WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Thanksgiving Edition
The Sabres grabbed Mark Pysyk 23rd overall in 2010. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
NEWARK, N.J. – Since most NHL Entry Drafts don’t start paying dividends for a few years, here’s a look at the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round picks from 2005-10 and some notable hits and misses.
2010
First-round pick: defenseman Mark Pysyk, 23rd overall
After some early struggles in Rochester last season, Pysyk began developing rapidly during his rookie campaign, earning a March recall and a regular spot down the stretch. The smooth 21-year-old could someday be ... Read the full article
Justin Bailey takes a break from the arduous bike test at the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Justin Bailey didn’t mince words. On June 16, the Williamsville native, a possible second-round pick in Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft, tweeted, “Happy Father’s Day to the closest thing I have to a Dad! Thanks for everything.”
The 17-year-old posted two Instagram photos of him beside his grandfather.
Bailey, a slick winger with the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers, has a famous father, former Buffalo Bills linebacker Carlton Bailey. But the ... Read the full article
Mike Weber could finally earn regular duty next season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed gritty defenseman Mike Weber, who would’ve become a restricted free agent next month, to a three-year contract, the team announced Thursday night.
After years of struggling to stay in the lineup, the 25-year-old appears to have finally earned a regular spot. Weber sat the first five games last season before playing 42 of the final 43 tilts.
It was nothing new for Weber, who was scratched first 10 ... Read the full article
Hunter Shinkaruk believes other undersized players have paved the way for him. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Hunter Shinkaruk considers himself lucky. Ten years ago, scouts might’ve deemed the NHL Entry Draft prospect, who’s listed at 5-foot-10, too small for the big leagues.
But times have changed. Some of hockey’s biggest stars, most notably Conn Smythe winner Patrick Kane and scoring champion Martin St. Louis, are undersized.
Still, Shinkaruk, the No. 6 prospect among North American skaters for Sunday’s draft, knows size is “definitely a question mark around me ... Read the full article
Sean Monahan had 31 goals and 78 points in 2012-13. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Sean Monahan is raring to go and prove he’s ready for the next level following a trying campaign. The center’s 16-win season with the hapless Ottawa 67’s mercifully ended March 17, months before some of his counterparts in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Monahan should still be proud he was the lone bright spot on the Ontario Hockey League’s worst team, leading the rebuilding 67’s with 31 goals (10 more than ... Read the full article
Max Domi piled up points in junior. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The highlight has more than 100,000 hits on Youtube.com. After all, how many times do you see a perfect, between-the-legs saucer pass like the one Max Domi pulled off at last month’s Memorial Cup?
“To be honest with you, it was lucky,” the forward said about the nifty dish, which London Knights teammate Bo Horvath converted for a goal, earlier this month at the NHL Scouting Combine. “I don’t know ... Read the full article
Darnell Nurse chats with reporters earlier this month. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Given Darnell Nurse’s size – the defenseman’s nearly 6-foot-4 – and pedigree – he’s former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb’s nephew through marriage and his father also played professionally – football, not hockey, seemed like a more likely path for the 18-year-old.
But Nurse, the No. 4 prospect among North American skaters for Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft, attended one camp before his parents ended any gridiron dreams.
“I think I had the ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth talks about his new contract and his sudden turnaround on Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Trace Jhonas Enroth’s resurgence back to March 7, the goalie’s first start in 30 days and likely his last if he didn’t impress the Sabres that night in New Jersey.
At that point, the backup was reeling, 0-2 on the season and winless in nearly 16 months. The Sabres couldn’t afford to let Enroth keep losing.
“(I knew) it could be my last game,” Enroth acknowledged Thursday inside the First Niagara Center after ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff coached the Sabres from 1997-98 until Feb. 20. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The media couldn’t wait to ask Lindy Ruff, the Dallas Stars’ new coach, about “No Goal,” the disputed 1999 Stanley Cup-winning goal by Dallas’ Brett Hull that defeated Ruff’s Sabres.
It was the first question.
Of course, Ruff has always contended shouldn’t have counted because Hull’s skate was in the crease.
“It’s a long time ago,” Ruff, fired by the Sabres after more than 15 years on Feb. 20, told reporters in Dallas ... Read the full article
Darcy Regier is trying to be realistic about the Sabres landing an early draft pick. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres hold four of the first 52 picks in this month’s deep NHL Entry Draft, including the eighth and 16th selections. They also have starting goalie Ryan Miller and ace scorer Thomas Vanek, two stars with a year left on their contracts, dangling.
Still, despite a slew of assets, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said Thursday securing one of the top three selections – future stars Jonathan Drouin, Seth Jones and ... Read the full article