WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Rasmus Asplund played with Alexander Nylander is Sweden. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Early in the winter at the world junior championship, NHL Draft prospect Rasmus Asplund centered Alexander Nylander, the winger the Sabres drafted eighth overall Friday.
Clearly, the Sabres liked the chemistry the two showcased together representing Sweden, as they drafted Asplund, 18, with the 33rd pick this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
“He was one of the guys I had the best chemistry with in my whole career,” an excited ... Read the full article
Dmitri Kulikov is a left-handed defenseman. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres swapped defensemen and draft picks with the Florida Panthers this morning, trading Mark Pysyk and the 38th and 89th selections to the Florida Panthers for Dmitry Kulikov and the 33rd pick.
The Sabres used that selection to take Swedish center Rasmus Asplund, who centered Alexander Nylander, the eighth overall pick by Buffalo, at the world junior championship.
Kulikov, 25, could be the left-handed defenseman Sabres general manager ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander (center) was all smiles Friday with Sabres owner Terry Pegula. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Swedish winger Alexander Nylander and his older brother, William, are close. Before the Sabres drafted Alexander eighth overall Friday, he spent the entire day with William, someone he has leaned on for advice throughout the NHL Draft process.
But besides being siblings and friends, Alexander, 18, and William, 20, are now, in many ways, enemies. William plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabres’ closest and fiercest rival.
“It’s going to be a ... Read the full article
The Sabres drafted Philippe Boucher 13th overall in 1991. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As Philippe Boucher approached Buffalo on his eight-hour drive from Quebec City on Wednesday, the 25th anniversary of the 1991 NHL Draft, the former Sabres defenseman sounded nostalgic recalling his life-changing day at Memorial Auditorium.
“To be drafted by Buffalo in Buffalo obviously added to that day,” Boucher said by phone.
Boucher watched the NHL Draft on Friday from the First Niagara Center stands as youngsters experienced the same emotions he felt ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander talks to the media tonight. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Swedish winger Alexander Nylander and his older brother, William, are close. Before the Sabres drafted Alexander eighth overall tonight, he spent the entire day with William, someone he has leaned on for advice throughout the NHL Draft process.
But besides being siblings and friends, Alexander, 18, and William, 20, are now, in many ways, enemies. William plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabres’ closest and fiercest rival.
“It’s going to be a ... Read the full article
Tim Murray drafted a forward early. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres selected winger Alexander Nylander with the eighth overall pick tonight at the NHL Draft.
The hometown crowd inside the First Niagara Center responded by roaring in approval.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Nylander scored 28 goals and 75 points in 57 games with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2015-16, earning Ontario Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League top rookie honors.
To NHL Central Scouting Dave Gregory, the Swede “might be the most skilled guy ... Read the full article
Tim Murray could have a busy summer ahead of him. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In his two and a half years as general manager, Tim Murray has developed a well-deserved reputation for wheeling and dealing to rebuild the Sabres, a team the previous regime gutted into a laughingstock.
So it’s only natural to assume Murray, who has the Sabres positioned to contend for their first playoff spot since 2011, will be active again at the NHL Draft his team is hosting this weekend, starting with tonight’s first ... Read the full article
Pierre-Luc Dubois should be picked early tonight. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Once ultra-talented forwards Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi are nabbed early tonight, the NHL Draft might really get interesting.
Sure, after the Toronto Maple Leafs select Matthews, there’s speculation the Winnipeg Jets could pass on Laine, the presumptive No. 2 pick, and go for Puljujarvi, another Finn, leaving Laine for the Columbus Blue Jackets. But those three players will almost certainly go first.
What could happen next on the First ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen has been a strong pick for the Sabres. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – To thrive in the modern NHL, teams must build through the draft. It’s that simple. The days of loading up with veteran players through free agency or trades are long gone. The league belongs to the 20-somethings now, and if teams draft poorly, they’re doomed.
How good are the Sabres at drafting? Judge for yourself below. Since drafts usually don’t start paying dividends for a few years, here’s a look at their selections ... Read the full article
Olli Juolevi will be picked early Friday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Ask Olli Juolevi a question about his talents, and the London Knights defenseman’s response might surprise you.
In an age in which elite athletes are often taught to give vague, vanilla answers, Juolevi has no problem saying what he really feels.
For example, Juolevi, even though he has some stiff competition from Jakob Chychrun and Mikhail Sergachev, recently said he expects to be the first defenseman chosen in Friday’s NHL Draft the ... Read the full article