WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Daniel Audette talks Saturday at the NHL Scouting Combine. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – No one wanted Donald Audette. It was June 17, 1989, and every team kept passing on the diminutive scorer at the NHL Entry Draft in Bloomington, Minn.
Audette, fresh off a monster 76-goal, 161-point junior season, finally lost it as the day dragged on.
“He was throwing chairs in the back of the rink,” Audette’s son, Daniel, said Saturday at the NHL Scouting Combine inside the Toronto International Centre. “He really wanted ... Read the full article
Logan Nelson had 23 goals in 2013-14. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Unless there’s a late announcement coming, the Sabres didn’t sign forward Logan Nelson before today’s deadline to ink 2012 non-collegiate draft choices.
The Sabres signed all the junior and European players from that class, including goalie Linus Ullmark and defenseman Brady Austin, two prospects picked after they selected Nelson in the fifth round, 133rd overall.
Nelson had 23 goals and 54 points in 59 games with the Western Hockey League’s Victoria ... Read the full article
Aaron Ekblad could be selected No. 1 overall. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – For the next few weeks, their skills, personality, body type – everything about them – will be dissected. Twenty-six days before the NHL Entry Draft, there’s still no consensus No. 1 overall pick.
To many observers, three coveted youngsters – center Sam Bennett, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and center Sam Reinhart, the top North American prospects, according to NHL Central Scouting – are vying for the pick owned by the Florida Panthers.... Read the full article
Nicolas Baptiste scored 45 goals in 2013-14. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Nicholas Baptiste to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced today.
The 18-year-old, the 69th overall pick last year, enjoyed a career season in 2013-14, compiling 45 goals and 89 points in 65 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves.
Baptiste has 74 goals and 164 points in 195 OHL games over three seasons. He’s not old enough to play in Rochester yet.... Read the full article
Sam Bennett enjoyed a dynamic junior season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Center Sam Bennett, the No. 1 North American draft prospect, couldn’t do a pull-up during today’s rigorous testing at the NHL Scouting Combine.
“My upper body isn’t really my strong suit,” the 178-pound Bennett said inside the Toronto International Centre. “But I guess that’s something that I’ll be working on in the gym this year.”
Of course, the 17-year-old’s stock for next month’s NHL Entry Draft isn’t exactly plummeting. For all of ... Read the full article
The Sabres selected Brady Austin 193rd overall in 2012. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed defenseman Brady Austin to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced today.
The 20-year-old, the 193rd overall pick in 2012, split 2013-14 between the Ontario Hockey League’s Belleville Bulls and London Knights, setting career highs with nine goals, 24 assists, 33 points and a plus-51 rating in 67 games.
Austin, 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, had 29 goals, 110 points and 194 penalty minutes in 322 career OHL games. ... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark enjoyed a terrific season in Sweden. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed goalie Linus Ullmark to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced today.
Ullmark, the 163rd overall pick in 2012, will play one more season in his native Sweden, according to hockeysverige.se. The contract will begin whenever Ullmark starts his North American career.
The 20-year-old is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.08 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in 35 games for MODO in ... Read the full article
Jim Corsi was fired last month. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Jim Corsi didn’t last long on the open market.
The St. Louis Blues have hired the respected former Buffalo Sabres goalie coach, the team announced today. Ironically, the Blues recently parted ways with goalie Ryan Miller, who spent 12 years under Corsi in Buffalo. The two enjoyed a strong relationship.
The Sabres fired Corsi in April after 16 years. The Blues let goalie coach Corey Hirsch go earlier this month.
The Blues will use ... Read the full article
Nick Deslauriers played 17 games with the Sabres in 2013-14. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed winger Nick Deslauriers to a one-way, two-year contract.
The deal is worth $1.25 million, according to capgeek.com. The 23-year-old would’ve become a restricted free agent this summer.
Deslauriers, acquired from Los Angeles in the March 5 Brayden McNabb trade, compiled one goal and 18 penalty minutes in his first 17 NHL games. He played 10 total games in Rochester following the season.
“Nick was able to step ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek played 47 games with the New York Islanders before getting traded to Montreal. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
The New York Islanders will be keeping the No. 5 pick in June’s NHL Entry Draft and giving the Buffalo Sabres their first-round selection next year to complete the Thomas Vanek trade, the club announced today.
The Isles had until June 1 to decide.
There had been some speculation the Isles would want to have their 2015 pick for a chance at Connor McDavid, arguably the biggest prospect since Sidney Crosby.
The Sabres now ... Read the full article
