Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres saw ominous lockout signs long ago

AMHERST – Ryan Miller first noticed the ominous signs of another NHL lockout last year when the NBA and NFL negotiated new labor deals favorable to ownership. Right away, the Buffalo Sabres goalie knew “hockey would take a crack at” getting money back from the players.

For Robyn Regehr, the cold reality of a work stoppage hit him last week in New York during a meeting at the league offices with Players’ Association executive director ... Read the full article

Sabres loan 20 players to Rochester

BUFFALO – With an NHL lockout likely hitting at midnight tonight, the Sabres loaned 20 AHL-eligible players, including forwards Marcus Foligno and Cody Hodgson, to the Rochester Americans on Friday.

Also assigned were: forwards Luke Adam, Riley Boychuk, Brian Flynn, Zemgus Girgensons, Jacob Lagace, Jonathan Parker, Kevin Sundher, Shawn Szydlowski, Corey Tropp, Phil Varone; defensemen Alex Biega, Nick Crawford, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, Matt MacKenzie, Brayden McNabb, Mark Pysyk; goalies Connor Knapp and Nathan Lieuwen. The Sabres ... Read the full article

Rochester releases 2012-13 schedule

BUFFALO – Now you can start planning those trips to Rochester in the event of an NHL lockout, Sabres fans.

The Rochester Americans begin their 31^st season as the Sabres’ AHL affiliate on Oct. 12 at the Blue Cross War Memorial against the Syracuse Crunch, a day before their parent club is scheduled to open its campaign at the First Niagara Center versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But with collective bargaining agreement talks stalling, who ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign defenseman Biega

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed defenseman Alex Biega to a one-year, two-way contract.

The 24-year-old had five goals, 23 points, 47 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating in 65 games with Rochester last season. The former Harvard University captain has six goals, 41 points, 99 penalty minutes and a plus-28 rating in 126 AHL appearances over two seasons.

The Sabres selected Biega 147^th overall in 2006.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign agitator Patrick Kaleta to 3-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed restricted free agent winger Patrick Kaleta to a three-year contract on Tuesday.

The deal is worth $1.25 million a season, according to nhlnumbers.com.

The 26-year-old, the Sabres’ No. 1 pest and a ferocious hitter, has developed into a strong checker capable of playing big minutes. In the winter, he began playing 18 minutes some nights on a top checking line with Paul Gaustad and Nathan Gerbe.

The Angola native rarely ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Drew Schiestel despite late-season loan

BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed defenseman Drew Schiestel, who fell so far off the depth chart last season the organization loaned him to the Dallas Stars’ AHL affiliate, to a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old, the 59^th overall pick in 2007, hasn’t appeared in the NHL yet.

Schiestel earned an AHL All-Star berth with Portland in 2010-11 and appeared close to receiving a recall. But he tore his ACL, and then hurt ... Read the full article

Grigorenko latest prized prospect in Sabres’ stable

BUFFALO – On Wednesday, the day the Sabres signed slick Russian center Mikhail Grigorenko to a three-year, entry-level contract, general manager Darcy Regier encountered a slew of prospects while visiting the players’ lounge inside the First Niagara Center.

Luke Adam, Marcus Foligno and Brayden McNabb, who all impressed during NHL stints last season, are in town working out. So is Grigorenko, the 12th overall pick last month, and 14th pick Zemgus Girgensons, who inked his ... Read the full article

Sabres ink Tarnasky, re-sign Brennan

BUFFALO – The Sabres have added more grit to their arsenal, inking veteran NHL forward Nick Tarnasky to a one-year contract

The team also re-signed defenseman T.J. Brennan, who played his first 11 NHL games last season, to a one-year deal Tuesday.

Both could be ticketed for Rochester. The 23-year-old Brennan must clear waivers before going to the AHL.

Tarnasky, a veteran of 245 contests over parts of five seasons with Tampa Bay, Nashville and ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Gauthier-Leduc could add flash to blue line

BUFFALO – Jerome Gauthier-Leduc was scoring goals from everywhere. The slick Rimouski Oceanic defenseman utilized his deadly accurate shots from the point. He used his teammates as screens perfectly. He pinched in as the extra man on the rush.

By October, the Sabres prospect had a goal in eight straight games, a new QMJHL record for defensemen.

“He’s a flashy guy,” said former Sabres defenseman Philippe Boucher, Rimouski’s general manager. “He likes to carry the ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign David Leggio, bring back Mark Mancari for Rochester

BUFFALO – For about three months last season, David Leggio and Drew MacIntyre split time tending goal for the Rochester Americans, neither one impressing enough to earn regular duty.

Then, two starts the first weekend in January jumpstarted Leggio’s season. First, the Williamsville native stopped 42 shots during a win in Binghamton. He made 49 saves in a shootout loss in Hershey the next night, earning the Amerks’ No. 1 job.

Leggio played 35 more ... Read the full article