The post-Pominville era begins Friday.

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Hodgson
Steve Ott skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
04:05:13
Gerbe, Hodgson, Ott, Ottawa Senators, Pominville, Regier, Rolston, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – Steve Ott said this morning the captaincy isn’t on his radar. The gritty winger, arguably the Sabres’ biggest heart-and-soul-player, received an assistant captaincy for the rest of the season after captain Jason Pominville was traded Wednesday.

Getting the “C” next year seems like a natural progression for popular 30-year-old veteran.

“I truly want to just be a hockey player on this team,” Ott said inside the First Niagara Center after preparing for tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators.

Still, Ott was …

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Jason Pominville played his first game with the Wild on Thursday. ©2013, DAn Hickling, Olean Times Herald
04:05:13
Gerbe, Hackett, Hodgson, Larsson, Minnesota Wild, Ott, Ottawa Senators, Pominville, Regier, Rolston, Stafford, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – Jason Pominville felt his 11-year run with the Sabres organization could be ending. Before Wednesday’s trade deadline, the struggling team asked its captain to submit a list of eight clubs he could refuse a trade to. The Sabres, a colossal disappointment this season, seemed ripe for a major shakeup.

Still, when Sabres general manager Darcy Regier called Wednesday and said he had been traded to Minnesota, the star winger was shocked.

“It’s still a shock,” Pominville told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune …

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Kevin Porter scored twice Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
04:03:13
Hodgson, Miller, Ott, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pominville, Porter, Regier, Rolston
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

PITTSBURGH – The stunning victory might serve as one final reminder of the potential the 2012-13 Buffalo Sabres possess.

On Tuesday, the reeling Sabres limped into Consol Energy Center losers of four straight, just hours away from a possible fire sale before the trade deadline hits at 3 p.m. today.

The mighty Penguins, winners of 15 straight, awaited them. The powerhouse club had blanked its last three opponents and stood just two victories from tying the NHL’s longest-ever winning streak.

Incredibly, the Sabres …

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The Sabres acquired Cody Hodgson at last season's trade deadline. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
04:02:13
Bernier, Biron, Boyes, Brennan, Briere, Campbell, Conklin, Drury, Ennis, Enroth, Gaustad, Girgensons, Gragnani, Hodgson, Kassian, Kotalik, Lydman, MacArthur, Miller, Moore, Noronen, Novotny, Pegula, Regier, Rolston, Ruff, Sulzer, Tellqvist, Torres, Zubrus
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
1

PITTSBURGH – With the NHL trade deadline hitting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, here’s the Buffalo Sabres’ Eastern Conference standing and their activity since 2006:

2006, third place, 83 points

General manager Darcy Regier made no additions, only trading No. 3 goalie Mika Noronen to Vancouver for a second-round pick (current backup goalie Jhonas Enroth). Some argued the inactivity bit the surprising Sabres, who lost four defensemen to injury during their run to the Eastern Conference final. They lost Game 7 with just …

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Steve Ott (9) got knocked down by Zdeno Chara on Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
04:02:13
Hasek, Hodgson, Kaleta, Leino, Miller, Ott, Pittsburgh Penguins, Rolston, Scott, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

PITTSBURGH – At the 12:01 mark of the first period in the Buffalo Sabres’ 2-0 loss to Boston on Sunday, hulking Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara cross-checked Steve Ott, sending the agitator flying into the boards.

Ott hit his head and skated off to the dressing room before returning. But in addition to Chara’s minor penalty, Ott received an unsportsmanlike conduct embellishment penalty.

Did interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston agree?

“No, unless you want to launch yourself head-first into the boards as an embellishment,” …

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Boston goalie Anton Khudobin makes a point-blank stop on Kevin Porter on Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
04:01:13
Boston Bruins, Hasek, Hecht, Hodgson, Kaleta, Miller, Ott, Pominville, Rolston, Scott
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – In coach Ron Rolston’s mind, the Sabres’ 2-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday “was probably one of our best games” since he took over the struggling club on an interim basis 40 days ago.

Never mind the Sabres’ fourth straight loss (0-2-2) dropped them to 13th place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the eighth-place New York Rangers. Forget that Anton Khudobin, a relatively unknown backup goalie, only made a few notable saves among his 26 …

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Steve Ott said he wanted to "earn" his Sabres jersey. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:21:13
Hodgson, Ott, Pominville, Rolston, Ruff, Toronto Maple Leafs, Weber
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – Not surprisingly, Steve Ott jelled with his new Sabres teammates immediately after nine seasons with the Dallas Stars. Having Mike Weber, a friend so close he calls him a brother, helped the transition. And Ott’s infectious personality would probably make the 30-year-old fit in quickly anywhere.

Still, back in January, Ott felt a bit like an outsider. In his mind, he had to earn his Sabres jersey following the offseason trade. The versatile winger felt he hadn’t proven anything …

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Thomas Vanek (26) will be skating with Tyler Ennis (63) tonight. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:19:13
Ennis, Gerbe, Hodgson, Kaleta, Leino, Miller, Montreal Canadiens, Pominville, Rolston, Ruff, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

In reality, the Buffalo Sabres’ top trio – Thomas Vanek, Cody Hodgson and Jason Pominville – should’ve been broken up or tweaked weeks ago.

Since roaring out of the gate as the NHL’s best line in January, the line has cooled off considerably.

Vanek, once hockey’s most lethal scoring threat, has only three goals and eight points in the last 15 games. Pominville has three goals and eight points in the last 19 contests.

Not the kind of production you’d expect from your …

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Brian Flynn already has two goals. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:15:13
Ennis, Flynn, Foligno, Hodgson, Kaleta, Leino, Porter, Rochester Americans, Rolston, Stafford
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – It appeared their time together could be brief. When interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston put Marcus Foligno, Kevin Porter and Brian Flynn together on a line March 5, he united two recent recalls with Foligno, a struggling rookie fresh off his first NHL benching.

All three had never played together during nearly four months with the Rochester Americans.

But Rolston, the Amerks’ coach until his Feb. 20 promotion, knew their talents. With the Sabres struggling to stay out of the …

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Steve Ott (9) wants more support from the home crowd. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:14:13
Ehrhoff, Flynn, Foligno, Gerbe, Grigorenko, Hodgson, Leopold, Miller, Ott, Porter, Rolston, Scott, Stafford
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
1

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ power play is awful, and their legions of fans know it. Not only does it rank 30th, it’s operating at a paltry 11.2 percent. No one else is lower than 13 percent.

In Tuesday’s 3-1 triumph over the New York Rangers, the Sabres blew all five opportunities and allowed another short-handed goal, their NHL-high fifth this season.

During one third-period chance, they iced the puck and went offside in the first 61 seconds, drawing the ire of the …

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