Devante Stephens was drafted in the fifth round. ©2015, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres feel they have steal in prospect Devante Stephens

SUNRISE, Fla. – For a few days during his year away from the NHL, Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma helped out a former teammate, Kelowna Rockets coach Dan Lambert, and ran some practices for the Western Hockey League team.

At least one youngster, Devante Stephens, a 6-foot-1, 171-pound defenseman the Sabres drafted in the fifth round, 155th overall on Saturday, caught his eye. Bylsma didn’t know it then, but Buffalo had a strong interest ... Read the full article

Tim Murray talks to the media Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres leave NHL Draft feeling good about future

SUNRISE, Fla. – Tim Murray isn’t one for reflection. The gruff Buffalo Sabres general manager usually focuses on one task before quickly moving to the next one.

But at some point today, after an arduous NHL Draft weekend in which he added major assets, Murray will hop on a plane home to Buffalo and feel a sense of satisfaction.

Murray enjoyed arguably the best two days of any GM by drafting future cornerstone Jack Eichel... Read the full article

Dan Bylmsa was all smiles this morning. ©2015, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Dan Bylsma excited about Sabres’ bold moves

SUNRISE, Fla. – Coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Tim Murray disagree over how much the Buffalo Sabres improved in about a whirlwind nine-hour span Friday.

Murray, in keeping with his personality, would only say the Sabres got a little bit better.

“I said, ‘Tim, I think we got more than a little bit better,’” Bylsma said this morning at the NHL Draft inside the BB&T Center. “He said, ‘No, we just got a ... Read the full article

Dan Bylsma’s team has 10 afternoon home games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ 2015-16 schedule features early home games, new strategy

SUNRISE, Fla. – If slick center Jack Eichel joins the NHL next season, Buffalo fans will get a long look at the second overall pick October. The Sabres open the season with three straight home games for the first time in 40 years.

That’s just one highlight of the 2015-16 schedule the NHL released Thursday.

Six of the opening eight games are at the First Niagara Center, so Eichel, the phenom the Sabres will select ... 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

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

Dan Bylsma added his first two assistants today. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres hire Terry Murray, Dave Barr as assistant coaches

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 this morning.

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

Murray, Sabres general manager Tim Murray’s uncle, spent 15 seasons as an NHL head coach. ... Read the full article

Krys Barch (left) fights Shawn Thortnton while with Florida. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres hire Adam Mair, Krys Barch as player development coaches

BUFFALO – The Sabres have hired former hard-nosed NHL forwards Adam Mair and Krys Barch as player development coaches, the team announced today.

Mair compiled 38 goals, 114 points and 829 penalty minutes in 12 NHL seasons before retiring in from professional hockey in 2012. The 36-year-old played 615 NHL games, including 498 over seven seasons with the Sabres. Mair also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils. He ... Read the full article

Former Sabres defenseman Philippe Boucher watched most of Pittsburgh’s 2009 run to the Stanley Cup. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Dan Bylsma’s toughest coaching decision

The two friends met again under unusual circumstances.

It was February 2009, and Dan Bylsma, a 38-year-old rookie coach, was beginning the arduous task of replacing Michel Therrien and saving the sinking Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup hopes. His oldest defenseman, 36-year-old Philippe Boucher, was injured and months away from retirement.

A decade earlier, as Los Angeles Kings teammates, the two had grown close. Boucher greatly respected Bylsma, who carved out a solid career as a ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel had a lot of media interest Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Future Sabres pick Jack Eichel won’t apologize for possessing confidence

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel, of course, never expected his words would leak out. The superstar was simply expressing some confidence in his special abilities during pre-draft interviews this week.

Eichel told teams, including the Sabres, who will select the 18-year-old second overall on June 26, he plans on being a better player than Connor McDavid, arguably the biggest prospect in decade.

Was it cocky? Sure. But the slick Boston University center wasn’t taking a dig ... Read the full article