put, you don't see too much stories of secondary goalies basking in the hero glow for a season's finale. Scott Clemmensen did it two years ago in New Jersey and as the games got increasingly valuable and filled with pressure this season, Enroth looked like a marvel in relief of Miller.

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It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey will begin with Luke Adam and conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Tyler Ennis.

Tyler Ennis

#63 / Center / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 5-9

Weight: 157

Born: Oct 06, 1989

Contract Situation: An equal salary and cap hit of $875,000. Entering decisive hurdle of entry level deal.

2010 Grade: A

Lowdown: Can't win them all. That goes for games and Calder Trophies, as this Tyler was not chosen as a finalist for rookie of the year. Jeff Skinner, Logan Couture, and Michael Grabner are the three rightful nominations, but Ennis was just slightly out of the conversation as the highest scorer behind those forwards. Dating back to 1994 when Derek Plante became Buffalo's standout freshman, nobody else has surmounted Ennis' first-year point total in 17 years – not even Thomas Vanek. Purely skilled with unending quickness of foot, the 21-year-old asserted himself tremendously and proved to be worth his weight in gold.

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Dear readers, this community is as much about you as it is the writers. So, in an outlet for you to let loose some of your creativity, we want you to cast an inquisitive and acerbic eye on selected photos. Come up with a caption for the picture and see how many recommendations it receives; that should let you know if it was met with applause or disdain. Get adventurous, get innovative, and capture that caption. 

Suspects: Dwayne Roloson, Eric Brewer, and Brooks Laich.

Setting: St. Pete Times, Tampa Bay.