Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

With Tim Murray gone, Sabres goalie Robin Lehner a question mark as starter

BUFFALO – Before Tim Murray acquired Robin Lehner, the former general manager cycled through an absurd number of goalies – 10, to be exact – as he tore apart the Sabres in his first season and a half as general manager.

Despite terrific play from Jhonas Enroth, Anders Lindback and Michal Neuvirth – some believed they performed too well, hurting the tanking Sabres’ chances at the top pick – Murray wanted a new ... Read the full article

Owner Terry Pegula hopes overhaul changes Sabres

BUFFALO – Before Sabres owner Terry Pegula, and his wife, Kim, spoke in depth with Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma, they hadn’t decided to fire their general manager and coach.

But after those separate meetings and talks with players and others in the organization, the Pegulas determined the Sabres needed a massive overhaul and culture change, so Murray and Bylsma were let go Thursday in a shocking move.

What made them reach that decision?... Read the full article

Sabres owner Terry Pegula wants culture change

BUFFALO – Before Sabres owner Terry Pegula, and his wife, Kim, spoke in depth with Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma, they hadn’t decided to fire their former general manager and coach.

But after those meetings and talks with players and others in the organization, the Pegulas decided the Sabres needed a massive overhaul following a last-place finish, so Murray and Bylsma were fired Thursday.

What made them reach that decision?... Read the full article

Sabres start over again by firing GM Tim Murray, coach Dan Bylsma

BUFFALO – Now what? In a stunning move, general manager Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma are gone, victims of the Sabres’ last-place finish.

Tanking, gutting the roster and starting from scratch were supposed to transform the Sabres into perennial contenders.

Instead, they’ve remained a laughingstock. So on Thursday, 11 days after the Sabres completed a disappointing 78-point season in which they regressed, owner Terry Pegula fired Murray and Bylsma.

Obviously, missing the playoffs by ... Read the full article

Sabres need to find new GM soon

BUFFALO – Given the speed at which the offseason moves, the Sabres must find a new general manager soon, perhaps in the next month, to replace Tim Murray, who was fired with coach Dan Bylsma on Thursday.

Of course, given owner Terry Pegula’s track record, would the Sabres even hire a GM first?

Remember, Pegula hired Pat LaFontaine as the team’s president of hockey operations in November 2013. LaFontaine lasted less than four months ... Read the full article

Sabres must find direction after firing GM Tim Murray, coach Dan Bylsma

BUFFALO – Now what? In a stunning move, general manager Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma are gone, victims of the Sabres’ last-place finish.

Tanking, gutting the roster and starting from scratch were supposed to transform the Sabres into perennial contenders.

Instead, they’ve remained a laughingstock. So on Thursday, 11 days after the Sabres completed a disappointing 78-point season in which they regressed, owner Terry Pegula fired Murray and Bylsma.

Obviously, missing the playoffs by ... Read the full article

Sabres stunner: GM Tim Murray, coach Dan Bylsma fired

BUFFALO – In a stunning move today, Sabres owner Terry Pegula fired general manager Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma.

Obviously, the wretched Sabres’ last-place finish in the Atlantic Division this season, a year they were supposed to return to the playoffs, was too much for Pegula to handle.

The move, perhaps not coincidentally, happened a day after WGR reported star center Jack Eichel wouldn’t sign a contract extension if Bylsma remained coach. Eichel’s agent ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel’s agent says client unfairly criticized, wants to stay with Sabres

BUFFALO – Center Jack Eichel’s disdain for losing was evident throughout the Sabres’ trying season.

The second-year star often looked frustrated after losses as he searched for answers. A day after the campaign ended, a restless Eichel was curt to the media. It appeared the Sabres’ last-place finish was still tormenting him.

“He’s very frustrated, and he wears his frustrations on his sleeve,” Peter Fish, Eichel’s agent, told the Times Herald by phone today. ... Read the full article

Report: Jack Eichel has ‘no desire’ for extension if Dan Bylsma remains coach

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jack Eichel has “no desire” to sign a contract extension this summer if Dan Bylsma remains coach, according to WGR’s Paul Hamilton.

The report, published this morning, comes as general manager Tim Murray is meeting with owner Terry Pegula in Florida about the Sabres’ future following a last-place finish.

Murray said last Wednesday he wanted to pursue an extension with Eichel, a young star who scored 24 goals and 57 ... Read the full article

Heavy workload helped Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark with Amerks

ROCHESTER – In what quickly became another rough season, one bright spot emerged for the Americans, workhorse Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark.

Ullmark’s numbers won’t wow you. In an AHL-high 55 games, the Swede’s 2.87 goals-against average ranked 31st in the league. His .909 save percentage ranked 24th.

But Ullmark, 23, tended goal for a sixth-place club with a porous defense. He faced a league-high 1,678 shots – 31 a contest and 136 ... Read the full article