WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Bryan Trottier has won seven Stanley Cups. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Two men who had spent their entire lives in hockey never met until a chance encounter almost 19 years ago outside Memorial Auditorium.
It was 1995-96, Ted Nolan’s first year as Sabres coach. Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier, an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was walking outside the Aud in a snowstorm when Nolan spotted him.
Nolan pulled over and offered a lift.
“We had a five-minute chat,” Trottier, one of ... Read the full article
Gary Bettman speaks to the media Monday. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres officially have the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. They plan to bid on an NHL All-Star game. The team has already secured the league’s scouting combine for the next two years.
Hmmm, what other big event could be in the works?
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said owner Terry Pegula and his wife, Kim, mentioned Monday the Sabres would be interested in hosting another outdoor game.
The Sabres had the first Winter Classic ... Read the full article
Brian Gionta talks about being named captain Tuesday. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For five years, Josh Gorges watched Brian Gionta closely. Gionta’s Stanley Cup ring offered him instant credibility in the Montreal dressing room. But Gorges quickly learned why Gionta won a championship.
Gorges noticed the professionalism Gionta exhibited, the strong habits that made him a leader and respected captain.
“I’ve said this all along, when you’re a young guy coming into a team … who do you look to in the room and say, ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson (26), Brian Gionta (12) and Josh Gorges (4) posed with their new letters this afternoon. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For the first time in years, the Sabres have stability in their leadership group.
Captains Brian Gionta and alternates Josh Gorges and Matt Moulson have a combined 12 years left on their contracts. Each veteran chose to join the rebuilding Sabres this offseason.
Ted Nolan, who’s beginning his first full season as Sabres coach since 1996-97, believes the trio will fill the leadership void he noticed late last season.
“Coming in, going in ... Read the full article
Brian Gionta signed with the Sabres on July 1. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Ted Nolan today named 35-year-old winger Brian Gionta the 19th full-season captain in franchise history.
Defenseman Josh Gorges and winger Matt Moulson have been named alternates.
The Sabres haven’t had a captain since Steve Ott left in February.
Check back for details and quotes later!... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart (center) celebrates his first preseason goal with Marcus Foligno (82) and Tyson Strachan (24). ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Seven minutes, 10 seconds into the third period Wednesday, with the Sabres up four goals against the Washington Capitals, top prospect Sam Reinhart finally found some open ice.
Reinhart, by his own admission, had been pressing this preseason. The savvy 18-year-old couldn’t score or even create opportunities, and it gnawed at him. The hockey IQ fans have heard about so much rarely materialized.
But as Wednesday’s contest dragged on, the center got open ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko skates this morning. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Two weeks into training camp, center Mikhail Grigorenko remains the Sabres’ biggest surprise. Two more impressive outings could earn the Russian prospect a roster spot.
“He’s been looking really good,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s strong on the puck. He’s been making some really good plays. So the biggest thing right now is keep seeing him do it.”
Grigorenko has two more preseason opportunities, tonight ... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta impressed the Sabres this training camp. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta’s facial injury isn’t as bad the Sabres originally feared, and the winger could miss as little as a month, coach Ted Nolan said Tuesday.
“It’s still serious,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s not going to be a three-month thing. It’s could be a less-than-month type of thing. So we’re thankful for that.”
Kaleta and forward Johan Larsson were injured early in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout exhibition loss in Toronto. ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart has played all three preseason games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After playing three games in a five-day stretch to open the preseason, top Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart will likely sit out Sunday’s exhibition tilt in Toronto, coach Ted Nolan said.
Reinhart agreed with Nolan’s assessment he enjoyed his best outing in Friday’s 6-4 loss to the Maple Leafs. The center had zero points and one shot in 16 minutes, 46 seconds of ice time, mostly between Cody Hodgson and Brian Gionta.
“I think ... Read the full article
Tim Schaller has looked impressive this training camp. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Ted Nolan knew very little about Sabres prospect Tim Schaller prior to training camp. The center hasn’t dazzled the coach, but his play away from the puck has been catching Nolan’s eye.
“I just thought his hockey intelligence was evident to a few of us,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “He kept doing it day after day after day. We just felt that he deserves an opportunity.”
Schaller, an ... Read the full article
