WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Jack Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award on Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel will play for the Buffalo Sabres next season.
Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets clinched 30th place for the rebuilding Sabres, meaning they can fall no lower than second during the NHL Draft Lottery next Saturday and select one of the prized 18-year-old centers in June.
The Sabres have a 20 percent chance of getting McDavid, hockey’s biggest prospect since Sidney Crosby.
On Friday, about 240 ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson once formed a dynamic duo with John Tavares. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Five years ago, Matt Moulson, then a struggling winger on a two-way contract with the New York Islanders, was paired up with slick center John Tavares, the No. 1 pick months earlier.
The two immediately showcased dynamic chemistry together, becoming arguably the NHL’s best duo.
Moulson, now one of the Sabres’ top scorers, compiled seasons of 30, 31, 36 and 15 goals (in 48 games) with Tavares feeding him the puck.
How ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen practices Monday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When you’re struggling and searching for anything to ignite the team, you experiment. So with nothing to lose, Sabres coach Ted Nolan paired Rasmus Ristolainen, 20, and rookie Nikita Zadorov, 19, together last game.
The defensemen became the Sabres’ top tandem in Saturday’s ugly 6-1 loss to Pittsburgh, each skating more than 20 minutes, more than Tyler Myers. Zadorov wasn’t on the ice for any goals against.
“If you look at both ... Read the full article
Sidney Crosby dissects the Sabres on Saturday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This one lasted one shift. Eighty-one seconds into the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 6-1 annihilation of the Sabres, Kris Letang converted Sidney Crosby’s slick pass, the first of the superstar’s five assists Saturday.
Game over.
The Penguins utterly destroyed the hapless Sabres before a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center.
The potent Penguins scored again before the Sabres recorded their first shot 13:21 into the lopsided contest. They led 3-0 ... Read the full article
Mike Weber fights Steve Downie on Saturday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Following an embarrassing 5-0 loss eight days ago in Pittsburgh, defenseman Mike Weber passionately called for more anger and intensity from the reeling Sabres.
The gritty Weber sat out the next night, the first of three straight healthy scratches. The 26-year-old, an emotional presence, hadn’t missed a game since Dec. 10.
The Pittsburgh native played again in Saturday’s 6-1 loss to the Penguins inside the First Niagara Center.
“It was extremely tough,” Weber ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis touched an official Friday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After time expired Friday in the Sabres’ 3-2 loss to Edmonton, center Tyler Ennis skated over to linesman Derek Nansen and tapped the official with his stick.
Nansen immediately gave Ennis a game misconduct.
Why did the normally mild-mannered Ennis touch an official?
“I was a little frustrated,” he said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I just went to go talk to the linesman and tap him on the bum ... Read the full article
Christian Ehrhoff signed with Pittsburgh in July. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
PITTSBURGH – Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff figured since the Buffalo Sabres asked him to submit a no-trade list last season, the rebuilding team would deal him during the summer.
“That was kind of my expectation,” Ehrhoff said Saturday prior to the Penguins’ 5-0 win inside the Consol Energy Center, “but it didn’t end up that way.”
On June 29, the Sabres used their second compliance buyout to eat the final seven seasons of Ehrhoff’s 10-year ... Read the full article
Connor McDavid had four points Wednesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Six months ago, Steve Poland paid $110 for a discounted gold Sabres alternate jersey at the team store and had 17-year-old junior superstar Connor McDavid’s last name and No. 97 stitched on it.
“I bought it as a joke for this forthcoming season,” Poland said Wednesday prior to watching McDavid and the Erie Otters inside the First Niagara Center.
Poland, like a lot of rabid fans, wants the Sabres to lose all season ... Read the full article
Connor McDavid stretches Tuesday in Buffalo. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Hockey phenom Connor McDavid mostly avoids the kind words that are being written about him.
“I’ve been trying to do that as much as I can, because it can either get in your head that you’re too good, or bad press can also get in your head and do negative things for you,” the slick Erie Otters center said Tuesday. “I just try to stay away from reading about yourself.”
Some words, however, ... Read the full article
Ted Nolan doesn’t use many advanced numbers. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The analytics explosion hitting the NHL hasn’t been felt around the Sabres. Their coach, Ted Nolan, is an old-school guy. He doesn’t need advance stats to evaluate a player.
“The information I use is with my eyes and my soul and my heart,” Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “If I see someone who’s competing and I know he’s competing, that’s good enough for me. I don’t need a machine ... Read the full article
