WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Thanksgiving Edition
Jim Corsi joined the Sabres in 1998. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have fired or reassigned all of the assistant coaches Ted Nolan inherited from the previous regime.
Jim Corsi, the team’s popular goalie coach since 1998, is gone, the club announced today. So is Teppo Numminen, whose contract wasn’t renewed after three seasons. Joe Sacco and Jerry Forton have been offered new jobs within the organization’s hockey department after just one season with the team.
Nolan replaced Ron Rolston on an interim ... Read the full article
Tim Murray discussed the Sabres’ future bluntly Tuesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tim Murray has thought about how an NHL team could tank a season. The general manager even discussed some scenarios with the media. But he has no intention of keeping the Sabres at the bottom of the league.
With a couple of franchise-altering talents available in the 2015 draft, plenty of teams could purposely field less-than-stellar lineups next year.
The Sabres, whose previous regime played for draft picks, won’t be among them.
“I ... Read the full article
The Sabres could draft Sam Reinhart this June. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Chalk up one more loss for the Sabres this season.
The rebuilding club couldn’t retain the No. 1 overall pick during Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery in Toronto. Instead, the Florida Panthers moved up one spot to the top selection.
The Sabres will pick second in June. Thanks to their 30th ranking this season, the Sabres had a 25 percent chance of keeping the top pick, more than any other team. The ... Read the full article
The Sabres might have an opportunity to select Sam Bennett at No. 2. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Chalk up one more loss for the Sabres this season.
The rebuilding club couldn’t retain the No. 1 overall pick during tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery in Toronto. Instead, the Florida Panthers moved up one spot to the top selection.
The Sabres will pick second in June. Thanks to their 30th ranking this season, the Sabres had a 25 percent chance of keeping the top pick, more than any other team. The Panthers ... Read the full article
Tim Murray talks to the media this afternoon. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In an end-of-season news conference that will likely become part of local lore, general manager Tim Murray bluntly discussed the Sabres’ future, tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery and took some not-so-veiled shots at the team’s old regime this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.
He even mentioned the Sabres getting their “pee-pee slapped” by the league recently.
More on that later.
Here are some highlights from the 28-minute chat from Murray and Sabres coach ... Read the full article
Mike Weber talks to the media Monday. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Mike Weber spoke passionately, like a man embarrassed by what he had just experienced. The worst season in the Sabres’ 43-year history clearly jolted the defenseman.
“You don’t want that feeling walking around town that you’ve disappointed people or you’re letting people down, especially a hardworking city like Buffalo,” Weber said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “I think to every man we’ve accepted the challenge.”
Weber talked about changing the team’s culture, ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers missed the last 10 games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tyler Myers’ season isn’t over yet. The Sabres defenseman said the broken ribs that sidelined him the final 10 games have mostly healed. The 24-year-old will likely accept an invitation to play for Team Canada at next month’s world championship.
Myers crashed into the net March 25 in Montreal. He didn’t reveal his injury until Monday.
“It’s coming along quite well,” Myers said as the Sabres cleaned out their lockers and held end-of-season ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers chats with reporters this morning. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Here are some quick updates on several of the injured Sabres. With the season finally over, most players will tell you exactly what happened to them.
– Defenseman Tyler Myers said he broke a couple of ribs when he crashed into the net March 25 in Montreal.
“It’s coming along quite well,” Myers said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I had a week of hope after it happened. It turned out ... Read the full article
Mike Weber talks to the media this morning. ©2014, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Almost a year ago, well before the rebuilding Sabres started what would quickly become the most tumultuous season in franchise history, defenseman Mike Weber heard about former general manager Darcy Regier’s warning the team’s rabid fan base would endure some suffering.
“To be honest with you, you hear those things but you never think things are going to get as bad as they did,” Weber said this morning as the Sabres cleaned out ... Read the full article
Ville Leino couldn’t score in 58 games this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It happened every time Ville Leino touched the puck, whether the Sabres center was 10 feet from the net or in another zone.
The 18,804 fans inside the First Niagara Center cheered the Finn wildly throughout Sunday’s season finale, hoping he would score his first goal in his 58th appearance. Some implored him to shoot.
Alas, Leino couldn’t score, completing what was arguably the worst season ever for a Sabres forward.
“I ... Read the full article