Vanek - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres trade co-captain Thomas Vanek to Isles

BUFFALO – In a stunning development, the Sabres have traded 29-year-old co-captain Thomas Vanek, arguably their top player, to the New York Islanders for Matt Moulson, their 2014 first-round pick and a 2015 second-round pick.

The slick winger, an upcoming unrestricted free agent, has expressed an interesting in leaving the Sabres if their rebuilding process takes too long.

Clearly, the Sabres’ awful 2-10-1 start couldn’t convince Vanek to stick around.

In the 29-year-old Moulson, the ... Read the full article

Sabres start meekly again, get blanked by Canucks

BUFFALO – Nine games into what is quickly becoming the worst season in the Sabres’ 43-year history, the hapless team appears finished.

In Thursday’s feeble 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, the Sabres (1-7-1) showcased more of what makes them arguably the NHL’s worst team: terrible starts, a porous defense and no goal scoring.

So much for building on Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout triumph over the Islanders, the Sabres’ only win this season.

Where’s their frustration ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville happy about new chapter with Wild

BUFFALO – Once the initial shock of getting traded to the Minnesota Wild in April started wearing off, former Sabres captain Jason Pominville said he “really took a step back” and began examining his new gig.

Pominville was leaving a team beginning a rebuilding process for the upstart Wild, a club constructed to win the Stanley Cup immediately.

The Wild had just signed stars Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to huge twin contracts. Many believed ... Read the full article

Sabres must make roster move; Jason Pominville returns with Wild

BUFFALO – Defenseman Henrik Tallinder will return tonight against popular former Sabres captain Jason Pominville and the Minnesota Wild following a four-game absence.

With Tallinder (upper body) back from injured reserve, either rookie Rasmus Ristolainen or Alexander Sulzer, the spare defenders this morning, will be sent to Rochester, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said.

Update: Sulzer has been assigned to the AHL.

Meanwhile, backup goalie Jhonas Enroth will make his third start for the winless Sabres ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville set to make Buffalo return with Wild

BUFFALO – They became the rebuilding Sabres around 4 p.m. on April 3.

In trading versatile captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild for draft picks and prospects that day, the Sabres signaled they had given up on the present and started looking to the future.

Six months later, with the former franchise cornerstone returning tonight to the First Niagara Center, the winless Sabres (0-5-1) are a mess, probably the NHL’s worst team.

Another loss ... Read the full article

Sabres listless in ugly loss to Blue Jackets, still winless

BUFFALO – OK, five games is a big enough sample size to judge the winless Sabres. Yes, it’s still early, but Thursday’s ugly 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets cemented their status as the NHL’s worst team.

The Sabres’ rebuild, commitment to youth and general manager Darcy Regier’s warning to expect “suffering” tempered expectations this season.

Still, did anyone really expect them to be this bad?

The Sabres (0-4-1) have five goals this season. ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko could become healthy scratch again

BUFFALO – History is repeating itself. Just like last season, Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko’s ice time dropped dramatically in his fourth appearance.

On Tuesday, the 19-year-old Russian played only 8:07, down from the 12:30 he had been averaging. The prospect even skated several shifts on the fourth line during the 3-2 overtime loss to Tampa Bay.

Why?

“Just putting the people in the right situations,” Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this afternoon following practice inside ... Read the full article

Disallowed goal momentum-killer in Sabres’ OT loss to Lightning

BUFFALO – A two-goal lead? Wait, the winless Sabres scored twice in one game?

Entering Tuesday’s tilt, the struggling club had only two goals in its first three contests. Heck, the Sabres hadn’t even held a lead yet this season.

But they rebounded nicely against the Tampa Bay Lightning, building a 2-1 advantage before co-captain Thomas Vanek tipped Jamie McBain’s shot past goalie Ben Bishop 5:21 into the third period.

The horn sounded. Players raised ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Myers, Mike Weber finally skate as defense partners

BUFFALO – In their three years as Sabres teammates, Tyler Myers and Mike Weber have rarely kept the same defense partner long.

Myers has spent significant time beside almost every established defenseman in recent seasons, a result of personal and team struggles. Weber, meanwhile, has only established himself as a regular presence in the last year.

Still, the two had never been paired together for more than a few shifts before Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss ... Read the full article

Winless Sabres mixing things up; Jhonas Enroth likely starting

BUFFALO – So, who’s starting in goal for the winless Sabres against the Tampa Bay Lightning?

“You’ll see tonight,” Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

Jhonas Enroth left the ice first following the morning skate, a sign the backup will likely receive his second straight nod with Ryan Miller nursing a sore groin.

Still, Miller participated fully in the skate and Matt Hackett, the organization’s No. 3 goalie... Read the full article