WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Luke Adam has been dominating the AHL. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Luke Adam figured he had fallen out of the Sabres’ plans. The 23-year-old winger, a strong Calder Trophy candidate two years ago at this time, barely received a look during the exhibition season.
The struggling, goal-starved team then refused to summon Adam from Rochester as he began piling up scores and recapturing his old form.
“I think they kind of had their mind made up,” Adam said Wednesday inside the First Niagara Center ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko practiced with the Sabres today. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Mikhail Grigorenko figured he’d be starting a two-week AHL conditioning assignment today. The 19-year-old Sabres prospect had already dropped his equipment off at the rink and checked into a Rochester hotel when a team front office member contacted him at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
The NHL had rejected the assignment.
Grigorenko drove back to Buffalo and practiced with the Sabres today.
What happened?
“You read the rules and see how they work,” interim Sabres ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen played 19 games with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Development time used to be mandatory. Before Mikhail Grigorenko cracked the lineup last season, the Sabres hadn’t played an 18-year-old regularly since Pierre Turgeon in 1987-88. Most of their top prospects spent at least one full season in the minors.
But former general manager Darcy Regier, who was fired with coach Ron Rolston last week, dramatically switched philosophies earlier this year as the Sabres started rebuilding.
The struggling Sabres recently became the first ... Read the full article
Jim Benning used to work for the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have received permission from the Boston Bruins to interview assistant general manager Jim Benning, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Pat LaFontaine, the Sabres’ new president of hockey operations, said Friday he would start interviewing GM candidates this week.
The Sabres fired Darcy Regier last week.
Benning worked 12 years with the Sabres, eight as the director of amateur scouting. The 50-year-old played 610 NHL games as a defenseman with Toronto ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko had two goals in 15 games. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In veteran defenseman Henrik Tallinder’s mind, the Sabres’ old regime handed out too many roster spots to undeserving youngsters. Interim coach Ted Nolan and his boss, Pat LaFontaine, know that. They’re working to correct those past mistakes.
“It’s not about getting the spot; it’s about earning the spot,” Tallinder said this morning inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres reassigned four rookies, three of them teenagers. “It used to be like that ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko has dominated in junior. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In a not-so-surprising move, the Sabres sent 19-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko back to the Quebec Remparts late Monday, according to RDS, a Canadian sports network.
Grigorenko has been scratched both games under interim coach Ted Nolan, who has strongly hinted he doesn’t think the Sabres should have four teenagers on the roster.
UPDATE: Grigorenko was just seen leaving the building this morning. Rookie defenseman Nikita Zadorov isn’t on the ice and has ... Read the full article
John Scott said he got “too fired up” Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres tough guy John Scott today called his “Princess Phaneuf” comment about Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf on Saturday a “slip of the tongue.”
“Obviously, a little emotional at the time,” Scott said inside the First Niagara Center following practice. “I haven’t trademarked it. I kind of regretted it.”
Following the Sabres’ 4-2 loss in Toronto, Scott said Phaneuf “bailed” as he approached him. A mini-melee ensued, and Scott received 14 penalty ... Read the full article
Ville Leino has switched back to center. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – His position doesn’t matter, Buffalo Sabres center Ville Leino said. The Finn can play in the middle or on both wings. Leino cares about his ice time and responsibility.
The 30-year-old enjoyed little of either under former coach Ron Rolston, who was fired Wednesday with general manager Darcy Regier.
Leino has struggled as a third- or fourth-line winger most of this season. Rolston even scratched him recently.
But in Friday’s 3-1 ... Read the full article
Steve Ott buries his second-period goal past Toronto goalie Jonathan Bernier on Friday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It might as well have been opening night again inside the First Niagara Center. Twenty-one games into the season, the Sabres started over Friday, performing like a new, refreshed team in their first game under interim coach Ted Nolan, an exciting 3-1 triumph against the hated Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nolan told the Sabres he was wiping the slate clean and didn’t care about their awful start under Ron Rolston, who was fired ... Read the full article
Ted Nolan was a happy coach Friday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It was going to be a special weekend trip to New York. Ted Nolan and his wife, Sandra, would celebrate her birthday and watch their son, Jordan, play for the Los Angeles Kings.
Nolan also wanted to see “The Book of Mormon” musical on Broadway. So he recently called Pat LaFontaine, a close friend with a ticket connection.
“I said, ‘Teddy, you better get ready for the show. It’s a pretty interesting show,’” ... Read the full article