WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Training Camp Edition
Terry Pegula paid $189 million for the Sabres in 2011. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ awful on-ice performance hasn’t hurt the team’s value.
Forbes’ annual list of NHL franchise values pegs the Sabres worth $250 million, 22nd in the league. The Sabres ranked 22nd last year at $175 million.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula paid $189 million for the team in 2011.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL’s most valuable team at $1.15 billion. The Columbus Blue Jackets are the least valuable at ... Read the full article
Ted Nolan has his hands full fixing the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ emotional 3-1 victory in Ted Nolan’s debut as interim coach Nov. 15 is starting to feel like a distant memory.
Yes, the Sabres have been showcasing a better compete level at times. Yes, they’re starting games much better.
But the bottom-feeding club has been outscored 15-5 in four straight losses since beating Toronto. The Sabres are still really bad.
“I really liked the emotion of the first game, and everyone was ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller (30) battles his brother, Detroit’s Drew Miller, Sunday. The Sabres debuted their new third jerseys. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The reeling Detroit Red Wings limped into a town Sunday a beaten up and tired bunch ripe to be exploited. They left galvanized by only their second win in 10 games, a tight 3-1 triumph against the rested Sabres in a dull, low-chance affair.
Playing without three regulars, including star Pavel Datsyuk, the Wings fell behind early before scoring the go-ahead goal 11:43 into the third period inside the First Niagara Center.
So ... Read the full article
Mark Pysyk returned Sunday after a one-game absence. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres switched their lineup for Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, sitting three players interim coach Ted Nolan dressed last game.
Defenseman Mark Pysyk, a surprise scratch for Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Philadelphia, returned. Nolan sat the rookie, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, so he could evaluate other players.
“We only have a limited amount of time to see everybody, and I mentioned to him ... Read the full article
Mark Pysyk sat Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres are changing up their lineup for this afternoon’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings, sitting three players interim coach Ted Nolan dressed last game.
Defenseman Mark Pysyk, a surprise scratch for Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Philadelphia, will return. Nolan sat the rookie, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, so he could evaluate other players.
“We only have a limited amount of time to see everybody, and I mentioned ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers, who said he likes where his “game’s going,” was smiling Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tyler Myers needed some advice. Just four games into the season, the struggling Sabres defenseman had already compiled a wretched minus-7 rating. He was starting to lose ice time.
For all the preseason hubbub over his productive summer, the 23-year-old hadn’t showcased any improvements in his wobbly game.
So following his minus-3 performance in the Sabres’ 4-1 loss to Columbus on Oct. 10, Myers reached out to Jim Corsi, the goalie coach... Read the full article
The Riverside Ice Rink was so cold Saturday that Ryan Miller could see his breath. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As a 29-year-old veteran of 107 NHL games, defenseman Alexander Sulzer gives the struggling Sabres some much-needed stability, interim coach Ted Nolan said.
“We’re running around the defensive zone a little bit too much,” Nolan said Saturday after the Sabres prepared for this afternoon’s game against the Detroit Red Wings inside the First Niagara Center.
That’s why Nolan and Pat LaFontaine, the president of hockey operations, watched Sulzer play Friday in Rochester. The ... Read the full article
Alexander Sulzer practices today. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As a 29-year-old veteran of 107 NHL games, defenseman Alexander Sulzer gives the struggling Sabres some much-needed stability, interim coach Ted Nolan said.
“We’re running around the defensive zone a little bit too much,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the Riverside Ice Rink.
That’s why Nolan and Pat LaFontaine, the president of hockey operations, watched Sulzer play Friday in Rochester. The Sabres recalled him following the game.
“We got a lot ... Read the full article
Drew Stafford has only two goals this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The past is history, Ted Nolan has said. The interim Sabres coach doesn’t care about it. Heck, he hasn’t even reviewed video of his new team’s sorry start.
Sabres winger Drew Stafford has two goals in 24 games this season, zero in the last seven contests.
But Nolan has been giving Stafford, a fourth-liner at times earlier this season, big minutes and opportunities. The 28-year-old is averaging 20:03 in four games under Nolan. ... Read the full article
Ted Nolan didn’t like what he watched Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Bet on it. In the next week or so, the hapless Buffalo Sabres will trade or waive at least one underachieving veteran.
Ted Nolan has seen enough just four games into his tenure.
“The gloves are officially off,” the interim coach told reporters Thursday in Philadelphia following the Sabres’ weak 4-1 loss, their third straight setback. “Now we got to do certain things in order to play. If you don’t, you’re not.”
The youth excuse ... Read the full article