WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Thanksgiving Edition
Thomas Vanek and the Sabres will have 70 games aired on MSG next season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – MSG will televise 70 Sabres games in 2013-14, while NBC or NBC Sports Network will broadcast the other 12, the team announced today.
Ten games will air on NBC Sports Network. The other two will air on NBC or NBC Sports Network as part of the flex schedule.
The scheduled NBC games:
Rick Jeanneret is beloved in Buffalo. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Rick Jeanneret, the iconic play-by-play voice of the Sabres since 1971, has agreed to a new three-year contract and will call an increasingly reduced number of games over the deal before retiring, the club announced today.
Dan Dunleavy, a veteran Toronto-area broadcaster, will be Jeanneret’s substitute before assuming the primary play-by-play job in 2016-17.
Today’s news will almost certainly delight and sadden Sabres fans. In the end, they have three more seasons of ... Read the full article
Corey Tropp played 34 NHL games in 2011-12. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed ferocious winger Corey Tropp, an NHL regular late in 2011-12 before tearing knee ligaments early last season, to a one-year contract today.
The 24-year-old damaged the medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament Oct. 15 after scoring twice in Rochester’s opening-night win. Tropp made a surprising return to the Americans’ lineup March 29. But with a weakened knee, he only played five games.
Prior to the lockout last ... Read the full article
Jamie Tardif has played two NHL games. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres added a scoring winger for the Rochester Americans today, signing Jamie Tardif to a one-year, two-way contract.
The 28-year-old scored a career-high 30 goals and added 45 points in 62 AHL games last season with Providence. Tardif also made his first two NHL appearances with Boston.
His NHL deal is worth $550,000, according to RDS’s Renaud Lavioe.
The Welland, Ont., native has 123 goals and 229 points in 438 AHL games ... Read the full article
Nathan Gerbe was waived earlier this month. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Former Sabres winger Nathan Gerbe has found a new home after getting waived and bought out earlier this month.
The Carolina Hurricanes today signed the 26-year-old American to a one-year, two-way deal. Gerbe receives $550,000 in the NHL, $150,000 in the AHL and is guaranteed at least $250,000, the Hurricanes said.
According to capgeek.com, the Sabres also owe Gerbe $616,666 over the next two years, part of the three-year, $4.3 million contract ... Read the full article
James Patrick has been beside Lindy Ruff for years. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – James Patrick is joining Lindy Ruff with the Dallas Stars.
In a move many expected, the Stars today added the 50-year-old former Sabres player and assistant coach to Ruff’s staff.
Patrick, Ruff’s assistant for seven years, stayed on after the Sabres fired Ruff in February. New coach Ron Rolston let Patrick go following the season, however.
Ruff and Patrick have been friends since playing together with the New York Rangers in the ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller tries to stop Taylor Pyatt on April 19. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
It’s no slam dunk Buffalo Sabres starter Ryan Miller, one of six goalies Team USA placed on its National Team Orientation Camp roster today, will be named to the Olympic team again for the upcoming Sochi Games.
Consider the other netminders the 2010 Vancouver Games hero is competing with for one of three spots in February:
– Ottawa’s Craig Anderson, who led the NHL in goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.941) last season.
– ... Read the full article
Luke Adam celebrates his 14th NHL goal last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed restricted free agent forward Luke Adam to a one-year, two-way contract, according to capgeek.com.
Adam receives $735,000 in the NHL and $65,000 in the AHL.
The 23-year-old had 15 goals and 37 points in 67 games with Rochester last season. He earned an April recall to the Sabres, scoring once in four appearances.
Adam, the 44th overall pick in 2008, has 14 goals and 25 ... Read the full article
Matt Hackett could be Rochester’s No. 1 goalie next season. ©2013, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed restricted free agent goalie Matt Hackett to a one-year, two-way contract, according to RDS’s Renaud Lavoie.
The 23-year-old Hackett, a key piece in April’s Jason Pominville trade with Minnesota, gets $715,000 in the NHL, Lavoie reported.
If the Sabres keep starting goalie Ryan Miller, Hackett’s expected to be Rochester’s No. 1 netminder in 2013-14. The prospect played three regular-season games and one postseason contest with the ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff’s Dallas Stars visit the Sabres on Oct. 28. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres fans won’t have to wait long to see some familiar faces back at the First Niagara Center in different colors next season.
An Oct. 14 game against former Sabres captain Jason Pominville and the Minnesota Wild and an Oct. 28 contest versus ex-coach Lindy Ruff and the Dallas Stars are among the highlights of the 82-game schedule the NHL released Friday.
The Sabres open their 43rd season Oct. 2 in ... Read the full article