Zemgus Girgensons has spent this season playing wing. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ted Nolan moving Sabres rookie Zemgus Girgensons to center

BUFFALO – As the Latvian national team’s coach, Ted Nolan had one center on his roster for the 2013 world championship.

“We a hand a bunch of players, but no natural center ice men,” Nolan, the Sabres’ new interim coach, said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

So when Sabres rookie Zemgus Girgensons finished his first professional season in Rochester last year, a campaign he spent playing wing, Nolan put the 19-year-old Latvian ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan instructs his players this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ted Nolan expecting emotional debut as Sabres’ interim coach; Pat LaFontaine to start GM search next week

BUFFALO – It’s been a whirlwind 48 hours for Ted Nolan. Since taking over as the Sabres’ interim coach, the 55-year-old has been trying to learn everything about his new players and team.

Nolan said he hasn’t had time to be nervous for his highly anticipated debut tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside the First Niagara Center.

Instead, he’s worrying about his players’ names.

“I’ve been so focused on what I have to ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan will coach the Sabres tonight for the first time since May 11, 1997. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ted Nolan ready for interim debut against Leafs, puts Sabres through spirited practice

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan’s loud voice boomed throughout the ice during the Sabres’ lively 60-minute practice Thursday inside the First Niagara Center. The interim coach kept encouraging his players, even following them during the up-tempo drills.

The Sabres responded to the fast pace, showcasing much more energy and emotion than they had under Ron Rolston, who was fired Wednesday in a major shakeup.

Players tapped sticks, hooted and hollered. Most importantly, they seemed to ... Read the full article

John Scott (32) will face Toronto tonight for the first time since a preseason brawl. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres and Leafs not expecting many fireworks in first meeting since preseason brawl

BUFFALO – Ever since Sabres tough guy John Scott ignited a brawl going after Toronto Maple Leafs star Phil Kessel 54 days ago, tonight’s tilt between longtime rivals has been circled on the schedule.

What’s going to happen? Will there be another melee like the Sept. 22 preseason contest? Will there be any kind of retribution?

Based on what both teams said Thursday, don’t expect any craziness to transpire as the home-and-home set begins.

“If ... Read the full article

Many expect Toronto’s Frazer McLaren to challenge John Scott. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle on preseason brawl: ‘It happened a long time ago’

BUFFALO – Tough guy John Scott, who ignited a preseason brawl between the Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 22, said Friday’s tilt between the rivals, the first since the wild melee, is getting “blown out of proportion.”

New interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said he has “nothing to carry over” since he wasn’t there.

The Leafs, losers of two straight, don’t seem intent on exacting revenge during the home-and-home series, either.

“It happened ... Read the full article

John Scott hasn’t played since his seven-game suspension ended. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ted Nolan puts Sabres through lively practice, says he has ‘nothing to carry over’ after Maple Leafs brawl

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan’s voice was a constant throughout the Sabres’ lively 60-minute practice this morning inside the First Niagara Center. The interim coach kept encouraging his players, even following them during the up-tempo drills.

The Sabres responded, showcasing more energy and emotion than they had under Ron Rolston, who was fired Wednesday.

“It was really fast,” Sabres winger Tyler Ennis said about Nolan’s first real practice. “We moved through things quickly. It was ... Read the full article

Ron Rolston talks after Wednesday’s win. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ron Rolston believes NHL wants coaches to think about enforcer use

BUFFALO – Now, in the wake of Sunday’s mega brawl in Toronto and the fine he received, coaches will think about using their enforcers, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said.

“It’ll definitely be in the mindset,” Rolston, who was fined a reported $10,000 by the NHL for his role, said Wednesday prior to the Sabres’ 3-0 exhibition win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. “They don’t want altercations like that and how it escalated. They are ... Read the full article

Ron Rolston speaks to the media this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ron Rolston believes coaches will think twice about using enforcers

BUFFALO – Now, in the wake of Sunday’s mega brawl in Toronto and the fine he received, coaches will think about using their enforcers, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said.

“It’ll definitely be in the mindset,” Rolston, who was fined a reported $10,000 by the NHL for his role, said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “They don’t want altercations like that and how it escalated. They are just concerned with that and want ... Read the full article

Ron Rolston had already put John Scott on the ice Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

NHL fines Ron Rolston for Sabres’ brawl with Leafs

BUFFALO – The NHL has fined Sabres coach Ron Rolston an undisclosed amount for “player selection and team conduct” in Sunday’s brawl in Toronto.

After the Sabres’ Corey Tropp and the Maple Leafs’ Jamie Devane fought 10:01 into the third period, Rolston left John Scott, who had already played 8:37 in the exhibition game, on the ice. The tough guy then went after Leafs star Phil Kessel before the faceoff, igniting a huge melee.... Read the full article

John Scott (32) fights Toronto’s Frazer McLaren on March 21. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ John Scott defends role in brawl: ‘I wasn’t going to try to hurt him’

BUFFALO – Naturally, hulking Sabres tough guy John Scott was a little surprised to see Phil Kessel, one of the NHL’s most talented stars, lining up for a faceoff beside him Sunday in Toronto after the Maple Leafs’ Jamie Devane had just pummeled Corey Tropp in a gruesome scrap.

Watching Devane knockout and bloody Tropp, who gave up five inches to the 6-foot-5 fighter, infuriated the Sabres. Scott, who was already on the ice, figured ... Read the full article