WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Post-Deadline Edition
Cal O’Reilly had never played with his brother, Ryan. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Growing up about 140 miles away in Goderich, Ont., Buffalo Sabres center Cal O’Reilly witnessed some epic meltdowns when he beat his younger brother, Ryan, in hockey games.
“When he would lose, he would start throwing stuff – sticks and anything he could get his hands on,” Cal O’Reilly said Friday prior to the Sabres’ 6-4 preseason win against the Maple Leafs, the brothers’ first appearance together as teammates at any level ... Read the full article
Dan Catenacci grew up outside Toronto. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Instead of being in Canada’s largest city for an NHL exhibition game tonight, Buffalo Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle figured he’d likely be playing his first junior game this season about 3,000 kilometers away – hey, check the dateline – in Saskatchewan for the Prince Albert Raiders.
But the defenseman, the 51st pick in June, will play his third straight preseason game tonight against the Maple Leafs inside the Air Canada Centre.
“Good ... Read the full article
Robin Lehner stops a shot from Max McCormick on Wednesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – A week ago, Sabres newcomer Evander Kane, a winger who has hit the 30-goal mark once in his six-year career, boldly said he wants score 40 or 50 times this season.
Was it brash? You bet. But Kane backed up his words Wednesday, starting his Sabres career splendidly by scoring twice in their 5-2 exhibition loss to the Ottawa Senators before an announced crowd of 17,298 fans inside the First Niagara Center.
“It ... Read the full article
Brendan Guhle will play his second preseason game tonight. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The odds, of course, are still very low Brendan Guhle will stick around. In the coming days, the Sabres will likely send the defense prospect, the 51st pick in June, back to his junior club following an impressive training camp.
But Sabres coach Dan Bylsma left the door open just a crack for the 18-year-old.
“At least through one exhibition game and practice so far, he’s shown the ability that he could ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis (63) fends off Justin Kea on Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Their paths had never crossed until five months ago, when Team Canada chose Sabres winger Tyler Ennis and center Ryan O’Reilly to represent its world championship squad in the Czech Republic.
For three weeks, as the Canadians roared to a gold medal, O’Reilly’s many talents, the little details in his game, wowed Ennis. By the end of the tournament, they had become good friends.
When Ennis got home, he spoke to Tim Murray. ... Read the full article
Dan Bylsma keeps wondering whose loud voice he’s hearing. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The voice is so loud, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma keeps looking back on the ice and wondering who the heck is yelling.
“His voice is like his size, it’s big,” Bylsma said about 6-foot-5 goalie Robin Lehner, who will start Wednesday’s preseason home opener inside the First Niagara Center against his old team, the Ottawa Senators.
Lehner, as anyone who has watched a training camp practice quickly learned, loves to communicate on the ... Read the full article
Josh Gorges often spoke passionately after losses last season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Even watching from afar last season, Dan Bylsma could see the Sabres’ constant struggles frustrating defenseman Josh Gorges, a proud veteran the new coach calls “a crusty guy.”
Gorges, Bylsma has quickly learned, expects a lot from himself and his teammates.
“He’s a demanding guy for how he wants the team to play,” Bylsma said Sunday. “He’s … got a little crust to him, and I’ve seen that from him in training camp ... Read the full article
Mike Weber couldn’t stop smiling Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For nine minutes, defenseman Mike Weber couldn’t stop smiling. All of the frustration, all of the pain of experiencing consecutive 30th-place finishes has vanished thanks to a dramatic offseason overhaul, and the gritty veteran wanted to talk about the new-look Sabres.
“All smiles, wow, what a difference an offseason will make,” Weber said Friday. “Management told us leaving here (last season) they’d make the proper changes to get us in and ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel will almost certainly stop wearing No. 41 early next month. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – To rookie Jack Eichel, he hasn’t secured a spot on the Sabres yet.
That’s why the slick center, one of the biggest prospects in recent memory, initially hesitated to accept teammate Matt Moulson’s invitation to live with his family. That’s why Eichel, 18, hasn’t switched from No. 41, a development camp number he was given by the equipment staff, to No. 15, a number he picked.
Everyone in Buffalo seems to be ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel wore No. 41 again today. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – To rookie Jack Eichel, he hasn’t secured a spot on the Sabres yet.
That’s why the slick center, one of the biggest prospects in recent memory, initially hesitated to accept teammate Matt Moulson’s invitation to live with his family. That’s why Eichel, 18, hasn’t switched from No. 41, a development camp number he was given by the equipment staff, to No. 15, a number he picked.
Everyone in Buffalo seems to be wearing ... Read the full article