John Tucker played eight seasons with the Sabres. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ex-Sabres standout John Tucker knew life would bring him back to Buffalo

AMHERST – John Tucker quickly found new adventures after his playing career ended in 2000. The popular former Buffalo Sabres center won two championships coaching in Italy. He still co-owns a training rink in Tampa, where he had settled with his family.

But all the while, Tucker, who played with the Sabres from 1983-91, knew his life would bring him back to Buffalo.

“Everyone seems to circle back to stuff they love,” Tucker said Sunday ... Read the full article

Colton Gillies had a goal and two points Saturday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Amerks hold late lead, tie series against Wolves

ROCHESTER – A night after blowing a late 3-1 lead and losing the playoff opener in overtime, the Americans experienced deja vu.

“It was ‘Groundhog Day,’” coach Chadd Cassidy joked Saturday after the Amerks grinded out a 3-2 win against the Chicago Wolves, tying the best-of-five Calder Cup playoff series. “We go up 3-1. Rasmus (Ristolainen), just a complete bomb off the crossbar.

“Same thing happened (Friday). We had a chance to go up 4-1 ... Read the full article

Tim Schaller scored seven goals in the final seven regular-season games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres prospect Tim Schaller developing into all-around talent with Amerks

ROCHESTER – On April 5, the Americans began the third period of a pivotal late-season tilt trailing the Marlies 3-0. Twenty minutes later, buoyed by fourth-line center Tim Schaller’s natural hat trick, they had rallied for a stunning 4-3 victory in Toronto.

Schaller had four goals in 65 AHL games before scoring three times in a 14-minute stretch.

“I didn’t think it would ever happen, but it did,” Schaller said last week inside the Blue ... Read the full article

Mikhail Grigorenko has played nine AHL games this season. ©2014, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko thriving with AHL Amerks

ROCHESTER – Finally, almost two years after the Buffalo Sabres drafted him 12th overall, center Mikhail Grigorenko has landed in the AHL.

Just weeks before his 20th birthday, the prospect too good for junior but too green for the NHL has settled in nicely with the Americans.

The Amerks closed the regular season 7-1-1 with Grigorenko, who recorded his four assists in his first three appearances.

But numbers aren’t important right now.

“Maybe ... Read the full article

Christian Ehrhoff was a minus-27 this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Christian Ehrhoff says he wants to stay with rebuilding Sabres after tough season

BUFFALO – Offensively, Christian Ehrhoff enjoyed his best season with the Sabres in 2013-14, compiling six goals and 33 points in 79 games. But those numbers don’t tell the entire story.

Like most of his teammates, the defenseman struggled much of the miserable campaign, compiling a minus-27 rating.

In January, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said Ehrhoff was pressing. Some observers said the German often looked uninterested.

By March, Ehrhoff’s name was popping up in ... Read the full article

Chad Ruhwedel believes Zac Rinaldo’s hit was dirty. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Amerks’ Chad Ruhwedel impressive in return from concussion

ROCHESTER – Chad Ruhwedel said his first concussion “wasn’t fun.” The defenseman experienced bad headaches for a few days after Philadelphia’s Zac Rinaldo elbowed him in the head April 6 during a recall to the Buffalo Sabres.

Ruhwedel figured his regular season was over.

But the 23-year-old, who was sent to the AHL earlier this week, felt well enough to return Friday for the Americans’ 5-1 win against the Syracuse Crunch inside the Blue Cross ... Read the full article

Alexander Sulzer played only 25 games this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Alexander Sulzer still recovering from first concussion, open to returning to Sabres

BUFFALO – Despite having played 12 professional seasons, Sabres defenseman Alexander Sulzer avoided his first concussion until March 13, his 505th game.

Jiri Tlusty hit Sulzer a few minutes into the Sabres’ 4-2 loss in Carolina. He bumped his head on the glass.

“Then it went back and forth a couple times,” Sulzer recalled Monday.

Sulzer’s disappointing season – and possibly his 57-game Sabres career – was over.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” ... Read the full article

Jhonas Enroth was injured March 16. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth believes injury gave him new perspective

BUFFALO – After almost four seasons as a backup, Jhonas Enroth’s run at becoming the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie lasted seven games before a sprained MCL ended his trying campaign.

A disappointing finish to an odd year for the 25-year-old, right?

“Kind of,” Enroth said Monday inside the First Niagara Center as the Sabres cleaned out their lockers.

Get this, the Swede said he was “kind of glad” he got hurt.

“If you understand ... Read the full article

Jim Corsi joined the Sabres in 1998. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres fire assistant coaches from old regime

BUFFALO – The Sabres have fired or reassigned all of the assistant coaches Ted Nolan inherited from the previous regime.

Jim Corsi, the team’s popular goalie coach since 1998, is gone, the club announced today. So is Teppo Numminen, whose contract wasn’t renewed after three seasons. Joe Sacco and Jerry Forton have been offered new jobs within the organization’s hockey department after just one season with the team.

Nolan replaced Ron Rolston on an interim ... Read the full article

Tim Murray discussed the Sabres’ future bluntly Tuesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

GM Tim Murray wants higher expectations for Sabres, quick rebuild

BUFFALO – Tim Murray has thought about how an NHL team could tank a season. The general manager even discussed some scenarios with the media. But he has no intention of keeping the Sabres at the bottom of the league.

With a couple of franchise-altering talents available in the 2015 draft, plenty of teams could purposely field less-than-stellar lineups next year.

The Sabres, whose previous regime played for draft picks, won’t be among them.

“I ... Read the full article