Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller to start for Team USA against Slovenia

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller will make his first start at the Sochi Games today against Slovenia, Team USA announced this morning.

It was widely expected Miller, Jonathan Quick’s backup for two games, would get this nod. Quick has played strongly so far, backstopping the U.S. to two wins, including Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 shootout triumph over Russia.

Miller brilliantly backstopped the Americans to a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games while earning tournament MVP ... Read the full article

Report links AWOL Linus Omark to old Swedish club

The Rochester Americans returned from the AHL All-Star break Friday without winger Linus Omark, who still hasn’t reported to the club after getting waived by the Buffalo Sabres.

What’s going on? His agent, Kevin Epp, told the Buffalo News all options – Buffalo, Rochester and Europe – are still on the table for the vacationing Swede.

Realistically, though, Omark is likely finished with the Sabres organization.

Now, a report from NDS, a ... Read the full article

Latvia job changed Ted Nolan’s career, helped Sabres notice him

BUFFALO – Back in 2011, Ted Nolan had briefly returned to professional hockey as Rochester’s general manager, when one day his friend phoned unexpectedly.

“Ted,” the friend asked, “are you interested in going to Latvia?”

Nolan was stunned. He hadn’t coached since leaving the New York Islanders in 2008. He couldn’t even point out Latvia on a map.

“I said, ‘Where is it?’” the interim Sabres coach recalled last week inside the First Niagara Center.... Read the full article

Team USA’s decision to start goalie Jonathan Quick over Sabres’ Ryan Miller isn’t surprising

Olympic coach Dan Bylsma promised last week during Pittsburgh’s visit to Buffalo sentimentality wouldn’t factor in picking Team USA’s starting goalie for the Sochi Games.

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, who brilliantly backstopped the Americans to a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games, wouldn’t be given the job simply based on past exploits.

Sure enough, Bylsma has named Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick his starting netminder for Thursday’s opener against Slovakia.

It’s not that surprising, ... Read the full article

Linus Omark clears waivers, could go to Amerks

BUFFALO – Winger Linus Omark cleared waivers today, according to CBC’s Elliotte Friedman.

It’s unclear if the 27-year-old, who had zero goals and two assists in 13 games with the Sabres, will be assigned to Rochester.

Update: Omark will join the Americans after the AHL All-Star break.

Omark spent most of this season with AHL Oklahoma city, compiling 15 goals and 29 points in 29 games before Edmonton sent him to Buffalo for a ... Read the full article

Sabres waive Linus Omark, send Chad Ruhwedel and Phil Varone to Amerks

BUFFALO – In a move that might signal the end of his NHL career, the Sabres today waived winger Linus Omark, who had zero goals and two assists in 13 games.

They also sent defenseman Chad Ruhwedel and forward Phil Varone to Rochester.

The 27-year-old Omark, acquired from Edmonton for a conditional sixth-round draft pick Dec. 19, never impressed Ted Nolan much. The interim coach scratched the speedy Swede eight times, including Thursday’s ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno will sit against Senators; GM Tim Murray says it’s not a lock goalie Ryan Miller gets traded

Not surprisingly, the Buffalo Sabres will change up their lineup tonight in Ottawa against the Senators, inserting forwards Zenon Konopka and Ville Leino, healthy scratches the last two games, for Marcus Foligno and Linus Omark.

Foligno, a fourth-liner the last two games, has zero goals in the last six games and just one score in 19 contests.

“He’s a young player,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan told reporters today in Ottawa. “He ... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres blown out by Penguins, can’t help goalie Ryan Miller

BUFFALO – Wednesday wasn’t an Olympic audition for goalie Ryan Miller, Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said hours before his potent Penguins throttled the hapless Sabres 5-1. He’s judging Miller on his body of work, not one game.

Bylsma, Team USA’s coach for the upcoming Sochi Games, knows what most NHL observers know: Miller’s played splendidly most of the season under the most trying of circumstances.

The Sabres’ third straight loss illustrated that. Once ... Read the full article

Instinctive game allows Sabres’ Tyler Ennis to showcase more offense and grit

BUFFALO – Tyler Ennis said he recently stopped thinking on the ice. That isn’t a bad thing, though. The slick Sabres center has just been playing more instinctively under interim coach Ted Nolan, allowing his natural talents to take over these past few months.

It’s showing on the score sheet. With an assist on Drew Stafford’s first-period goal in Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ennis has four goals and 12 points in the ... Read the full article

Dan Bylsma: Ryan Miller’s play tonight won’t influence Olympic goaltending decision

BUFFALO – Tonight’s not an audition for Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, Dan Bylsma said. A spectacular performance won’t sway the Pittsburgh Penguins coach into starting the American at the upcoming Sochi Games.

“Oh, goodness, I don’t think so, either way,” Bylsma, Team USA’s Olympic coach, said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “Tonight’s not the only body of work from Ryan. He’s played really well this year. He’s played really well in some ... Read the full article