WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Training Camp Edition
Trade rumors haven been swirling around Ryan Miller. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In Ted Nolan’s mind, franchise goalie Ryan Miller, an unrestricted free agent following the season, is more of a building block for the struggling Sabres than an asset.
“You build around him versus as a pawn to try to get something to make you better,” the interim coach said Wednesday. “You learn to deal with the now as a coach, and we got one of the better goaltenders in the world here. I’d ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko has been a healthy scratch recently. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Center Mikhail Grigorenko will be leaving the Sabres on Sunday to play for his native Russia at the upcoming world junior championship.
The 19-year-old, a healthy scratch the last two games and five of the last eight under interim coach Ted Nolan, posted a message to a Facebook account this afternoon that read, “Flying to Russia Sunday with my brother Zadorov!”
That’s the Nikita Zadorov, the 18-year-old defenseman the Sabres recently sent back ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller will be a free agent following the season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In Ted Nolan’s mind, franchise goalie Ryan Miller, an unrestricted free agent following the season, is more of a building block for the Sabres than an asset.
“You build around him versus as a pawn to try to get something to make you better,” the interim coach said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “You learn to deal with the now as a coach, and we got one of ... Read the full article
Brayden McNabb has sat the last two games. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Defenseman Brayden McNabb, a healthy scratch the last two games, will play tonight for the Rochester Americans before returning to the Sabres.
Sitting long isn’t good for the 22-year-old, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. The Amerks host the Utica Comets tonight.
“The greatest thing about having the Rochester Americans so close he can go down and play,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “He sat out ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno has been skating on the fourth line recently. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Marcus Foligno said Ted Nolan could’ve easily demoted him to the fourth line without an explanation. But a straightforward, face-to-face chat accompanied the struggling young winger’s move.
“Marcus is a big, powerful forward,” the Sabres’ interim coach said Tuesday following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “I told him he was just big, he wasn’t powerful. He wasn’t hitting anybody. He wasn’t using his size to his advantage.”
So in slashing his minutes, ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko could be playing somewhere else soon. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres are “discussing all possibilities” to find 19-year-old prospect Mikhail Grigorenko playing time, interim coach Ted Nolan said Tuesday.
That means the Sabres could loan the center, a healthy scratch the last two games, to Russia for the world junior championship later this month if he’s invited. He could also get sent back to the junior Quebec Remparts.
“We’re not 100 percent sure what we’re going to do,” Nolan said following practice ... Read the full article
Brian Flynn plays the game cleanly. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The streak ended 4:57 into the third period of the Sabres’ 1-0 overtime loss Saturday.
In his 53rd NHL game, forward Brian Flynn was whistled for hooking New Jersey’s Steve Bernier, his first NHL penalty.
How did Flynn, who takes a regular shift, avoid getting penalized until his second NHL season?
“I don’t know, probably because I’m not that physical,” Flynn said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “That’s how most ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko (25) could get loaned to Russia. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres are “discussing all possibilities” to find 19-year-old prospect Mikhail Grigorenko playing time, interim coach Ted Nolan said.
That means the Sabres could loan the center, a healthy scratch the last two games, to Russia for the world junior championship later this month if he’s invited. He could also get sent back to the junior Quebec Remparts.
“We’re not 100 percent sure what we’re going to do,” Nolan said this afternoon following ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth has only one win this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Right now, Jhonas Enroth’s frustration extends beyond losing games with the Sabres. The backup goalie is also losing ground in his battle to earn a spot on Sweden’s Olympic roster for the upcoming Sochi Games.
“Personally, other Swedish goalies are winning right now,” Enroth said Monday following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s all stressing me out actually a little bit, not too much. Obviously, you think about the Olympics and you ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno (82) threw a knockout punch Saturday, ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Marcus Foligno wanted to make sure Ryan Carter was OK. So the Sabres winger stopped punching after landing a big knockout blow to his opponent’s face Saturday in New Jersey.
“I’d say it’s just a little caution,” Foligno, who stayed with Carter for a few moments following the fight, said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “You hit a guy that hard, I felt it, too. You just caught him in the right ... Read the full article