Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Blues goalie Ryan Miller won’t play against old Sabres teammates

Sorry, Buffalo fans. Thirty-four days after the blockbuster trade between the Sabres and Blues, star goalie Ryan Miller has earned a well-deserved break tonight against his old club in St. Louis.

Backup Brian Elliott will replace Miller.

Of course, the Blues also have former captain Steve Ott, another key piece of the deal. Expect the agitating winger, who didn’t practice Wednesday, to have some fun and try to get under the Sabres’ skin.... Read the full article

Sabres sign Jake McCabe to entry-level deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres today signed defenseman Jake McCabe, the 44^th overall pick in 2012, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

McCabe is expected to join the Sabres immediately.

The 20-year-old compiled 14 goals and 58 points in 100 games over three seasons at Wisconsin. The American scored a career-high eight goals and 25 points in 36 games in 2013-14, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.

McCabe, 6-feet and 195 pounds, captained Team USA’s 2013 ... Read the full article

Unlikely heroics from Ville Leino and Nathan Lieuwen lift Sabres to shootout win against Devils

BUFFALO – Nine rounds into Tuesday’s shootout, Sabres coach Ted Nolan turned to John Scott on the bench.

“Watch the crowd go crazy on this one,” Nolan told the winger after sending out Ville Leino, the fans’ No. 1 whipping boy, with a chance to win the game.

Sure enough, instead of booing Leino, who has zero goals in 53 games this season, the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson happy with move to wing

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan doesn’t want to project his lineup too far into the future. But the Sabres coach said he must evaluate his top six forwards these last two weeks so they receive enough ice time next season.

If Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons are his top centers, where does that leave Cody Hodgson?

For the time being, on the left wing, a position Hodgson had played once in his career before ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Justin Kea to entry-level deal, reportedly close to inking Jake McCabe

BUFFALO – The Sabres today signed forward Justin Kea to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Kea, the 73^rd overall pick in 2012, compiled 51 goals and 117 points in 253 games over four seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit. The 20-year-old had a career-high 22 goals, 49 points and plus-14 rating in 58 games this season.

Kea, 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, is expected to report to AHL Rochester soon on an amateur tryout ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Nathan Lieuwen to start tonight; Nick Deslauriers out up front

BUFFALO – To Ted Nolan, Nathan Lieuwen has the technical aspect of goaltending down. The Sabres coach just wants the 22-year-old rookie, who will start tonight against the New Jersey Devils, to be a little bit more aggressive in net.

“The one thing we always say with forwards, we want to see how competitive you are. And same thing with goaltenders,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “You have to come out. ... Read the full article

Respect for players helped Sabres’ Ted Nolan earn contract extension

BUFFALO – Drew Stafford’s first conversation with Sabres coach Ted Nolan lasted no more than two minutes, the winger said. It was a straightforward, “man-to-man” chat.

“Looking-at-me-in-the-eyes kind of conversation,” Stafford said Monday, hours after the Sabres removed Nolan’s interim tag and gave him a three-year contract extension.

Stafford was struggling badly back in mid-November. He had one goal and had just lost his alternate captaincy. Nolan didn’t care. As a veteran, Stafford deserved respect... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ville Leino OK after ‘scary’ migraine

BUFFALO – The odd ailment Ville Leino experienced last week was “a type of migraine,” the Sabres forward said today.

“Your eyes are on a delay and your mind or face or feelings come a little late,” Leino said after returning to practice inside the First Niagara Center.

Leino felt lightheaded before Thursday’s 6-1 loss in Nashville and left the game early. It took a bit to figure out what was wrong, the Finn said.... Read the full article

Sabres coach Ted Nolan excited about contract extension: ‘This is a city that deserves a championship’

BUFFALO – Tim Murray has been watching Sabres coach Ted Nolan closely for months. In trying times, the general manager said, he’s liked Nolan’s work.

The Sabres, despite the NHL’s weakest roster and worst record, still compete most nights. Murray likes Nolan’s work with the youngsters and his popularity with the veterans.

“All I’ve heard is positives,” Murray said this afternoon in announcing a three-year contract extension and removing Nolan’s interim tag.

For Nolan, who ... Read the full article

Sabres remove interim tag from Ted Nolan, sign coach to contract extension

BUFFALO – The Sabres removed the interim tag from Ted Nolan today, signing the coach to a reported three-year contract extension.

While the rebuilding club is 16-30-8 under Nolan, the culture around the Sabres has changed dramatically. Nolan’s straightforward approach has connected with many players, most notably center Tyler Ennis and winger Drew Stafford, who have been thriving in recent months.

“We are very happy to get this deal done and have Ted Nolan ... Read the full article