Michal Neuvirth will start in goal Friday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres coach Ted Nolan glad trade deadline has passed

BUFFALO – It wasn’t a normal NHL trade deadline for the rebuilding Sabres. No one was off limits.

“If you look at the majority of the teams, they got one guy maybe they’re thinking about moving,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan told reporters today in Tampa Bay, a day after the deadline. “We had almost half our team in the trade mill. We didn’t really know until yesterday.

“There was a lot of anxious moments. ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson played less than one season with the Sabres. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Rebuilding Sabres busy at trade deadline, not done overhauling roster

BUFFALO – Tim Murray said he began his first NHL trade deadline day as a general manager with no expectations, unsure which direction the rebuilding Sabres might go.

By the end Wednesday, Murray had made three notable deals, trading familiar names like Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick and Brayden McNabb while acquiring NHL talent and prospects. He also grabbed Canisius product Cory Conacher off waivers.

Murray, who sent franchise goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve ... Read the full article

Jaroslav Halak’s stay in Buffalo could be brief. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres have plenty of assets to offer before trade deadline

BUFFALO – Expect the rebuilding Sabres to be busy prior to today’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline. No one’s off limits this year. Remember, new general manager Tim Murray has no attachment to any players on the roster.

This could be the team’s busiest and biggest deadline ever. Today might help reshape the franchise for the next five or 10 years.

Here are some Sabres who could be dealt and their contract status:

Winger Matt ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Steve Ott stands in front of goalie Jaroslav Halak, who Buffalo acquired Friday, earlier this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ blockbuster trade rocked dressing room before game

BUFFALO – It was a normal Sabres game night. Players were preparing for their warm-up Friday. Ted Nolan had held pregame his meeting and talked about his plan for the San Jose Sharks.

Then the interim coach saw Joe Battista, the team’s vice president of hockey-related business, coming around the corner.

Battista informed Nolan that goalie Ryan Miller, the scheduled starter, shouldn’t go out for the warm-up.

“I think we got a deal for him,” ... Read the full article

Steve Ott (left) and Ryan Miller discuss their trade from the Sabres on Friday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres trade goalie Ryan Miller, captain Steve Ott to Blues

BUFFALO – Ryan Miller had almost a year to prepare for a trade. Still, the moment hit him hard. When the Sabres dealt the franchise goalie and captain Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night, emotion overwhelmed Miller.

“It just kind of hits you all at once,” Miller said as he broke down inside a packed First Niagara Center media room.

Then Miller, a former Vezina Trophy winner and the face of ... Read the full article

Christian Ehrhoff has played three seasons with the Sabres. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Christian Ehrhoff has submitted no-trade list; Tyler Ennis out again

BUFFALO – With the NHL trade deadline five days away and rumors swirling, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan has started greeting captain Steve Ott in a special way.

“You don’t want to make light of it, but every day I walk in and say, ‘Steve, you still here?’” Nolan joked this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I talked to Tyler Myers on the ice today. His name popped up in the newspapers yesterday. I ... Read the full article

Matt D’Agostini zooms in on Boston goalie Chad Johnson for the overtime winner Wednesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Late-game heroics help Sabres down Bruins, earn Jhonas Enroth rare win

BUFFALO – Having just won an Olympic silver medal, Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth could finally find some comfort in an otherwise miserable season. Sure, the struggling backup had just one win all year, but he had been Sweden’s No. 2 netminder behind Henrik Lundqvist, his idol.

Perhaps Enroth’s two weeks at the Sochi Games generated some much-needed confidence. The 25-year-old dazzled at times Wednesday, making some brilliant saves against the Boston Bruins before a capacity ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson knows he could be traded. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres ready for hectic schedule following Olympic break, know changes are coming

BUFFALO – Trade rumors have dogged Matt Moulson since the Sabres acquired the winger almost four months ago. But with rosters frozen for 16 days during the NHL’s Olympic break, Moulson briefly got away from the noise, rehabbed his rib injury and relaxed a bit.

“It was good to just go home and train and get healthy again and spend some family time,” Moulson said Monday inside the First Niagara Center.

Moulson and the Sabres ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson has missed four games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Matt Moulson ready to return; Sabres will use weary goalie Tuesday

BUFFALO – Matt Moulson said he noticed “a weird thing” when he watched the Jan. 30 hit that has sidelined him four games. Phoenix’s Shane Doan just bumped the Sabres winger. But Moulson’s skate got caught and he fell down, and he elbowed himself in the rib.

“I originally thought I popped my own rib out,” Moulson said Friday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres’ first post-Olympic practice. “That wasn’t the case. ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan returned from the Olympics on Thursday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ted Nolan thrilled by Olympic experience; injured Sabres set to return

BUFFALO – One of Ted Nolan’s favorite parts of his Olympic experience was simply sitting down in the cafeteria and trying to guess which sports the athletes played.

The interim Sabres coach, who led Latvia’s surprising entry at the Sochi Games, said he met an alpine skier from Mexico who’s a prince and someone from Togo.

“I didn’t know where Togo was,” an exited Nolan said today after the Sabres practiced inside the First ... Read the full article