Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Report: Sabres receive permission to interview Bruins’ Jim Benning

BUFFALO – The Sabres have received permission from the Boston Bruins to interview assistant general manager Jim Benning, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

Pat LaFontaine, the Sabres’ new president of hockey operations, said Friday he would start interviewing GM candidates this week.

The Sabres fired Darcy Regier last week.

Benning worked 12 years with the Sabres, eight as the director of amateur scouting. The 50-year-old played 610 NHL games as a defenseman with Toronto ... Read the full article

Derek Roy wanted to stay with Sabres, happy with Blues

BUFFALO – Derek Roy wasn’t happy after the Sabres dished him to Dallas in July 2012. The sometimes-slick center had just told former general manager Darcy Regier he wanted to stay in town.

The 30-year-old, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the St. Louis Blues during free agency, felt he had some unfinished business here.

“I thought we had a great team,” Roy said this morning inside the First Niagara Center prior ... Read the full article

Veterans happy to see Sabres reassign youngsters: ‘It’s about earning the spot’

BUFFALO – In veteran defenseman Henrik Tallinder’s mind, the Sabres’ old regime handed out too many roster spots to undeserving youngsters. Interim coach Ted Nolan and his boss, Pat LaFontaine, know that. They’re working to correct those past mistakes.

“It’s not about getting the spot; it’s about earning the spot,” Tallinder said this morning inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres reassigned four rookies, three of them teenagers. “It used to be like that ... Read the full article

Sabres tough guy John Scott ready to seize opportunities from Ted Nolan

BUFFALO – The “meathead” hockey player, someone John Scott describes as a goon who plays three minutes, fights and calls it a day, well, the 6-foot-8 winger doesn’t care for him too much.

“I don’t want to do that,” Scott said Monday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the St. Louis Blues inside the First Niagara Center. “I want to help my team. I don’t think just going out there playing two minutes ... Read the full article

Report: Mikhail Grigorenko sent back to junior; Sabres tough guy John Scott regrets ‘Princess Phaneuf’ comment

BUFFALO – In a not-so-surprising move, the Sabres sent 19-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko back to the Quebec Remparts late Monday, according to RDS, a Canadian sports network.

Grigorenko has been scratched both games under interim coach Ted Nolan, who has strongly hinted he doesn’t think the Sabres should have four teenagers on the roster.

UPDATE: Grigorenko was just seen leaving the building this morning. Rookie defenseman Nikita Zadorov isn’t on the ice and has ... Read the full article

Sabres tough guy John Scott regrets ‘Princess Phaneuf’ comment

BUFFALO – Sabres tough guy John Scott today called his “Princess Phaneuf” comment about Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf on Saturday a “slip of the tongue.”

“Obviously, a little emotional at the time,” Scott said inside the First Niagara Center following practice. “I haven’t trademarked it. I kind of regretted it.”

Following the Sabres’ 4-2 loss in Toronto, Scott said Phaneuf “bailed” as he approached him. A mini-melee ensued, and Scott received 14 penalty ... Read the full article

Sabres showcase more compete in loss to Leafs

TORONTO – In a first period reminiscent of the Ron Rolston era, the Buffalo Sabres fell behind 2-0 by the 13:35 mark Saturday and looked overmatched against a hungry Maple Leafs team anxious to end a three-game losing skid.

Interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan had a strong message for his new team following the first period.

“Ted came in and told us and said, ‘You guys are garbage,’” Sabres tough guy John Scott said.

The ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ville Leino on old regime: ‘I didn’t know who makes the decisions’

TORONTO – His position doesn’t matter, Buffalo Sabres center Ville Leino said. The Finn can play in the middle or on both wings. Leino cares about his ice time and responsibility.

The 30-year-old enjoyed little of either under former coach Ron Rolston, who was fired Wednesday with general manager Darcy Regier.

Leino has struggled as a third- or fourth-line winger most of this season. Rolston even scratched him recently.

But in Friday’s 3-1 ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Nikita Zadorov wants to stay: ‘I think I’m ready to play in the NHL’

TORONTO – In late September, when Buffalo Sabres rookie Nikita Zadorov signed his entry-level contract, former general manager Darcy Regier said junior hockey was the 18-year-old defenseman’s likely destination this season.

Two days later, Zadorov cut his finger during the Sabres’ preseason finale, shelving him for weeks. After he healed, the rebuilding team began playing him.

Now, the Sabres must decide whether to keep him or send him back to the Ontario Hockey League’s London ... Read the full article

Sabres beat Leafs in Ted Nolan’s debut, look like new team

BUFFALO – It might as well have been opening night again inside the First Niagara Center. Twenty-one games into the season, the Sabres started over Friday, performing like a new, refreshed team in their first game under interim coach Ted Nolan, an exciting 3-1 triumph against the hated Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nolan told the Sabres he was wiping the slate clean and didn’t care about their awful start under Ron Rolston, who was fired ... Read the full article