WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
November 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
Cody McCormick fights regularly. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The cycle repeats nearly every season. Inevitably, gritty Sabres forward Cody McCormick spends each training camp battling and fighting – literally, as he has nine career preseason scraps – for one of the 20 coveted NHL roster spots.
Other than 2011, after McCormick’s career season earned him a new three-year, $3.6 million contract, the versatile 30-year-old has lived the journeyman’s life, never enjoying much comfort prior to a new campaign.
“Every year I’ve ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek has one year left on his contract. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – Thomas Vanek spoke firmly. No, the high-scoring winger said, he hasn’t asked to be traded from the Buffalo Sabres. The widespread belief he wants out of town doesn’t bother him. But it’s simply not true.
“The media and people, they can make up their own assumptions as long as I know where I’m at and stuff and my family’s at. That’s fine,” Vanek said following an off-ice workout Wednesday morning. “At the end ... Read the full article
Jamie Tardif has played two NHL games. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres added a scoring winger for the Rochester Americans today, signing Jamie Tardif to a one-year, two-way contract.
The 28-year-old scored a career-high 30 goals and added 45 points in 62 AHL games last season with Providence. Tardif also made his first two NHL appearances with Boston.
His NHL deal is worth $550,000, according to RDS’s Renaud Lavioe.
The Welland, Ont., native has 123 goals and 229 points in 438 AHL games ... Read the full article
Darcy Regier talks about the Sabres’ offseason news Friday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With each passing day, general manager Darcy Regier acknowledged, it becomes more likely starting goalie Ryan Miller and slick winger Thomas Vanek will still be with the Sabres when training camp starts in September.
Regier has said both stars, whose contracts expire after next season, could be dealt from the rebuilding Sabres. He said he’s had some “discussions regarding both those players” with other teams.
“The nature of this business as you move ... Read the full article
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
Matt Ellis will be Rochester’s captain if he’s not with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed Matt Ellis to a two-year, two-way contract, the club announced this afternoon.
If he doesn’t crack the NHL, the hardworking forward is set to become the Rochester Americans’ captain again, a role he earned last season after getting sent to the AHL in February.
The respected 31-year-old, who joined the Sabres off waivers from Los Angeles in 2008, has 16 goals and 31 points in 267 NHL games.
Ellis ... Read the full article
Darcy Regier talks Sunday at the NHL Entry Draft. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For now at least, starting goalie Ryan Miller and slick winger Thomas Vanek, two veteran stars entering the final seasons of their contracts, are still members of the Sabres.
Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said Tuesday he has spoken to the players’ agents and both sides plan to continue chatting.
“As I’ve stated before, it’s incumbent upon me to have a sense of what the marketplace is or re-sign them versus allowing them ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller’s situation remains in the air. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For now at least, starting goalie Ryan Miller and slick winger Thomas Vanek, two veteran stars entering the final seasons of their contracts, are still members of the Sabres.
Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said this morning he has spoken to the players’ agents and both sides plan to continue chatting.
“As I’ve stated before, it’s incumbent upon me to have a sense of what the marketplace is or re-sign them versus allowing ... Read the full article
Cody McCormick just finished his first AHL stint since 2009-10. ©2013, Rochester Americans
ROCHESTER – In an instant, Cody McCormick vanished from the NHL.
On Feb. 20, the struggling Buffalo Sabres waived the gritty forward mid-practice, then immediately yanked him from the ice, a demeaning exit for a popular veteran who fought 26 times during his 139-game tenure.
McCormick then showered, left the First Niagara Center and went home. He reported to the Americans after clearing waivers the next day, his first AHL stint since 2009-10.... Read the full article