WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Corey Tropp has missed the whole season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Before Corey Tropp broke his jaw fighting Toronto’s Jamie Devane Sept. 22, the Sabres winger, who tore up his right knee last season, enjoyed some peace of mind.
The few doubts the 24-year-old had about the injury vanished during the preseason.
“I grew that confidence with each day of training camp,” Tropp, who could make his season debut this weekend, said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “‘Oh, ... Read the full article
Two Sabres fans show their appreciation to Lindy Ruff on Monday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Eight hours before his Sabres debut, high-scoring winger Matt Moulson joked he wanted Lindy Ruff’s return to the First Niagara Center as the Dallas Stars’ coach to overshadow his night.
Moulson wasn’t letting on Monday morning, but the 29-year-old, having just been acquired Sunday with draft picks from the New York Islanders for star co-captain Thomas Vanek, was incredibly nervous.
“I’m not going to lie, that was probably the most nervous I’ve been ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson scored twice in his Sabres debut. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Having grown up in nearby Mississauga, Ont., about a 90-minute drive, Sabres winger Matt Moulson said he’s well-acquainted with his new city.
“I used to love coming to Bills games,” Moulson said Monday inside the First Niagara Center prior to scoring twice in his Buffalo debut, a 4-3 loss to former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and the Dallas Stars. “So it’s a great city. Who knows, it could be for a long time. ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson skates this morning with his new teammates. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Having grown up in nearby Mississauga, Ont., about a 90-minute drive, Sabres winger Matt Moulson said he’s well-acquainted with his new city.
“I used to love coming to Bills games,” Moulson said this morning inside the First Niagara Center, less than a day after being acquired with two high draft picks from the New York Islanders for co-captain Thomas Vanek. “So it’s a great city. Who knows, it could be for a long ... Read the full article
Coach Lindy Ruff leads Dallas’ morning skate. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff still catches himself.
At times, the Dallas Stars’ coach still refers to the Sabres, the team he coached for 15 seasons, as “we.”
“I’ve slipped up the odd time with that one,” Ruff, whose Stars face the Sabres tonight, said this afternoon inside the First Niagara, his first visit back since his Feb. 20 dismissal.
Other times, Ruff will thumb to the Sabres’ statistics page instead of Dallas’.
Breaking old ... Read the full article
The Sabres selected Thomas Vanek fifth overall in 2003. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In the short-term, the hapless Sabres are no better after dealing co-captain and top scorer Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders late Sunday for 30-goal winger Matt Moulson and a first-round pick in 2014 and second-round selection in 2015, general manager Darcy Regier said.
But the shocking trade, which Regier worked on with counterpart Garth Snow “off and on for a while,” wasn’t about improving the 2-10-1 club immediately.
“This is more ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff coached the Sabres 15 seasons. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This city, of course, is still Lindy Ruff’s home. Always will be, the former Sabres coach said shortly after his stunning Feb. 20 dismissal.
At times, it felt as if Ruff, having survived so much turmoil and change over his 15 seasons, would never leave.
But 250 days ago, Darcy Regier, Ruff’s close friend, drove to his Clarence home and fired him, the Sabres’ regression too much for the general manager ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek was recenly named co-captain. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In a stunning development, the Sabres have traded 29-year-old co-captain Thomas Vanek, arguably their top player, to the New York Islanders for Matt Moulson, their 2014 first-round pick and a 2015 second-round pick.
The slick winger, an upcoming unrestricted free agent, has expressed an interesting in leaving the Sabres if their rebuilding process takes too long.
Clearly, the Sabres’ awful 2-10-1 start couldn’t convince Vanek to stick around.
In the 29-year-old Moulson, the ... Read the full article
Mike Weber has played 11 games this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Mike Weber is out “long-term” after a blocking a shot midway through Friday’s 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers, coach Ron Rolston told reporters this afternoon in Tampa Bay.
Rolston gave no timetable for a return. Mike Weaver’s slap shot ran up Weber’s hand, Rolston said.
Weber has zero points, 21 penalty minutes and a minus-12 rating in 11 games this season.
The Sabres, who dressed seven defensemen Friday, won’t ... Read the full article
Kevin Porter (12) played nine games with the Sabres this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Kevin Porter cleared waivers today and will go to the Rochester Americans, where the center starred last season before the Sabres summoned him in February.
With forward Cody McCormick returning from a two-game absence tonight after blocking a shot last week, the Sabres created room on the 23-man roster by waiving Porter on Thursday.
The 27-year-old was pointless in nine games this season and had been scratched twice.