Jason Pominville (29) received congratulations from Cody Hodgson (19) and Marcus Foligno (82) after scoring earlier this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Report: Sabres ask captain Pominville for list of teams

BUFFALO – The Sabres have asked captain Jason Pominville to give a list of eight teams he doesn’t want to be traded to, according TVA Sports’ Patrick Caisse.

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said Saturday he had to “be open to everything” to improve his 13th-place club, including trading core stars like Pominville and goalie Ryan Miller.

Pominville bristled Friday when asked about possibly getting dealt, saying the Sabres hadn’t approached him ... Read the full article

Boston goalie Anton Khudobin makes a point-blank stop on Kevin Porter on Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Bruins send Sabres to fourth straight loss

BUFFALO – In coach Ron Rolston’s mind, the Sabres’ 2-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday “was probably one of our best games” since he took over the struggling club on an interim basis 40 days ago.

Never mind the Sabres’ fourth straight loss (0-2-2) dropped them to 13th place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the eighth-place New York Rangers. Forget that Anton Khudobin, a relatively unknown backup goalie, only made ... Read the full article

Trading Thomas Vanek would likely bring the Sabres a strong return. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Vanek thinks Sabres could deal more players, wants to remain in town

BUFFALO – On Saturday, the struggling Sabres dealt defenseman Jordan Leopold, one of Thomas Vanek’s best friends on the team, to the St. Louis Blues, a move that hardly surprised the winger but “still shocked” him.

“Unfortunately, it’s part of the business,” Vanek said this morning after skating inside the First Niagara Center. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a few more.”

Could Vanek, a franchise cornerstone, be dealt?

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said ... Read the full article

Darcy Regier speaks to the media Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Regier says Sabres could trade top assets before deadline

BUFFALO – Given their 12th-place standing with Wednesday’s trade deadline approaching, the Sabres must listen to “anything and everything” available to them, general manager Darcy Regier said Saturday after trading veteran defenseman Jordan Leopold.

Yes, that means Regier could envision himself dealing franchise cornerstones like goalie Ryan Miller and captain Jason Pominville.

“I am listening. I have talked to all 30 GMs over the last, if I say week, it certainly ... Read the full article

Jordan Leopold signed with the Sabres in July 2010. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Regier: Sabres must listen to ‘anything and everything’ with deadline ahead

BUFFALO – Given their weak standing as Wednesday’s trade deadline approaches, the Sabres must listen to “anything and everything” available to them, general manager Darcy Regier.

“I am listening. I have talked to all 30 GMs over the last, if I say week, it certainly takes in all of them,” Regier said tonight prior to the Sabres’ tilt against the Washington Capitals inside the First Niagara Center. “I’ll continue to try to figure out ways ... Read the full article

Robyn Regehr acknowledged he has thought about his future with the trade deadline looming. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Struggling Sabres facing possible make-or-break weekend with trade deadline approaching

BUFFALO – A stone-faced Ryan Miller was in no mood to dissect his team’s season-long struggles. The 13th-place Sabres still have 14 games left in what has again become a forgettable year. Technically, they’re not finished yet. When and if the time comes, the goalie will breakdown what went wrong.

“We’re trying to figure it out and battle,” Miller said Friday after the Sabres prepared for the Washington Capitals inside the Northtown Center ... Read the full article

Robyn Regehr (24) waived his no-trade clause in 2011. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Regehr not concerned about trade rumors: ‘You’re asking the wrong Regehr’

AMHERST – The trade rumors, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr said, don’t bother him. They’re part of being an NHL player around the trade deadline, which hits Wednesday.

“If you want to know any more about them, I think you’re asking the wrong Regehr right now,” the 32-year-old veteran, an unrestricted free agent this summer, said this afternoon after the Sabres practiced inside the Northtown Center.

Of course, Regehr was referring to Sabres general manager ... Read the full article

John Scott (32) declares victory after bloodying Toronto’s Frazer McLaren during the first period Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Relentless Sabres roar back to down Leafs in ultra-intense tilt

BUFFALO –For 65 wildly entertaining minutes Thursday, the Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs fought, traded goals and battled for every inch as they zoomed up and down the ice before a noisy bipartisan crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres’ 5-4 shootout victory was NHL hockey at its fiercest and most exciting.

“They got their money’s worth tonight,” interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said about the capacity crowd.

Fittingly, Sabres agitator ... Read the full article

Steve Ott said he wanted to “earn” his Sabres jersey. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ott’s fearless, team-first approach earning respect from Sabres

BUFFALO – Not surprisingly, Steve Ott jelled with his new Sabres teammates immediately after nine seasons with the Dallas Stars. Having Mike Weber, a friend so close he calls him a brother, helped the transition. And Ott’s infectious personality would probably make the 30-year-old fit in quickly anywhere.

Still, back in January, Ott felt a bit like an outsider. In his mind, he had to earn his Sabres jersey following the offseason trade. The ... Read the full article

Thomas Vanek (26) will be skating with Tyler Ennis (63) tonight. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Rolston wise to switch up Sabres’ top trio

In reality, the Buffalo Sabres’ top trio – Thomas Vanek, Cody Hodgson and Jason Pominville – should’ve been broken up or tweaked weeks ago.

Since roaring out of the gate as the NHL’s best line in January, the line has cooled off considerably.

Vanek, once hockey’s most lethal scoring threat, has only three goals and eight points in the last 15 games. Pominville has three goals and eight points in the last 19 contests.

Not ... Read the full article