WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Ron Rolston took over as coach on Feb. 20. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres convene for training camp physicals today inside the First Niagara Center, for better or worse, almost the same team that ended a disappointing, 11th-place season 137 days ago.
Other than a busy draft day and reacquiring 34-year-old defenseman Henrik Tallinder, the rebuilding club remained quiet throughout the summer.
Starting goalie Ryan Miller and leading scorer Thomas Vanek, two veteran stars rumored to be on the trading block, ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko played 25 NHL games last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Prospect Mikhail Grigorenko is ineligible for the 2013 NHL Prospect Tournament “because of the number of NHL games he was on the Sabres’ roster” last season, the team announced this afternoon, a day before play begins in Traverse City, Mich.
Grigorenko, who made 25 NHL appearances as a rookie in 2012-13, was arguably the biggest name on the 24-man roster the Sabres released for the eight-team tournament last month.
Two other youngsters on ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek and the Sabres will have 70 games aired on MSG next season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
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:
Nathan Gerbe played 188 games for the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
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
Rasmus Ristolainen speaks with reporters this afternoon. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
NEWARK, N.J. – Rasmus Ristolainen figured he would be selected somewhere around the 10th and 15th picks during the NHL Entry Draft this afternoon. So when the Buffalo Sabres called his name with the No. 8 choice, the Finn was a bit stunned.
“I don’t know what I’m thinking when I heard my name,” Ristolainen said inside the Prudential Center. “It’s awesome.”
The 18-year-old, who spent the last two seasons playing with TPS ... Read the full article
Cody Hodgson will return to the Sabres after the lockout ends. ©2012, Janet Schultz, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With an NHL lockout likely hitting at midnight tonight, the Sabres loaned 20 AHL-eligible players, including forwards Marcus Foligno and Cody Hodgson, to the Rochester Americans on Friday.
Also assigned were: forwards Luke Adam, Riley Boychuk, Brian Flynn, Zemgus Girgensons, Jacob Lagace, Jonathan Parker, Kevin Sundher, Shawn Szydlowski, Corey Tropp, Phil Varone; defensemen Alex Biega, Nick Crawford, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, Matt MacKenzie, Brayden McNabb, Mark Pysyk; goalies Connor Knapp and Nathan Lieuwen. The Sabres ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The wake-up call came at 4:30 a.m., 15 minutes before sunrise Monday. Right away, United States Navy Seals instructors told 39 Sabres prospects to make their beds.
“That was the first time I’ve done that in a while,” winger Marcus Foligno joked.
The youngsters then got in a “proper line format,” going from tallest to shortest. By 5 a.m., they had reached a local beach, where they spent the next two hours swimming ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Some of the names you’ve possibly heard bandied around in trade rumors, the players fans might be drooling about seeing in blue and gold, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier has discussed with his counterparts.
The Sabres, owners of four of the first 44 selections at this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, including picks 12 and 21, have some nice chips if they want to deal.
At this ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed forward Joel Armia, the 16th overall pick in 2011, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced late Saturday.
The 19-year-old Finn compiled 18 goals, 38 points, 64 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating in 54 games with Assat Pori of SM-liiga, Finland’s top professional league.
It’s believed Armia will play another season in Finland. His contract kicks in when he begins playing in North America. The deal ... Read the full article