Rolston - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres hope waiving Patrick Kaleta will help winger develop calmer style

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ surprising decision to waive Patrick Kaleta, general manager Darcy Regier said Saturday, could give the hard-hitting winger an opportunity to “redesign his game” in Rochester.

If Kaleta, who’s been suspended twice in his last 21 games, clears and begins his first AHL stint since 2007-08, he has “a significant amount of work that he will have to do,” Regier said.

But the Sabres couldn’t let Kaleta, fresh off a 10-game ban ... Read the full article

Cody McCormick trying to spark struggling Sabres by fighting

BUFFALO – For Sabres forward Cody McCormick, the special moments come in those first seconds following a fight, when he looks over to the bench and sees his teammates cheering his ferocious effort.

“They seem really appreciative of it. They recognize it,” McCormick said. “That’s something that somebody in my role can really appreciate when you come across the ice and everybody’s standing up for you. It makes everything you do, every punch, worthwhile ... Read the full article

Sabres waive Patrick Kaleta to make room for Corey Tropp; John Scott calls out Pierre McGuire

BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta just finished serving his 10-game suspension for hitting Columbus’ Jack Johnson in the head last month. The agitator is also fully healthy after recently undergoing nose surgery.

Still, the 27-year-old winger wasn’t on the ice this morning prior to tonight’s tilt against the Anaheim Ducks inside the First Niagara Center.

Now we know why.

In a surprising move, the Sabres have waived Kaleta, a native of nearby Angola.

The Sabres had ... Read the full article

Corey Tropp, Patrick Kaleta hoping to ignite struggling Sabres

BUFFALO – Injuries have severely limited Corey Tropp’s time here. The ferocious Sabres winger tore up his right knee last season waiting out the NHL lockout in Rochester. Then he broke his jaw during a Sept. 22 preseason fight in Toronto.

Tropp has played just 34 NHL games, the last coming April 5, 2012. Still, the 24-year-old has developed a good feel for this blue-collar city.

“I think this is a city, if you’re ... Read the full article

Corey Tropp, Patrick Kaleta ready to return to struggling Sabres

BUFFALO – The reeling Sabres, winners of just two of their 15 games, need reinforcements badly. Luckily, some aggressive, high-energy players are available.

Corey Tropp, out since breaking his jaw during a Sept. 22 preseason fight, is healed. Meanwhile, Patrick Kaleta has finished serving his 10-game suspension for hitting Columbus’ Jack Johnson in the head Oct. 10.

Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center both players looked ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Steve Ott will keep playing fierce style

BUFFALO – Steve Ott, the high-octane, fun-loving and helmet-licking agitator, won’t alter his style now that he’s the Sabres’ captain.

“I want to play a fine line edge of the game,” Ott said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s road tilt against the New York Rangers. “But I also can’t be a deterrent to my teammates, no difference if I was a captain or was not a captain.”

In Monday’s 4-3 loss to Dallas... Read the full article

Sabres retained money in Thomas Vanek trade with Islanders

BUFFALO – Some interesting new details have emerged about Sunday’s big swap, which sent Sabres co-captain and top scorer Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders.

The Sabres retained 19.5 percent of Vanek’s $6.5 million salary in the trade, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. They also kept the same portion of his salary cap hit.

Perhaps that’s why the Isles, who sent high-scoring winger Matt Moulson to the Sabres, also parted with a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Corey Tropp nearing return from broken jaw

BUFFALO – Before Corey Tropp broke his jaw fighting Toronto’s Jamie Devane Sept. 22, the Sabres winger, who tore up his right knee last season, enjoyed some peace of mind.

The few doubts the 24-year-old had about the injury vanished during the preseason.

“I grew that confidence with each day of training camp,” Tropp, who could make his season debut this weekend, said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “‘Oh, ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson endures long day to debut for Sabres

BUFFALO – Having grown up in nearby Mississauga, Ont., about a 90-minute drive, Sabres winger Matt Moulson said he’s well-acquainted with his new city.

“I used to love coming to Bills games,” Moulson said Monday inside the First Niagara Center prior to scoring twice in his Buffalo debut, a 4-3 loss to former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and the Dallas Stars. “So it’s a great city. Who knows, it could be for a long time. ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson surprised to leave Isles, upbeat about joining Sabres

BUFFALO – Having grown up in nearby Mississauga, Ont., about a 90-minute drive, Sabres winger Matt Moulson said he’s well-acquainted with his new city.

“I used to love coming to Bills games,” Moulson said this morning inside the First Niagara Center, less than a day after being acquired with two high draft picks from the New York Islanders for co-captain Thomas Vanek. “So it’s a great city. Who knows, it could be for a long ... Read the full article