Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres claim Matt D’Agostini off waivers from Penguins, waive Corey Tropp

BUFFALO – The Sabres claimed winger Matt D’Agostini off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins today.

The 27-year-old has one assist and four penalty minutes in eight games this season.

The Sabres are D’Agostini’s fourth team since last season. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils.

D’Agostini began his career with the Montreal Canadiens, tonight’s opponent.

He has 47 goals, 96 points and 125 penalty minutes in 275 NHL games.

The ... Read the full article

Sabres’ forward scratch will be game-time decision

BUFFALO – So, which Sabres forward will sit tonight against the Montreal Canadiens?

“It’ll be a game-time decision,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

Center Mikhail Grigorenko, the last forward off the ice this morning, said he’s playing. Tough guy John Scott, a healthy scratch last game, was off the ice early. The Canadiens haven’t been dressing their enforcer, George Parros. Nolan spoke to struggling fourth-line winger Marcus ... Read the full article

Sabres’ No. 1 scoring line providing little offense

BUFFALO – Just under eight minutes into the Sabres’ 3-1 loss Sunday, winger Drew Stafford created one of the struggling team’s few highlight-reel goals this season by stealing the puck from Detroit’s Darren Helm above the left circle and dishing to an open Cody Hodgson in the slot.

The center then waited for Jonas Gustavsson to go down before tucking the puck past the outstretched goalie.

It was only the Sabres’ 41^st goal in ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan impressed with Mikhail Grigorenko’s two games

BUFFALO – Anybody will notice 19-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko’s skill set, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.

“He sees the ice very well,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s a big man. He has a tremendous shot.”

But Nolan also sees “a young kid” within all that talent.

“A young kid that’s finding his way,” he noted.

That’s why Nolan’s exercising patience with the rookie, who’s pointless in two ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan wants more emotion from struggling Sabres

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ emotional 3-1 victory in Ted Nolan’s debut as interim coach Nov. 15 is starting to feel like a distant memory.

Yes, the Sabres have been showcasing a better compete level at times. Yes, they’re starting games much better.

But the bottom-feeding club has been outscored 15-5 in four straight losses since beating Toronto. The Sabres, who have an NHL-low five wins and 11 points, are still really bad.

“I really liked ... Read the full article

Forbes values Sabres at $250 million

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ awful on-ice performance hasn’t hurt the team’s value.

Forbes’ annual list of NHL franchise values pegs the Sabres worth $250 million, 22^nd in the league. The Sabres ranked 22^nd last year at $175 million.

Sabres owner Terry Pegula paid $189 million for the team in 2011.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL’s most valuable team at $1.15 billion. The Columbus Blue Jackets are the least valuable at ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan says Sabres ‘collapse’ after ‘glimpses of playing well’

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ emotional 3-1 victory in Ted Nolan’s debut as interim coach Nov. 15 is starting to feel like a distant memory.

Yes, the Sabres have been showcasing a better compete level at times. Yes, they’re starting games much better.

But the bottom-feeding club has been outscored 15-5 in four straight losses since beating Toronto. The Sabres are still really bad.

“I really liked the emotion of the first game, and everyone was ... Read the full article

Sabres grab early lead against tired Red Wings, falter again late

BUFFALO – The reeling Detroit Red Wings limped into a town Sunday a beaten up and tired bunch ripe to be exploited. They left galvanized by only their second win in 10 games, a tight 3-1 triumph against the rested Sabres in a dull, low-chance affair.

Playing without three regulars, including star Pavel Datsyuk, the Wings fell behind early before scoring the go-ahead goal 11:43 into the third period inside the First Niagara Center.

So ... Read the full article

Sabres shuffle lineup before loss to Red Wings

BUFFALO – The Sabres switched their lineup for Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, sitting three players interim coach Ted Nolan dressed last game.

Defenseman Mark Pysyk, a surprise scratch for Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Philadelphia, returned. Nolan sat the rookie, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, so he could evaluate other players.

“We only have a limited amount of time to see everybody, and I mentioned to him ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mark Pysyk back in against Red Wings

BUFFALO – The Sabres are changing up their lineup for this afternoon’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings, sitting three players interim coach Ted Nolan dressed last game.

Defenseman Mark Pysyk, a surprise scratch for Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Philadelphia, will return. Nolan sat the rookie, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, so he could evaluate other players.

“We only have a limited amount of time to see everybody, and I mentioned ... Read the full article