Terry Pegula’s passion struck a chord with Sabres fans. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Flashback: Terry Pegula’s emotional purchase of Sabres

To a certain degree, the euphoria sweeping through Western New York today was felt once before, on Feb. 22, 2011, when Terry Pegula was introduced as the Sabres’ fourth owner.

Of course, Pegula’s reported purchase of the Buffalo Bills is much different.

While the Sabres weren’t in danger of moving, there was a feeling he had rescued the franchise. With the Sabres among the NHL’s bottom-feeders, it’s easy to forget now, but that day was ... Read the full article

Andre Benoit has played nine professional seasons. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Andre Benoit paid dues to earn regular NHL gig

BUFFALO – Andre Benoit never stayed on a straight path to the NHL. The Sabres defenseman zigzagged, even backtracked, all across the globe before earning an opportunity.

After two seasons in Montreal’s organization, Benoit bolted for Europe out of frustration over his playing time. When he returned and briefly cracked the NHL with Ottawa, he jetted to Russia to earn more money.

All the while, Benoit, an undersized 5-foot-11, kept posting big offensive numbers. But ... Read the full article

Sam Reinhart was drafted No. 2 in June. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sam Reinhart headlines Sabres’ Traverse City roster

BUFFALO – Four first-round picks, including center Sam Reinhart, the No. 2 overall selection this year, are on the Sabres’ 24-man roster for the 2014 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Mich.

Winger Joel Armia and defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov are the other first-rounders.

The eight-team tournament runs from Friday until next Tuesday. The Sabres won in 2011 and finished second in 2013.

The complete Buffalo roster the team released today is ... Read the full article

Brian Gionta was Montreal’s captain four seasons. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Brian Gionta on Sabres’ captaincy: ‘By no means am I expecting it’

BUFFALO – To most observers, it’s a formality. At some point before the season begins Oct. 9, the Sabres will name Brian Gionta their new captain.

Awarding Gionta the prestigious ‘C’ makes sense. The 35-year-old, the rebuilding club’s oldest and most experienced player, just served four seasons as Montreal’s captain. He won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2003.

By any measure, the winger’s the Sabres’ most qualified candidate.

Still, Gionta, who signed a ... Read the full article

Ville Leino played three seasons with the Sabres. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Bruins invite Sabres buyout Ville Leino to training camp

Mark your calendars, Sabres fans. When Boston visits Buffalo on Oct. 18, Ville Leino could be a member of the Bruins.

The Bruins, the 2011 Stanley Cup champions and one of the NHL’s elite teams for years, have invited Leino to training camp on a tryout.

The Sabres, of course, bought out the final three seasons of Leino’s six-year, $27 million contact in June. The Finn, who scored zero goals last season, is on Buffalo’s ... Read the full article

Mike Grier retired in 2011. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Mike Grier to coach team at All-American Prospects Game

BUFFALO – USA Hockey has named popular former Sabres winger Mike Grier and Ed Olczyk the coaches for the upcoming All-American Prospects Game.

Grier played 1,060 NHL games, including 241 with the Sabres over parts of four seasons. He retired in 2011.

The 39-year-old represented the U.S. in international competitions as a player. He was an on-ice instructor at the USA Hockey Boys’ Select 17 Player Development Camp in July.

Olczyk played 1,031 NHL games ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel could be taken No. 2 next year. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Jack Eichel headlines All-American Prospects roster

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel, a slick center many project to be the No. 2 draft pick next year, headlines the 42-man roster USA Hockey released today for the upcoming All-American Prospects Game.

The Sept. 25 tilt at the First Niagara Center features the top U.S. players eligible for the 2015 draft.

Eichel, a Boston University freshman, could be one of the top American prospects ever. He’s expected to be drafted behind center Connor McDavid, whose ... Read the full article

Connor McDavid visited Buffalo on Thursday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Connor McDavid impressed with Sabres, can see himself playing in Buffalo: ‘It’s a great organization’

BUFFALO – The sight was enough to make any Sabres fan dream and drool: 17-year-old phenom Connor McDavid inside the First Niagara Center, talking about playing here someday.

For good measure, he was even photographed with a Sabres banner behind him.

If you ask the junior superstar, he’ll acknowledge that, yes, he can envision himself wearing blue and gold come 2015.

“It’s a great organization,” the slick center said Thursday after touring the rink, where ... Read the full article

Connor McDavid is hockey’s brightest young talent. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Phenom Connor McDavid has thought about playing for Sabres

BUFFALO – If you ask him, 17-year-old phenom Connor McDavid will acknowledge that, yes, he can envision himself playing for the Sabres in two seasons.

“Yeah, that’s something that’s crossed your mind, I guess,” the slick center said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center, where his Erie Otters will face the Niagara IceDogs in a Oct. 22 Ontario Hockey League game. “You can’t worry about that right now.”

Right now, McDavid, who’s been dubbed ... Read the full article

Connor McDavid is coveted by NHL teams. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres could still get prized prospect in 2015 after draft lottery changes

The draft lottery changes the NHL unveiled today might not hurt the Buffalo Sabres, owners of three 2015 first-round picks, next year. The league’s worst team can’t fall below the second pick.

The odds of nabbing that No. 1 pick, however, have fallen from 25 percent to 20, according to the league.

Still, the Sabres, a team many have pegged to finish last, will get Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel, the consensus top two prospects, ... Read the full article