Ruff - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Stars coach Lindy Ruff enjoying Dallas, ready to face Sabres for first time

BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff still catches himself.

At times, the Dallas Stars’ coach still refers to the Sabres, the team he coached for 15 seasons, as “we.”

“I’ve slipped up the odd time with that one,” Ruff, whose Stars face the Sabres tonight, said this afternoon inside the First Niagara, his first visit back since his Feb. 20 dismissal.

Other times, Ruff will thumb to the Sabres’ statistics page instead of Dallas’.

Breaking old ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Thomas Vanek to Islanders for Matt Moulson and picks

BUFFALO – In the short-term, the hapless Sabres are no better after dealing co-captain and top scorer Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders late Sunday for 30-goal winger Matt Moulson and a first-round pick in 2014 and second-round selection in 2015, general manager Darcy Regier said.

But the shocking trade, which Regier worked on with counterpart Garth Snow “off and on for a while,” wasn’t about improving the 2-10-1 club immediately.

“This is more ... Read the full article

Former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff returns home to Buffalo with Stars

BUFFALO – This city, of course, is still Lindy Ruff’s home. Always will be, the former Sabres coach said shortly after his stunning Feb. 20 dismissal.

At times, it felt as if Ruff, having survived so much turmoil and change over his 15 seasons, would never leave.

But 250 days ago, Darcy Regier, Ruff’s close friend, drove to his Clarence home and fired him, the Sabres’ regression too much for the general manager ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Myers hoping to recapture elite form back beside Henrik Tallinder

BUFFALO – Skating beside Tyler Myers again feels natural, almost like “we were never apart,” Sabres defenseman Henrik Tallinder said.

Their partnership began four years ago, on Oct. 3, 2009, and lasted 88 straight games.

Back then, Tallinder was struggling to regain his confidence, a shell of his old, smooth self. Myers was a slick 19-year-old rookie beginning a Calder Trophy campaign.

The two clicked immediately. Tallinder morphed into a calm, cool veteran again, complimenting ... Read the full article

Healthy Ville Leino excited about new opportunities with Sabres

BUFFALO – Forget about Ville Leino’s shaky past with the Sabres and the widespread belief he’s a bust. Start judging the Finn differently.

The winger feels poised for a breakout season under new coach Ron Rolston.

Why should someone with only 10 goals and 31 points two seasons into a six-year, $27 million contract be given a clean slate?

Leino’s finally healthy after years of discomfort, having undergone a second hip surgery during the offseason... Read the full article

Matt Ellis happy to be with Sabres organization: ‘Where I wanted to be’

BUFFALO – This place, Matt Ellis said recently, is “where my heart is.” Five years ago this Tuesday, the Sabres claimed the forward from Los Angeles. As an injury fill-in, Ellis figured his stint could be short.

Sure enough, the Sabres waived Ellis weeks later, nearly losing him.

But the 32-year-old has stayed and carved out an important role with the organization, playing 197 NHL games and captaining two AHL affiliates.

In July, five months ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mike Weber endured long road to opening night duty

BUFFALO – Ron Rolston noticed Mike Weber’s patience and resolve long before he began coaching the Sabres, back when the gritty defenseman was often sitting as a healthy scratch, sometimes for weeks at a time.

Rolston watched Weber quietly channeling his energy toward becoming an NHL regular.

“Everything was about the team and he’d get his opportunity,” Rolston said Saturday inside the First Niagara Center. “Just his overall attitude is exceptional.”

That attitude’s finally ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno impressing Sabres again early after forgettable season

BUFFALO – When Marcus Foligno’s dismal, five-goal season ended in April, the 22-year-old could’ve laid the blame on others or taken responsibility, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said.

“Whether they think it’s me or them, ultimately they got to make that change, and I think he took that ownership on that,” Rolston said Saturday prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 exhibition shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs before a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the ... Read the full article

Sabres facing plenty of questions as first training camp under Ron Rolston begins

BUFFALO – The Sabres convene for training camp physicals today inside the First Niagara Center, for better or worse, almost the same team that ended a disappointing, 11^th-place season 137 days ago.

Other than a busy draft day and reacquiring 34-year-old defenseman Henrik Tallinder, the rebuilding club remained quiet throughout the summer.

Starting goalie Ryan Miller and leading scorer Thomas Vanek, two veteran stars rumored to be on the trading block, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ville Leino ready for camp following offseason hip surgery

BUFFALO – Having had hip surgery before in 2010, Sabres winger Ville Leino wasn’t worried about undergoing a second procedure, this time on his right side, early in the offseason.

Leino played through some pain last season but knew the injury had to be addressed. Hip issues had dogged the Finn since his days in Detroit four years ago.

“Now they’re both fixed up,” Leino said last week after skating with some teammates inside the ... Read the full article