WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Late-Season Edition
Free agent Patrick Kaleta, who wore a black NHLPA jersey earlier this week, sported a gold Sabres jersey he turned inside out Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Among all the blue and gold on the ice during an informal late-summer workout of local players earlier this week, one color stood out, the black Patrick Kaleta was wearing.
Instead of proudly sporting a Sabres jersey, the passionate Kaleta, a free agent, skated in an NHLPA sweater the union gave its players during the lockout three years ago.
Two weeks before NHL training camps open, Kaleta, 29, doesn’t have a job for ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson wants Jack Eichel to feel comfortable during his rookie year. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres veteran Matt Moulson joked he has already picked out rookie Jack Eichel’s bedroom at his home for the upcoming season.
“He’ll be sharing a room with my son,” Moulson cracked Wednesday following a late-summer skate.
Eichel, of course, won’t be splitting a room with George, who will turn 2 years old in October. Moulson plans to give Eichel, 18, his own space so his son and daughter, Mila, who just turned 3, ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel often talks about earning his spot with the Sabres. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – The Summer of Jack is almost over. Believe it or not, in 10 days, Jack Eichel will be in a Buffalo Sabres uniform for a rookie camp prospects game against the New Jersey Devils, officially ending what the phenom called a “whirlwind” offseason.
“I think it’s starting to get real,” Eichel, the second overall pick, said Tuesday at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase inside Mattamy Athletic Centre, site of the old Maple Leaf Gardens.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has heard great things about Matt Moulson. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Shortly after the Buffalo Sabres drafted Jack Eichel second overall June 26, veteran winger Matt Moulson, his future teammate, congratulated the 18-year-old and then asked the center a surprising question.
The 31-year-old Moulson, one of the most experienced and accomplished Sabres, asked Eichel if he wanted to live with his family during his rookie season.
Eichel hadn’t made any living arrangements yet, so he decided moving in with the Moulson clan – his ... Read the full article
David Leggio began his AHL career in Portland in 2010-11. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
David Leggio insists his terrible season hasn’t shaken his confidence. The Williamsville native, once one of the AHL’s best goalies, morphed into perhaps its worst last year, compiling a ghastly .861 save percentage and a bloated 3.93 goals-against average in 23 appearances with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Three seasons ago, Leggio garnered MVP talk as the Rochester Americans’ workhorse starter. His four-year run from 2010-14 was arguably as good as any AHL goalie.
Still, Leggio, ... Read the full article
David Leggio spent two seasons in Rochester. ©2015, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Williamsville native David Leggio will attend Winnipeg Jets training camp next month on a professional tryout, the goalie’s agent, Brian Bartlett, told the Times Herald.
Despite a strong body of work in the AHL, Leggio, 31, is still unsigned for the 2015-16 season. He spent last season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Portland Pirates.
He struggled with Bridgeport, the New York Islanders’ top affiliate, posting a 3.93 goals-against average and a .861 save percentage ... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly was arrested July 9. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Buffalo Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly’s court date today in London, Ont., to face an impaired driving charge has been pushed back until Sept. 10, according to CFPL-AM.
O’Reilly’s lawyer appeared on his behalf, according to the radio station.
The 24-year-old O’Reilly was arrested July 9 and charged with impaired driving and leaving the scene of an accident after his pickup truck allegedly hit a Tim Hortons in Lucan, Ont.
O’Reilly signed the biggest contract ... Read the full article
Daniel Briere co-captained the Sabres. ©2015, Janet Schultz, Olean Times Herald
Former Sabres co-captain Daniel Briere, who stills holds a special place in the hearts of many Buffalo sports fans, held his retirement news conference today in Philadelphia, where he played six seasons for the Flyers. As expected, the former high-scoring center was classy and thoughtful. Courtesy of the Flyers, here are some highlights from the 37-year-old Briere, who played with the Sabres from late 2002-03 through 2006-07.
On what the future holds:
“There’s many things ... Read the full article
Daniel Briere had a short but dynamic run with the Sabres. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Daniel Briere, the popular high-scoring center and clutch co-captain of two powerhouse Buffalo Sabres teams, has retired from the NHL.
The 37-year-old announced the end of his 17-year career in a column in Le Droit, a French-Canadian newspaper. Read the article here and the translation here.
Briere knew the end was coming. During a Dec. 20 visit to Buffalo with the Colorado Avalanche, his third team in three seasons, he said he wanted to ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has already drawn one big crowd in Buffalo. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Jack Eichel’s first game action in a Buffalo uniform is just a month away. The Sabres will host a three-team “Prospects Challenge” tournament from Sept. 12-14 at the First Niagara Center and HarborCenter, the team announced today.
Eichel, the slick 18-year-old center the Sabres drafted second overall in June, will almost certainly participate in the round-robin challenge against prospects from the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils. Each team plays two games.
Tickets are $10 ... Read the full article
