WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
March Edition
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
Connor McDavid visited Buffalo on Thursday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The sight was enough to make any Sabres fan dream and drool: 17-year-old phenom Connor McDavid inside the First Niagara Center, talking about playing here someday.
For good measure, he was even photographed with a Sabres banner behind him.
If you ask the junior superstar, he’ll acknowledge that, yes, he can envision himself wearing blue and gold come 2015.
“It’s a great organization,” the slick center said Thursday after touring the rink, where ... Read the full article
Connor McDavid is coveted by NHL teams. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
The draft lottery changes the NHL unveiled today might not hurt the Buffalo Sabres, owners of three 2015 first-round picks, next year. The league’s worst team can’t fall below the second pick.
The odds of nabbing that No. 1 pick, however, have fallen from 25 percent to 20, according to the league.
Still, the Sabres, a team many have pegged to finish last, will get Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel, the consensus top two prospects, ... Read the full article
Connor McDavid will likely be drafted No. 1 next year. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
For one night at least, Connor McDavid, the top 2015 NHL draft prospect, is coming to Buffalo.
The Sabres announced this afternoon the team will be a hosting an Ontario Hockey League game with the Erie Otters, McDavid’s club, at the First Niagara Center next season.
Of course, Sabres fans want more than a glimpse of McDavid, the slick 17-year-old sensation many regard as the best prospect since Sidney Crosby. But given the slew of ... Read the full article
Christian Ehrhoff will be a free agent again in a year. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff lasted less than 10 minutes on the open market, signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins early this afternoon.
The Sabres bought out the final seven seasons of the German’s 10-year, $40 million contract Sunday.
It’s a win-win deal for Ehrhoff. He’s joining a slick, superstar-laden Penguins club expected to compete for the Stanley Cup. He’ll get plenty of ice time with superstars Sidney Crosby and ... Read the full article
Drew Stafford and the Sabres play Oct. 11 in Chicago and host the Blackhawks on April 3. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ 2014-15 schedule will get busy in a hurry, with the Oct. 9 season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside the First Niagara Center starting a stretch of 11 games in 22 days. They then play 14 games in November, their most active month.
Two home games against superstar Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, a Dec. 9 visit from the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and an April 3 ... Read the full article