Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Steve Ott helps Sabres unveil third jersey; new sweater universally panned

*Breaking News… Times up! @BuffaloSabres 3rd Jersey Leaked #MiseryIsOver Can't wait for the season to start!! pic.twitter.com/7diRxEhDBJ

— Steve Ott (@otterN9NE) September 4, 2013

So, how badly do you want those ugly slug jerseys back, Buffalo Sabres fans?

Yes, the Sabres will apparently wear that during games in the upcoming season.

After months of teasing fans by tweeting small photos of the team’s new third jersey, the Sabres’ “unveiling” hit its crescendo today.

How did ... Read the full article

Thomas Vanek hasn’t requested trade, wants Sabres to add more veterans

AMHERST – Thomas Vanek spoke firmly. No, the high-scoring winger said, he hasn’t asked to be traded from the Buffalo Sabres. The widespread belief he wants out of town doesn’t bother him. But it’s simply not true.

“The media and people, they can make up their own assumptions as long as I know where I’m at and stuff and my family’s at. That’s fine,” Vanek said following an off-ice workout Wednesday morning. “At the end ... Read the full article

Ryan Miller upbeat about staying with Sabres: ‘I still fit into it somehow’

BUFFALO – Ryan Miller understands it’s the nature of hockey. As a veteran entering the final season of his contract, it’s only natural the Sabres, a team going through a transitional period, would shop him around the NHL.

“We’ve had a couple tough years,” Miller told reporters today at USA Hockey’s Olympic camp in Arlington, Va. “It goes from a situation where as a goalie it’s about the hope you can bring to I’ve been ... Read the full article

Sabres to appear on NBC 12 times in 2013-14; Traverse City roster announced

BUFFALO – MSG will televise 70 Sabres games in 2013-14, while NBC or NBC Sports Network will broadcast the other 12, the team announced today.

Ten games will air on NBC Sports Network. The other two will air on NBC or NBC Sports Network as part of the flex schedule.

The scheduled NBC games:

Oct. 2 at Detroit, 8:00 (NBCSN)
Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:30 (NBCSN)
Oct. 14 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 (NBCSN)
Oct.

... Read the full article

Rick Jeanneret to call three more seasons; Dan Dunleavy tapped as replacement

BUFFALO – Rick Jeanneret, the iconic play-by-play voice of the Sabres since 1971, has agreed to a new three-year contract and will call an increasingly reduced number of games over the deal before retiring, the club announced today.

Dan Dunleavy, a veteran Toronto-area broadcaster, will be Jeanneret’s substitute before assuming the primary play-by-play job in 2016-17.

Today’s news will almost certainly delight and sadden Sabres fans. In the end, they have three more seasons of ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Corey Tropp to 1-year deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed ferocious winger Corey Tropp, an NHL regular late in 2011-12 before tearing knee ligaments early last season, to a one-year contract today.

The 24-year-old damaged the medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament Oct. 15 after scoring twice in Rochester’s opening-night win. Tropp made a surprising return to the Americans’ lineup March 29. But with a weakened knee, he only played five games.

Prior to the lockout last ... Read the full article

Sabres sign 30-goal scorer Jamie Tardif for Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres added a scoring winger for the Rochester Americans today, signing Jamie Tardif to a one-year, two-way contract.

The 28-year-old scored a career-high 30 goals and added 45 points in 62 AHL games last season with Providence. Tardif also made his first two NHL appearances with Boston.

His NHL deal is worth $550,000, according to RDS’s Renaud Lavioe.

The Welland, Ont., native has 123 goals and 229 points in 438 AHL games ... Read the full article

Hurricanes sign Nathan Gerbe to two-way contract

BUFFALO – Former Sabres winger Nathan Gerbe has found a new home after getting waived and bought out earlier this month.

The Carolina Hurricanes today signed the 26-year-old American to a one-year, two-way deal. Gerbe receives $550,000 in the NHL, $150,000 in the AHL and is guaranteed at least $250,000, the Hurricanes said.

According to capgeek.com, the Sabres also owe Gerbe $616,666 over the next two years, part of the three-year, $4.3 million contract ... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff brings former Sabres assistant coach James Patrick to Stars

BUFFALO – James Patrick is joining Lindy Ruff with the Dallas Stars.

In a move many expected, the Stars today added the 50-year-old former Sabres player and assistant coach to Ruff’s staff.

Patrick, Ruff’s assistant for seven years, stayed on after the Sabres fired Ruff in February. New coach Ron Rolston let Patrick go following the season, however.

Ruff and Patrick have been friends since playing together with the New York Rangers in the ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller not a lock to represent Team USA at Olympics again

It’s no slam dunk Buffalo Sabres starter Ryan Miller, one of six goalies Team USA placed on its National Team Orientation Camp roster today, will be named to the Olympic team again for the upcoming Sochi Games.

Consider the other netminders the 2010 Vancouver Games hero is competing with for one of three spots in February:

– Ottawa’s Craig Anderson, who led the NHL in goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.941) last season.

– ... Read the full article