WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
November Edition
Picking Jack Eichel will be the easy part for Tim Murray. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tim Murray has joked he’ll make the easiest decision of his career before he walks to the NHL Draft podium Friday night inside the BB&T Center and, in his typical straightforward delivery, utters six words into the microphone: “The Buffalo Sabres select Jack Eichel.”
But after securing a potentially franchise-changing talent, the general manager might have an arduous two days ahead of him in Sunrise, Fla.
The Sabres have eight picks – 2, ... Read the full article
Tim Murray isn’t scared off by Ilya Samsonov’s KHL contract. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Despite all of Ilya Samsonov’s talents, the NHL Draft’s No. 1 rated European goalie looks like a risky pick. The 18-year-old already has a three-year contract with Mettalurg Magnitogorsk, a KHL team in his native Russia.
But Samsonov’s deal doesn’t bother Sabres general manager Tim Murray, who wants to find a goalie at this weekend’s NHL Draft. The Sabres recently met with Samsonov, a prospect Murray believes can develop properly in the KHL, ... Read the full article
Sabres general manager Tim Murray is offering Mikhail Grigorenko a two-way contract. ©2015, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – General manager Tim Murray knows 21-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko is frustrated the Sabres are offering a two-way contract. The restricted free agent dislikes the deal so much he’s reportedly fielding offers from the KHL, a league in his native Russia.
“I hear rumors,” Murray said Thursday during a news conference inside the First Niagara Center to discuss next week’s NHL Draft.
Clearly, the Sabres and Grigorenko’s camp have vastly different opinions of the ... Read the full article
Dave Barr played 614 NHL games before his coaching career. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Dan Bylsma let it slip. Instead of waiting for the press release to come out, the new Sabres coach announced the first two assistants to his staff – veteran NHL coach Terry Murray and Dave Barr – during a news conference Thursday.
“We didn’t save the release for this afternoon,” Bylsma joked inside the First Niagara Center.
Former Sabres coaches Ted Nolan and Ron Rolston had trouble finding assistants the last two years ... Read the full article
The Sabres need to find a goalie soon. ©2015, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If general manager Tim Murray gets his way, the Sabres will pry a young backup from another team soon to help fill their goaltending void.
“I’m confident that we can find something that can work here just by talking to other teams,” Murray said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “There are people available. That’s the avenue we’re pursuing right now.”
The Sabres only have one NHL goalie, Chad Johnson, a career ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko wants a one-way contract. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – General manager Tim Murray knows 21-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko is frustrated the Sabres are offering a two-way contract. The restricted free agent dislikes the deal so much he’s reportedly fielding offers from the KHL, a league in his native Russia.
“I hear rumors,” Murray said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
Clearly, the Sabres and Grigorenko’s camp have vastly different opinions of the youngster, the No. 12 pick in 2012.
“We feel ... Read the full article
Dan Bylsma added his first two assistants today. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Dan Bylsma let it slip. Instead of waiting for the press release to come out, the new Sabres coach announced the first two assistants to his staff – veteran NHL coach Terry Murray and Dave Barr – during a news conference this morning.
“We didn’t save the release for this afternoon,” Bylsma joked inside the First Niagara Center.
Murray, Sabres general manager Tim Murray’s uncle, spent 15 seasons as an NHL head coach. ... Read the full article
The Sabres will draft Jack Eichel next week. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The first glimpse of Jack Eichel on the First Niagara Center ice with the Sabres should come July 6-12, when the team hosts its annual development camp.
The year’s session, which the team announced today, will undoubtedly have extra buzz since Eichel, the Boston University center the Sabres will draft second overall next week, will likely participate.
On-ice sessions during the week will be open to the public. An intra-squad “Blue and Gold ... Read the full article
Krys Barch (left) fights Shawn Thortnton while with Florida. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have hired former hard-nosed NHL forwards Adam Mair and Krys Barch as player development coaches, the team announced today.
Mair compiled 38 goals, 114 points and 829 penalty minutes in 12 NHL seasons before retiring in from professional hockey in 2012. The 36-year-old played 615 NHL games, including 498 over seven seasons with the Sabres. Mair also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils. He ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel could see a lot of preseason action if he turns pro. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The seven-game 2015 preseason schedule the Sabres released this afternoon features three home games and, oddly enough, two road contests in Minnesota, including the Sept. 21 opener.
Assuming he turns pro, would the Sabres play Jack Eichel, the phenom they’ll draft second overall next week, against the Wild, or hold the center out until their Sept. 23 home game against the Ottawa Senators?
The complete schedule is below. The Sabres played six ... Read the full article