WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
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
Darcy Regier has assets to trade. ©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 today securing one of the top three selections – future stars Jonathan Drouin, Seth Jones and ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff was fired Feb. 20. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Get ready to cringe, Sabres fans.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting the Dallas Stars are going to hire former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff as their new coach.
The Stars, of course, beat Ruff’s Sabres for the 1999 Stanley Cup with Brett Hull’s infamous “No Goal” in Game 6 at what was then called Marine Midland Arena.
For more details on the possible hiring, click here.
The Sabres fired Ruff on Feb. ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth could compete for the starting job next season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed goalie Jhonas Enroth, who would’ve become a restricted free agent next month, to a two-year contract, the team announced this morning.
The backup would likely have the inside edge for the No. 1 job next season if the Sabres trade starting netminder Ryan Miller this offseason.
After struggling for more than a year, the Swede finished this season strongly, going 4-1-1 with a 1.47 goals-against average, a .956 save ... Read the full article
Terry Pegula rarely speaks about his team. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Terry Pegula has finally spoken again.
In a rare “interview,” the Sabres owner fielded questions on his team’s radio program, “Sabres Hockey Hotline,” this morning, chatting 25 minutes by phone with hosts and team employees Kevin Sylvester and Andrew Peters.
Most notably, Pegula defended general manager Darcy Regier, whose teams have missed the playoffs the last two seasons, asking, “What’s he done wrong?” Pegula said he wants Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek, ... Read the full article