The Sabres will select Jack Eichel second overall Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Jack Eichel close to deciding future

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Jack Eichel’s close to deciding whether to turn pro and join the Buffalo Sabres or return to Boston University. In fact, don’t be surprised if the 18-year-old center announces his decision Friday night at the podium after he’s selected second overall at the NHL Draft inside the BB&T Center.

Heck, Eichel sounded ready to share his decision tonight during a pre-draft news conference. He’s clearly tired of the speculation and wants ... Read the full article

Dan Bylsma returns to Pittsburgh on Oct. 29. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

2015-16 Sabres schedule has interesting dates, new wrinkles

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Before I run to catch a cab to switch hotels, here are some highlights from the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres schedule the NHL released this morning.

– The Sabres, and perhaps the Jack Eichel era, open Oct. 8 at home against the Ottawa Senators at the First Niagara Center. They open with a season-high three-game home stand, one of seven on the schedule. The Sabres also don’t have a road trip more ... Read the full article

Zemgus Girgensons could have a long career with the Sabres. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ recent drafts have yielded mixed results

SUNRISE, Fla. – How good have the Buffalo Sabres drafted in recent years? Judge for yourself below.

Since most drafts don’t start paying dividends for a few years, here’s a look at the Sabres’ selections from 2007-12 and some notable hits and misses. Sixteen of Buffalo’s 45 draft choices over that time – 36 percent – have made the NHL.

The Sabres have eight picks at this weekend’s NHL Draft, including the No. 2 selection, ... Read the full article

Sam Reinhart (right) played nine NHL games last season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

History shows No. 2 pick will become special player for Sabres

SUNRISE, Fla. – Recent history says Jack Eichel, the mega-prospect the Buffalo Sabres will select second overall Friday at the NHL Draft, could become a franchise talent.

Just take a look at the list below.

It can be argued 15 of the last 16 No. 2 picks have been strong hits. The list includes 50-goal scorers, perennial NHL All-Stars and even future Hall of Famers. Only Sam Reinhart, a center the Sabres selected second a ... Read the full article

Callum Booth could be drafted high this weekend. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres could be interested in goalie prospect Callum Booth

BUFFALO – Until he was 9 years old, NHL Draft prospect Callum Booth was just a regular skater on his youth team. He idolized Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavlier and loved the No. 4 his hero wore.

Then one day, tired of getting lit up, his team’s goalie “just gave up,” Booth recalled earlier this month at the NHL Scouting Combine. The coaches scrambled to find a replacement right before the playoffs. Booth was ... Read the full article

Joe Cecconi could be a fourth- or fifth-round pick. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Youngstown native Joe Cecconi’s dedication about to pay off with NHL Draft selection

Regina Cecconi remembers the first week she took her son, Joe, to an instructional hockey program at Niagara University. He was 4 years old, and she wasn’t quite ready to commit herself to the busy life of a hockey mom.

“I said, ‘Oh my gosh, if they think I’m going to start all my weekends at the ice rink, they’re crazy,’” Cecconi said.

Within two years, Cecconi was serving in all sorts of capacities – ... Read the full article

Picking Jack Eichel will be the easy part for Tim Murray. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

GM Tim Murray has plan after Sabres draft Jack Eichel

BUFFALO – Tim Murray has joked he’ll make the easiest decision of his career before he walks to the NHL Draft podium Friday night inside the BB&T Center and, in his typical straightforward delivery, utters six words into the microphone: “The Buffalo Sabres select Jack Eichel.”

But after securing a potentially franchise-changing talent, the general manager might have an arduous two days ahead of him in Sunrise, Fla.

The Sabres have eight picks – 2, ... Read the full article

Tim Murray isn’t scared off by Ilya Samsonov’s KHL contract. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres have strong interest in top goalie prospect Ilya Samsonov

BUFFALO – Despite all of Ilya Samsonov’s talents, the NHL Draft’s No. 1 rated European goalie looks like a risky pick. The 18-year-old already has a three-year contract with Mettalurg Magnitogorsk, a KHL team in his native Russia.

But Samsonov’s deal doesn’t bother Sabres general manager Tim Murray, who wants to find a goalie at this weekend’s NHL Draft. The Sabres recently met with Samsonov, a prospect Murray believes can develop properly in the KHL, ... Read the full article

Sabres general manager Tim Murray is offering Mikhail Grigorenko a two-way contract. ©2015, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres want Mikhail Grigorenko to spend more time in minors

BUFFALO – General manager Tim Murray knows 21-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko is frustrated the Sabres are offering a two-way contract. The restricted free agent dislikes the deal so much he’s reportedly fielding offers from the KHL, a league in his native Russia.

“I hear rumors,” Murray said Thursday during a news conference inside the First Niagara Center to discuss next week’s NHL Draft.

Clearly, the Sabres and Grigorenko’s camp have vastly different opinions of the ... Read the full article

Dave Barr played 614 NHL games before his coaching career. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres land experienced assistants in Terry Murray, Dave Barr

BUFFALO – Dan Bylsma let it slip. Instead of waiting for the press release to come out, the new Sabres coach announced the first two assistants to his staff – veteran NHL coach Terry Murray and Dave Barr – during a news conference Thursday.

“We didn’t save the release for this afternoon,” Bylsma joked inside the First Niagara Center.

Former Sabres coaches Ted Nolan and Ron Rolston had trouble finding assistants the last two years ... Read the full article