LaFontaine - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres will make decision on Mikhail Grigorenko’s future soon

BUFFALO – In past world junior championship appearances, Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko said he would’ve been concentrating solely on his offensive game.

“I didn’t really think about defense or penalty kills or faceoffs or winning battles,” the 19-year-old prospect said Thursday prior to sitting out the Sabres’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers as a healthy scratch.

But Grigorenko feels he’s evolving. This year, while scoring five goals and eight points in seven games ... Read the full article

GM Tim Murray on interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan: ‘Ted is my guy right now’

BUFFALO – Pat LaFontaine believes you put people together and let them do what they do best.

“They’re good at what they do and together they’ll be better,” the president of hockey operations said Thursday after naming Tim Murray the Sabres’ new general manager.

Murray’s now together with Ted Nolan, the interim coach LaFontaine named in November.

What’s going to happen?

“Ted is my guy right now,” Murray said inside the First Niagara ... Read the full article

GM Tim Murray unsure about Sabres’ upcoming UFAs; Pat LaFontaine open to keeping Ryan Miller

BUFFALO – General manager Tim Murray knows with three high-profile unrestricted free agents the Sabres’ phones “will ring off the hook here going forward.”

Franchise goalie Ryan Miller, top scorer Matt Moulson and gritty captain Steve Ott will be coveted by teams before the NHL trade deadline.

What will Murray, who was named GM today, do?

“I can’t go out right now and tell you I’m going to trade all the pending UFAs if there’s ... Read the full article

New GM Tim Murray open to keeping interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan

BUFFALO – Pat LaFontaine believes you put people together and let them do what they do best.

“They’re good at what they do and together they’ll be better,” the president of hockey operations said today after naming Tim Murray the Sabres’ new general manager.

Murray’s now together with Ted Nolan, an interim coach LaFontaine named in November.

What’s going to happen?

“Ted is my guy right now,” Murray said inside the First Niagara Center.

Murray ... Read the full article

Sabres introduce Tim Murray as new GM, Craig Patrick as advisor

BUFFALO – The Sabres appointed Tim Murray their new general manager today, but not before making a surprise announcement.

Craig Patrick, a Hockey Hall of Famer and two-time Stanley Cup champion as Pittsburgh’s GM, has joined the team as a special assistant and advisor to the hockey department.

Here are some highlights from today’s new conference.

Murray

On his philosophy:

“You build a team through the draft. Good drafting allows you to trade well, and ... Read the full article

Reports: Sabres will name Tim Murray GM

BUFFALO – It appears the Sabres will name Tim Murray their new general manager.

According to reports, Pat LaFontaine, the president of hockey operations, has chosen the 50-year-old Murray, Ottawa’s assistant GM, to replace Darcy Regier after a nearly two-month search.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported Murray is the “last man standing” and a formal offer, negotiation and ownership approval still must be completed.

The Sabres also interviewed three assistant GMs – Boston’s Jim Benning, ... Read the full article

Mikhail Grigorenko’s return to Sabres could be brief one

BUFFALO – At some point this week, prospect Mikhail Grigorenko, fresh off a five-goal, eight-point performance in seven world junior championship games, will be returning to the Sabres, interim coach Ted Nolan said.

But will the 19-year-old center be staying in the NHL?

“He’s coming here for Pat (LaFontaine) and I to discuss,” Nolan said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll make that decision when he gets here.”

Nolan, however, acknowledged he would prefer ... Read the full article

Mikhail Grigorenko set to rejoin Sabres, but for how long?

BUFFALO – Fresh off a five-goal, eight-point performance in seven games with Russia at the world junior championship, center Mikhail Grigorenko will be rejoining the Sabres soon.

But will the 19-year-old stick in the NHL or go somewhere else?

“He’s coming here for Pat (LaFontaine) and I to discuss,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said following practice today inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll make that decision when he gets here.”

Nolan, however, acknowledged ... Read the full article

Sabres score 4 goals again, beat Bruins for second straight regulation win

BUFFALO – Break ‘em up. Not only have the Sabres won consecutive games in regulation for the first time all season, they’ve scored eight goals while wowing crowds again inside a lively First Niagara Center.

The Sabres had eight goals in their previous seven games before starting this mini-streak.

Thursday’s 4-2 triumph versus the Boston Bruins might’ve been the best of their nine victories this trying season.

Against the class of the Eastern Conference, Drew ... Read the full article

Sabres acquire Linus Omark from Oilers for draft pick

BUFFALO – The Sabres tonight acquired winger Linus Omark from the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional sixth-round draft pick in 2014.

The flashy 26-year-old has eight goals, 30 points and 34 penalty minutes in 88 NHL contests.

The pick, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, is based on the number of NHL games the Swede plays.

The Oilers drafted Omark 97^th overall in 2007. He played last season in Switzerland before returning to North America.... Read the full article