Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres All-Star Zemgus Girgensons left lasting mark with ‘family’ in Vermont

BUFFALO – Five years later, the Christmas cards Jim Hall sends out each year feature photos of his three children and someone so close he calls him another family member, Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons.

“Z’s been on our Christmas card we send out ever since he’s lived with us,” said Hall, Girgensons’ billet during the 2009-10 season.

Before he became an NHL All-Star and a household name in Buffalo, Girgensons spent his first year ... Read the full article

Goalie Tom McCollum’s career back on track with Red Wings

BUFFALO – Tom McCollum’s career was heading down the minor-league journeyman’s path, going nowhere fast.

Three years into professional hockey, the goalie was still shuttling between the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins and the ECHL Toledo Walleye. After his fourth season, the Detroit Red Wings declined to give him a two-way contract.

Instead, Detroit offered McCollum, the 30^th pick in 2008, an AHL deal prior to the 2013-14 campaign. The Cambria native wasn’t even eligible ... Read the full article

Sabres send Matt Ellis and Phil Varone to Amerks; Mikhail Grigorenko named AHL Player of Week

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent centers Matt Ellis and Phil Varone back to Rochester this morning.

Ellis was pointless in his first four NHL games this season. Varone, meanwhile, had two goals and two points in seven games.

Both are alternate captains for the AHL Americans.

In other news, Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko has been named AHL Player of the Week after scoring three goals and seven points in three games, helping the Amerks rally ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick likely out for season

Buffalo Sabres forward Cody McCormick, who was recently hospitalized with a blood clot in his calf muscle, will likely miss the rest of the season, coach Ted Nolan told reporters Sunday in Detroit.

“Right now, I’m not banking on him coming back,” Nolan said following the Sabres’ 6-4 loss.

McCormick missed some practice time but played three games after blocking a shot Jan. 3 in New York. He was released from the hospital early ... Read the full article

Sabres start strongly, fall to Flyers late

BUFFALO – If you’re a glass-is-half-full type, the Sabres did some good things in Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to a weak Philadelphia Flyers team, their 10^th consecutive regulation loss.

For the first time in weeks, the Sabres started strongly and showcased a better effort early, taking the lead and dictating much of the play. When the Flyers went up 2-1, they tied it late in the second period. They even scored three goals for the ... Read the full article

Phil Varone running out of time to impress Sabres

BUFFALO – In a deep rebuild, with losses and injuries piling up, plenty of jobs on the Sabres are still available.

Heck, the Sabres have had openings throughout the lineup for two years. Sooner or later, someone – a top prospect, an unknown youngster, a waiver acquisition or a depth veteran – has to step up and grab one, right?

Sabres coach Ted Nolan wants the newcomers do something different, stand out and make a ... Read the full article

Sabres know starts must improve; Mike Weber out against Flyers

BUFFALO – How bad are the Sabres early in games? Really bad.

Opponents have outscored the struggling Sabres 40-15 in the first period and outshot them 493-336 entering tonight’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers inside the First Niagara Center. In Thursday’s 7-0 loss to Minnesota, the Wild scored twice and outshot the Sabres 15-3 in the opening period.

“We talk about that all the time going into games, we have to have good starts, let’s ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan knows reeling Sabres must improve: ‘There’s prices to pay’

BUFFALO – The Sabres have lost a franchise-record nine consecutive games and 31 of 45 overall this trying season. They rank 29^th in a 30-team league and dead last or close to the bottom in every major statistical category. They just lost 7-0 to a reeling Minnesota Wild team, their worst home defeat since 1977.

Of course, the Sabres, who host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, were supposed to lose this season. But was ... Read the full article

Sabres coach Ted Nolan on future: ‘I’ve never feared my position in the NHL’

BUFFALO – The Sabres have lost a franchise-record nine consecutive games and 31 of 45 this season. They rank 29^th overall and dead last or close to the bottom in every major statistical category. They just lost 7-0 to a reeling Minnesota Wild team, their worst home defeat since 1977.

Of course, the Sabres were supposed to lose this season. But was the rebuilding club supposed to lose so badly this often? Opponents ... Read the full article

Sabres hit rock bottom in ugly loss to Wild

BUFFALO – At this point, with the Sabres’ franchise-long losing streak at nine games and counting, it’s fair to wonder if the hapless team will win another game this season.

Seriously.

The Sabres are awful, a disaster by any standard.

In a season full of ugly, ugly defeats, the Sabres hit rock bottom in Thursday’s disastrous 7-0 loss to the reeling Minnesota Wild before 18,963 fans inside the First Niagara Center.

“I’m speechless,” Sabres coach ... Read the full article