WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Brendan Guhle has impressed again this preseason. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle tries not to think about it. The defenseman doesn’t ask any questions, either.
He’s happy as long as he’s in Buffalo.
“It’s definitely a little nerve-racking, I’d say,” Guhle said Thursday inside KeyBank Center.
Six days before opening night, Guhle, 19, is still battling to make the Sabres out of training camp as a junior-age player, a rarity.
Thanks to injuries to defensemen Zach Bogosian (groin) and Dmitry Kulikov ... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly played just part of one preseason game. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly is day-to-day after leaving Wednesday’s 3-2 preseason loss early as a precaution because of a spasm in his back and midsection, coach Dan Bylsma said.
O’Reilly, who was playing his first preseason game following the World Cup of Hockey, didn’t practice this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. He’s out of Friday’s exhibition finale in Ottawa, Bylsma said.
The Sabres, of course, are dealing with a slew of injuries exactly one ... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly plays big minutes for the Sabres. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Dan Bylsma has a problem. It’s a good one, mind you. Most coaches would love to have it.
In Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly, he possesses one of the NHL’s most talented and versatile forwards, one he can throw on the ice in every conceivable situation.
A season ago, O’Reilly’s first with the Sabres, he skated 21 minutes, 44 seconds a game, most among NHL forwards. He deserved every second, quickly becoming the ... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly should play two preseason games this week. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After Team Canada announced its final World Cup of Hockey roster, Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly was told to be ready in case of an injury.
Fresh off an NHL All-Star season and a gold medal at the World Championship, O’Reilly, 25, had impressed enough to earn a coveted spot on the stacked Canadian squad’s short list for the tournament.
In early September, after O’Reilly had started skating informally with some Sabres, Canada general ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons has moved back to center. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Instead of dwelling on a season in which his offensive production plummeted and he struggled to find a role on the revamped Sabres, center Zemgus Girgensons said he’s “going all positive.”
“I’m not looking back,” Girgensons said Saturday following practice inside KeyBank Center. “It doesn’t matter what it was last year. It’s a brand new year, you start from all zeros. That’s how I look at it. I feel confident in myself and ... Read the full article
Casey Nelson played seven NHL games last season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The blue line has been set for three months. When Dmitry Kulikov arrived via a trade at the NHL Draft, the Sabres had their sixth and final piece, a physical, puck-moving defenseman capable of playing top-pair minutes.
So barring an injury, a Rasmus Ristolainen contract problem or a very impressive training camp from a depth defender, the Sabres have their opening-night lineup: Kulikov, Ristolainen, Zach Bogosian, Cody Franson, Josh Gorges and ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis looked strong Tuesday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In his first game in almost nine months Tuesday, slick Sabres winger Tyler Ennis skated aggressively, proving the season-ending concussion he suffered Dec. 30 wasn’t lingering in his mind.
“I like the way he skated,” coach Dan Bylsma said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “He played with some urgency, he played with some jam. In the third period, he drew the penalty with his skating.... 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
Cole Schneider (10) chases Columbus’ Seth Jones in his NHL debut April 8. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In the first days of the season, Cole Schneider, an undrafted winger with two games of NHL experience, not an established veteran or hotshot prospect, has emerged as the biggest standout in Sabres training camp.
After scoring a hat trick in the first scrimmage and a one-goal, two-point performance the next day, Schneider, 26, could already have an inside track to earn a roster spot as the 12th or 13th... 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
