Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ville Leino clears waivers, Sabres can use buyout

BUFFALO – Forward Ville Leino cleared waivers today, meaning the Sabres can officially use a compliance buyout on the final three years of the Finn’s massive six-year, $27 million contact.

The Sabres owe Leino two-thirds of the $11 million remaining on his contract. Leino’s $4.5 million salary cap hit is gone.

According to capgeek.com, the $7,333,333 Leino’s due will be paid out over six years at $1,222,222 annually. So, while Leino’s gone, he’ll stay ... Read the full article

Ville Leino’s NHL career in jeopardy with Sabres planning buyout

BUFFALO – As expected, the Sabres placed Ville Leino on unconditional waivers Tuesday and will be using a compliance buyout on the final three seasons of the Finn’s six-year, $27 million deal, ridding themselves of perhaps the worst contract in NHL history.

Yes, the worst ever.

When he wasn’t battling a series of injuries, the 30-year-old forward produced only 10 goals and 46 points in 137 games with the Sabres, including zero goals in ... Read the full article

Sabres timeline: Ville Leino was never afraid to speak his mind

BUFFALO – With Ville Leino’s Sabres career over, here’s a timeline of the enigmatic forward’s short three-year run. Expectations started high and, well, quickly dwindled.

Leino, as you’ll see, was never afraid to speak his mind.

July 1, 2011, the day the Sabres signed Leino to his infamous six-year, $27 million contract and switched him from wing to center:

“I talked to him about all three positions, and he’s comfortable at all three,” former ... Read the full article

Sabres waive Ville Leino in first step toward buyout

BUFFALO – As expected, the Sabres have placed Ville Leino on unconditional waivers and will be using a compliance buyout on the final three seasons of the Finn’s six-year, $27 million deal, ridding themselves of perhaps the worst contract in NHL history.

Yes, the worst ever.

When he wasn’t battling a series of injuries, the 30-year-old forward produced only 10 goals and 46 points in 137 games with the Sabres, including zero goals in ... Read the full article

Ville Leino’s Sabres career began with much fanfare

While it’s hard to believe now, Ville Leino’s arrival in Buffalo almost three years ago was greeted with some fanfare.

Back then, Leino was one of the best free agents on the market. Awarding Leino a stunning six-year, $27 million contract was risky. The Finn only had one full NHL season under his belt. But the signing proved the Sabres wanted to bring in the best talent they could and gun for a Stanley Cup.... Read the full article

Otters hire former Sabres defenseman Jay McKee as assistant coach

Twitter funnyman and former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jay McKee has joined the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters as an assistant coach.

The team introduced the 36-year-old during a news conference this afternoon.

No word on whether he’ll still tweet about Nathan Gerbe’s size.

McKee, who retired from the NHL in 2010, coached one year with the Rochester Americans in 2011-12 before getting fired by former coach Ron Rolston.

Prior to his 802-game NHL ... Read the full article

Sabres’ summer development camp slated for July 14-18

BUFFALO – Approximately 40 prospects will be participating in the Sabres’ annual summer development camp July 14-18 inside the First Niagara Center, the team announced today.

A full roster will be announced in early July. All of the team’s 2014 draft picks are scheduled to attend. All sessions are open to the public.

Here’s a tentative schedule the Sabres released:

July 14 On-ice coach’s practice: 10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

July 15 Pre-scrimmage skates: 10:30 ... Read the full article

Check out Sabres prospect Linus Ullmark’s Bowser mask

As you can see from the photo above, Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark sported a vanilla look during the team’s development camp last summer.

At times throughout his career, Ullmark has worn just a plain white mask. The 20-year-old Swede has a creative side, however. Check out the Bowser (from Super Mario Bros.) mask he just commissioned artist David Gunnarsson to paint.

Ullmark’s a big Nintendo fan, according to Gunnarsson. The youngster plans to ... Read the full article

NHL Draft profile: Dominic Turgeon close to fulfilling promise he made

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – As the child of an NHL star, Dominic Turgeon feels like he was “born into hockey.” He loved tagging along to the rink with his father, former Buffalo Sabres center Pierre Turgeon, the No. 1 overall pick in 1987.

“I was always around the guys,” Turgeon said last month at the NHL Scouting Combine inside the Toronto International Centre. “I always went out to skate with them, and to me, that always ... Read the full article

NHL Draft profile: Daniel Audette has father Donald’s size, different style

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – No one wanted Donald Audette. It was June 17, 1989, and every team kept passing on the diminutive scorer at the NHL Entry Draft in Bloomington, Minn.

Audette, fresh off a monster 76-goal, 161-point junior season, finally lost it as the day dragged on.

“He was throwing chairs in the back of the rink,” Audette’s son, Daniel, said Saturday at the NHL Scouting Combine inside the Toronto International Centre. “He really wanted ... Read the full article