Ennis - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres sign Tyler Ennis to long-term deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres officially announced slick center Tyler Ennis’ new contract this morning.

It’s a five-year, $23 million deal, according to multiple reports.

Ennis, the Sabres’ last notable restricted free agent, had a team-high 21 goals in 80 games last season. The 24-year-old has 69 goals and 166 points in 267 NHL games since 2009-10.

At $4.6 million a season, Ennis is the Sabres’ third-highest paid player behind defenseman Tyler Myers ($5.5 million) and ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres’ Tyler Ennis close to signing 5-year contract worth around $23 million

BUFFALO – The Sabres are close to signing leading scorer Tyler Ennis to a five-year contract worth around $23 million, according to the NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes.

The deal has an average annual value of $4.6 million, according to Weekes.

Ennis, the Sabres’ last notable restricted free agent, had 21 goals and 43 points in 80 games last season. The center has 69 goals and 166 points in 267 NHL games since 2009-10.

The 24-year-old ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Chad Ruhwedel to 2-year deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year contract, leaving center Tyler Ennis as the club’s lone notable restricted free agent.

Ruhwedel had one assist in 21 NHL games last season. The 24-year-old four goals and 28 points in 47 games with Rochester.

The San Diego native has played 28 NHL contests. The Sabres signed him as a free agent after three NCAA seasons at the University of UMass Lowell.... Read the full article

Sabres let Cory Conacher, Jamie McBain go

BUFFALO – The short Sabres careers of winger Cory Conacher and defenseman Jamie McBain are over.

The rebuilding club passed on giving them qualifying offers as restricted free agents, making them free to sign with any team.

The Sabres also didn’t qualify defensemen Nick Crawford and Matt MacKenzie, who played in Rochester, and goalie Connor Knapp, who played two NHL games last season.

Sabres general manager Tim Murray said Monday morning McBain, who struggled his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ recent drafts have yielded some strong talents and notable misses

Since most NHL Entry Drafts don’t start paying dividends for a few years, here’s a look at the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round picks from 2006-11 and some notable hits and misses. Fourteen of Buffalo’s 43 draft choices over that time have made the NHL.

The Sabres have eight picks this weekend in Philadelphia, including the No. 2 selection.

2011

First-round pick: center Joel Armia, 16^th overall

Armia endured a rough season in 2013-14, his ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray focusing on center for top pick, ready to add free agents

BUFFALO – In one week, general manager Tim Murray, like just about everyone else associated with hockey, expects stud defenseman Aaron Ekblad will be drafted No. 1 overall. Then the rebuilding Sabres have a franchise-altering decision.

Which slick prospect will they grab at No. 2?

“We’re taking the best player available,” Murray said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center.

Murray acknowledged the obvious, saying there’s a “very good chance” the Sabres will pick one of ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray tired of talking about salary floor

BUFFALO – Tim Murray calls all the NHL salary floor speculation “very annoying.” The general manager is sick of discussing how the Sabres will reach the mark.

“I hear about it all the time,” Murray said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s a distraction.”

Right now, the Sabres have just $35,930,555 committed to 15 players for next season, according to capgeek.com, $18,080,834 under the floor.

Sometimes, Murray said, he’ll be interrupted during a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ville Leino uncertain about future after goalless season

BUFFALO – It happened every time Ville Leino touched the puck, whether the Sabres center was 10 feet from the net or in another zone.

The 18,804 fans inside the First Niagara Center cheered the Finn wildly throughout Sunday’s season finale, hoping he would score his first goal in his 58^th appearance. Some implored him to shoot.

Alas, Leino couldn’t score, completing what was arguably the worst season ever for a Sabres forward.

“I ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Connor Knapp on first NHL start: ‘Quite a moment in my life’

BUFFALO – On March 15, more than 4,000 miles from Buffalo, Sabres goalie Connor Knapp stopped 24 shots in the Alaska Aces’ 4-2 win against the Colorado Eagles in Anchorage.

Twenty-nine days later, Knapp, the sixth goalie on the organization’s depth chart, made his first NHL start in the Sabres’ 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders.

Knapp grew up in York, a small town about 30 miles from Rochester.

“It’s crazy,” the 23-year-old ... Read the full article

Sabres want to be vocal with NHL, upset about Zac Rinaldo’s suspension

BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Tim Murray recently asked coach Ted Nolan to tell him everything that was happening.

Why?

“Because we’re going to complain about it,” Murray told Nolan.

The Sabres are angry the NHL only suspended Flyers agitator Zac Rinaldo four games for elbowing defenseman Chad Ruhwedel in the head late in Sunday’s 5-2 loss in Philadelphia.

Ruhwedel is home recovering from a concussion and out indefinitely. Rinaldo, meanwhile, can play again next ... Read the full article