WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Ville Leino’s Sabres career is over. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As expected, the Sabres have placed Ville Leino on unconditional waivers and will be using a compliance buyout on the final three seasons of the Finn’s six-year, $27 million deal, ridding themselves of perhaps the worst contract in NHL history.
Yes, the worst ever.
When he wasn’t battling a series of injuries, the 30-year-old forward produced only 10 goals and 46 points in 137 games with the Sabres, including zero goals in ... Read the full article
Nick Deslauriers played 17 games with the Sabres in 2013-14. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed winger Nick Deslauriers to a one-way, two-year contract.
The deal is worth $1.25 million, according to capgeek.com. The 23-year-old would’ve become a restricted free agent this summer.
Deslauriers, acquired from Los Angeles in the March 5 Brayden McNabb trade, compiled one goal and 18 penalty minutes in his first 17 NHL games. He played 10 total games in Rochester following the season.
“Nick was able to step ... Read the full article
Christian Ehrhoff was a minus-27 this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Offensively, Christian Ehrhoff enjoyed his best season with the Sabres in 2013-14, compiling six goals and 33 points in 79 games. But those numbers don’t tell the entire story.
Like most of his teammates, the defenseman struggled much of the miserable campaign, compiling a minus-27 rating.
In January, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said Ehrhoff was pressing. Some observers said the German often looked uninterested.
By March, Ehrhoff’s name was popping up in ... Read the full article
Jim Corsi joined the Sabres in 1998. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have fired or reassigned all of the assistant coaches Ted Nolan inherited from the previous regime.
Jim Corsi, the team’s popular goalie coach since 1998, is gone, the club announced today. So is Teppo Numminen, whose contract wasn’t renewed after three seasons. Joe Sacco and Jerry Forton have been offered new jobs within the organization’s hockey department after just one season with the team.
Nolan replaced Ron Rolston on an interim ... Read the full article
Tim Murray discussed the Sabres’ future bluntly Tuesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tim Murray has thought about how an NHL team could tank a season. The general manager even discussed some scenarios with the media. But he has no intention of keeping the Sabres at the bottom of the league.
With a couple of franchise-altering talents available in the 2015 draft, plenty of teams could purposely field less-than-stellar lineups next year.
The Sabres, whose previous regime played for draft picks, won’t be among them.
“I ... Read the full article
The Sabres could draft Sam Reinhart this June. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Chalk up one more loss for the Sabres this season.
The rebuilding club couldn’t retain the No. 1 overall pick during Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery in Toronto. Instead, the Florida Panthers moved up one spot to the top selection.
The Sabres will pick second in June. Thanks to their 30th ranking this season, the Sabres had a 25 percent chance of keeping the top pick, more than any other team. The ... Read the full article
The Sabres might have an opportunity to select Sam Bennett at No. 2. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Chalk up one more loss for the Sabres this season.
The rebuilding club couldn’t retain the No. 1 overall pick during tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery in Toronto. Instead, the Florida Panthers moved up one spot to the top selection.
The Sabres will pick second in June. Thanks to their 30th ranking this season, the Sabres had a 25 percent chance of keeping the top pick, more than any other team. The Panthers ... Read the full article
Tim Murray talks to the media this afternoon. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In an end-of-season news conference that will likely become part of local lore, general manager Tim Murray bluntly discussed the Sabres’ future, tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery and took some not-so-veiled shots at the team’s old regime this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.
He even mentioned the Sabres getting their “pee-pee slapped” by the league recently.
More on that later.
Here are some highlights from the 28-minute chat from Murray and Sabres coach ... Read the full article
Mike Weber talks to the media Monday. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Mike Weber spoke passionately, like a man embarrassed by what he had just experienced. The worst season in the Sabres’ 43-year history clearly jolted the defenseman.
“You don’t want that feeling walking around town that you’ve disappointed people or you’re letting people down, especially a hardworking city like Buffalo,” Weber said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “I think to every man we’ve accepted the challenge.”
Weber talked about changing the team’s culture, ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers missed the last 10 games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tyler Myers’ season isn’t over yet. The Sabres defenseman said the broken ribs that sidelined him the final 10 games have mostly healed. The 24-year-old will likely accept an invitation to play for Team Canada at next month’s world championship.
Myers crashed into the net March 25 in Montreal. He didn’t reveal his injury until Monday.
“It’s coming along quite well,” Myers said as the Sabres cleaned out their lockers and held end-of-season ... Read the full article
