WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Mark Pysyk figured he was in the Sabres’ plans. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Fresh off his first full NHL season, Mark Pysyk figured he was in the Sabres’ long-term plans. With the defenseman skating regular minutes in 55 games, the team improved 27 points, moving from last overall to 23rd.
“I wasn’t really banking on anything happening,” Pysyk told the Times Herald by phone Sunday.
Then Saturday morning, as Pysyk slept, his phone began lighting up with calls and texts. Eventually, his fiancé informed ... Read the full article
Austin Osmanski was thrilled the Sabres drafted him. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – By late Saturday morning, as the seven-round NHL Draft crept toward the end, East Aurora’s Austin Osmanski and his 50 or 60 supporters started getting nervous.
At one point, Osmanski, 18, joked to his father, Kevin, who was sitting beside him, they should leave. But deep down, the defenseman was really worried he wouldn’t be selected by anyone, let alone the hometown Sabres.
Osmanski responded to his aunt’s attempt to lighten the mood ... Read the full article
Dmitri Kulikov fills a big need for the Sabres. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In acquiring Dmitry Kulikov from the Florida Panthers on Saturday morning, the Sabres added the versatile, left-handed defenseman they coveted and filled perhaps their biggest need.
“We have a need for a left-shot D,” Sabres general manager Tim Murray said after the NHL Draft ended.
There are, of course, other holes, including up front, where the Sabres must add more scoring, either through trades or free agency.
“The best that are available at ... Read the full article
Sabres draft pick Rasmus Asplund (left) walks Saturday with Chris Bandura, the team’s director of media relations. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The trade was almost complete. The Sabres and Florida Panthers had agreed to swap defensemen Mark Pysyk and Dmitry Kulikov as the main components.
But the sides hadn’t worked out draft picks yet. Originally, general manager Tim Murray wanted to give the Sabres’ first third-round pick, 69th overall, to his counterpart, Tom Rowe, at the NHL Draft.
Murray went back to Rowe on Saturday morning and offered his last third-rounder, 89th... Read the full article
Rasmus Asplund played with Alexander Nylander is Sweden. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Early in the winter at the world junior championship, NHL Draft prospect Rasmus Asplund centered Alexander Nylander, the winger the Sabres drafted eighth overall Friday.
Clearly, the Sabres liked the chemistry the two showcased together representing Sweden, as they drafted Asplund, 18, with the 33rd pick this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
“He was one of the guys I had the best chemistry with in my whole career,” an excited ... Read the full article
Dmitri Kulikov is a left-handed defenseman. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres swapped defensemen and draft picks with the Florida Panthers this morning, trading Mark Pysyk and the 38th and 89th selections to the Florida Panthers for Dmitry Kulikov and the 33rd pick.
The Sabres used that selection to take Swedish center Rasmus Asplund, who centered Alexander Nylander, the eighth overall pick by Buffalo, at the world junior championship.
Kulikov, 25, could be the left-handed defenseman Sabres general manager Tim ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander (center) was all smiles Friday with Sabres owner Terry Pegula. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Swedish winger Alexander Nylander and his older brother, William, are close. Before the Sabres drafted Alexander eighth overall Friday, he spent the entire day with William, someone he has leaned on for advice throughout the NHL Draft process.
But besides being siblings and friends, Alexander, 18, and William, 20, are now, in many ways, enemies. William plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabres’ closest and fiercest rival.
“It’s going to be a ... Read the full article
The Sabres drafted Philippe Boucher 13th overall in 1991. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As Philippe Boucher approached Buffalo on his eight-hour drive from Quebec City on Wednesday, the 25th anniversary of the 1991 NHL Draft, the former Sabres defenseman sounded nostalgic recalling his life-changing day at Memorial Auditorium.
“To be drafted by Buffalo in Buffalo obviously added to that day,” Boucher said by phone.
Boucher watched the NHL Draft on Friday from the First Niagara Center stands as youngsters experienced the same emotions he felt ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander talks to the media tonight. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Swedish winger Alexander Nylander and his older brother, William, are close. Before the Sabres drafted Alexander eighth overall tonight, he spent the entire day with William, someone he has leaned on for advice throughout the NHL Draft process.
But besides being siblings and friends, Alexander, 18, and William, 20, are now, in many ways, enemies. William plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabres’ closest and fiercest rival.
“It’s going to be a ... Read the full article
Tim Murray drafted a forward early. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres selected winger Alexander Nylander with the eighth overall pick tonight at the NHL Draft.
The hometown crowd inside the First Niagara Center responded by roaring in approval.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Nylander scored 28 goals and 75 points in 57 games with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2015-16, earning Ontario Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League top rookie honors.
To NHL Central Scouting Dave Gregory, the Swede “might be the most skilled guy ... Read the full article
