McCormick - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres to use new lines against Senators; Brayden McNabb back in lineup

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wanted to give his lines a long look. The interim Sabres coach figured he couldn’t ask his players for consistency if he kept shuffling the trios.

But after a string of losses and more meager offensive production, Nolan switched up his combinations Monday.

“Our top line is having a little bit of trouble, maybe the chemistry wasn’t quite right,” Nolan said following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “We talked to ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan changes Sabres’ lines; Brayden McNabb to return Tuesday

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wanted to give his lines a long look. The interim Sabres coach figured he couldn’t ask his players for consistency if he kept shuffling the trios.

But after a string of losses and more meager offensive production, Nolan switched the lines up today.

“Our top line is having a little bit of trouble, maybe the chemistry wasn’t quite right,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. ... Read the full article

Franchise goalie Ryan Miller wants actions, not words, from Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ryan Miller said he’s heard lots of talk about the franchise’s future before.

But at this point, months away from becoming an unrestricted free agent, the 33-year-old wants more than words.

“It’s about action at this point,” Miller said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “I’m not going to sit around and let promises get thrown around.”

Miller said he’s had some talks with Pat LaFontaine, the president ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko excited for world junior championship

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko knows watching NHL games as a spare forward is hurting his development.

“I can’t be sitting in the press box. I need to play,” Grigorenko said Thursday morning inside the First Niagara Center. “Everybody understands this.”

Luckily, the Sabres’ new regime understands how vital ice time is to Grigorenko’s maturation, so the team’s letting the 19-year-old center play for Russian at the upcoming world junior championship in Sweden.

“I ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko excited to represent Russia at world junior championship

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko knows he can’t develop properly sitting in the press box regularly.

“I need to play,” Grigorenko said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “Everybody understands this.”

Luckily, the Sabres’ new regime understands that, so the team’s letting the 19-year-old center play for Russian at the upcoming world junior championship in Sweden.

“I think it’s going to be great for me because I’m not getting enough ice time,” said ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan wants Sabres goalie Ryan Miller to stay in Buffalo

BUFFALO – In Ted Nolan’s mind, franchise goalie Ryan Miller, an unrestricted free agent following the season, is more of a building block for the struggling Sabres than an asset.

“You build around him versus as a pawn to try to get something to make you better,” the interim coach said Wednesday. “You learn to deal with the now as a coach, and we got one of the better goaltenders in the world here. I’d ... Read the full article

Sabres send Brayden McNabb to Amerks for one game

BUFFALO – Defenseman Brayden McNabb, a healthy scratch the last two games, will play tonight for the Rochester Americans before returning to the Sabres.

Sitting long isn’t good for the 22-year-old, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. The Amerks host the Utica Comets tonight.

“The greatest thing about having the Rochester Americans so close he can go down and play,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “He sat out ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno wanted to showcase sportsmanship in fight

BUFFALO – Marcus Foligno wanted to make sure Ryan Carter was OK. So the Sabres winger stopped punching after landing a big knockout blow to his opponent’s face Saturday in New Jersey.

“I’d say it’s just a little caution,” Foligno, who stayed with Carter for a few moments following the fight, said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “You hit a guy that hard, I felt it, too. You just caught him in the right ... Read the full article

Sabres ‘fine tune’ with double practice; Cody McCormick ready to return

BUFFALO – Before they could even begin practicing this morning, Ted Nolan wanted the Sabres to “fine tune” a little bit, “revisit things they used to do,” the interim coach said.

So for about 45 minutes on the First Niagara Center ice, Dawn Braid, the Sabres’ skating coach, put most of team through a series of non-traditional drills.

“Some of the things they used to do when they’re younger they don’t quite do it as ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mikhail Grigorenko and Brayden McNabb should return tonight after healthy scratches

BUFFALO – These aren’t regular healthy scratches. Interim coach Ted Nolan, who’s been charged with evaluating and developing the Sabres’ young lineup, wants some of his prospects to sit occasionally.

So he scratched center Mikhail Grigorenko and defenseman Brayden McNabb for Friday’s 3-2 overtime win against Toronto Maple Leafs inside the First Niagara Center.

Both should return tonight in New Jersey against the Devils, however.

“I’m not unhappy,” Nolan said Friday morning about Grigorenko’s play. ... Read the full article