Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

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

Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko could become healthy scratch again

BUFFALO – History is repeating itself. Just like last season, Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko’s ice time dropped dramatically in his fourth appearance.

On Tuesday, the 19-year-old Russian played only 8:07, down from the 12:30 he had been averaging. The prospect even skated several shifts on the fourth line during the 3-2 overtime loss to Tampa Bay.

Why?

“Just putting the people in the right situations,” Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this afternoon following practice inside ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller set to return

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ryan Miller could return from his groin injury Thursday against Columbus.

“Just have to see how it goes tomorrow,” Miller said this afternoon after practicing inside the First Niagara Center.

Miller participated fully today for the first time since injuring himself while making 45 saves Friday.

“He’ll be available, for sure,” Sabres coach Ron Rolston said. “He’s healthy.”

Miller felt well enough to dress for Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Tampa ... Read the full article

Disallowed goal momentum-killer in Sabres’ OT loss to Lightning

BUFFALO – A two-goal lead? Wait, the winless Sabres scored twice in one game?

Entering Tuesday’s tilt, the struggling club had only two goals in its first three contests. Heck, the Sabres hadn’t even held a lead yet this season.

But they rebounded nicely against the Tampa Bay Lightning, building a 2-1 advantage before co-captain Thomas Vanek tipped Jamie McBain’s shot past goalie Ben Bishop 5:21 into the third period.

The horn sounded. Players raised ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Myers, Mike Weber finally skate as defense partners

BUFFALO – In their three years as Sabres teammates, Tyler Myers and Mike Weber have rarely kept the same defense partner long.

Myers has spent significant time beside almost every established defenseman in recent seasons, a result of personal and team struggles. Weber, meanwhile, has only established himself as a regular presence in the last year.

Still, the two had never been paired together for more than a few shifts before Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss ... Read the full article