WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Mikhail Grigorenko keeps the puck away from Jake McCabe during Tuesday’s scrimmage. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The comments are significant, Mikhail Grigorenko’s most telling since joining the Sabres months after they selected him 12th overall in 2012.
In a hallway outside the First Niagara Center dressing room hours before a development camp scrimmage Tuesday, the 20-year-old Russian spoke candidly about his short career, blaming himself for his NHL struggles.
“From past experiences, I kind of realized it was probably no one’s fault but mine I didn’t stay in ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons spent all last season with the Sabres. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Some experts are already predicting the Sabres, a team three months removed from the worst NHL season in recent memory, will be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in a few years.
Why? Their prospect pool might be the deepest in hockey.
Seven first-round picks are participating in the team’s development camp this week. Seven of the 41 prospects played in the NHL last season, including center Zemgus Girgensons, who spent the entire campaign ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko has spent the last month with the Russian junior team. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – At some point this week, prospect Mikhail Grigorenko, fresh off a five-goal, eight-point performance in seven world junior championship games, will be returning to the Sabres, interim coach Ted Nolan said.
But will the 19-year-old center be staying in the NHL?
“He’s coming here for Pat (LaFontaine) and I to discuss,” Nolan said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll make that decision when he gets here.”
Nolan, however, acknowledged he would prefer ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis won a gold medal with Canada five years ago. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Five years ago, Buffalo Sabres center Tyler Ennis figured he had a good chance to earn a coveted spot on Team Canada’s world junior championship squad.
The 24-year-old was one of his country’s most electrifying junior talents, a first-round draft pick in the midst of a dynamic 43-goal, 85-point season with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He felt he had enjoyed a strong training camp.
But, Ennis said, “Anything can happen.” Canada always has ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko played well at the world junior championship the last two years. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
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
Mikhail Grigorenko will leave the Sabres on Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko knows he can’t develop properly sitting in the press box regularly.
“I need to play,” Grigorenko said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “Everybody understands this.”
Luckily, the Sabres’ new regime understands that, so the team’s letting the 19-year-old center play for Russian at the upcoming world junior championship in Sweden.
“I think it’s going to be great for me because I’m not getting enough ice time,” said ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko has been a healthy scratch recently. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Center Mikhail Grigorenko will be leaving the Sabres on Sunday to play for his native Russia at the upcoming world junior championship.
The 19-year-old, a healthy scratch the last two games and five of the last eight under interim coach Ted Nolan, posted a message to a Facebook account this afternoon that read, “Flying to Russia Sunday with my brother Zadorov!”
That’s the Nikita Zadorov, the 18-year-old defenseman the Sabres recently sent back ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko could be playing somewhere else soon. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres are “discussing all possibilities” to find 19-year-old prospect Mikhail Grigorenko playing time, interim coach Ted Nolan said Tuesday.
That means the Sabres could loan the center, a healthy scratch the last two games, to Russia for the world junior championship later this month if he’s invited. He could also get sent back to the junior Quebec Remparts.
“We’re not 100 percent sure what we’re going to do,” Nolan said following practice ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko (25) could get loaned to Russia. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres are “discussing all possibilities” to find 19-year-old prospect Mikhail Grigorenko playing time, interim coach Ted Nolan said.
That means the Sabres could loan the center, a healthy scratch the last two games, to Russia for the world junior championship later this month if he’s invited. He could also get sent back to the junior Quebec Remparts.
“We’re not 100 percent sure what we’re going to do,” Nolan said this afternoon following ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov has played well since returning to London. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Some quick updates on the rookies the Buffalo Sabres’ new regime reassigned to the AHL and junior Nov. 19.
Not surprisingly, the youngsters are thriving outside the NHL. You think these prospects should’ve been sent down earlier?
Johan Larsson, winger, Rochester Americans
The 22-year-old Swede, who had one assist in 17 NHL games, has two goals and seven points in six AHL games as winger beside center Kevin Porter and rookie Joel Armia. ... Read the full article