Kaleta takes a beating

Everyone knows Sabres prospect Patrick Kaleta can hit. But it appears he took more than he gave Friday night.

As the final horn sounded in the Rochester American's loss to the Rockford (Ill.) IceHogs on Friday, Kaleta checked an opposing player, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Rockford went Hog wild, with at least two players jumping on Kaleta, the Angola native. He suffered a beating, and his status for the next night's game was in doubt. He ended up playing.

A blog by Rochester beat writer Kevin Oklobzija said it's really no surprise a team ganged up Kaleta. He writes that Kaleta delivers hard hits, but then avoids fights when an opposing player tries to avenge them.

It's definitely something the Sabres should keep an eye on if they want Kaleta to become an Adam Mair-type energy player someday.

---John Vogl

Comments

[Jan]

I'm an Amerks fan -- we love watching Kaleta play, he's been the highlight of going to see games this year. He knows he needs to work on other parts of his game if he wants to play in the NHL. He's motivated to play for his hometown team. We'll miss seeing him when the Sabres move their prospects somewhere else next year.

[Texan Longhorn]

Kaleta brings energy and is a major disruptor on the ice..i.e Vaclav Varada and Barnaby... Bring him up NOW.

[Frank]

If anyone has watched this kid throughout his time in the OHL, then this shouldn't come as a surprise. YouTube the kid's name and you'll find out for yourself exactly what he was taught down there. He DRAWS penalties. He'll fight, he's proven that in Buffalo last year with two fights. He's not stupid either. He knows that taking a 5 minute penalty doesn't help his game. He's not Rob Ray or Andrew Peters. He can score and he can fight. He's more useful on the ice than in the box. In some of those videos you'll watch him take a shot in the chops from one of the Staal kids and just stand there knowing that he just earned his team a power play. Why throw a punch back and take away that advantage? Let those guys take cheap shots. Ask his coach if he minds having some extra PP time each game as a result of his discipline. I've seen cowards, and I've seen smart players. He's definitely no coward.

[Bobbo Kane]

Kaleta's a coward, plain and simple. He goes after 5 foot nothing players but when challenged by a tough player he cowers like a frightened child. You want him? Take him, he's useless down here.

[Rocky]

Leave my boy alone. Me and Jimmy are going fishin later. Then we are going to cook up the fish on a small frying pan in Jimmy's trailer.

[Gandolph Fitch]

That Rockfish is one bad dude.

[Beth Davenport]

If those thugs who beat up Kaleta need a lawyer my number is in the book.

[Angel Martin]

Hey Jimmy! What are you doin beatin up on some hockey dude. For a twenty I'll tell you where he lives.

Angel Martin

[Dennis Becker]

When you say Rockford went hog wild, did you mean my legendary P.I. friend James Rockford??

[Don]

Chet, you're putting Mair in the wrong camp, buddy. He hustles and hits and knows the game.

[Chet]

Hits are good. Fighters are unnecessary. Mair and Peters have little use, but Kaleta delivered a lot of energy when he was called up last year.

[RW]

Good for Kaleta. As long as the checks are clean, there's no need for him to have to fight if an opponent doesn't like it. Getting hit is part of the game.