WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Free Agency Edition
Auston Matthews gave up baseball about five years ago. ©2016, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Had Auston Matthews kept playing baseball, perhaps the presumptive No. 1 overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in Friday’s NHL Draft could have enjoyed a different career.
“I was a pretty tall kid,” Matthews said this afternoon after taking batting practice at Coca-Cola Field prior to the Bisons game. “I guess you never know.”
Matthews’ father, Brian, pitched collegiately before an injury ended his career, so he comes from a baseball family. ... Read the full article
Tim Murray has already been active this offseason. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If Tim Murray wants to lure winger Jimmy Vesey to the Sabres, the general manager has a strong recruiter in center Jack Eichel, who’s currently playing summer hockey with the Hobey Baker Award winner in their native Massachusetts.
Eichel, of course, is one of the NHL’s supreme young talents, and, months before his 20th birthday, already a terrific ambassador for the Sabres and the city.
Failing to utilize Eichel might be ... Read the full article
Auston Matthews should visit Buffalo with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 3. ©2016, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After the Sabres open their season Oct. 13 at home against the Montreal Canadiens, they start a four-game road trip – longer than any swing they had last season – three days later against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
That’s just one notable stretch of the 82-game 2016-17 schedule the NHL released Tuesday.
The Sabres, who went 19-17-5 on the road last season, better get comfortable playing away from the First Niagara ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel and the Sabres open the season Oct. 13. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After the Sabres open their season Oct. 13 at home against the Montreal Canadiens, they start a four-game road trip – longer than any swing they had last season – three days later against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
That’s just one notable stretch of the 82-game 2016-17 schedule the NHL released this afternoon.
The Sabres, who went 19-17-5 on the road last season, better get comfortable playing away from the First ... Read the full article
Tim Murray talks this morning. ©2016, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If Tim Murray wants to lure winger Jimmy Vesey to the Sabres, the general manager has a strong recruiter in center Jack Eichel, who’s currently playing summer hockey with the Hobey Baker Award winner in their native Massachusetts.
“We might potentially use Jack as a tool,” Murray said this morning, less than a day after acquiring Vesey’s rights from the Nashville Predators. “I guess I would be a tool not to.”
The Sabres ... Read the full article
Tim Murray has a history of making big trades. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ acquisition of Hobey Baker Award winner Jimmy Vesey’s rights Monday could be the first of several notable moves general manager Tim Murray makes this NHL Draft week.
Murray, of course, has a penchant for wheeling and dealing, and with the Sabres hosting the draft and 11 picks in their arsenal, he might want to make a big splash.
The Sabres traded a 2016 third-round pick, 76th overall, for the 6-foot-2, ... Read the full article
Jimmy Vesey possibly wants to wear the Sabres logo. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres today acquired the rights to Hobey Baker Award winner Jimmy Vesey from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third-round draft pick, 76th overall, in this weekend’s NHL Draft.
The Sabres have until Aug. 15 to sign him.
Vesey, 23, refused to sign with the Predators, who drafted the forward in the third round, 66th overall, in 2012, following a 24-goal, 46-point senior season at Harvard University in which ... Read the full article
Captain Brian Gionta’s Sabres open against Montreal. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres will open their 2016-17 home schedule Oct. 13 against the Montreal Canadiens, the NHL announced this afternoon.
What about the rest of the slate? Well, you have to wait for it. It’s coming at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Stay tuned for more details.... Read the full article
Logan Brown enjoyed a huge second half in 2015-16. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As fall turned to winter and Logan Brown kept struggling, the 6-foot-6 Windsor Spitfires center began searching for answers to his goal-scoring woes.
In his draft season, traditionally a breakout campaign for junior prospects, Brown had mustered only six goals by the 35-game mark.
“I believe he was humbled by his start, and when you get humbled like that, you look for help,” Windsor coach Rocky Thompson said.
Earlier in his career, Brown, ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel, a big draw last year, likely won’t participate in development camp next month. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres will hold their annual summer development camp July 6-12 at HarborCenter, the team announced this afternoon.
Approximately 40 prospects, including this year’s draft picks, will participate. On-ice sessions will be open to the public. The intrasquad Blue and Gold Scrimmage will be July 9. Ticket information and other camp details will be released later.
The Sabres nearly sold out the FNC last year when center Jack Eichel, the second overall pick, ... Read the full article