WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Tim Murray spokely vaguely about re-signing Patrick Kaleta. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres are still interested in re-signing agitating winger Patrick Kaleta, although it appears they would likely want the veteran for insurance purposes or a mentorship role with the Rochester Americans.
Sabres general manager Tim Murray never mentioned the AHL, but he strongly hinted an NHL spot isn’t available for the free agent right now.
“I have an interest in him, for sure,” Murray said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. ... Read the full article
Cody Franson talks this morning. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After signing three straight one-year contracts, Cody Franson figured he could finally ink a multi-year deal in free agency this summer and enjoy some job security. After all, the Sabres defenseman has quietly scored 97 points in the last three years, including a career-high 36 last season.
Franson, 28, talked to some teams at the NHL Draft and again early when the market opened July 1. But within days, teams stopped calling. Over ... Read the full article
Cody Franson had a career-high 36 points last season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Free agent defenseman Cody Franson will likely sign a two-year deal with the Sabres on Thursday worth about $3.3 million a season, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Update: The Sabres announced the contract Thursday morning. The deal is worth $3.325 million a season, according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.
Sabres general manager Tim Murray talked openly earlier this summer about adding another veteran defenseman before the season starts. Training camp opens next week.... Read the full article
The Sabres acquired Jamie McGinn on June 26. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Amid all the commotion surrounding one of the busiest and perhaps most pivotal days in the Sabres’ 45-year history, winger Jamie McGinn’s name got lost.
That happened because McGinn arrived in a blockbuster trade from the Colorado Avalanche with star center Ryan O’Reilly moments after the Sabres drafted phenom Jack Eichel and hours after they acquired starting goalie Robin Lehner in another big deal.
So McGinn, 27, a seven-year veteran, quickly became an ... Read the full article
Free agent Patrick Kaleta, who wore a black NHLPA jersey earlier this week, sported a gold Sabres jersey he turned inside out Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Among all the blue and gold on the ice during an informal late-summer workout of local players earlier this week, one color stood out, the black Patrick Kaleta was wearing.
Instead of proudly sporting a Sabres jersey, the passionate Kaleta, a free agent, skated in an NHLPA sweater the union gave its players during the lockout three years ago.
Two weeks before NHL training camps open, Kaleta, 29, doesn’t have a job for ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson wants Jack Eichel to feel comfortable during his rookie year. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres veteran Matt Moulson joked he has already picked out rookie Jack Eichel’s bedroom at his home for the upcoming season.
“He’ll be sharing a room with my son,” Moulson cracked Wednesday following a late-summer skate.
Eichel, of course, won’t be splitting a room with George, who will turn 2 years old in October. Moulson plans to give Eichel, 18, his own space so his son and daughter, Mila, who just turned 3, ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel often talks about earning his spot with the Sabres. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – The Summer of Jack is almost over. Believe it or not, in 10 days, Jack Eichel will be in a Buffalo Sabres uniform for a rookie camp prospects game against the New Jersey Devils, officially ending what the phenom called a “whirlwind” offseason.
“I think it’s starting to get real,” Eichel, the second overall pick, said Tuesday at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase inside Mattamy Athletic Centre, site of the old Maple Leaf Gardens.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has heard great things about Matt Moulson. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Shortly after the Buffalo Sabres drafted Jack Eichel second overall June 26, veteran winger Matt Moulson, his future teammate, congratulated the 18-year-old and then asked the center a surprising question.
The 31-year-old Moulson, one of the most experienced and accomplished Sabres, asked Eichel if he wanted to live with his family during his rookie season.
Eichel hadn’t made any living arrangements yet, so he decided moving in with the Moulson clan – his ... Read the full article
David Leggio began his AHL career in Portland in 2010-11. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
David Leggio insists his terrible season hasn’t shaken his confidence. The Williamsville native, once one of the AHL’s best goalies, morphed into perhaps its worst last year, compiling a ghastly .861 save percentage and a bloated 3.93 goals-against average in 23 appearances with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Three seasons ago, Leggio garnered MVP talk as the Rochester Americans’ workhorse starter. His four-year run from 2010-14 was arguably as good as any AHL goalie.
Still, Leggio, ... Read the full article
David Leggio spent two seasons in Rochester. ©2015, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Williamsville native David Leggio will attend Winnipeg Jets training camp next month on a professional tryout, the goalie’s agent, Brian Bartlett, told the Times Herald.
Despite a strong body of work in the AHL, Leggio, 31, is still unsigned for the 2015-16 season. He spent last season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Portland Pirates.
He struggled with Bridgeport, the New York Islanders’ top affiliate, posting a 3.93 goals-against average and a .861 save percentage ... Read the full article
