Jamie McGinn has meshed well with the Sabres. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Jamie McGinn could be coveted before trade deadline

BUFFALO – After 12 seasons as the face of the Carolina Hurricanes, Eric Staal waived his no-trade clause to join his brother, Marc, in New York for the Rangers’ Stanley Cup-or-bust run. Former Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd is back in Chicago, where he won a championship with the Blackhawks in 2010.

Thanks to a few days of heavy action, the crop of notable rental forwards available before the 3 p.m. trade deadline – the ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson tries to stop Detroit’s Darren Helm on Jan. 2. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson knows his time in Buffalo could be ending

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Chad Johnson learned years ago he needed to embrace the nomadic lifestyle that often accompanies a career as a backup.

So at each of his five NHL stops, Johnson, 29, has tried to make the best of what can be a difficult situation by exploring his new city, meeting its people and finding the best local eateries.

“That’s the only way you can really deal with getting traded all the time, ... Read the full article

Dan Cantenacci will miss tonight’s game. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres unhappy with Flyers’ Radko Gudas; Dan Catenacci out

BUFFALO – Before Dan Bylsma answered a question about the suspect hit that likely concussed Sabres winger Dan Catenacci late in Thursday’s ugly 5-1 road loss in Philadelphia, the coach paused for a few moments.

Clearly, Bylsma, who said he hadn’t watched a replay, wanted to choose his words carefully.

Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas, who has a reputation for questionable hits and has been suspended by the NHL once, won’t have a disciplinary hearing, according ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Jack Eichel (15) rushes the puck Tuesday with Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov in pursuit. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres fall apart early in loss to Panthers

BUFFALO – Following a dreadful first period Tuesday in which the Sabres imploded and fell behind 3-0 to the upstart Florida Panthers, some frustrated fans booed for one of the few times this season.

Not long ago, games like the Sabres’ wretched 7-4 loss inside the First Niagara Center – a contest hardly as close as the score might indicate – were gladly accepted by a fan base that valued a high draft pick over ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson makes a second-period save Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres blow early lead, fall to Bruins in shootout

BUFFALO – Despite blowing a two-goal lead at home and losing a precious point to a division rival they’re chasing, the Sabres felt pretty good about the single point they earned for Thursday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins.

“We deserved to have better in this game and let it slip away,” said coach Dan Bylsma, whose Sabres have earned five points in the last three games and are 6-4-1 in their last 11 ... Read the full article

Ramsus Ristolainen has his friends in town. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Rasmus Ristolainen’s friends to attend Bruins game; Sabres goalie Chad Johnson to start

BUFFALO – In his three NHL seasons, Rasmus Ristolainen’s close friends from his native Finland had never seen him play in person. Naturally, the defenseman wanted to make their first experience worthwhile, so he figured they should watch him in Montreal’s Bell Centre, one of the league’s best venues.

On Wednesday, five friends saw Ristolainen play in the Sabres’ 4-2 comeback win against the Canadiens. TV cameras caught the group clad in blue No. 55 ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark knows he must improve to be a No. 1 NHL goalie. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark happy with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Ten minutes after his occasionally suspect 20-save outing ended Wednesday, goalie Linus Ullmark was his normal loquacious self, joking and laughing with a familiar face following the Americans’ entertaining 6-5 overtime win.

Ullmark’s third appearance since the Buffalo Sabres sent him to their AHL affiliate earlier this month was perhaps his toughest game in what has mostly been an impressive rookie season. His teammates frequently abandoned him, leaving Syracuse Crunch players open for ... Read the full article

Jamie McGinn (88) has been perhaps the Sabres’ biggest surprise. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres could be active again before trade deadline

BUFFALO – Don’t let four impressive wins in the last six games fool you. The Sabres still rank last in the Atlantic Division and 29th in the 30-team NHL.

Yes, they’ve improved greatly this season. Still, they’re 11 points out of the Eastern Conference’s last wild card spot entering tonight’s home tilt against the Detroit Red Wings inside the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres are going to miss the playoffs for the fifth straight ... Read the full article

Tim Schaller scores his first-period short-handed goal Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres throttle Capitals, end home skid

BUFFALO – Count the Sabres’ exciting 4-1 shellacking of the high-powered Washington Capitals on Saturday as perhaps the most impressive victory felt in these parts in years.

The 29th-ranked Sabres ended a five-game home losing streak while manhandling the league-leading Capitals, who roared into the First Niagara Center having won five straight contests and 14 of the last 16.

This one was never in doubt and had a little bit of everything. First-period ... Read the full article

Phil Varone scored his fifth NHL goal Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Phil Varone feeling good after goal in season debut

BUFFALO – Just 18 days ago, when the Rochester Americans made their yearly visit to the First Niagara Center, Phil Varone watched as a healthy scratch. At that point, almost halfway through his fifth professional season, the forward appeared to be on the outs with the Sabres organization.

Despite playing 28 NHL games last year and earning a contract worth $200,000 in the minors, Varone’s poor play and the Amerks’ glut of veterans helped him ... Read the full article