WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Free Agency Edition
Sam Reinhart smiles at Team Canada’s camp in December. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – These are the final weeks of top Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart’s spectacular junior career.
As expected, the slick 19-year-old has dominated the Western Hockey League in his five months back with the Kootenay Ice, compiling 18 goals and 59 points in only 44 games.
But hockey observers knew Reinhart, the No. 2 pick in June, would be a superstar playing among teenagers again. The Sabres sent the intelligent center back to junior ... Read the full article
Matt Bartkowski was ejected from Sunday’s game. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Bruins defenseman Matt Bartkowski won’t be suspended or fined for hitting Sabres captain Brian Gionta high in Buffalo’s 4-3 overtime loss Sunday in Boston.
The NHL Department of Player Safety explained its decision this afternoon in three tweets, writing, “Bartkowski/Gionta is an example of incidental contact on an otherwise full body check. The head was NOT the main point of contact. Also, Gionta puts himself in a vulnerable position making contact with his head unavoidable. ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons is wildly popular in Latvia. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The No. 1 vote-getter for the 2015 NHL All-Star Game has 15 career goals, hasn’t hit the 100-game mark yet and plays for one of the league’s worst teams.
As of late Monday, Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons led all NHL players in fan voting. If Latvians keep clicking for the 20-year-old, their favorite player will be in Columbus on Jan. 25.
“I just think it’s kind of funny,” Girgensons said Monday inside the ... Read the full article
Torrey Mitchell has three goals this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After watching Torrey Mitchell score the winning goal on a sore foot late in Saturday’s 2-1 win in Washington, Sabres coach Ted Nolan jokingly asked the center if he had heard of Toronto Maple Leafs legend Bobby Baun.
Mitchell’s outing, of course, wasn’t as gutsy or memorable as the time Baun scored an overtime winner in the Stanley Cup final on a broken leg 50 years ago.
Still, given the way Mitchell had ... Read the full article
Christian Ehrhoff signed with Pittsburgh in July. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
PITTSBURGH – Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff figured since the Buffalo Sabres asked him to submit a no-trade list last season, the rebuilding team would deal him during the summer.
“That was kind of my expectation,” Ehrhoff said Saturday prior to the Penguins’ 5-0 win inside the Consol Energy Center, “but it didn’t end up that way.”
On June 29, the Sabres used their second compliance buyout to eat the final seven seasons of Ehrhoff’s 10-year ... Read the full article
Christian Ehrhoff played three seasons with the Sabres. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
PITTSBURGH – Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff figured since the Buffalo Sabres asked him to submit a no-trade list last season, the rebuilding team would deal him during the summer.
“That was kind of my expectation,” Ehrhoff said this morning inside the Consol Energy Center, “but it didn’t end up that way.”
On June 29, the Sabres used their second compliance buyout to eat the final seven seasons of Ehrhoff’s 10-year contract. The German signed a ... Read the full article
The Sabres picked Sam Reinhart No. 2 in June. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
PITTSBURGH – When general manager Tim Murray told Sam Reinhart, his top prospect, the Buffalo Sabres would be sending him back to junior, the 18-year-old handled the difficult news well.
But a few minutes later, the disappointment of leaving the First Niagara Center to begin his long trip back to the Kootenay Ice overwhelmed Reinhart.
“He was emotional,” Murray said Friday. “I guess he was emotional walking out of the rink.”
Murray understands Reinhart’s ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov has been a regular scratch. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
PITTSBURGH – With Sam Reinhart sent back to junior Friday, Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray can concentrate on another teenage prospect, defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
“I don’t want to start juggling five balls,” Murray said inside the First Niagara Center.
The Sabres have essentially been stashing Zadorov on their roster until they find a place for him to play. The 19-year-old has played only one of the first 11 games.
Since Zadorov doesn’t have ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov has played one game this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With Sam Reinhart sent back to junior today, Sabres general manager Tim Murray can concentrate on another teenage prospect, defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
“I don’t want to start juggling five balls,” Murray said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
The Sabres have essentially been stashing Zadorov on their roster until they find a place for him to play. The 19-year-old has played only one of the first 11 games.
Since Zadorov ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart dominated junior hockey for two seasons. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When general manager Tim Murray told Sam Reinhart, his top prospect, the Sabres would be sending him back to junior, the 18-year-old handled the difficult news well.
But a few minutes later, the disappointment of leaving the First Niagara Center to begin his long trip back to the Kootenay Ice overwhelmed Reinhart.
“He was emotional,” Murray said this morning. “I guess he was emotional walking out of the rink.”
Murray understands Reinhart’s reaction. ... Read the full article