Sulzer - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ted Nolan on Linus Omark’s Sabres debut: ‘He has to be better’

Interim coach Ted Nolan wasn’t too impressed with winger Linus Omark’s Sabres debut in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Bruins.

“Eh, he has to be better,” Nolan told reporters in Boston.

Omark’s hooking penalty 9:07 into the game led to Reilly Smith’s power-play goal. The 26-year-old also set up Matt Ellis in front nicely early and nearly potted Ellis’ rebound in front late in the game.

“We’ll give him a checkmark for just getting here ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan says Mark Pysyk’s stay with Amerks will be short

BUFFALO – Mark Pysyk’s assignment to Rochester won’t last long, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. The rookie defenseman will be back after the Americans participate in the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament in Switzerland.

Nolan said the steady Pysyk, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, is capable of playing in the NHL right now.

“But is he at the mature level we think he can be? Not yet,” Nolan said Tuesday ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan still evaluating Sabres’ defense corps

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wants healthy competition between his defensemen. So with seven or eight at his disposal, the interim Sabres coach plans to keep tinkering until he finds the six he can play regularly.

Nolan hasn’t stopped evaluating a month into his tenure. That’s one reason Mark Pysyk, one of the NHL’s better rookie defenders, was scratched Saturday.

“Sometimes you like to take them out whenever they play a great game versus a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick sidelined 4-6 weeks after blocking shot; Ted Nolan says roster move coming

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Cody McCormick suffered an upper body injury blocking a shot in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Calgary and will miss four to six weeks, interim coach Ted Nolan said Monday.

“One thing about doing what Cody does, unfortunately, sometimes that’s going to happen,” Nolan said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Winnipeg Jets inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s fearless. He puts himself in front of shots that ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick out 4-6 weeks after blocking shot

“One thing about doing what Cody does, unfortunately, sometimes that’s going to happen,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s fearless. He puts himself in front of shots that are coming 90 mph. Sometimes they hit you in the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson questionable for Flames; Alexander Sulzer nearing return

BUFFALO – Not much to report from Sabreland this afternoon following practice.

Center Cody Hodgson (lower body) missed today’s session and is a “possibility” for Saturday’s afternoon tilt against the Calgary Flames. Hodgson missed Thursday’s 2-1 loss in Ottawa.

“Cody’s still a little sore,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “He tried to practice today and didn’t feel very well. So one more day. It’s a day-to-dayer. So maybe he’ll ... Read the full article

Sabres to use new lines against Senators; Brayden McNabb back in lineup

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wanted to give his lines a long look. The interim Sabres coach figured he couldn’t ask his players for consistency if he kept shuffling the trios.

But after a string of losses and more meager offensive production, Nolan switched up his combinations Monday.

“Our top line is having a little bit of trouble, maybe the chemistry wasn’t quite right,” Nolan said following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “We talked to ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan changes Sabres’ lines; Brayden McNabb to return Tuesday

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wanted to give his lines a long look. The interim Sabres coach figured he couldn’t ask his players for consistency if he kept shuffling the trios.

But after a string of losses and more meager offensive production, Nolan switched the lines up today.

“Our top line is having a little bit of trouble, maybe the chemistry wasn’t quite right,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko excited for world junior championship

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko knows watching NHL games as a spare forward is hurting his development.

“I can’t be sitting in the press box. I need to play,” Grigorenko said Thursday morning inside the First Niagara Center. “Everybody understands this.”

Luckily, the Sabres’ new regime understands how vital ice time is to Grigorenko’s maturation, so the team’s letting the 19-year-old center play for Russian at the upcoming world junior championship in Sweden.

“I ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brayden McNabb to sit again, showcasing right attitude

BUFFALO – Attitude, Ted Nolan said, “is everything.”

“It’s like a flat tire,” the interim Sabres coach said this morning, “if you don’t change it, you ain’t going nowhere.”

Sabres defenseman Brayden McNabb’s great attitude about his one-day assignment to Rochester helped the 22-year-old compile one goal and three points in the Americans’ 6-1 win against the Utica Comets, Nolan said.

“He’s knows that he’s got a little ways to go before becoming a full-time ... Read the full article