WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
David Leggio has developed into one of the AHL’s best goalies. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – David Leggio has no hard feelings toward the Sabres.
Three summers ago, the goalie figured his championship season in Finland would generate interest back in North America. But offers never materialized. Finally, as the summer dragged on, the Sabres gave Leggio a chance when no one else would, signing him to play behind Jhonas Enroth with the Portland Pirates.
At that point, the 28-year-old Williamsville native had played three AHL games.
“They believed ... Read the full article
Henrik Tallinder left the Sabres in 2010. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Three years ago, Henrik Tallinder sensed his Sabres career was ending. Despite a strong season helping then-rookie Tyler Myers develop into of the NHL’s top defensemen, the Swede knew the team had little interest in awarding him a long-term contract.
So when free agency opened, Tallinder signed a four-year, $13.5 million deal with the New Jersey Devils.
Had the Sabres offered even three years to Tallinder, he said he might’ve considered staying with ... Read the full article
Henrik Tallinder played 468 games with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres reacquired old friend Henrik Tallinder this afternoon, sending low-level minor leaguer Riley Boychuk to the New Jersey Devils for the defenseman.
The 34-year-old Tallinder played 468 games over parts of eight seasons with the Sabres from 2001-10. The Swede signed a four-year, $13.5 million contract with the Devils three years ago.
Tallinder battled injuries after leaving, playing only 146 games in New Jersey and missing most of the Devils’ 2012 Stanley ... Read the full article
Alexander Sulzer (52) never played regularly before joining the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When free agency opened Friday, Alexander Sulzer shopped around, drawing interest from a “number of teams,” his agent said.
Ultimately, though, the defenseman couldn’t leave the Sabres, who helped him become an NHL regular for the first time.
The 29-year-old German signed a one-year, $725,000 contract today.
“He really enjoyed playing there,” Scott Greenspun, Sulzer’s agent, told the Times Herald. “Buffalo was a place that gave him an opportunity to prove he was ... Read the full article
Drew Bagnall has spent almost all of his career in the AHL. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It didn’t take Sabres fans long to experience some of that suffering general manager Darcy Regier warned could lie ahead.
As free agency opened Friday afternoon and teams began piling up assets, the rebuilding Sabres remained quiet most of the day.
Finally, at about 9:30 p.m., TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported the Sabres had signed AHL defenseman Drew Bagnall to a two-year, two-way contract.
That depth move probably won’t make the team’s anxious fan ... Read the full article
Two years ago, the Sabres signed Ville Leino, a winger, to a six-year, $27 million contract to play center. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The focus during free agency, general manager Darcy Regier said, will be on adding supporting pieces to the Sabres’ younger core group. The crazy spending of the past appears to be over, at least for this summer.
So, when free agency opens at noon today, don’t expect the Sabres to wildly overpay or overreach for any Ville Leino-types again. And don’t expect them to throw tens of millions of dollars at any ... Read the full article
Nathan Gerbe played 188 games for the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Nathan Gerbe’s Sabres career is over.
The team placed the diminutive winger on waivers Wednesday for the purpose of buying him out, his agent, Jordan Neumann, told the Times Herald.
When asked if Gerbe had any warning, Neumann replied, “Absolutely none.” The Sabres still hadn’t contacted Neumann as of early Wednesday afternoon. Neumann said he understands the business, however.
Sabres general manager Darcy Regier told the media at least three times recently, ... Read the full article
Matt Ellis will be Rochester’s captain if he’s not with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed Matt Ellis to a two-year, two-way contract, the club announced this afternoon.
If he doesn’t crack the NHL, the hardworking forward is set to become the Rochester Americans’ captain again, a role he earned last season after getting sent to the AHL in February.
The respected 31-year-old, who joined the Sabres off waivers from Los Angeles in 2008, has 16 goals and 31 points in 267 NHL games.
Ellis ... Read the full article
Because of his size, Nathan Gerbe (42) must battle players like Zdeno Chara, who are more than a foot taller than him. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Nathan Gerbe’s Sabres career is over.
The team placed the diminutive winger on waivers today for the purpose of buying him out if he doesn’t clear, his agent, Jordan Neumann, told the Times Herald.
When asked if Gerbe had any warning, Neumann replied, “Absolutely none.” The Sabres still hadn’t contacted Neumann as of early this afternoon. Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said Tuesday he had no plans for buyouts.
Gerbe was scheduled to ... Read the full article
Ron Rolston spent about two months searching for an assistant. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Nearly two months had passed since the rebuilding Sabres fired assistant coaches Kevyn Adams and James Patrick. The replacement process, coach Ron Rolston acknowledged, “dragged on.” Two men he offered a job to turned it down.
“We wanted to make sure that we did the right thing,” Rolston said Tuesday inside the First Niagara Center while discussing Joe Sacco’s hiring as an assistant coach. “We wanted to make sure we were patient ... Read the full article
