Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Mike Weber confident he’s playing well despite NHL-worst rating

BUFFALO – Mike Weber knows the number looks terrible. In 43 games this season, the gritty Sabres defenseman has accumulated a stunning minus-32, the NHL’s 824th and worst rating.

In what was supposed to be his breakout campaign, Weber has become one of the fans’ whipping boys during the worst season in franchise history.

But Weber believes his big minus rating is a bit misleading.

As a defensive defender, the 26-year-old’s never going to ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Steve Ott says Buffalo ‘holds a big piece of my heart’

BUFFALO – Players of Steve Ott’s ilk – tough, versatile leaders with a scoring touch – are precious commodities. That’s why the Sabres captain should be in high demand before the NHL’s March 5 trade deadline. The winger could fetch at least a first-round draft pick.

Ott, an unrestricted free agent following the season, said today he hasn’t had any contact talks. He’s repeatedly said he’d love to stay with the rebuilding Sabres.

But what ... Read the full article

Sabres wish goalie Ryan Miller could’ve played more at Olympics

BUFFALO – In what was very likely his final Olympics, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller made just one appearance, coming within 17 seconds of blanking Slovenia in Team USA’s 5-1 win Sunday.

Would things have gone much differently for the Americans, who lost today’s bronze medal game 5-0 to Finland, if Miller had played?

Probably not. Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick won his first three starts at the Sochi Games before Friday’s 1-0 loss to Canada.... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller will start Tuesday

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ryan Miller won’t have much time to rest after returning from the Sochi Games.

Interim coach Ted Nolan said today Miller will start Tuesday against Carolina, the Sabres’ first game following the Olympic break.

Of course, Miller, having served as Team USA’s backup, is still in Russia. The Americans lost the bronze medal game 5-0 to Finland today.

Miller doesn’t have much time to get acclimated again, but he’ll have more ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan moved by Olympic experience, proud of Latvia’s effort at Sochi Games

BUFFALO – For Ted Nolan, leading Latvia’s surprising entry at the Sochi Games was just one part of the Olympic experience. The interim Sabres coach said his team “left the game at the rink.”

So Nolan attended curling, downhill skiing and speed skating events. He enjoyed simply sitting down in the cafeteria and trying to guess which sports the athletes played. He said he met a Mexican alpine skier who’s a prince and someone from ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson ready to return; Sabres will use weary goalie Tuesday

BUFFALO – Matt Moulson said he noticed “a weird thing” when he watched the Jan. 30 hit that has sidelined him four games. Phoenix’s Shane Doan just bumped the Sabres winger. But Moulson’s skate got caught and he fell down, and he elbowed himself in the rib.

“I originally thought I popped my own rib out,” Moulson said Friday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres’ first post-Olympic practice. “That wasn’t the case. ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan thrilled by Olympic experience; injured Sabres set to return

BUFFALO – One of Ted Nolan’s favorite parts of his Olympic experience was simply sitting down in the cafeteria and trying to guess which sports the athletes played.

The interim Sabres coach, who led Latvia’s surprising entry at the Sochi Games, said he met an alpine skier from Mexico who’s a prince and someone from Togo.

“I didn’t know where Togo was,” an exited Nolan said today after the Sabres practiced inside the First ... Read the full article

Sabres terminate Linus Omark’s contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres terminated winger Linus Omark’s contract today, freeing the Swede to go play in Europe again.

The flashy 27-year-old, who had a one-year, $600,000 contract, went unclaimed after the team unconditionally waived him Monday.

Omark will almost certainly return to Europe, where he’s played six of his nine professional seasons. Having been traded or let go from the NHL’s two worst teams, his North American career is likely over.

He ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan getting best out of Latvia at Olympics

Which game will you be watching?

Wednesday at noon, Ted Nolan’s underdog Latvia squad, fresh off today’s huge 3-1 upset of Switzerland, will play mighty Team Canada in quarterfinal action at the Sochi Games. At the same time, Team USA will face the Czech Republic.

Some Canadian Sabres fans might be torn watching their country play against Nolan, Buffalo’s popular interim coach.

Nolan has helped make the hardworking Latvians one of Sochi’s best stories. ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres place Linus Omark on unconditional waivers

BUFFALO – The Sabres today placed winger Linus Omark, who hasn’t accepted his assignment to Rochester, on unconditional waivers, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

That likely means the 27-year-old’s contract will be terminated and he will return to Europe. The Swede’s available for $125.

Omark, acquired for a conditional sixth-round draft pick from Edmonton on Dec. 19, disappointed in 13 games, compiling just two assists while becoming a regular healthy scratch. The Sabres ... Read the full article