Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ted Nolan on Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko: ‘He’s knocking on the door’

BUFFALO – Following an impressive training camp, 20-year-old Mikhail Grigorenko’s “real, real close” to making the NHL, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.

“He’s knocking on the door,” Nolan said today after the Sabres sent the center to the AHL. “Right now, he needs just a little bit more seasoning.”

That seasoning will come in Rochester, where the Russian played 14 games late last season.

Grigorenko, who matured rapidly over the summer, made Nolan ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan ‘pretty close’ to naming new Sabres captain

BUFFALO – The Sabres will likely name a new captain Tuesday, coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon.

“We’re pretty close,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center.

Nolan said he and his staff have been discussing the captaincy “from the get-go.”

“The one thing I asked our coaches to do is kind of do a daily log on who they felt is the proper leadership with this group,” he said. “They’ve been doing that on ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart will debut opening night; final roster still not set

BUFFALO – Top Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart, the No. 2 pick in June, will make his NHL debut on Thursday against Columbus, coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon.

The 18-year-old Reinhart was among 23 healthy skaters on the ice today. NHL teams must reach the 23-man roster limit by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

While Nolan said today’s practice group was pretty close to the opening-night roster, the Sabres are still discussing moves.

The Sabres sent ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres send Mikhail Grigorenko to Amerks

BUFFALO – A strong training camp couldn’t earn 20-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko an NHL roster spot.

The Sabres have sent Grigorenko to AHL Rochester, according to Jay Grossman, the prospect’s agent.

Many had the Russian ticketed for the Americans before an impressive camp caught Sabres coach Ted Nolan’s attention.

Based on his camp, Grigorenko could be in line for a recall. He should receive big minutes in Rochester, where he played 14 games late last ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brian Gionta still feeling strong entering 13th season

BUFFALO – Since the Sabres signed Brian Gionta on July 1, the talk, understandably, has centered on the veteran winger’s leadership.

The 35-year-old captained the storied Montreal Canadiens for four seasons. The rebuilding Sabres need someone to wear the ‘C.’ Gionta’s the most qualified candidate.

Sabres coach Ted Nolan said Thursday a new captain would be named soon. The Greece native could be awarded the prestigious letter as soon as Monday.

But in ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mike Weber ready to rebound from poor season: ‘I come here to do whatever it takes’

BUFFALO – In a hockey-crazed town, with social media at everyone’s fingertips, gritty Sabres defenseman Mike Weber felt the wrath of a disappointed fan base last season.

Weber accumulated a wretched minus-29 in 68 games during the tumultuous campaign, becoming the fans’ top whipping boy. They wanted the Pittsburgh native benched.

Still, despite the NHL’s 881^st rating, Weber played every game over the final four months.

“A lot of people get to have a ... Read the full article

Photo: Sabres’ Chris Stewart pummels Dane Byers

BUFFALO – Late in the first period of Wednesday’s 6-1 exhibition win, Washington Capitals tough guy Dane Byers challenged Sabres winger Marcus Foligno to a fight. Foligno, who was playing his second game after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, declined the invitation.

A second later, Sabres winger Chris Stewart zoomed in and pummeled Byers.

“It meant a lot, and obviously he’s a good team guy to stick up for anybody on this team,” Foligno said this ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan close to naming new Sabres captain

BUFFALO – How close is Ted Nolan to naming a new Sabres captain?

“Uh, real close,” the coach said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

Don’t expect an announcement today, however.

“It hasn’t officially happened yet, but we all know who the leadership is going to be on this team,” he said. “We’ll officially sit down with people. We haven’t talked to anybody yet.”

The Sabres open the season one week from today.

In ... Read the full article

Sam Reinhart’s first goal closes Sabres’ preseason blowout win against Capitals

BUFFALO – Seven minutes, 10 seconds into the third period Wednesday, with the Sabres up four goals against the Washington Capitals, top prospect Sam Reinhart finally found some open ice.

Reinhart, by his own admission, had been pressing this preseason. The savvy 18-year-old couldn’t score or even create opportunities, and it gnawed at him. The hockey IQ fans have heard about so much rarely materialized.

But as Wednesday’s contest dragged on, the center got open ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko must keep impressing to earn roster spot

BUFFALO – Two weeks into training camp, center Mikhail Grigorenko remains the Sabres’ biggest surprise. Two more impressive outings could earn the Russian prospect a roster spot.

“He’s been looking really good,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s strong on the puck. He’s been making some really good plays. So the biggest thing right now is keep seeing him do it.”

Grigorenko has two more preseason opportunities, tonight ... Read the full article