Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres must make roster move; Jason Pominville returns with Wild

BUFFALO – Defenseman Henrik Tallinder will return tonight against popular former Sabres captain Jason Pominville and the Minnesota Wild following a four-game absence.

With Tallinder (upper body) back from injured reserve, either rookie Rasmus Ristolainen or Alexander Sulzer, the spare defenders this morning, will be sent to Rochester, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said.

Update: Sulzer has been assigned to the AHL.

Meanwhile, backup goalie Jhonas Enroth will make his third start for the winless Sabres ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville set to make Buffalo return with Wild

BUFFALO – They became the rebuilding Sabres around 4 p.m. on April 3.

In trading versatile captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild for draft picks and prospects that day, the Sabres signaled they had given up on the present and started looking to the future.

Six months later, with the former franchise cornerstone returning tonight to the First Niagara Center, the winless Sabres (0-5-1) are a mess, probably the NHL’s worst team.

Another loss ... Read the full article

Slumping Mike Weber could sit for winless Sabres

BUFFALO – His coaches and the media have nothing on struggling Sabres defenseman Mike Weber, who calls himself his hardest critic.

Right now, the 25-year-old’s reeling, enduring arguably the roughest stretch of his 179-game career. His wretched minus-8 rating ranks dead last – 599^th, to be exact – in the NHL. He was an ugly minus-4 in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Columbus.

Following the game, a bearded Weber was visibly agitated, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta suspended for illegal hit, has in-person hearing scheduled

BUFFALO – Sabres agitator Patrick Kaleta has been suspended pending an in-person hearing Tuesday for an illegal check to Jack Johnson’s head, the NHL announced late Friday.

The Sabres play twice – tonight in Chicago and Monday at home against Minnesota – before Kaleta meets with the NHL Department of Player Safety. In-person hearings carry a minimum five-game suspension.

The 27-year-old Kaleta wasn’t penalized after zooming into the Buffalo zone and hitting Johnson high ... Read the full article

Sabres could scratch struggling Mike Weber

BUFFALO – Not surprisingly, Sabres defenseman Mike Weber, an NHL-worst minus-8, could be benched for Saturday’s game in Chicago against the Blackhawks, the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Weber, a minus-4 in Thursday’s listless 4-1 loss to Columbus, skated with 18-year-old rookie Nikita Zadorov during this morning’s practice inside the First Niagara Center. Zadorov working his way back from a finger injury.

Meanwhile, defenseman Alexander Sulzer, a healthy scratch all season, skated beside Tyler Myers ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta has in-person hearing for hit, facing long suspension

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Patrick Kaleta will have an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for hitting Columbus’ Jack Johnson early in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets.

The in-person hearing means Kaleta’s likely suspension could exceed more than five games.

At 3:10 of the first period, Kaleta hit Johnson just inside the Buffalo blue line, what the NHL may deem an illegal check to the head. Kaleta, who fought Jared ... Read the full article

Sabres listless in ugly loss to Blue Jackets, still winless

BUFFALO – OK, five games is a big enough sample size to judge the winless Sabres. Yes, it’s still early, but Thursday’s ugly 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets cemented their status as the NHL’s worst team.

The Sabres’ rebuild, commitment to youth and general manager Darcy Regier’s warning to expect “suffering” tempered expectations this season.

Still, did anyone really expect them to be this bad?

The Sabres (0-4-1) have five goals this season. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Johan Larsson replaces struggling Mikhail Grigorenko; Henrik Tallinder hopeful of weekend return

BUFFALO – As expected, the Sabres scratched struggling center Mikhail Grigorenko for Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets inside the First Niagara Center.

Rookie Johan Larsson, a scratch Tuesday, pivoted Zemgus Girgensons and Brian Flynn in Grigorenko’s place.

The 19-year-old Grigorenko hasn’t showcased the competitiveness Sabres coach Ron Rolston wants to see.

“He’s got to continue consistency of his compete and his details away from the puck and then, offensively, some confidence there,” ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mikhail Grigorenko to sit tonight for Johan Larsson

BUFFALO – As expected, the Sabres will scratch 19-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Rookie Johan Larsson, a scratch Tuesday, will pivot Zemgus Girgensons and Brian Flynn inside the First Niagara Center.

Grigorenko, one of 17 pointless Sabres, hasn’t showcased the competitiveness coach Ron Rolston wants to see.

“He’s got to continue consistency of his compete and his details away from the puck and then, offensively, some confidence there,” said Rolston, ... Read the full article

Tyler Ennis ready to lead young Sabres, confident he’ll start scoring

BUFFALO – Tyler Ennis spoke confidently. That missing offense, “It’s going to come,” the Sabres center said before repeating the words again.

“There’s always stretches,” the pointless Ennis said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s only been four games.”

Of course, the 24-year-old’s hardly alone right now. Seventeen players on the winless Sabres (0-3-1) haven’t recorded a point yet. The team only ... Read the full article