WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Ville Leino played only eight games last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It keeps getting worse for Sabres winger Ville Leino.
Leino, who played only eight games last season while battling a hip and lung injury, cracked a rib early in Wednesday’s season-opening 2-1 loss in Detroit and is out indefinitely.
The Finn should only miss a couple of weeks, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center.
Leino stayed in the game, skating 12:38. But Rolston said ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno was hurt last Sunday in Toronto. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With a muscle strain sidelining winger Marcus Foligno, the 23 players on the ice this morning – 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies – could be on the Sabres’ opening night roster Wednesday in Detroit, coach Ron Rolston said.
“I don’t see it Wednesday,” Rolston said about Foligno inside the First Niagara Center. “I think he’ll be in a position tomorrow where he’ll practice. But I don’t think one day is going ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov could go back to junior. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Nikita Zadorov cut his finger blocking a shot in Friday’s exhibition finale and is out about two weeks, coach Ron Rolston said.
“It just kind of smashed it on the tip,” Rolston said Saturday inside the First Niagara Center.
The 18-year-old rookie had the injury stitched up, Rolston said.
Zadorov signed a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday, although general manager Darcy Regier hinted then the Sabres would likely send the youngster ... Read the full article
Johan Larsson scored twice in his third preseason game Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ depth down the middle is, well, a bit thin beyond Cody Hodgson.
Consider this: the five other centers coach Ron Rolston has played in the team’s three exhibition contests – Matt Ellis, Mikhail Grigorenko, Johan Larsson, Cody McCormick and Kevin Porter – have combined for 64 goals and 154 points in 816 NHL games.
That’s it.
So what will the Sabres do?
“We’re going to continue ... Read the full article
Joel Armia saw plenty of action Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This wasn’t a three-minute YouTube package of European highlights or a summer development camp scrimmage. This was slick Sabres prospect Joel Armia finally skating in some NHL action.
The hype surrounding Armia has been building since the Sabres selected the Finnish winger 16th overall in 2011. Yet few fans had seen the 20-year-old, who spent the last three seasons playing at home in SM-liiga, up close prior to Thursday’s exhibition home opener, ... Read the full article
Joel Armia skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The hype has been building since slick Finnish winger Joel Armia was selected 16th overall in 2011. In the 20-year-old, the Sabres possess a prospect so talented many believe he could crack the NHL right away.
Yet few have seen Armia, who spent the last three seasons playing at home in SM-liiga, up close.
Who exactly is this guy?
Fans will find out tonight, when Armia makes his Buffalo debut in the ... Read the full article
Corey Tropp only played six games last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Seventeen months after Corey Tropp played his last NHL game, the 24-year-old Sabres winger will return to the lineup tonight in Columbus.
Yes, it’s just an exhibition contest. But for Tropp, who suffered ligament damage in his right knee playing for Rochester opening night last season, it’s more than a preseason tilt.
Tropp’s back in the NHL.
“I’d be lying to you if I told you when I finished the season two ... Read the full article
The Sabres picked Rasmus Ristolainen eighth overall in June. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Four No. 1 picks from the last two years, including both 2013 selections, defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, will skate for the Sabres in tonight’s preseason opener in Montreal.
Expect to see the rebuilding Sabres showcase plenty of youth throughout the seven-game exhibition schedule, coach Ron Rolston said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
“There’s going to be a lot of opportunity for those players, and they’re going to get a ... Read the full article
Ron Rolston took over as coach on Feb. 20. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres convene for training camp physicals today inside the First Niagara Center, for better or worse, almost the same team that ended a disappointing, 11th-place season 137 days ago.
Other than a busy draft day and reacquiring 34-year-old defenseman Henrik Tallinder, the rebuilding club remained quiet throughout the summer.
Starting goalie Ryan Miller and leading scorer Thomas Vanek, two veteran stars rumored to be on the trading block, ... Read the full article
Nathan Gerbe played 188 games for the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Nathan Gerbe’s Sabres career is over.
The team placed the diminutive winger on waivers Wednesday for the purpose of buying him out, his agent, Jordan Neumann, told the Times Herald.
When asked if Gerbe had any warning, Neumann replied, “Absolutely none.” The Sabres still hadn’t contacted Neumann as of early Wednesday afternoon. Neumann said he understands the business, however.
Sabres general manager Darcy Regier told the media at least three times recently, ... Read the full article
