WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Phil Varone should make his NHL debut tonight. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The thinking was the Sabres, with eight defensemen at their disposal, would likely send one to Rochester.
Sure enough, they assigned rookie Brayden McNabb to the AHL with forward Kevin Porter, who’s finally healthy after getting hit into the boards Dec. 21.
But in a surprising move, the Sabres also recalled a youngster Wednesday afternoon, center Phil Varone, the Americans’ leading scorer. The 23-year-old prospect will likely play tonight against the Carolina ... Read the full article
Snow falls last year near the French Connection statue outside the First Niagara Center. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Tonight’s Buffalo Sabres game against the Carolina Hurricanes has been postponed.
With a blizzard hammering the Buffalo area and driving bans all over, the NHL really had no other choice.
A make-up date hasn’t been announced.
“Tonight’s game between the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes at First Niagara Center, NHL Game No. 647, has been postponed due to the hazardous weather conditions in the Buffalo area. A make-up date will be announced as soon as ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko has spent the last month with the Russian junior team. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – At some point this week, prospect Mikhail Grigorenko, fresh off a five-goal, eight-point performance in seven world junior championship games, will be returning to the Sabres, interim coach Ted Nolan said.
But will the 19-year-old center be staying in the NHL?
“He’s coming here for Pat (LaFontaine) and I to discuss,” Nolan said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll make that decision when he gets here.”
Nolan, however, acknowledged he would prefer ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers can’t play until next Tuesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – On Monday, hours before the NHL suspended Tyler Myers three games for an illegal check to Dainius Zubrus’ head, the Sabres defenseman said his hulking stature wouldn’t make him change his aggressive style.
“I don’t want to change my game just because of how tall I am,” the 6-foot-8 Myers said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s just something that comes ... Read the full article
Drew Stafford scored only six goals last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When the worst season of Drew Stafford’s career mercifully ended five months ago – he describes the six-goal, 18-point campaign as hitting “rock bottom” – the Sabres winger stopped dwelling on it.
“You got to get over it,” Stafford said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason finale in Carolina. “It was an absolute nightmare. It’s one of those things where you can’t change the past, what’s ... Read the full article
Joel Armia saw plenty of action Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This wasn’t a three-minute YouTube package of European highlights or a summer development camp scrimmage. This was slick Sabres prospect Joel Armia finally skating in some NHL action.
The hype surrounding Armia has been building since the Sabres selected the Finnish winger 16th overall in 2011. Yet few fans had seen the 20-year-old, who spent the last three seasons playing at home in SM-liiga, up close prior to Thursday’s exhibition home opener, ... Read the full article
Joel Armia skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The hype has been building since slick Finnish winger Joel Armia was selected 16th overall in 2011. In the 20-year-old, the Sabres possess a prospect so talented many believe he could crack the NHL right away.
Yet few have seen Armia, who spent the last three seasons playing at home in SM-liiga, up close.
Who exactly is this guy?
Fans will find out tonight, when Armia makes his Buffalo debut in the ... Read the full article
Jamie McBain had only one goal and eight points last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Jamie McBain disputes his former general manager’s belief he reported to training camp out of shape last season.
The new Sabres defenseman acknowledged Tuesday that workouts “kind of slipped away from me a little bit” during the lockout. But McBain had played briefly in Finland and felt ready for an abbreviated season with the Carolina Hurricanes following the work stoppage.
“My on-ice conditioning was just fine,” said McBain, who could face the Hurricanes ... Read the full article
Nathan Gerbe was waived earlier this month. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
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
T.J. Brennan has been a healthy scratch frequently this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
In seven NHL games this season, Buffalo Sabres defenseman T.J. Brennan has zero points and 14 shots on goal (how many have missed the net?) while averaging 14:11 on the ice each appearance.
After scoring 14 goals and 35 points in 36 games with Rochester this season, Brennan has underwhelmed mightily.
If the 23-year-old didn’t have to clear waivers, he likely would’ve been returned to the AHL. Instead, rather than risk losing him, the Sabres ... Read the full article