Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Report: Sabres trade Jordan Leopold to Blues for draft picks

BUFFALO – The Sabres traded defenseman Jordan Leopold to the St. Louis Blues this afternoon for draft picks, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported.

The 32-year-old, who was with Sabres this morning preparing for tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals, will become an unrestricted free agent following the season.

It was believed the Sabres would try to deal him before Wednesday’s trade deadline.

Leopold struggled much of the winter, even sitting as a healthy scratch before an ... Read the full article

Sabres backup goalie Enroth to start tonight against Capitals

BUFFALO – In just over three weeks, Jhonas Enroth has morphed from a seldom-used backup to a strong No. 2 goalie called on regularly to spell starter Ryan Miller.

Since his March 7 start in New Jersey, a 3-2 shootout loss he left early, the 24-year-old is 2-0 while stopping 64 of 67 shots.

The Swede will get another nod tonight against the Washington Capitals inside the First Niagara Center.

“His confidence is a ... Read the full article

Struggling Sabres facing possible make-or-break weekend with trade deadline approaching

BUFFALO – A stone-faced Ryan Miller was in no mood to dissect his team’s season-long struggles. The 13^th-place Sabres still have 14 games left in what has again become a forgettable year. Technically, they’re not finished yet. When and if the time comes, the goalie will breakdown what went wrong.

“We’re trying to figure it out and battle,” Miller said Friday after the Sabres prepared for the Washington Capitals inside the Northtown Center ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Corey Tropp healed and playing again

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Corey Tropp, thought to be done for the season after suffering ligament damage in his right knee playing for Rochester opening night, made a surprising return to the Americans’ lineup Friday in their 4-1 home loss to the Toronto Marlies.

Tropp damaged the medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament Oct. 15 after scoring twice in the Amerks’ 6-5 win over the Syracuse Crunch.

The 23-year-old winger underwent surgery later ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Leino on unsportsmanlike conduct penalty: ‘I crossed the line’

BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ 5-4 shootout loss Thursday in Florida, winger Ville Leino’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with 40 seconds left in the first period led to the Panthers’ second goal.

When Leino left the penalty box, it was his last time on the ice. Rolston benched him the final 45 minutes.

“We’re a team. We play as a team,” interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said Friday inside the Northtown Center. “It’s not about egos. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Regehr not concerned about trade rumors: ‘You’re asking the wrong Regehr’

AMHERST – The trade rumors, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr said, don’t bother him. They’re part of being an NHL player around the trade deadline, which hits Wednesday.

“If you want to know any more about them, I think you’re asking the wrong Regehr right now,” the 32-year-old veteran, an unrestricted free agent this summer, said this afternoon after the Sabres practiced inside the Northtown Center.

Of course, Regehr was referring to Sabres general manager ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres prospect Corey Tropp to return to Amerks’ lineup tonight

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Corey Tropp, thought to be done for the season after suffering ligament damage in his right knee playing for the Rochester Americans opening night, will return to the lineup tonight, WHTK’s Rob Sanderson reports.

Tropp damaged the medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament Oct. 15 after scoring twice in the Amerks’ 6-5 win over the Syracuse Crunch.

The 23-year-old winger underwent surgery later in the fall.

Tropp played 34 NHL ... Read the full article

Former Sabres prospect T.J. Brennan feeling comfortable with Panthers

BUFFALO – Ron Rolston’s Feb. 20 promotion to the Sabres as interim coach meant more comfort for T.J. Brennan, who was playing sparingly under Lindy Ruff. The 23-year-old had just spent almost two seasons thriving under Rolston in Rochester, developing into one of the AHL’s slickest defenseman.

“(Rolston) knew my style and knew my type of play,” Brennan said by phone Wednesday. “I think that was a good change for me. But, I guess, at ... Read the full article

Which Sabres player should Rolston sit against Panthers?

While interim Buffalo Sabres coach Ron Rolston wouldn’t confirm it, defenseman Andrej Sekera, out the last five games, essentially told reporters in Florida he planned to play tonight against the Panthers following a five-game absence.

Slick winger Thomas Vanek (muscle strain) is out and struggling winger Drew Stafford, a healthy scratch the last two games, will return, Rolston told reporters.

Assuming Sekera returns, what should the Sabres do? Should Rolston simply sit ... Read the full article

Amerks ink veteran Rissmiller to AHL contract

BUFFALO – The Rochester Americans signed forward Patrick Rissmiller, a veteran of 192 NHL games, to an AHL contract today.

The 34-year-old had been playing on a professional tryout contract he inked Feb. 2.

Rissmiller has two goals, 11 points and six penalty minutes in 16 games with the Amerks.

He has 18 goals, 46 points and 60 penalty minutes in NHL stints with San Jose, the New York Rangers, Atlanta and Florida. He ... Read the full article