WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Josh Gorges arrived July 1. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres won’t face the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night trying to win for former Habs Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges, who will face their old team for the first time.
“As a team right now, we can’t be thinking about winning it for anybody but ourselves,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.
Neither player wants the game treated any differently.
“You’re playing your former team for ... Read the full article
Tyson Strachan has played four games this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Watching nine of the first 10 games as a healthy scratch, waiting 16 days in between appearances, well, that’s nothing new for Sabres defenseman Tyson Strachan.
Welcome to the life of an NHL journeyman.
Strachan, a 30-year-old veteran of 142 games, said he once sat about two and a half months with St. Louis early in his career.
“It’s tough,” said Strachan, who had two assists in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win against the ... Read the full article
Johan Larsson has eight points with Rochester. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As expected, the reeling Sabres, losers of three straight games, will change their lineup for this afternoon’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings.
Slick winger Johan Larsson has been summoned from Rochester to replace Marcus Foligno, who got “banged up” in Saturday’s 5-0 loss in Pittsburgh, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.
In addition, 19-year-old rookie Nikita Zadorov, a healthy scratch 11 times this season, and Andrej Meszaros, a scratch the last two games, ... Read the full article
Cody Hodgson switched positions late last season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – A year ago, the thought of Cody Hodgson playing anywhere but center would have seemed absurd.
The Sabres had few viable options down the middle. Tyler Ennis was still bouncing between two forward spots. Zemgus Girgensons was just beginning his NHL career as a winger.
Besides, Hodgson had just signed a six-year, $25.5 million contract extension to be the No. 1 pivot.
But late in the season, following an evaluation period, the team’s ... Read the full article
Cody McCormick missed today’s practice. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Forward Cody McCormick missed today’s practice but could accompany the Sabres to Chicago for Saturday’s game against the Blackhawks.
Sabres coach Ted Nolan officially called McCormick’s absence a maintenance day. He skated 10 minutes, 46 seconds in Thursday’s 3-1 season-opening loss to Columbus.
Brian Flynn subbed on his line between Nick Deslauriers and Torrey Mitchell.
In other news, the Sabres switched two centers today, putting 18-year-old rookie Sam Reinhart back between Marcus ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson (26), Brian Gionta (12) and Josh Gorges (4) posed with their new letters this afternoon. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For the first time in years, the Sabres have stability in their leadership group.
Captains Brian Gionta and alternates Josh Gorges and Matt Moulson have a combined 12 years left on their contracts. Each veteran chose to join the rebuilding Sabres this offseason.
Ted Nolan, who’s beginning his first full season as Sabres coach since 1996-97, believes the trio will fill the leadership void he noticed late last season.
“Coming in, going in ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart can play nine games before his entry-level contract begins. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This could just be a brief, low-risk experiment. The Sabres have nine regular-season games to evaluate top prospect Sam Reinhart before the slick center’s entry-level contract kicks in.
Might as well use the trial, right?
Right now, Reinhart, the No. 2 pick in June, has a roster spot. The 18-year-old will make his NHL debut in Thursday’s season opener, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.
The Sabres also have 19-year-old defenseman Nikita Zadorov on ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart has impressed the Sabres enough to stay. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Top Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart, the No. 2 pick in June, will make his NHL debut on Thursday against Columbus, coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon.
The 18-year-old Reinhart was among 23 healthy skaters on the ice today. NHL teams must reach the 23-man roster limit by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
While Nolan said today’s practice group was pretty close to the opening-night roster, the Sabres are still discussing moves.
The Sabres sent ... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta impressed the Sabres this training camp. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta’s facial injury isn’t as bad the Sabres originally feared, and the winger could miss as little as a month, coach Ted Nolan said Tuesday.
“It’s still serious,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s not going to be a three-month thing. It’s could be a less-than-month type of thing. So we’re thankful for that.”
Kaleta and forward Johan Larsson were injured early in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout exhibition loss in Toronto. ... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta has battled injuries througout his career. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta’s facial injury isn’t as bad the Sabres originally feared, and the winger could miss as little as a month, coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon.
“It’s still serious,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s not going to be a three-month thing. It’s could be a less-than-month type of thing. So we’re thankful for that.”
Kaleta and forward Johan Larsson were injured early in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout exhibition loss in ... Read the full article
