WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
The Sabres picked Rasmus Ristolainen eighth overall in June. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Four No. 1 picks from the last two years, including both 2013 selections, defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, will skate for the Sabres in tonight’s preseason opener in Montreal.
Expect to see the rebuilding Sabres showcase plenty of youth throughout the seven-game exhibition schedule, coach Ron Rolston said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
“There’s going to be a lot of opportunity for those players, and they’re going to get a ... Read the full article
Luke Adam celebrates his 14th NHL goal last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed restricted free agent forward Luke Adam to a one-year, two-way contract, according to capgeek.com.
Adam receives $735,000 in the NHL and $65,000 in the AHL.
The 23-year-old had 15 goals and 37 points in 67 games with Rochester last season. He earned an April recall to the Sabres, scoring once in four appearances.
Adam, the 44th overall pick in 2008, has 14 goals and 25 ... Read the full article
Luke Adam played four games with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Rochester Americans received two forwards for their playoff push today.
The Sabres sent Luke Adam, a healthy scratch three of the last four contests, back to the Amerks after playing four games, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported.
The 22-year-old scored one goal during his first NHL stint in more than a year.
Meanwhile, the Amerks have recalled Daniel Catenacci, the 77th overall pick in 2011, from the Ontario ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko (25) returned to the Sabres on Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For the time being at least, 18-year-old rookie Mikhail Grigorenko is back with the Sabres following a one-month stint in junior.
The Russian center practiced Tuesday inside the First Niagara Center and traveled with the team to Boston for tonight’s tilt against the Bruins. But Grigorenko will likely be scratched.
Rather than sending Grigorenko to AHL Rochester, where he’s now eligible to play with the Quebec Remparts’ season having ended last week, ... Read the full article
Kevin Porter played with Rochester for five months. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Ten years ago, Ron Rolston wanted Kevin Porter to come play at Boston College. The interim Sabres coach, then an NCAA assistant, recruited the teenage hockey star, even talked to his father a little bit.
Ultimately, Porter stayed in his home state, becoming a collegiate legend at Michigan. Rolston, meanwhile, took over Team USA’s development program shortly after Porter left.
Their paths crossed again in July.
Porter’s career had hit a rut after ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth blanked Philadelphia on Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – So, Ron Rolston, fresh off his 29-save shutout in Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers, will backup goalie Jhonas Enroth start again today?
“I don’t know,” the Sabres’ interim coach replied this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll see.”
Rolston knows which netminder’s starting against the Tampa Bay Lightning, right? He’s just not telling.
“Exactly,” he said with a grin.
Enroth, who hurt his neck late Saturday, is fine, Rolston said. ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth tries to make a stop in front of Adam Pardy on Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sure, the Sabres needed some good fortune to down the Philadelphia Flyers 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. Christian Ehrhoff’s pass off the end boards created the game’s only goal. Daniel Briere hit the crossbar behind Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth with just a single tick left in the game.
Still, they deserved their 17th win this season and first in three games. The Sabres, so vile during Thursday’s 5-1 home loss to Montreal, ... Read the full article
Chad Ruhwedel was playing NCAA hockey earlier this week. ©2013, Gil Talbot, UMass-Lowell
BUFFALO – What does interim coach Ron Rolston know about defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, the free agent from UMass Lowell the Sabres signed to a two-year, entry-level contract today?
“Not much,” Rolston said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.
Rolston will know a whole lot about Ruhwedel by about 5:30 p.m. The 22-year-old, who finished his three-year NCAA career earlier this week, will made his NHL debut against the Philadelphia Flyers this afternoon.
Ruhwedel ... Read the full article
Matt Ellis was recently named Rochester’s captain. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Reminders of the Sabres’ recent roster overhaul are all over Matt Ellis’ Clarence neighborhood.
Each day, the hardworking forward drives by “For Sale” signs in front of the homes Jordan Leopold and Jason Pominville recently left. When Ellis picks up neighbor Cody McCormick, instead of going downtown, the teammates drive 75 miles down the thruway to Rochester, their new playing home.
“The only one left in our neighborhood is (Thomas Vanek),” Ellis, ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis has zero points in the last five games. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The clock is ticking loudly again on the Sabres’ lost season. With eight games left, the 11th-place club, which hosts the Montreal Canadiens tonight, is six points behind the eighth-place New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
After three straight wins, the Sabres fell 4-1 Tuesday in Winnipeg. Incredibly, they’re 2-9-2 against the feeble Southeast Division, by far the NHL’s worst group of teams.
The Sabres have beaten the ... Read the full article
