Grigorenko - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Kevin Porter establishing himself as one of Sabres’ top forwards

BUFFALO – Ten years ago, Ron Rolston wanted Kevin Porter to come play at Boston College. The interim Sabres coach, then an NCAA assistant, recruited the teenage hockey star, even talked to his father a little bit.

Ultimately, Porter stayed in his home state, becoming a collegiate legend at Michigan. Rolston, meanwhile, took over Team USA’s development program shortly after Porter left.

Their paths crossed again in July.

Porter’s career had hit a rut after ... Read the full article

Rolston mum on Sabres’ starting goalie

BUFFALO – So, Ron Rolston, fresh off his 29-save shutout in Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers, will backup goalie Jhonas Enroth start again today?

“I don’t know,” the Sabres’ interim coach replied this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll see.”

Rolston knows which netminder’s starting against the Tampa Bay Lightning, right? He’s just not telling.

“Exactly,” he said with a grin.

Enroth, who hurt his neck late Saturday, is fine, Rolston said. ... Read the full article

Enroth and some luck push Sabres past Flyers

BUFFALO – Sure, the Sabres needed some good fortune to down the Philadelphia Flyers 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. Christian Ehrhoff’s pass off the end boards created the game’s only goal. Daniel Briere hit the crossbar behind Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth with just a single tick left in the game.

Still, they deserved their 17^th win this season and first in three games. The Sabres, so vile during Thursday’s 5-1 home loss to Montreal, ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Grigorenko wows in return to junior

The Buffalo Sabres sent 18-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko back to the Quebec Remparts on Friday to enhance the prospect’s development, let him be the man again and play big minutes instead of having him fight for ice time in the NHL.

In his first QMJHL game since Jan. 11, Grigorenko didn’t disappoint in this afternoon’s regular-season finale, compiling a goal and four points in the Remparts’ 5-3 win over visiting Rimouski.

“I think it ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Leino impresses in return from hip injury

BUFFALO – Ron Rolston wasted no time, throwing Ville Leino right into the fire Saturday afternoon, the winger’s first game since April 7.

The Sabres’ interim coach put Leino, sidelined by a hip injury the first 27 games this season, out for the opening faceoff inside the First Niagara Center.

“It was good for me,” Leino said about starting the game after the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators. “It made me ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rolston believes Brennan’s offense will materialize with Panthers

BUFFALO – Under coach Ron Rolston in Rochester, T.J. Brennan thrived, developing into an AHL star and arguably the league’s most dynamic offensive defenseman.

But that scoring prowess hasn’t translated to the NHL. Brennan played sparingly in the big leagues this season, sitting 17 of the Sabres’ 27 games as a healthy scratch.

Even when Rolston took over on an interim basis Feb. 20, the 23-year-old kept sitting, playing only four games under his old ... Read the full article

Sabres believe sending Grigorenko back to junior will help prospect’s development

BUFFALO – Sending rookie Mikhail Grigorenko back to junior wasn’t a snap decision the Sabres made to reach the 23-man roster limit, general manager Darcy Regier said. The team had been talking about the move for a while prior to making it Friday.

If the 18-year-old center wasn’t getting scratched, he had been playing sparingly during most of his 22 NHL appearances.

“This isn’t driven by a roster move,” Regier said during a late-afternoon news ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Darcy Regier says sending Mikhail Grigorenko to junior best move

BUFFALO – Sending rookie Mikhail Grigorenko back to junior wasn’t a snap decision the Sabres made to reach the 23-man roster limit, general manager Darcy Regier said this afternoon. The team had been talking about the move for a while.

If the 18-year-old center wasn’t getting scratched, he had been playing sparingly during most of his 22 appearances.

“This isn’t driven by a roster move,” Regier said inside the First Niagara Center. “This is driven ... Read the full article

Sabres send Grigorenko back to junior

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent 18-year-old rookie center Mikhail Grigorenko back to the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts this afternoon.

The Russian has one goal, five points and minus-2 rating in 22 games this season. He has recently played sparingly or been a healthy scratch.

The Sabres had to make a roster move with winger Ville Leino (hip) returning Saturday.

Update: Here are some comments from general manager Darcy Regier on the decision.

“We’ve been talking about ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alexander Sulzer done for season after ACL surgery

BUFFALO – Defenseman Alexander Sulzer hadn’t been seen much around the Sabres since injuring his knee early in a 4-0 home loss to the New York Islanders on Feb. 23.

On Thursday, though, the German was spotted on crutches sporting a cast around his right leg in the First Niagara Center dressing room.

Not long after, interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said Sulzer had undergone successful surgery to repair his ACL and would be out ... Read the full article