Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

GM Tim Murray unsure about Sabres’ upcoming UFAs; Pat LaFontaine open to keeping Ryan Miller

BUFFALO – General manager Tim Murray knows with three high-profile unrestricted free agents the Sabres’ phones “will ring off the hook here going forward.”

Franchise goalie Ryan Miller, top scorer Matt Moulson and gritty captain Steve Ott will be coveted by teams before the NHL trade deadline.

What will Murray, who was named GM today, do?

“I can’t go out right now and tell you I’m going to trade all the pending UFAs if there’s ... Read the full article

New GM Tim Murray open to keeping interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan

BUFFALO – Pat LaFontaine believes you put people together and let them do what they do best.

“They’re good at what they do and together they’ll be better,” the president of hockey operations said today after naming Tim Murray the Sabres’ new general manager.

Murray’s now together with Ted Nolan, an interim coach LaFontaine named in November.

What’s going to happen?

“Ted is my guy right now,” Murray said inside the First Niagara Center.

Murray ... Read the full article

Sabres introduce Tim Murray as new GM, Craig Patrick as advisor

BUFFALO – The Sabres appointed Tim Murray their new general manager today, but not before making a surprise announcement.

Craig Patrick, a Hockey Hall of Famer and two-time Stanley Cup champion as Pittsburgh’s GM, has joined the team as a special assistant and advisor to the hockey department.

Here are some highlights from today’s new conference.

Murray

On his philosophy:

“You build a team through the draft. Good drafting allows you to trade well, and ... Read the full article

Sabres to introduce Tim Murray as new GM this morning

BUFFALO – Following a nearly two-month search, the Sabres will introduce Tim Murray as their new general manager this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

Stay tuned for more details.

The 50-year-old Murray is leaving his post as Ottawa’s assistant GM.

Murray, the nephew of Ottawa GM Bryan Murray, began his NHL career as an amateur scout with Detroit in 1993-94. He moved on to Florida, where he rose to director of amateur scouting before ... Read the full article

Sabres grateful for snow day; Swedish Olympian Jhonas Enroth to start in goal

BUFFALO – Steve Ott noticed he didn’t have any food for a pregame meal Tuesday. The Sabres captain figured his “pasta place” was probably closed, too.

So even with a ferocious snowstorm battering the area, Ott “took a chance” and drove to a Wegmans supermarket for some spaghetti.

“It was a miserable chance, to be honest with you,” Ott said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Florida Panthers inside the First ... Read the full article

Sabres promote Randy Cunneyworth to new roles with Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres have promoted Randy Cunneyworth to be a special assistant and player development coach for the Rochester Americans.

Cunneyworth will work to develop players there and serve as a liaison between the AHL affiliate and the Sabres. He rejoined the Sabres as a pro scout in November and has also been working with some Amerks players.

The 52-year-old served as Montreal’s interim head coach for 50 games in 2011-12. He coached ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Myers wasn’t expecting three-game suspension

BUFFALO – Tyler Myers knows “it doesn’t matter what type of hit it is anymore.”

“If there’s any contact to the head, it’s going to be two to five games,” the Sabres defenseman said following practice today inside the First Niagara Center.

Myers received a three-game suspension for hitting Dainius Zubrus in the head late in Saturday’s 2-1 win against New Jersey.

“They explained that he gave me two and then they gave me one ... Read the full article

Sabres believe NHL made right move postponing game; Jhonas Enroth to start in goal Thursday

BUFFALO – Steve Ott noticed he didn’t have any food for a pregame meal Tuesday. The Sabres captain figured his “pasta place” was probably closed, too.

So even with a ferocious snowstorm battering the area, Ott “took a chance” and drove to Wegmans for some spaghetti.

“It was a miserable chance, to be honest with you,” Ott said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “I had to guess on a left turn, ... Read the full article

Reports: Sabres will name Tim Murray GM

BUFFALO – It appears the Sabres will name Tim Murray their new general manager.

According to reports, Pat LaFontaine, the president of hockey operations, has chosen the 50-year-old Murray, Ottawa’s assistant GM, to replace Darcy Regier after a nearly two-month search.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported Murray is the “last man standing” and a formal offer, negotiation and ownership approval still must be completed.

The Sabres also interviewed three assistant GMs – Boston’s Jim Benning, ... Read the full article

Sabres tough guy John Scott tired of reputation calls: ‘I’m always guilty’

BUFFALO – The joke is John Scott keeps receiving two minutes for, well, being Sabres tough guy John Scott.

The 6-foot-8 winger, who’s impossible to miss on the ice, is tired of the reputation penalties.

“Yeah, I guess that’s why you have a reputation,” Scott said last week inside the First Niagara Center. “But, yeah, it’s been a bad year for penalties like that. It seems like whenever there’s a scrum, I’m the one ... Read the full article