Pegula - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres ownership on Ralph Wilson Jr.: ‘He embodied what all owners in sports strive to be’

The Sabres issued the following statement today from owners Terry and Kim Pegula following the passing of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr.:

“The entire Buffalo Sabres organization was saddened to learn of the passing of Ralph Wilson, Jr. His contributions to the city of Buffalo over his 50-plus years of owning the Bills were immeasurable and his legacy in Western New York and the sports world will be long-lasting. With his passion for the ... Read the full article

Sabres insist Pat LaFontaine wasn’t fired; Ted Nolan upset over departure

BUFFALO – A Sabres icon bolted less than four months after returning to the team he loved. The franchise goalie and captain got traded.

The Sabres just endured perhaps the most trying weekend in their 43-year history. That was before the popular coach sounded like he might want to leave.

“It’s a lot for our fans to swallow in a short amount of time,” Sabres president Ted Black said Sunday, a day after Pat LaFontaine ... Read the full article

Ted Black insists Pat LaFontaine resigned from Sabres; Tim Murray wants to keep Ted Nolan

BUFFALO – Sabres president Ted Black understands Pat LaFontaine’s stunning resignation as president of hockey operations creates uncertainty for a team that had finally seemed to stabilize itself.

“It’s something that fans are going to be upset by,” Black said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center, a day after LaFontaine abruptly bolted from the organization after less than four months.

Still, Black said, LaFontaine was only one person.

“I don’t know if it impacts ... Read the full article

Stunner: Pat LaFontaine resigns from Sabres

BUFFALO – In a stunning development, Sabres legend Pat LaFontaine, the team’s president of hockey operations less than four months, resigned today.

LaFontaine will return to the job he had with the NHL.

According to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, the last straw for LaFontaine was Friday’s blockbuster deal in which the Sabres sent Ryan Miller to the St. Louis Blues.

LaFontaine wanted to give the 33-year-old Miller an extension. New general manager Tim Murray, who LaFontaine ... Read the full article

Sabres trade goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to Blues

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ trade with the St. Louis Blues is official: goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott are gone.

In return, the Sabres acquired goalie Jaroslav Halak, forwards Chris Stewart and William Carrier, a first-round pick in 2015 and another conditional pick.

Miller and Ott will talk to the media during the first intermission tonight. General manager Tim Murray will speak after the second period.

Update: Here are some quotes from an emotional ... Read the full article

Former Sabres disappointment Brad Boyes thriving with Panthers

BUFFALO – Brad Boyes’ comeback generated no interest. The 31-year-old former Sabres winger rejuvenated his career last season beside star John Tavares and Matt Moulson on the New York Islanders’ No. 1 line.

Then, despite compiling 10 goals and 35 points in 48 games, Boyes couldn’t find a team during one of the oddest summers in NHL history.

With the salary cap coming down and rosters packed, plenty of notable veterans experienced similar situations.

“It ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Steve Ott wants to remain in Buffalo, believes rebuilding team not far away from contending

BUFFALO – The hospitality Steve Ott and his family have experienced from the community has been incredible, the captain said. Win or lose, the locals still love their Sabres.

Of course, the Sabres have done a lot of losing during Ott’s first year here.

The warm welcome and the struggles have left Ott imagining the Sabres’ resurgence. Right now, they’re rebuilding, still the NHL’s worst team.

But the 31-year-old, an unrestricted free agent following the ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson open to staying with Sabres, not worried about getting traded again

BUFFALO – Thirty games into what could be a very short Sabres career, Matt Moulson said he’s given a lot of thought to a future he can’t control yet.

The winger, quietly one of the NHL’s top goal scorers for years, would be coveted as an unrestricted free agent this summer. But before that, if the Sabres want to deal the 30-year-old, he’d be in high demand as a rental prior to the March 5 ... Read the full article

Tim Murray ready to tackle Sabres’ ‘extremely attractive’ GM job

BUFFALO – Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray recently approached his nephew, Tim Murray, and told him the rebuilding Sabres, the NHL’s worst team, wanted permission to interview him for the vacant GM position.

Murray would be leaving what he called “comfortable situation” as the Senators’ assistant GM. The 50-year-old’s from the Ottawa area. His wife and children live there. Many speculated he would replace his uncle someday. At the very least, he acknowledged, he would’ve ... Read the full article

Forbes values Sabres at $250 million

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ awful on-ice performance hasn’t hurt the team’s value.

Forbes’ annual list of NHL franchise values pegs the Sabres worth $250 million, 22^nd in the league. The Sabres ranked 22^nd last year at $175 million.

Sabres owner Terry Pegula paid $189 million for the team in 2011.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL’s most valuable team at $1.15 billion. The Columbus Blue Jackets are the least valuable at ... Read the full article