Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Torrey Mitchell thriving, knows he could be traded

BUFFALO – On another team, Torrey Mitchell would simply be a checker, a speedy asset on the third or fourth line. The Sabres’ dearth of top talent has helped the 30-year-old morph into the rebuilding club’s No. 2 center.

Sabres coach Ted Nolan has been leaning on Mitchell, skating him more than 15 minutes a night. Mitchell has never enjoyed so many responsibilities or played so much in his eight-year career.

But this afternoon’s road ... Read the full article

Sabres send Mark Pysyk to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent defenseman Mark Pysyk to Rochester on Friday before leaving for this afternoon’s road game against the Florida Panthers, a move that raised a few eyebrows.

The 2010 first-round pick played three games during his recall, skating more than 18 minutes in the last two outings, both wins. He scored the winning goal in Tuesday’s 4-2 win in Columbus.

Sabres coach Ted Nolan has repeatedly said while the decision is out ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan big fan of Jaromir Jagr

BUFFALO – Count Ted Nolan as a fan of Jaromir Jagr, the legendary 43-year-old winger the Florida Panthers acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

The ageless Jagr, who has 716 goals and 1,784 points in 1,530 games, should make his Panthers debut Saturday in Florida against the Sabres.

Nolan believes Jagr’s arrival could boost the Panthers’ playoff hopes.

“You see a guy like Jagr, growing up and watching him in his early days, ... Read the full article

Big third period pushes Sabres past Canucks

BUFFALO – Of course, the Sabres’ best stretch in two months could end soon. The trade deadline is three days away. The rebuilding club will almost certainly deal some of its top assets.

If Thursday’s 6-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks was the final game for a few players, they gave the Sabres one heck of a goodbye before a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center.

Consider the exploits of these ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Buffalo homecoming special for Canucks’ Adam Clendening

BUFFALO – Adam Clendening’s first experience playing here about 12 years ago is still vivid. The Wheatfield native remembers gazing around and soaking up the atmosphere during a Buffalo Regals youth hockey game hours before the Sabres hit the ice.

“That was definitely pretty surreal,” Clendening said Thursday prior to the Vancouver Canucks’ 6-3 loss to the Sabres, his first NHL game at the First Niagara Center.

Clendening used to be the little kid on ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Chris Stewart searching for answers

BUFFALO – The question made Chris Stewart pause for a moment.

“I’m searching for the right answer here,” the struggling winger said Wednesday prior to the Sabres’ game against the Winnipeg Jets inside the First Niagara Center.

Stewart, a two-time 28-goal scorer, has arguably been the Sabres’ biggest disappointment this season, compiling just one goal and two points in 21 games.

So much for that breakout season.

“It’s not where I want it to be, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons will play again this season

BUFFALO – Top Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons, who blocked a shot with his right ankle Tuesday, will play again this season, coach Ted Nolan said this morning.

Nolan hinted Girgensons could be finished after James Wisniewski’s shot hit the Latvian halfway through the 4-2 win in Columbus.

“It’s bad but not as bad as we thought,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center.

Nolan wouldn’t say if Girgensons’ ankle was broken.

“It could be, ... Read the full article

Former Sabres prospect Alex Biega living NHL dream with Canucks

BUFFALO – Alex Biega had finally cracked an NHL roster. For 10 days in December, the defenseman earned a fatter paycheck and practiced with the Vancouver Canucks.

But, oddly enough, the 26-year-old former Sabres prospect never played. He got tantalizingly close to game action once, dressing for the pregame warm-up.

“It wasn’t frustrating, but I guess I was antsy just to get in,” Biega said by phone Wednesday after the Canucks landed in Buffalo. “I ... Read the full article

Sabres send Jake McCabe to Amerks; Michal Neuvirth fined for diving

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent defenseman Jake McCabe to the Rochester Americans this afternoon, meaning Nikita Zadorov will likely return from a two-game benching Thursday.

McCabe played twice during his first NHL recall this season. The Amerks host Syracuse tonight.

Sabres coach Ted Nolan sat Zadorov because the 19-year-old was late to a team meeting Sunday morning. The Sabres host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

Update: The NHL has fined Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons might be finished for year

Zemgus Girgensons’ season could be in jeopardy.

The Buffalo Sabres’ top center left halfway through Tuesday’s 4-2 win against the Blue Jackets after blocking James Wisniewski’s shot with his right ankle. Girgensons stayed down on the ice before being helped off.

“We’re concerned, for sure,” Nolan told reporters in Columbus. “We’ll cross our fingers and hope things work out.”

Meanwhile, winger Tyler Ennis, whose 15 goals are tied with Girgensons for the team lead, didn’t ... Read the full article