WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Robyn Regehr acknowledged he has thought about his future with the trade deadline looming. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – A stone-faced Ryan Miller was in no mood to dissect his team’s season-long struggles. The 13th-place Sabres still have 14 games left in what has again become a forgettable year. Technically, they’re not finished yet. When and if the time comes, the goalie will breakdown what went wrong.
“We’re trying to figure it out and battle,” Miller said Friday after the Sabres prepared for the Washington Capitals inside the Northtown Center ... Read the full article
Robyn Regehr (24) waived his no-trade clause in 2011. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – The trade rumors, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr said, don’t bother him. They’re part of being an NHL player around the trade deadline, which hits Wednesday.
“If you want to know any more about them, I think you’re asking the wrong Regehr right now,” the 32-year-old veteran, an unrestricted free agent this summer, said this afternoon after the Sabres practiced inside the Northtown Center.
Of course, Regehr was referring to Sabres general manager ... Read the full article
T.J. Brennan played 21 games with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Ron Rolston’s Feb. 20 promotion to the Sabres as interim coach meant more comfort for T.J. Brennan, who was playing sparingly under Lindy Ruff. The 23-year-old had just spent almost two seasons thriving under Rolston in Rochester, developing into one of the AHL’s slickest defenseman.
“(Rolston) knew my style and knew my type of play,” Brennan said by phone Wednesday. “I think that was a good change for me. But, I guess, at ... Read the full article
T.J. Brennan played sparingly this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Under coach Ron Rolston in Rochester, T.J. Brennan thrived, developing into an AHL star and arguably the league’s most dynamic offensive defenseman.
But that scoring prowess hasn’t translated to the NHL. Brennan played sparingly in the big leagues this season, sitting 17 of the Sabres’ 27 games as a healthy scratch.
Even when Rolston took over on an interim basis Feb. 20, the 23-year-old kept sitting, playing only four games under his old ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko dominated junior hockey earlier this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sending rookie Mikhail Grigorenko back to junior wasn’t a snap decision the Sabres made to reach the 23-man roster limit, general manager Darcy Regier said. The team had been talking about the move for a while prior to making it Friday.
If the 18-year-old center wasn’t getting scratched, he had been playing sparingly during most of his 22 NHL appearances.
“This isn’t driven by a roster move,” Regier said during a late-afternoon news ... Read the full article
Darcy Regier wants to focus on the current season and build for the future. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With the trade deadline hitting April 3 and the Sabres mired in 14th place, general manager Darcy Regier said he has no plans to blow the team up and start fresh.
“I’m not in a blowing-up mindset,” Regier said late Friday afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “Blowing up to me means blowing up. I mean, nothing left.”
It appears goalie Ryan Miller and wingers Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek, the team’s ... Read the full article
The Sabres used the first year of Mikhail Grigorenko’s entry-level contract. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sending rookie Mikhail Grigorenko back to junior wasn’t a snap decision the Sabres made to reach the 23-man roster limit, general manager Darcy Regier said this afternoon. The team had been talking about the move for a while.
If the 18-year-old center wasn’t getting scratched, he had been playing sparingly during most of his 22 appearances.
“This isn’t driven by a roster move,” Regier said inside the First Niagara Center. “This is driven ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko hasn’t played much recently. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres sent 18-year-old rookie center Mikhail Grigorenko back to the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts this afternoon.
The Russian has one goal, five points and minus-2 rating in 22 games this season. He has recently played sparingly or been a healthy scratch.
The Sabres had to make a roster move with winger Ville Leino (hip) returning Saturday.
Update: Here are some comments from general manager Darcy Regier on the decision.
“We’ve been talking about ... Read the full article
The frustration has often been visible on Ryan Miller’s face this season ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Forget about merely making the playoffs. Forty-six days ago, a long postseason run felt like a real possibility following the Sabres’ season-opening 5-2 home victory over Philadelphia.
The next day, a 2-1 road triumph in Toronto only strengthened the belief the veteran club could be an Eastern Conference heavyweight.
The Sabres possessed offensive firepower, a deep defense corps, unyielding muscle and a franchise goalie, right?
Well …
The 13th-place Sabres ... Read the full article
Ron Rolston is known for his strong teaching skills. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Twenty-seven years ago, shortly after the junior St. Claire Shores Falcons had lost the national championship in triple overtime in Sioux City, Iowa, Jeff Jackson made a promise to Ron Rolston, his 19-year-old captain.
The coach was moving up from the North American Hockey League to take an assistant gig with Lake Superior State. Meanwhile, Rolston was about to start a three-year NCAA career at Michigan Tech.
“I remember telling him, ‘Someday I’m ... Read the full article