Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres re-sign late-season surprise Sulzer

BUFFALO – Alexander Sulzer arrived three months ago as an unknown short on NHL experience. The German immediately became the Sabres’ seventh defenseman, a role he knew well from being scratched 51 times during his brief tenure with the Vancouver Canucks.

It was assumed Sulzer might play occasionally before quietly departing during the offseason. Then Andrej Sekera became ill, and the 27-year-old began assuming regular duty.

Within about a week, Sulzer was skating 20 minutes ... Read the full article

Former Sabre Cyr passes away

BUFFALO – Paul Cyr, the ninth overall pick by the Sabres in 1982 and a veteran of 342 games with the club, died recently of heart failure, according to the Victoria Times Colonist. He was 48.

Cyr suffered a heart attack and from diabetes-related complications, CHEK in British Columbia reported.

The winger was part of one of the Sabres’ best draft classes ever, getting selected between future stars Phil Housley and Dave Andreychuk in a ... Read the full article

Sabres ink Lieuwen to entry-level deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed goalie Nathan Lieuwen, the 167th overall pick in 2011, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The 20-year-old just finished his junior career with the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice, going 27-20-8 with a 2.50 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and three shutouts in 57 games during 2011-12.

Lieuwen, 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, suffered two concussions early in his WHL career and was nearly forced to retire. NHL teams bypassed him ... Read the full article

Hodgson wanted out of Vancouver

BUFFALO – When the Sabres acquired center Cody Hodgson, rumors swirled the 22-year-old was disgruntled with the Vancouver Canucks and had requested to be dealt.

Canucks general manager Mike Gillis confirmed those rumblings Tuesday, saying they helped Hodgson build up numbers so they could dish him.

The Canucks traded Hodgson and his 16 goals for rookie winger Zack Kassian at the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

“There clearly were issues that were ongoing,” Gillis said told ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Phil Varone impressing in Rochester

ROCHESTER – It was a life-changing decision. In September, Phil Varone impressed the Buffalo Sabres, so the club offered an AHL contract following his training camp tryout. But Varone was also strongly considering attending the University of New Brunswick.

“It was 50-50,” Varone said Friday inside the Blue Cross War Memorial following the Rochester Amercans’ 5-1 win over the Syracuse Crunch.

Varone, a scoring star with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters, went home and ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Luke Adam struggling to find scoring touch in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Luke Adam, the same Buffalo Sabres prospect whose NHL exploits early this season – three goals in his first four games and 10 tallies before Christmas – made him a Calder Trophy candidate, can’t even score much in the AHL, a league he dominated last year.

Since being demoted to the Rochester Americans on Feb. 11 in the midst of an epic slump, Adam, the AHL’s top rookie a year ago, has only ... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta wants to remain with hometown Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Patrick Kaleta said he can’t picture himself wearing a different jersey.

“Yeah, I would not like it at all,” the Angola native said Monday as the Sabres cleaned out their lockers inside the First Niagara Center.

Fresh off playing a career-high 63 games, the injury-prone agitator will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

The 25-year-old plays an aggressive checking style that began earning him big minutes in the winter.

He’s ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth slumped badly after hot start

BUFFALO – Jhonas Enroth’s starts quickly became anticipated, must-see events. The Sabres goalie couldn’t lose. Not late last season. Not early this one.

Fans clamored for more appearances from Enroth. They wanted the rookie backup, not established starter Ryan Miller, carrying the load.

Dating back to last season, Enroth had won nine straight decisions by early November, including his first six in 2011-12.

Then, suddenly, the 23-year-old stopped winning – and playing. He started only ... Read the full article

Jochen Hecht likely finished with Sabres

BUFFALO – Jochen Hecht said when the symptoms of another concussion began hitting him following the morning skate Jan. 24 in New Jersey, he lost it, he “was gone.”

The German’s third head injury in 10 months left him fearing for his career.

“I cried. I didn’t know what’s going to happen,” the longest-tenured Sabre recalled Monday, his eyes welling up with tears during what could’ve been his farewell chat with the Buffalo media. “It ... Read the full article

Miller’s ‘enough is enough’ mentality turned around awful season, Sabres’ fortunes

BUFFALO – Ryan Miller couldn’t offer any strong explanations for suddenly transforming back into one of the NHL’s elite goalies following a wretched, career-worst three months.

When the 31-year-old Sabres veteran began feeling better during the winter, everything became easier, he said. The ice opened up and he started reading plays and seeing shots clearly again.

Nothing magical happened. Miller had just experienced enough mediocrity.

“Mainly, it was kind of, ‘Enough is enough. I’m better ... Read the full article