WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Tim Murray smiles Wednesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ acquisition of winger Evander Kane and defenseman Zach Bogosian from the Jets in Wednesday’s blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Tyler Myers to Winnipeg makes the rebuilding club closer to contending, general manager Tim Murray said.
“My plan was to do something like this to speed it up,” Murray said inside the First Niagara Center after pulling off the NHL’s biggest deal this season.
The Sabres paid a steep price, however, dealing ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers was the 2009-10 Calder Trophy winner. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ acquisition of winger Evander Kane and defenseman Zach Bogosian from the Jets today in the blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Tyler Myers to Winnipeg makes the rebuilding club closer to contending, general manager Tim Murray said.
“My plan was to do something like this to speed it up,” Murray said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center after pulling off the NHL’s biggest deal this season.
The Sabres paid a steep ... Read the full article
Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth upends the New York Islanders’ Matt Martin on Sunday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Even by Sabres standards, it was ugly. Almost 32 minutes into Sunday’s 3-2 loss, the New York Islanders led by three goals. The Sabres, meanwhile, had five shots total and zero in the second period to that point.
Then, like so many other times this season, they got going. After Sabres coach Ted Nolan called a timeout, Marcus Foligno buried Nikita Zadorov’s rebound.
Just like that, the Sabres had two shots in about ... Read the full article
Steve Ott played two seasons in Buffalo. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – They’re still all over town. Go to a Sabres game, walk around the mall or do some grocery shopping, and you’ll inevitably see someone wearing a No. 9 Steve Ott Sabres jersey.
“Must’ve been on sale when I got traded or something,” Ott joked Thursday prior to the St. Louis Blues’ 3-0 win, his first game in Buffalo since the Sabres dealt him Feb. 28. “I don’t know. Maybe they were just giving ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno (82) will miss his 18th straight game tonight. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Before Marcus Foligno broke his hand fighting Boston’s Matt Bartkowski on Dec. 21, the Sabres center was enjoying perhaps the best run of his young career.
Foligno had just been moved to the middle by Sabres coach Ted Nolan. He had a three-game goal streak during the team’s torrid run earlier in December.
Still, Foligno, who could return this weekend, doesn’t want a do-over. Bartkowski hit Sabres captain Brian Gionta high after ... Read the full article
An upper-body injury sidelined Brian Gionta 13 games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Instead of jetting to a tropical locale during the NHL All-Star break, Sabres coach Ted Nolan went home to Northern Ontario to relax a bit and clear his mind.
“Guys go to beaches,” Nolan said Monday afternoon, “I go to snow and shovel my deck off and enjoy the family and friends.”
The Sabres, losers of a franchise-record 11 straight games in regulation entering tonight’s tilt in Calgary, sorely needed some extended time ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov sat much of October. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres suspended Nikita Zadorov today after the 19-year-old defenseman failed to report back to the team on time following the NHL All-Star break.
“What can you do?” coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon after the Sabres practiced without Zadorov inside HarborCenter. “The travel conditions sometimes get in the way. That’s how it is.”
In a statement, general manager Tim Murray said Zadorov would join the team on its trip out west. Nolan ... Read the full article
Mike Weber had knee surgery last month. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – How bad are the Sabres early in games? Really bad.
Opponents have outscored the struggling Sabres 40-15 in the first period and outshot them 493-336 entering tonight’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers inside the First Niagara Center. In Thursday’s 7-0 loss to Minnesota, the Wild scored twice and outshot the Sabres 15-3 in the opening period.
“We talk about that all the time going into games, we have to have good starts, let’s ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek scored his eighth goal Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Call it hockey’s worst-kept secret.
Of course, Thomas Vanek couldn’t say anything as he bounced from team to team last season. But the former Sabres star confirmed the suspicions when free agency opened July 1, signing a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Minnesota Wild.
Vanek, a Minnesota resident and Golden Gophers college hero, wanted to return home.
“Honestly, every time I went out somewhere and got recognized, that was one of the ... Read the full article
Brian Gionta has missed 10 games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Of course, it’s tempting. Just having captain Brian Gionta back for practices has had a positive effect on the reeling Sabres. Coach Ted Nolan wants to play the veteran winger badly.
Nolan also wants to be careful and exercise some patience. So Gionta, out the last 10 games with an upper-body injury, will likely be sidelined until after the NHL All-Star break.
The Sabres play their first game after the break Jan. 27 ... Read the full article
