WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
James Patrick has been beside Lindy Ruff for years. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – James Patrick is joining Lindy Ruff with the Dallas Stars.
In a move many expected, the Stars today added the 50-year-old former Sabres player and assistant coach to Ruff’s staff.
Patrick, Ruff’s assistant for seven years, stayed on after the Sabres fired Ruff in February. New coach Ron Rolston let Patrick go following the season, however.
Ruff and Patrick have been friends since playing together with the New York Rangers in the ... Read the full article
Ron Rolston spent about two months searching for an assistant. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Nearly two months had passed since the rebuilding Sabres fired assistant coaches Kevyn Adams and James Patrick. The replacement process, coach Ron Rolston acknowledged, “dragged on.” Two men he offered a job to turned it down.
“We wanted to make sure that we did the right thing,” Rolston said Tuesday inside the First Niagara Center while discussing Joe Sacco’s hiring as an assistant coach. “We wanted to make sure we were patient ... Read the full article
Ron Rolston has been looking for a new assistant coach. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have hired former Colorado Avalanche coach Joe Sacco an assistant, the team announced this afternoon.
General manager Darcy Regier said earlier today Sabres coach Ron Rolston had “zeroed in on a candidate.”
When some outlets began reporting Sacco had been hired, the Sabres officially announced the move.
Sacco coached the Avs for four seasons, going 130-134-30 before getting fired after a 16-25-7 finish in 2012-13. The 44-year-old, a veteran of 738 ... Read the full article
Darcy Regier is trying to be realistic about the Sabres landing an early draft pick. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres hold four of the first 52 picks in this month’s deep NHL Entry Draft, including the eighth and 16th selections. They also have starting goalie Ryan Miller and ace scorer Thomas Vanek, two stars with a year left on their contracts, dangling.
Still, despite a slew of assets, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said Thursday securing one of the top three selections – future stars Jonathan Drouin, Seth Jones and ... Read the full article
Darcy Regier has assets to trade. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres hold four of the first 52 picks in this month’s deep NHL Entry Draft, including the eighth and 16th selections. They also have starting goalie Ryan Miller and ace scorer Thomas Vanek, two stars with a year left on their contracts, dangling.
Still, despite a slew of assets, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said today securing one of the top three selections – future stars Jonathan Drouin, Seth Jones and ... Read the full article
James Patrick had coached with the Sabres since 2006-07. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have fired assistant coaches James Patrick and Kevyn Adams, according to multiple reports.
It was believed new Sabres coach Ron Rolston, whose interim tag was removed Tuesday, would make some changes to his staff.
The reports state assistant Teppo Numminen will stay on. The status of goalie coach Jim Corsi is unclear.
Other than one year playing in Europe, Patrick has been a Sabres player or coach since 1998-99. The ... Read the full article
Kevyn Adams (left) was a regular assistant coach for Tyler Ennis and the Sabres since 2011-12 ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have fired assistant coaches James Patrick and Kevyn Adams, according to multiple reports.
It was believed new Sabres coach Ron Rolston, whose interim tag was removed Tuesday, would make some changes to his staff.
The reports state assistant Teppo Numminen will stay on.
Other than one year playing in Europe, Patrick has been a Sabres player or coach since 1998-99. The 49-year-old former defenseman, a top aid of former coach Lindy ... Read the full article
Jochen Hecht has played 10 seasons with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Thirty-one days ago, it appeared Jochen Hecht’s long career here could be ending. In his fifth game as interim coach, Ron Rolston scratched the versatile forward, the first benching of his 10-season Sabres career. Rolston had already slashed the German’s minutes dramatically.
Hecht, a favorite of former coach Lindy Ruff, was seething.
But Rolston complimented Hecht’s play following the scratch, saying the German was only benched so the Sabres could add some toughness.... Read the full article
Ville Leino hopes to make his season debut soon. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After practice ended this afternoon inside Cazenovia Ice Rink, Sabres winger Ville Leino and some teammates stayed out and went through a series of rough battles drills with assistant coach James Patrick.
A few weeks ago, as Leino’s injured right hip made little progress, the Finn’s season appeared in jeopardy. He skated alone briefly if he skated at all.
But Leino’s hip has responded well to new treatments recently. He’s practicing fully and ... Read the full article
Ron Rolston will make his NHL coaching debut tonight in Toronto. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When word began spreading Wednesday the Sabres had fired Lindy Ruff, the hockey world immediately started wondering who would succeed the NHL’s longest-tenured coach.
Would the Sabres hire an unproven young NHL assistant or an AHL coach? Would they try to make a big splash? Or would they simply turn to James Patrick, Ruff’s most-trusted assistant?
The Sabres’ decision to promote Rochester Americans coach Ron Rolston and award him the interim label for ... Read the full article
