WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Free Agency Edition
Jason Pominville can’t believe another NHL lockout is imminent. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – It’s looming. Barring a major negotiating breakthrough, the NHL plans to lock out its players at midnight Saturday, a sad and stunning end to a collective bargaining agreement under which the league generated record revenues.
Beginning today in Manhattan, at least 10 Buffalo Sabres will be among the 250 or so players attending the NHL Players’ Association meetings. The two sides also reportedly plan to meet again today, a bit of good news.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The Sabres will have 15 games broadcast nationally during the 2012-13 season.
The team has two games scheduled for NBC and 13 slated for NBC Sports Network, according to the NHL’s national television schedule, released Thursday. MSG will broadcast 70 Sabres games.
Of course, if the NHL locks out its players when the collective bargaining agreement expires Sept. 15, the schedule could change.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Now you can start planning those trips to Rochester in the event of an NHL lockout, Sabres fans.
The Rochester Americans begin their 31st season as the Sabres’ AHL affiliate on Oct. 12 at the Blue Cross War Memorial against the Syracuse Crunch, a day before their parent club is scheduled to open its campaign at the First Niagara Center versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.
But with collective bargaining agreement talks stalling, who ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The growing potential for an NHL lockout has forced the Detroit Red Wings to cancel their annual NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, Mich., which the Sabres won last season.
The Sabres were one of eight teams slated to participate again in September.
The collective bargaining agreement expires Sept. 15. Little progress has been made during recent talks between the NHL and NHLPA.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed defenseman Alex Biega to a one-year, two-way contract.
The 24-year-old had five goals, 23 points, 47 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating in 65 games with Rochester last season. The former Harvard University captain has six goals, 41 points, 99 penalty minutes and a plus-28 rating in 126 AHL appearances over two seasons.
The Sabres selected Biega 147th overall in 2006.... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta has never shied away from contact. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Three years for a rugged, injury-prone winger who’s averaged only 55 games during his four full NHL seasons. Why did the Sabres give Patrick Kaleta, a 26-year-old short on durability, such a long contract?
The team sees growth and maturity seeping into Kaleta’s game. He’s started reigning in the ultra-aggressive, often reckless style he showcased for years.
The Angola native played a career-high 63 contests last season, eight more than his previous best. ... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta played a career-high 63 games last season. ©2012, Janet Schultz, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed restricted free agent winger Patrick Kaleta to a three-year contract on Tuesday.
The deal is worth $1.25 million a season, according to nhlnumbers.com.
The 26-year-old, the Sabres’ No. 1 pest and a ferocious hitter, has developed into a strong checker capable of playing big minutes. In the winter, he began playing 18 minutes some nights on a top checking line with Paul Gaustad and Nathan Gerbe.
The Angola native rarely ... Read the full article
Drew Schiestel was Portland’s top defenseman in 2010-11 before tearing his ACL. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed defenseman Drew Schiestel, who fell so far off the depth chart last season the organization loaned him to the Dallas Stars’ AHL affiliate, to a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old, the 59th overall pick in 2007, hasn’t appeared in the NHL yet.
Schiestel earned an AHL All-Star berth with Portland in 2010-11 and appeared close to receiving a recall. But he tore his ACL, and then hurt ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Last month, Steve Ott and Mike Weber heard a rumor Ott could be joining his close friend with the Sabres. The two laughed, and then resumed working out together at the gym.
The mere thought of Ott coming to Buffalo resonated, however. The gritty forward was cognizant the Dallas Stars might be looking to deal him.
“Could you imagine?” the friends asked each other.
On July 2, about two weeks later, Ott missed ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko will compete for an NHL spot during training camp. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – On Wednesday, the day the Sabres signed slick Russian center Mikhail Grigorenko to a three-year, entry-level contract, general manager Darcy Regier encountered a slew of prospects while visiting the players’ lounge inside the First Niagara Center.
Luke Adam, Marcus Foligno and Brayden McNabb, who all impressed during NHL stints last season, are in town working out. So is Grigorenko, the 12th overall pick last month, and 14th pick Zemgus Girgensons, who inked his ... Read the full article