WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Jack Eichel gets measured Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Jack Eichel still talks like it’s not a formality the Sabres will draft him. The 18-year-old says things like “if” he comes here.
Eichel, of course, knows the Sabres will take him second overall. He just doesn’t want to get ahead of himself. The draft is still three weeks away. Eichel’s just trying to enjoy the whole process.
Clearly, Eichel’s comfortable about joining the Sabres.
“Everyone around here’s pretty excited for the Sabres’ ... Read the full article
Dennis Gilbert goes through testing Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Right away, Dennis Gilbert understood the offensive style he showcased as a high school star at St. Joe’s and with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres wouldn’t work in the United States Hockey League, the country’s best junior circuit.
So the Williamsville native, the only local prospect invited to the NHL Scouting Combine, quickly revamped his game in 2014-15. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound defenseman embraced the defensive side of the hockey, becoming a more tenacious and ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel smiles this afternoon. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Jack Eichel still talks like it’s not a formality the Sabres will draft him. The 18-year-old says things like “if” he comes here.
Eichel, of course, knows the Sabres will take him second overall. He just doesn’t want to get ahead of himself. The draft is still three weeks away. Right now, Eichel’s just trying to enjoy the NHL Scouting Combine and the draft process.
Clearly, Eichel’s comfortable about joining the Sabres.
“Everyone ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel had a lot of media interest Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Jack Eichel, of course, never expected his words would leak out. The superstar was simply expressing some confidence in his special abilities during pre-draft interviews this week.
Eichel told teams, including the Sabres, who will select the 18-year-old second overall on June 26, he plans on being a better player than Connor McDavid, arguably the biggest prospect in decade.
Was it cocky? Sure. But the slick Boston University center wasn’t taking a dig ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel talks with reporters this afternoon. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – All week, Jack Eichel, the mega-prospect the Sabres will select second overall in three weeks, has been getting a feel for his future home.
The 18-year-old Boston University superstar, in town for the NHL Scouting Combine, has enjoyed being welcomed by locals eager to greet their new hero and exploring the city.
“Everyone talks about Buffalo’s chicken wings, I got a chance to try those,” Eichel told a throng of reporters and cameras ... Read the full article
Ted Black speaks Thursday inside HarborCenter. ©2015, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As Sabres president Ted Black chatted with the media Thursday inside HarborCenter, the buildings and streets outside the team’s new $170 million multi-rink facility bustled with activity on a sunny spring day.
Team officials and prospects in the city for the NHL Scouting Combine were all over, walking from a new hotel, restaurants and the Canalside developments to the First Niagara Center and HarborCenter.
“I’ve only been here four years,” Black said. “When ... Read the full article
Tim Kennedy skates in the AHL Skills Competition earlier this year. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
For the first time in his seven-year career, South Buffalo native Tim Kennedy spent an entire season in the minors.
Sure, the popular former Buffalo Sabres forward still enjoyed a strong campaign with the Hershey Bears in 2014-15, earning an AHL All-Star Game berth and a $225,000 salary, according to generalfanager.com.
But a season out of the NHL and the recent birth of his twin daughters, Harper and June, changed Kennedy’s outlook on his ... Read the full article
The Sabres gave the Penguins a third-round pick for Dan Bylsma. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The 2016 third-round pick the Sabres sent the Pittsburgh Penguins as compensation for coach Dan Bylsma briefly held up the team officially announcing the deal Thursday.
What happened?
General manager Tim Murray said assistant GM Mark Jakubowski alerted him the Sabres wouldn’t have the necessary picks to pursue restricted free agents with an offer sheet if they gave the Penguins their own selection. Teams must send their own picks as compensation if the ... Read the full article
From left, Sabres general manager Tim Murray, coach Dan Bylsma and owner Terry Pegula hold up a No. 15 Bylsma jersey Thursday. ©2015, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – There was a time before the Sabres hired Dan Bylsma on Thursday that the coach and general manager Tim Murray both represented the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Back in the early 2000s, as Bylsma finished up his journeyman playing career, Murray was the team’s director of player personnel.
“I complained about him a lot,” Murray cracked Thursday during a news conference to introduce Bylsma as the Sabres’ 17th coach in franchise history. “That’s ... Read the full article
Dan Bylsma is the 17th coach in Sabres history. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres finally have a new coach. The rebuilding team today named Dan Bylsma, a 2009 Stanley Cup winner, the 17th coach in franchise history.
The 44-year-old Bylsma, who spent Wednesday visiting with the Sabres, will be formally introduced at a 4 p.m. news conference at the First Niagara Center.
Update: Bylsma has a five-year contract, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula went big again, bringing in ... Read the full article
