Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Patrick Kaleta clears waivers, will report to AHL

BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta cleared waivers today, meaning the agitating winger will report to Rochester, his first AHL stint since 2007-08.

The Sabres waived Kaleta on Saturday, believing a stint in the minors would help him “redesign his game,” general manager Darcy Regier said.

The 27-year-old has been suspended twice in his last 21 games and four times in four seasons. The NHL most recently banned him 10 games for hitting Columbus’ Jack Johnson ... Read the full article

Sabres hope waiving Patrick Kaleta will help winger develop calmer style

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ surprising decision to waive Patrick Kaleta, general manager Darcy Regier said Saturday, could give the hard-hitting winger an opportunity to “redesign his game” in Rochester.

If Kaleta, who’s been suspended twice in his last 21 games, clears and begins his first AHL stint since 2007-08, he has “a significant amount of work that he will have to do,” Regier said.

But the Sabres couldn’t let Kaleta, fresh off a 10-game ban ... Read the full article

Cody McCormick trying to spark struggling Sabres by fighting

BUFFALO – For Sabres forward Cody McCormick, the special moments come in those first seconds following a fight, when he looks over to the bench and sees his teammates cheering his ferocious effort.

“They seem really appreciative of it. They recognize it,” McCormick said. “That’s something that somebody in my role can really appreciate when you come across the ice and everybody’s standing up for you. It makes everything you do, every punch, worthwhile ... Read the full article

Sabres waive Patrick Kaleta to make room for Corey Tropp; John Scott calls out Pierre McGuire

BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta just finished serving his 10-game suspension for hitting Columbus’ Jack Johnson in the head last month. The agitator is also fully healthy after recently undergoing nose surgery.

Still, the 27-year-old winger wasn’t on the ice this morning prior to tonight’s tilt against the Anaheim Ducks inside the First Niagara Center.

Now we know why.

In a surprising move, the Sabres have waived Kaleta, a native of nearby Angola.

The Sabres had ... Read the full article

Corey Tropp, Patrick Kaleta hoping to ignite struggling Sabres

BUFFALO – Injuries have severely limited Corey Tropp’s time here. The ferocious Sabres winger tore up his right knee last season waiting out the NHL lockout in Rochester. Then he broke his jaw during a Sept. 22 preseason fight in Toronto.

Tropp has played just 34 NHL games, the last coming April 5, 2012. Still, the 24-year-old has developed a good feel for this blue-collar city.

“I think this is a city, if you’re ... Read the full article

Corey Tropp, Patrick Kaleta ready to return to struggling Sabres

BUFFALO – The reeling Sabres, winners of just two of their 15 games, need reinforcements badly. Luckily, some aggressive, high-energy players are available.

Corey Tropp, out since breaking his jaw during a Sept. 22 preseason fight, is healed. Meanwhile, Patrick Kaleta has finished serving his 10-game suspension for hitting Columbus’ Jack Johnson in the head Oct. 10.

Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center both players looked ... Read the full article

Headshot earns Sabres tough guy John Scott 7-game suspension

BUFFALO – The NHL suspended Sabres tough guy John Scott seven games Thursday for his powerful blindside headshot that concussed Boston’s Loui Eriksson last week.

In banning Scott, NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan noted that while Scott had never been fined or suspended, the 6-foot-8 winger has 217 hits in his 187-game career.

“While that works in Scott’s favor, it also takes away any argument on his part that illegal head contact is inevitable simply ... Read the full article

NHL suspends Sabres tough guy John Scott 7 games for head hit

BUFFALO – The NHL laid a seven-game suspension today on Sabres tough guy John Scott for his blindside headshot that concussed Boston’s Loui Eriksson last week.

In banning Scott, NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan noted that while Scott had never been fined or suspended, the 6-foot-8 winger has 217 hits in his 187-game career.

“While that works in Scott’s favor, it also takes away any argument on his part that illegal head contact is inevitable ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Steve Ott will keep playing fierce style

BUFFALO – Steve Ott, the high-octane, fun-loving and helmet-licking agitator, won’t alter his style now that he’s the Sabres’ captain.

“I want to play a fine line edge of the game,” Ott said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s road tilt against the New York Rangers. “But I also can’t be a deterrent to my teammates, no difference if I was a captain or was not a captain.”

In Monday’s 4-3 loss to Dallas... Read the full article

Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta mum on why he didn’t take suspension appeal further

BUFFALO – Sabres agitator Patrick Kaleta said his battle-scarred nose, which “had a bunch of stuff going on with it,” has a different look following his recent surgery.

“I think they straightened it out for me,” Kaleta said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “My down break left turned into a little fade now.”

Kaleta said his Oct. 10 fight with Columbus’ Jared Boll, seconds after he hit Jack Johnson in the head, was ... Read the full article