The post-Pominville era begins Friday.

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Ruff
The Sabres acquired Cody Hodgson at last season's trade deadline. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
04:02:13
Bernier, Biron, Boyes, Brennan, Briere, Campbell, Conklin, Drury, Ennis, Enroth, Gaustad, Girgensons, Gragnani, Hodgson, Kassian, Kotalik, Lydman, MacArthur, Miller, Moore, Noronen, Novotny, Pegula, Regier, Rolston, Ruff, Sulzer, Tellqvist, Torres, Zubrus
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
1

PITTSBURGH – 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 …

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Jordan Leopold smiled often. ©2013, Janet Schultz, Olean Times Herald
03:30:13
Ehrhoff, Leopold, Myers, Regier, Ruff, Sekera, St. Louis Blues
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

Jordan Leopold’s Sabres career ended today when the team dealt him to the St. Louis Blues for two draft picks. Leopold, whose accountability and quick wit made him a great personality, wasn’t overly flashy. The American did a little bit of everything well. That’s why he consistently (and very quietly) led the Sabres in ice time. His value to the Sabres was huge.

Here’s what I wrote about Leopold on Jan. 6, 2012.

BUFFALO – Yes, Jordan Leopold said, he’s received big …

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T.J. Brennan played 21 games with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:28:13
Brennan, Dineen, Florida Panthers, Portland Pirates, Regier, Rissmiller, Rochester Americans, Rolston, Ruff, Stafford, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – Ron Rolston’s Feb. 20 promotion to the Sabres as interim coach meant more comfort for T.J. Brennan, who was playing sparingly under Lindy Ruff. The 23-year-old had just spent almost two seasons thriving under Rolston in Rochester, developing into one of the AHL’s slickest defenseman.

“(Rolston) knew my style and knew my type of play,” Brennan said by phone Wednesday. “I think that was a good change for me. But, I guess, at the end of the day there …

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Jon Cooper spent three seasons in the AHL. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:26:13
Ruff, Tampa Bay Lightning
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

Sure enough, former Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was immediately linked to the first opening since his Feb. 20 dismissal, the Tampa Bay Lightning job.

Ultimately, general manager Steve Yzerman promoted Jon Cooper from the Lightning’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse today to replace Guy Boucher.

But how much did Yzerman, who hired Ruff as an assistant coach as GM of Team Canada’s 2010 Olympic entry, pursue him?

“To be perfectly honest with you, I called Lindy yesterday to let him know what I …

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Drew Stafford has only four goals this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:23:13
Ennis, Foligno, Leino, Montreal Canadiens, Rolston, Ruff, Stafford
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
1

MONTREAL – The rumors, Drew Stafford said, are simply not true. The struggling Sabres winger doesn’t want to be traded. The 27-year-old would like to stay in Buffalo, his only NHL home.

Right now, Stafford’s focusing on busting out of his long offensive slump. Asking to be dealt with two years and more than $8 million left on his contract, well, that would be the easy way out.

“No matter how bad it gets, as far as the lack of offense, the …

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Steve Ott said he wanted to "earn" his Sabres jersey. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:21:13
Hodgson, Ott, Pominville, Rolston, Ruff, Toronto Maple Leafs, Weber
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

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 versatile winger felt he hadn’t proven anything …

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Thomas Vanek has missed three games this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:21:13
Cassidy, Ehrhoff, Ott, Pysyk, Rochester Americans, Rolston, Ruff, Sekera, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Thomas Vanek, who took a lethal Christian Ehrhoff point shot off the hip early in Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win in Montreal, missed practice Wednesday and is questionable for tonight’s tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“He’s a little bit better but still going to be day-to-day, what he can tolerate,” interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said Wednesday inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s certainly a possibility.”

Meanwhile, defenseman Andrej Sekera practiced Wednesday but will likely miss his third …

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Thomas Vanek (26) will be skating with Tyler Ennis (63) tonight. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:19:13
Ennis, Gerbe, Hodgson, Kaleta, Leino, Miller, Montreal Canadiens, Pominville, Rolston, Ruff, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

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 the kind of production you’d expect from your …

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Tyler Myers struggled so badly earlier this season he was scratched twice. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:19:13
Ehrhoff, Montreal Canadiens, Myers, Rolston, Ruff
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
2

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ coaching staff recently conveyed a straightforward message to Tyler Myers, their struggling franchise defenseman.

“They don’t care if I only get one more point the whole year,” Myers said Friday. “As long as my defensive game is good and where it needs to be, then they’ll be happy. Obviously, I know I can bring more to the table. It’s just a matter of doing the right things first and then finding that balance.”

My, times have changed.

Myers compiled …

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Ville Leino played his first game since April 7 on Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:17:13
Brennan, Dineen, Ennis, Grigorenko, Kaleta, Leino, Ott, Ottawa Senators, Portland Pirates, Regehr, Rochester Americans, Rolston, Ruff, Scott, Sekera, Weber
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – Ron Rolston wasted no time, throwing Ville Leino right into the fire Saturday afternoon, the winger’s first game since April 7.

The Sabres’ interim coach put Leino, sidelined by a hip injury the first 27 games this season, out for the opening faceoff inside the First Niagara Center.

“It was good for me,” Leino said about starting the game after the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators. “It made me feel comfortable. Sometimes you want to have a …

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