Nolan - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres acquire Josh Gorges from Canadiens

BUFFALO – The Sabres have acquired defenseman Josh Gorges from the Montreal Canadiens for a 2016 second-round pick.

The 29-year-old, a veteran of 560 NHL games, was asked to waive his no-trade clause Sunday to help the Habs create cap space. Gorges was stunned, and he nixed a deal to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“You’re never ready for it,” Gorges told the Montreal Gazette on Monday. “You’re never expecting it so, yeah, you’re a ... Read the full article

Prospect Brendan Lemieux impressed Sabres in difficult draft interview

PHILADELPHIA – Brendan Lemieux thought he flunked his recent interview with the Buffalo Sabres badly. The team pushed the 18-year-old, grilling him about his relationship with his Barrie Colts teammates and other difficult subjects.

“We made it uncomfortable for him a little bit,” Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray said Saturday after selecting Lemieux 31^st overall at the NHL Entry Draft.

But the way Lemieux, the son of legendary NHL agitator and playoff hero ... Read the full article

Sabres’ recent drafts have yielded some strong talents and notable misses

Since most NHL Entry Drafts don’t start paying dividends for a few years, here’s a look at the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round picks from 2006-11 and some notable hits and misses. Fourteen of Buffalo’s 43 draft choices over that time have made the NHL.

The Sabres have eight picks this weekend in Philadelphia, including the No. 2 selection.

2011

First-round pick: center Joel Armia, 16^th overall

Armia endured a rough season in 2013-14, his ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray focusing on center for top pick, ready to add free agents

BUFFALO – In one week, general manager Tim Murray, like just about everyone else associated with hockey, expects stud defenseman Aaron Ekblad will be drafted No. 1 overall. Then the rebuilding Sabres have a franchise-altering decision.

Which slick prospect will they grab at No. 2?

“We’re taking the best player available,” Murray said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center.

Murray acknowledged the obvious, saying there’s a “very good chance” the Sabres will pick one of ... Read the full article

Sabres will likely draft center at No. 2, still want to add another high pick

BUFFALO – In eight days, Sabres general manager Tim Murray fully expects Florida – or whoever the Panthers trade the No. 1 overall pick to – will grab defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

So what will the rebuilding Sabres do with the next selection at the NHL Entry Draft?

“We’re taking the best player available,” Murray said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

Murray acknowledged the obvious, that, yes, the Sabres will likely select one of ... Read the full article

Ville Leino’s NHL career in jeopardy with Sabres planning buyout

BUFFALO – As expected, the Sabres placed Ville Leino on unconditional waivers Tuesday 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

Sabres timeline: Ville Leino was never afraid to speak his mind

BUFFALO – With Ville Leino’s Sabres career over, here’s a timeline of the enigmatic forward’s short three-year run. Expectations started high and, well, quickly dwindled.

Leino, as you’ll see, was never afraid to speak his mind.

July 1, 2011, the day the Sabres signed Leino to his infamous six-year, $27 million contract and switched him from wing to center:

“I talked to him about all three positions, and he’s comfortable at all three,” former ... Read the full article

Former Sabre Alexander Sulzer signs 5-year deal in native Germany

BUFFALO – Former Sabres defenseman Alexander Sulzer has signed a five-year contract with Kolner Haie, a DEL team in his native Germany.

Sulzer was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The 29-year-old played 57 games with the Sabres over parts of three years, compiling six goals and 14 points.

He suffered a season-ending concussion March 13. He said last month he was still experiencing headaches.

The Sabres’ old regime waived ... Read the full article

Christian Ehrhoff says he wants to stay with rebuilding Sabres after tough season

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

Alexander Sulzer still recovering from first concussion, open to returning to Sabres

BUFFALO – Despite having played 12 professional seasons, Sabres defenseman Alexander Sulzer avoided his first concussion until March 13, his 505^th game.

Jiri Tlusty hit Sulzer a few minutes into the Sabres’ 4-2 loss in Carolina. He bumped his head on the glass.

“Then it went back and forth a couple times,” Sulzer recalled Monday.

Sulzer’s disappointing season – and possibly his 57-game Sabres career – was over.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” ... Read the full article