WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Happy Holidays
Mikhail Grigorenko left the Sabres on Friday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
The Buffalo Sabres sent 18-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko back to the Quebec Remparts on Friday to enhance the prospect’s development, let him be the man again and play big minutes instead of having him fight for ice time in the NHL.
In his first QMJHL game since Jan. 11, Grigorenko didn’t disappoint in this afternoon’s regular-season finale, compiling a goal and four points in the Remparts’ 5-3 win over visiting Rimouski.
“I think it ... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta hasn’t played since March 3. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Patrick Kaleta is seething because he will be scratched tonight. The Angola native, the Buffalo Sabres’ chief agitator, has enjoyed a regular spot in the lineup for years, never sitting unless he’s hurt or suspended (so he does miss a lot of games).
But against the Washington Capitals, the aggressive winger, who’s eligible to return from a five-game boarding suspension, will be benched as a healthy scratch.
“I’m (ticked) off. I want to play,” ... Read the full article
Mark Pysyk has played 57 AHL games this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
With Andrej Sekera (upper body) out tonight, the Buffalo Sabres have recalled defenseman Mark Pysyk from Rochester. The 21-year-old will make his NHL debut tonight against the Washington Capitals.
Pysyk, the 23rd overall pick in 2010, has four goals, 18 points, 20 penalty minutes and plus-8 rating in 57 games with the AHL Americans.
The rookie played four years with the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings before turning professional this season.
In summoning ... Read the full article
Kyle Turris beats Ryan Miller with the game-winning goal at 3:54 of overtime Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres haven’t been able to buck the disturbing trend this season. Their second periods are terrible. During the opening 20 minutes Saturday afternoon inside the First Niagara Center, they dominated the Ottawa Senators, giving themselves a 2-0 lead after one period for the first time all year.
Then, halfway through the second period, the game was tied. The Senators grabbed their first lead at the 18:57 mark.
Incredibly, the Sabres have ... Read the full article
Ville Leino played his first game since April 7 on Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
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 ... Read the full article
T.J. Brennan played sparingly this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Under coach Ron Rolston in Rochester, T.J. Brennan thrived, developing into an AHL star and arguably the league’s most dynamic offensive defenseman.
But that scoring prowess hasn’t translated to the NHL. Brennan played sparingly in the big leagues this season, sitting 17 of the Sabres’ 27 games as a healthy scratch.
Even when Rolston took over on an interim basis Feb. 20, the 23-year-old kept sitting, playing only four games under his old ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko dominated junior hockey earlier this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sending rookie Mikhail Grigorenko back to junior wasn’t a snap decision the Sabres made to reach the 23-man roster limit, general manager Darcy Regier said. The team had been talking about the move for a while prior to making it Friday.
If the 18-year-old center wasn’t getting scratched, he had been playing sparingly during most of his 22 NHL appearances.
“This isn’t driven by a roster move,” Regier said during a late-afternoon news ... Read the full article
Darcy Regier wants to focus on the current season and build for the future. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With the trade deadline hitting April 3 and the Sabres mired in 14th place, general manager Darcy Regier said he has no plans to blow the team up and start fresh.
“I’m not in a blowing-up mindset,” Regier said late Friday afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “Blowing up to me means blowing up. I mean, nothing left.”
It appears goalie Ryan Miller and wingers Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek, the team’s ... Read the full article
T.J. Brennan played 21 games with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres traded defenseman T.J. Brennan to the Florida Panthers tonight for a fifth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
The 23-year-old had appeared sparingly this season, playing only 10 of the Sabres’ 27 games, scoring one goal.
Brennan, the 31st overall pick in 2007, enjoyed a monster AHL season with Rochester before the NHL campaign began, compiling 14 goals and 35 points in 36 games.
The New Jersey native’s AHL ... Read the full article
The Sabres used the first year of Mikhail Grigorenko’s entry-level contract. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sending rookie Mikhail Grigorenko back to junior wasn’t a snap decision the Sabres made to reach the 23-man roster limit, general manager Darcy Regier said this afternoon. The team had been talking about the move for a while.
If the 18-year-old center wasn’t getting scratched, he had been playing sparingly during most of his 22 appearances.
“This isn’t driven by a roster move,” Regier said inside the First Niagara Center. “This is driven ... Read the full article