Drew Stafford wants to stay with the Sabres. ©2013, San Hickling, Olean Times HeraldBUFFALO – Dealing with Wednesday’s trade deadline wasn’t easy for struggling winger Drew Stafford, one of several Sabres rumored to be on the move.
“I was definitely by my phone,” Stafford said this morning inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s contest against the Ottawa Senators. “I know that those days can definitely be stressful. It definitely was, especially near the end there when my phone was blowing up around 4 o’clock, something was going on. I …
Steve Ott skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times HeraldBUFFALO – Steve Ott said this morning the captaincy isn’t on his radar. The gritty winger, arguably the Sabres’ biggest heart-and-soul-player, received an assistant captaincy for the rest of the season after captain Jason Pominville was traded Wednesday.
Getting the “C” next year seems like a natural progression for popular 30-year-old veteran.
“I truly want to just be a hockey player on this team,” Ott said inside the First Niagara Center after preparing for tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
Still, Ott was …
Thomas Vanek drove Jason Pominville to the airport Thursday morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times HeraldBUFFALO – Darcy Regier’s strong words stuck with Thomas Vanek. Prior to Saturday, the general manager had never publicly made any of his Sabres available to other teams during his long tenure. At that point, four days before trade deadline, the slick winger knew major changes could hit the Sabres.
Sure enough, Regier dealt captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday for two prospects and two draft picks.
It could just be the first of several major moves.
“Now with Jason …
Jason Pominville played his first game with the Wild on Thursday. ©2013, DAn Hickling, Olean Times HeraldBUFFALO – Jason Pominville felt his 11-year run with the Sabres organization could be ending. Before Wednesday’s trade deadline, the struggling team asked its captain to submit a list of eight clubs he could refuse a trade to. The Sabres, a colossal disappointment this season, seemed ripe for a major shakeup.
Still, when Sabres general manager Darcy Regier called Wednesday and said he had been traded to Minnesota, the star winger was shocked.
“It’s still a shock,” Pominville told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune …
Thomas Vanek wants to talk to management. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times HeraldBUFFALO – After trading captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild, general manager Darcy Regier said the Sabres’ reconstruction could take some time.
Slick winger Thomas Vanek recently said he “would probably look in the other direction” if the Sabres had a two- or three-year plan.
So, did Wednesday’s deal, coupled with earlier trades of defensemen Jordan Leopold and Robyn Regehr, change Vanek’s mind?
“Probably, I mean, obviously we gave up three good players in the last week, got a lot of picks …
Jason Pominville became a Sabres regular in 2005-06. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times HeraldBUFFALO – Instead of trading captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild before the deadline Wednesday, the 13th-place Sabres could’ve tried staying in the playoff chase and acquiring another player to make a run at eighth place, general manager Darcy Regier said.
But the Sabres, whose owner, Terry Pegula, has spent tens of millions of dollars pursuing his championship dream, no longer embrace that kind of philosophy.
They’ve started thinking long-term.
“The preference is to build for a Stanley Cup versus a playoff …
Jason Pominville played 578 games with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times HeraldBUFFALO – The Minnesota Wild first asked the Sabres about star winger Jason Pominville three weeks ago, general manager Darcy Regier.
When the Wild’s interest diminished, Regier still approached his captain for a list of eight teams he could refuse a trade to. Regier said he had “no real interest” in trading Pominville, although he wanted to keep his options open.
Then, Tuesday night, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher, who had been talking with Regier about another player, said he wanted to …
Jason Pominville will reportedly leave the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times HeraldBUFFALO – RDS is reporting the Sabres traded captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild this afternoon.
It’s believed winger Johan Larsson and goalie Matt Hackett are coming back to the Sabres.
Pominville said Tuesday in Pittsburgh he understood he could get dealt.
“I understand the business of things,” Pominville said. “I understand (general manager) Darcy (Regier) has a job to do, and he’s trying to do his best to do what’s best for the team and the franchise. By no means does …
Kevin Porter scored twice Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times HeraldPITTSBURGH – The stunning victory might serve as one final reminder of the potential the 2012-13 Buffalo Sabres possess.
On Tuesday, the reeling Sabres limped into Consol Energy Center losers of four straight, just hours away from a possible fire sale before the trade deadline hits at 3 p.m. today.
The mighty Penguins, winners of 15 straight, awaited them. The powerhouse club had blanked its last three opponents and stood just two victories from tying the NHL’s longest-ever winning streak.
Incredibly, the Sabres …
The Sabres acquired Cody Hodgson at last season's trade deadline. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times HeraldPITTSBURGH – With the NHL trade deadline hitting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, here’s the Buffalo Sabres’ Eastern Conference standing and their activity since 2006:
2006, third place, 83 points
General manager Darcy Regier made no additions, only trading No. 3 goalie Mika Noronen to Vancouver for a second-round pick (current backup goalie Jhonas Enroth). Some argued the inactivity bit the surprising Sabres, who lost four defensemen to injury during their run to the Eastern Conference final. They lost Game 7 with just …