Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

With roster place secure, Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko concentrating on next season

BUFFALO – Mikhail Grigorenko is staying put. No more shuttling between the NHL and junior. The Sabres have already given the slick Russian center a roster spot for next season, general manager Darcy Regier said last week.

What does that mean to the 19-year-old?

“I didn’t think about it at all,” Grigorenko said Wednesday inside the First Niagara Center following the first session of the team’s summer development camp. “I don’t think it changes ... Read the full article

Amerks sign Mike Zigomanis, Alex Lepkowski and Frederick Roy

BUFFALO – Twelve years after a botched fax notoriously sent Mike Zigomanis back into the draft, the Sabres organization reacquired the center, signing him to an AHL contract today.

The Rochester Americans also inked defenseman Alex Lepkowski, a West Seneca native the Sabres drafted but never signed, and winger Frederick Roy.

The Sabres originally drafted Zigomanis 64^th overall in 1999. But his contract paperwork allegedly didn’t go through properly, so the Sabres ... Read the full article

Rasmus Ristolainen takes first steps toward making Sabres

BUFFALO – Even among a group of teenage prospects, Rasmus Ristolainen was one of the youngest players on the ice this morning for the first session of the Sabres’ summer development camp.

Of course, having spent the last two seasons in the SM-liiga, a Finnish men’s league, the 18-year-old’s used to facing older competition.

“That’s not a new thing for me,” Ristolainen, the No. 8 pick at last month’s NHL Entry Draft, said this afternoon. ... Read the full article

Goalie David Leggio signs with Capitals, grateful for time in Sabres organization

BUFFALO – David Leggio has no hard feelings toward the Sabres.

Three summers ago, the goalie figured his championship season in Finland would generate interest back in North America. But offers never materialized. Finally, as the summer dragged on, the Sabres gave Leggio a chance when no one else would, signing him to play behind Jhonas Enroth with the Portland Pirates.

At that point, the 28-year-old Williamsville native had played three AHL games.

“They believed ... Read the full article

Sabres bring back Henrik Tallinder from Devils

BUFFALO – Three years ago, Henrik Tallinder sensed his Sabres career was ending. Despite a strong season helping then-rookie Tyler Myers develop into of the NHL’s top defensemen, the Swede knew the team had little interest in awarding him a long-term contract.

So when free agency opened, Tallinder signed a four-year, $13.5 million deal with the New Jersey Devils.

Had the Sabres offered even three years to Tallinder, he said he might’ve considered staying with ... Read the full article

Sabres reacquire Henrik Tallinder from Devils

BUFFALO – The Sabres reacquired old friend Henrik Tallinder this afternoon, sending low-level minor leaguer Riley Boychuk to the New Jersey Devils for the defenseman.

The 34-year-old Tallinder played 468 games over parts of eight seasons with the Sabres from 2001-10. The Swede signed a four-year, $13.5 million contract with the Devils three years ago.

Tallinder battled injuries after leaving, playing only 146 games in New Jersey and missing most of the Devils’ 2012 Stanley ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Alexander Sulzer, lose Adam Pardy

BUFFALO – When free agency opened Friday, Alexander Sulzer shopped around, drawing interest from a “number of teams,” his agent said.

Ultimately, though, the defenseman couldn’t leave the Sabres, who helped him become an NHL regular for the first time.

The 29-year-old German signed a one-year, $725,000 contract today.

“He really enjoyed playing there,” Scott Greenspun, Sulzer’s agent, told the Times Herald. “Buffalo was a place that gave him an opportunity to prove he was ... Read the full article

Sabres stay quiet as free agency opens, only ink AHL defenseman Drew Bagnall for depth

BUFFALO – It didn’t take Sabres fans long to experience some of that suffering general manager Darcy Regier warned could lie ahead.

As free agency opened Friday afternoon and teams began piling up assets, the rebuilding Sabres remained quiet most of the day.

Finally, at about 9:30 p.m., TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported the Sabres had signed AHL defenseman Drew Bagnall to a two-year, two-way contract.

That depth move probably won’t make the team’s anxious fan ... Read the full article

Sabres likely won’t pursue big names during free agency

BUFFALO – The focus during free agency, general manager Darcy Regier said, will be on adding supporting pieces to the Sabres’ younger core group. The crazy spending of the past appears to be over, at least for this summer.

So, when free agency opens at noon today, don’t expect the Sabres to wildly overpay or overreach for any Ville Leino-types again. And don’t expect them to throw tens of millions of dollars at any ... Read the full article

Nathan Gerbe’s Sabres career over with team planning buyout

BUFFALO – Nathan Gerbe’s Sabres career is over.

The team placed the diminutive winger on waivers Wednesday for the purpose of buying him out, his agent, Jordan Neumann, told the Times Herald.

When asked if Gerbe had any warning, Neumann replied, “Absolutely none.” The Sabres still hadn’t contacted Neumann as of early Wednesday afternoon. Neumann said he understands the business, however.

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier told the media at least three times recently, ... Read the full article