WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
December Edition
Matt Moulson skates this morning with his new teammates. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Having grown up in nearby Mississauga, Ont., about a 90-minute drive, Sabres winger Matt Moulson said he’s well-acquainted with his new city.
“I used to love coming to Bills games,” Moulson said this morning inside the First Niagara Center, less than a day after being acquired with two high draft picks from the New York Islanders for co-captain Thomas Vanek. “So it’s a great city. Who knows, it could be for a long ... Read the full article
Coach Lindy Ruff leads Dallas’ morning skate. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff still catches himself.
At times, the Dallas Stars’ coach still refers to the Sabres, the team he coached for 15 seasons, as “we.”
“I’ve slipped up the odd time with that one,” Ruff, whose Stars face the Sabres tonight, said this afternoon inside the First Niagara, his first visit back since his Feb. 20 dismissal.
Other times, Ruff will thumb to the Sabres’ statistics page instead of Dallas’.
Breaking old ... Read the full article
The Sabres selected Thomas Vanek fifth overall in 2003. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In the short-term, the hapless Sabres are no better after dealing co-captain and top scorer Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders late Sunday for 30-goal winger Matt Moulson and a first-round pick in 2014 and second-round selection in 2015, general manager Darcy Regier said.
But the shocking trade, which Regier worked on with counterpart Garth Snow “off and on for a while,” wasn’t about improving the 2-10-1 club immediately.
“This is more ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff coached the Sabres 15 seasons. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This city, of course, is still Lindy Ruff’s home. Always will be, the former Sabres coach said shortly after his stunning Feb. 20 dismissal.
At times, it felt as if Ruff, having survived so much turmoil and change over his 15 seasons, would never leave.
But 250 days ago, Darcy Regier, Ruff’s close friend, drove to his Clarence home and fired him, the Sabres’ regression too much for the general manager ... Read the full article
James Patrick has been beside Lindy Ruff for years. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – James Patrick is joining Lindy Ruff with the Dallas Stars.
In a move many expected, the Stars today added the 50-year-old former Sabres player and assistant coach to Ruff’s staff.
Patrick, Ruff’s assistant for seven years, stayed on after the Sabres fired Ruff in February. New coach Ron Rolston let Patrick go following the season, however.
Ruff and Patrick have been friends since playing together with the New York Rangers in the ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff coached the Sabres from 1997-98 until Feb. 20. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The media couldn’t wait to ask Lindy Ruff, the Dallas Stars’ new coach, about “No Goal,” the disputed 1999 Stanley Cup-winning goal by Dallas’ Brett Hull that defeated Ruff’s Sabres.
It was the first question.
Of course, Ruff has always contended shouldn’t have counted because Hull’s skate was in the crease.
“It’s a long time ago,” Ruff, fired by the Sabres after more than 15 years on Feb. 20, told reporters in Dallas ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff was fired Feb. 20. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Get ready to cringe, Sabres fans.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting the Dallas Stars are going to hire former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff as their new coach.
The Stars, of course, beat Ruff’s Sabres for the 1999 Stanley Cup with Brett Hull’s infamous “No Goal” in Game 6 at what was then called Marine Midland Arena.
For more details on the possible hiring, click here.
The Sabres fired Ruff on Feb. ... Read the full article
The Sabres fired Lindy Ruff on Feb. 20. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Not surprisingly, new Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill recently spoke to former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff about his club’s vacancy, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Ruff, arguably the best veteran coach on the market, could speak with Nill more formally soon, the News reported. The 53-year-old Ruff also talked with Tampa Bay not long after his Feb. 20 firing.
The Stars also plan on interviewing Alain Vigneault, who likely ... Read the full article