WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Casey Mittelstadt (17), flanked by Sabres general manager Jason Botterill (left) and owner Terry Pegula, was all smiles Friday. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – As the first round of the NHL Draft approached, no one seemed to have any idea how the early portion would play out and where youngsters like new Buffalo Sabres prospect Casey Mittelstadt could be picked.
Sure, it was expected centers Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick would go first and second overall Friday, and they did. But after that, several guys like Mittelstadt were pegged to go anywhere from third or fourth or ... Read the full article
Cal Petersen can pick his own team soon. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – Forget about former Notre Dame goalie Cal Petersen joining the Buffalo Sabres. The 22-year-old prospect, who left school last month, will elect for free agency, general manager Jason Botterill said Friday morning.
“I don’t believe he’ll be signing with the Buffalo Sabres,” Botterill said hours before the first round of the NHL Draft.... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt will play NCAA hockey next season. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – The Buffalo Sabres selected high-scoring center Casey Mittelstadt eighth overall tonight at the NHL Draft.
“It’s been a lot of buildup,” an excited Mittelstadt said inside the United Center. “It’s been a stressful day, to be honest with you, in the last little while. It started to get a little stressful. It’s a big relief to be picked. Me and my family are super excited. … Going to a great place like Buffalo ... Read the full article
Phil Housley is assembling a staff. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – For now, goalie coach Andrew Allen is still with the Buffalo Sabres. General manager Jason Botterill wants to keep the lone holdover from former coach Dan Bylsma’s staff. That decision, however, will be left up to new coach Phil Housley.
“It’s a situation where we’re very excited about Andrew,” Botterill said this morning prior to the NHL Draft. “My plan has always been to work with Andrew. It’s a scenario where Phil and ... Read the full article
Cal Petersen recently left Notre Dame. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – Forget about former Notre Dame goalie Cal Petersen joining the Buffalo Sabres. The 22-year-old prospect, who left school last month, will elect for free agency, general manager Jason Botterill told reporters this morning.
“I don’t believe he’ll be signing with the Buffalo Sabres,” Botterill said hours before the first round of the NHL Draft.... Read the full article
Jason Botterill has only been on the job since last month. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – We don’t have a book on Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill yet. We don’t know his tendencies, what kind of team he truly wants to build or which players he values over others.
Botterill, widely regarded as one of the NHL’s brightest young minds, has been on the job 43 days. So far, the 41-year-old has made only minor deals, acquiring defenseman Nathan Beaulieu and reaching an agreement with the expansion ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart plays against the Penguins on March 21. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – Two games against the expansion Vegas Golden Knights and a home-and-home series with the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in early December are among the highlights of the 82-game 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres schedule the NHL released Thursday.
Some other notable dates, stretches and nuggets:
– The Sabres play the Golden Knights first the first time Oct. 17 in Vegas, the close of a four-game road trip that includes dates with the San Jose ... Read the full article
William Carrier played one season with the Sabres. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – In the end, the Buffalo Sabres exposed winger William Carrier to the Vegas Golden Knights and sent the new club a sixth-round pick to lay off goalie prospect Linus Ullmark in the NHL Expansion Draft.
That price, of course, will look like a pittance if Ullmark, who was left unprotected, becomes Buffalo’s starter someday.
The Golden Knights officially selected Carrier on Wednesday night, about the same time the Sabres sent them the ... Read the full article
Dylan Seitz had a Jay McKee Sabres poster growing up. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – Instead of coming here Saturday and watching the final six rounds with other NHL Draft prospects, Dylan Seitz said he plans to “stay comfortable” at home in Eden, N.Y.
Like any 18-year-old, Seitz is excited and nervous – “It’s always in the back of my mind,” he said – for the day.
“I’m probably not even going to watch it,” he told the Times Herald by phone Sunday. “I’ll probably go do something ... Read the full article
William Carrier played 41 games with the Sabres. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
CHICAGO – The Sabres tonight sent a sixth-round pick in this weekend’s NHL Draft to the Vegas Golden nights, a move that was almost certainly a sweetener for the expansion team to draft winger William Carrier and lay off unprotected goalie Linus Ullmark.
Carrier, 22, compiled five goals and eights points in 41 games as a rookie last season.
Stay tuned for more updates.... Read the full article
