WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Evander Kane was hurt Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The injury-plagued Sabres, already down four top players just one game into the season, will be without winger Evander Kane for “weeks” after he broke three ribs crashing hard into the end boards Thursday, coach Dan Bylsma said.
Kane slid on his back following contact from Alexei Emelin late in the second period of the Sabres’ 4-1 loss to Montreal, his left side taking most of the impact. He was transported to the ... Read the full article
Evander Kane zooms in on a first-period breakaway. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If Thursday’s dispirited 4-1 opening-night loss to the Montreal Canadiens turns out to be a harbinger for the 2016-17 season, well, the Sabres could be in for a long six months.
In addition to an ugly setback to their Atlantic Division rival, first-line winger Evander Kane was taken to the hospital after he slid on his back and crashed his left side hard into the end boards following contact from Alexei Emelin late ... Read the full article
Tim Murray smiles Thursday after signing a contract extension. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In Ottawa, top pick Auston Matthews compiled the greatest debut in modern NHL history, scoring an eye-popping four goals for Toronto. In Edmonton, the slick Connor McDavid enjoyed a dynamic season opener, scoring two goals and three points.
Hours before Jack Eichel’s contemporaries began the 2016-17 season in grand fashion Wednesday, the young Sabres star sustained a high left ankle sprain late in practice.
Eichel, 19, watched Thursday’s 4-1 season-opening loss to the ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel will miss “weeks.” ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The scary high ankle sprain center Jack Eichel suffered when his left leg buckled Wednesday is “moderate,” coach Dan Bylsma said this morning.
Still, Bylsma said Eichel, 19, will be sidelined “more weeks than days at this point.” He didn’t give a firmer timeline.
Clearly, Eichel’s injury late in the final practice before tonight’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens shocked the team. The young star, a popular teammate, is supposed to have ... Read the full article
William Nylander (left) interviews his brother, Alexander, before the NHL Draft in June. ©2016, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Growing up, Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander and his brother, William, a Toronto Maple Leafs youngster, were ultra-competitive in whatever game or sport they played.
So, despite being very close, the Nylanders would occasionally get a little emotional.
“We fought a lot, there was a lot when we were playing knee hockey, shinny,” Alexander Nylander said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “We always came clean after it and were best buddies again.”
Don’t expect ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander has looked good so far in training camp. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Some quick updates this morning from KeyBank Center, where the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Wild before flying to Penn State University:
– The Sabres will use a mix of veterans, youngsters and AHL players for the tilt at Pegula Ice Arena.
Eighth overall pick Alexander Nylander, whose early training camp play has impressed coach Dan Bylsma, will debut on the left wing beside center Cal O’Reilly and ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson scored only eight goals last season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Matt Moulson knows he has plenty of doubters. The former 30-goal scorer understands following a miserable year punctuated by his general manager challenging his work habits, some support for him has eroded.
Moulson, 32, has clearly been humbled. An eight-goal season can do that. So can drawing Tim Murray’s ire.
“I definitely have a chip on my shoulder coming in to prove a lot of people wrong that maybe lost a ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel played three games at the World Cup. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Expect Sabres center Jack Eichel, who just finished a three-game stint at the World Cup, to join his teammates at training camp this weekend.
Eichel, 19, will return to Buffalo today. The second-year star scored one goal and two points before Team North America was eliminated.
“We’ll see him back at the rink the next couple of days and have a conversation about when he’ll get back on the ice,” Sabres coach ... Read the full article
Evander Kane has a court date Oct. 31. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Off-ice incidents like the one at a local bar that resulted in Evander Kane being arrested and charged “happen to athletes or people in a position such as myself,” the Sabres winger said Thursday.
“Those are things you just have to deal with, kind of come with the territory,” Kane said inside KeyBank Center after veterans reported to training camp for physicals. “In saying that, you have to be a little bit more ... Read the full article
Evander Kane (9) fights Alex Petrovic last season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Evander Kane sounded guarded. When the Sabres winger was asked about his turbulent summer, which included charges following an incident at a local bar, he offered only a short reply or deflected the question.
“I’m not going to say too much,” Kane said this morning inside KeyBank Center after veterans reported to training camp for physicals. “I’m here, I’m in camp.”
Kane, 25, said he has “always felt” he needs to walk the ... Read the full article