WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
March Edition
Nicolas Deslauriers has never played in the NHL. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have recalled wingers Luke Adam and Nicolas Deslauriers from Rochester on an emergency basis. They could play tonight in Florida.
Forwards Zemgus Girgensons and Chris Stewart left Thursday’s 3-1 in Tampa Bay after suffering lower-body injuries and are likely out against the Panthers.
Interim coach Ted Nolan said the Sabres probably wouldn’t summon anyone because winger Cory Conacher, a waiver acquisition, was set to join the club and they have ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson played less than one season with the Sabres. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tim Murray said he began his first NHL trade deadline day as a general manager with no expectations, unsure which direction the rebuilding Sabres might go.
By the end Wednesday, Murray had made three notable deals, trading familiar names like Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick and Brayden McNabb while acquiring NHL talent and prospects. He also grabbed Canisius product Cory Conacher off waivers.
Murray, who sent franchise goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve ... Read the full article
Brayden McNabb played 12 games with the Sabres earlier this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have made their first trade of the day, sending 23-year-old defenseman Brayden McNabb and two second-round picks to the Los Angeles Kings for 18-year-old wing prospect Hudson Fasching and 23-year-old AHL winger Nicolas Deslauriers.
Fasching, the 118th overall pick in June, has 12 goals and 27 goals in 31 games as a freshman at the University of Minnesota. The American’s 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds.
Deslauriers, the 84th overall pick ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth will play most of the games down the stretch. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Ryan Miller is gone. Jaroslav Halak, the goalie the Sabres received in Friday’s blockbuster trade with the St. Louis Blues, will be an unrestricted free agent following the season. He could be dealt within days.
For now, Jhonas Enroth, Miller’s backup for three seasons, will shoulder the load down the stretch, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.
The 25-year-old Swede finally has an opportunity to become a No. 1 goalie.
“If you ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson knows he could be traded. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Trade rumors have dogged Matt Moulson since the Sabres acquired the winger almost four months ago. But with rosters frozen for 16 days during the NHL’s Olympic break, Moulson briefly got away from the noise, rehabbed his rib injury and relaxed a bit.
“It was good to just go home and train and get healthy again and spend some family time,” Moulson said Monday inside the First Niagara Center.
Moulson and the Sabres ... Read the full article
John Scott fights Toronto’s Frazer McLaren on March 21. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – About halfway through this morning’s practice, Sabres tough guy John Scott broke his stick on the boards, left the First Niagara Center ice and stomped down the hallway to the dressing room.
What happened?
Interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan ordered Scott off the ice.
“He just fumbled the puck a few times in practice and I didn’t like it,” Nolan said. “In order for us to get better here we have to practice ... Read the full article
Linus Omark’s Sabres career lasted 13 games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres terminated winger Linus Omark’s contract today, freeing the Swede to go play in Europe again.
The flashy 27-year-old, who had a one-year, $600,000 contract, went unclaimed after the team unconditionally waived him Monday.
Omark will almost certainly return to Europe, where he’s played six of his nine professional seasons. Having been traded or let go from the NHL’s two worst teams, his North American career is likely over.
He ... Read the full article
Linus Omark’s contract will likely be terminated. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres today placed winger Linus Omark, who hasn’t accepted his assignment to Rochester, on unconditional waivers, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
That likely means the 27-year-old’s contract will be terminated and he will return to Europe. The Swede’s available for $125.
Omark, acquired for a conditional sixth-round draft pick from Edmonton on Dec. 19, disappointed in 13 games, compiling just two assists while becoming a regular healthy scratch. The Sabres ... Read the full article
The Sabres waived Linus Omark last week. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
The Rochester Americans returned from the AHL All-Star break Friday without winger Linus Omark, who still hasn’t reported to the club after getting waived by the Buffalo Sabres.
What’s going on? His agent, Kevin Epp, told the Buffalo News all options – Buffalo, Rochester and Europe – are still on the table for the vacationing Swede.
Realistically, though, Omark is likely finished with the Sabres organization.
Now, a report from NDS, a ... Read the full article
Ted Nolan helped Latvia reach the Sochi Games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Back in 2011, Ted Nolan had briefly returned to professional hockey as Rochester’s general manager, when one day his friend phoned unexpectedly.
“Ted,” the friend asked, “are you interested in going to Latvia?”
Nolan was stunned. He hadn’t coached since leaving the New York Islanders in 2008. He couldn’t even point out Latvia on a map.
“I said, ‘Where is it?’” the interim Sabres coach recalled last week inside the First Niagara Center.... Read the full article