Kevin Dineen led the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Portland before moving up to coach Florida. ©2019, Hickling Images

Offering another chance to ex-head coach could benefit Sabres

BUFFALO – Coaches often evolve or reinvent themselves following their failures. Sometimes they swallow their pride to do it. They might return to junior hockey or the minors and start riding buses again. They might take an assistant or development job.

Remember that as general manager Jason Botterill searches for the Sabres’ sixth coach in barely six years after firing Phil Housley on April 7.

Sometimes the best candidates aren’t the names being bandied about. ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno (82) muscles past Montreal’s Victor Bartley on March 16. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres re-sign Marcus Foligno to 1-year deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed another restricted free agent today, inking winger Marcus Foligno to a one-year contract worth a reported $2.25 million.

While Foligno, 24, was coming off a season in which he set career highs across the board, he earned the same salary last year.

Very quietly, the Sabres are creeping toward the salary cap for the first time in years. Generalfanager.com projects the team at $9,687,978 under the $73 million cap.

The ... Read the full article

Cody McCormick has still been around the rink. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Blood clots will force Sabres’ Cody McCormick to retire

BUFFALO – The blood clots Cody McCormick developed halfway through 2014-15 will force the rugged Sabres forward to retire, general manager Tim Murray said Monday.

“Cody McCormick is not going to jeopardize his life or his family by trying to play again,” Murray said inside the First Niagara Center. “We support him in that. He was around this winter and did some other things when players were rehabbing. So I don’t know if that’s going ... Read the full article

Tim Murray smiles this afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Playoffs realistic goal for Sabres next season

BUFFALO – Following a 27-point improvement in 2015-16, a season in which the Sabres morphed from the NHL’s laughingstock into a legitimate team again, the playoffs “may actually be a realistic goal” next year, general manager Tim Murray said.

“So that will be our statement to the players, that yes, the goal is to reach the playoffs, and that we actually do expect that we can do that,” Murray said this afternoon during an end-of-season ... Read the full article

Cody McCormick on Jan. 2 in his last home appearance. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Cody McCormick waiting to resume career

BUFFALO – Almost a year after Cody McCormick developed blood clots that spread to his lungs, the rugged Sabres forward has a new routine.

Most mornings, long before his teammates practice, he’s on the First Niagara Center ice helping rehab coordinator Dennis Miller work with two or three injured players. McCormick then hangs around the rink for bit, works out and heads home.

McCormick has no symptoms from the clots that briefly hospitalized him in ... Read the full article

Blood clots have sidelined Cody McCormick almost a year. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Cody McCormick wants to play again

BUFFALO – Almost a year after Cody McCormick developed blood clots that spread to his lungs, the Sabres forward has a routine.

Most mornings, he’s on the First Niagara Center ice working with rehab coordinator Dennis Miller and two or three injured players. McCormick then hangs around the rink for bit, works out and heads home.

McCormick has no symptoms from the clots that briefly hospitalized him in early January – “I feel normal,” he ... Read the full article

Tyler Ennis has three goals and seven points this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Tyler Ennis knows he can improve

BUFFALO – When Dan Bylsma and Tyler Ennis discuss the speedy Sabres winger’s play, the coach rarely has to give the young veteran his opinion.

That’s because Ennis, who can often be critical of his own game, usually beats Bylsma to the punch.

“He tells me the same thing he’s told you,” Bylsma said Monday following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “I know (he’s) probably been a little hard on himself a handful of ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian hasn’t played this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian progressing

BUFFALO – When general manager Tim Murray pulls the trigger on the Zach Bogosian trade, coach Dan Bylsma joked, it’ll help the Sabres.

After all, the Sabres will be receiving a minute-munching first-pair defenseman.

“It’ll be a good trade made when Tim makes it,” Bylsma cracked this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

Fourteen games into the season, Bogosian, who suffered a lower-body injury early in training camp, is still sidelined. There is, however, some ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel will almost certainly stop wearing No. 41 early next month. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Jack Eichel wants to earn spot

BUFFALO – To rookie Jack Eichel, he hasn’t secured a spot on the Sabres yet.

That’s why the slick center, one of the biggest prospects in recent memory, initially hesitated to accept teammate Matt Moulson’s invitation to live with his family. That’s why Eichel, 18, hasn’t switched from No. 41, a development camp number he was given by the equipment staff, to No. 15, a number he picked.

Everyone in Buffalo seems to be ... Read the full article

Cody McCormick had blood clots last season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Cody McCormick fails physical, out indefinitely

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Cody McCormick, who was hospitalized with blood clots in January, failed his training camp physical and is out indefinitely, the team announced this morning.

McCormick, 32, blocked a shot Jan. 3 and played three more games before doctors found blood clots had spread to his lungs. He couldn’t skate the final months of last season because he was taking medication.

In other news, the Sabres also announced an upper-body injury will ... Read the full article