Archives for November 2013

'The result on the scoreboard really doesn’t matter in this game. I saw a totally different team against Toronto. If this is the hockey we see most nights, I think Sabre fans will stick with Pat Lafontaine and Ted Nolan through this growing period.' … [Read more...] about Sabres compete for Nolan

'I have no idea how the return of Nolan and the hiring of Sabres and NHL Hall of Famer Pat Lafontaine as President of Hockey Operations will turn out but I do know I feel good about the Sabres again. Tonight marks the first time all season I've been excited about a Sabres game.' … [Read more...] about Sabres fans have hope again

'“He told everybody, ‘I’m not watching video on you guys. I’m not looking at your stat packs, I really don’t care. I want to see what you’re going to do for me now and I’ll figure everybody out as we go as we go here,’” Ott said. “It made a lot of guys, I think, realize that Game One is basically tonight and throw those other 20 away and honestly, it felt like a completely … [Read more...] about Sabres top Maple Leafs in Nolan’s debut

'“It’s the simple fact that the room has been wiped clean. When they came in here, they told every guy to a man in their personal meetings that everything has been wiped clean,” explained Ott. “I don’t care if you haven’t had a point or you’re minus-15, everything is out the window from the last 20 games. We’re starting fresh, and we’re starting to build from this day on. I … [Read more...] about “Lighter Sabres talk about the clean slate

Rochester Americans win at Utica (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Amerks' victory busts Comets' winning streak (Utica Observer Dispatch) Adam, Armia lead Amerks to 4-2 win over Utica (Amerks.com) FINAL: Comets 2 vs. Rochester 4 (UticaComets.com) … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Rochester Coverage

'From my perspective, I’m excited about the changes. It’s embarrassing to admit that Regier’s continued employment left me wishing the Sabres would lose every game, in hopes that would elicit a firing ... or two. Now it’s hard not to be enthused.' … [Read more...] about It’s not hard to be enthused about Sabres

'As popular as the return of LaFontaine and interim coach Ted Nolan seem to be from a public relations standpoint, it’s hard to ignore that this particular gambit seems ill-advised and more than a little desperate from an organizational one.' … [Read more...] about LaFontaine hardly in position to succeed with Sabres

'“It went OK,” Nolan said, with the emphasis on “OK.” “We’ve got a lot of work to do. The biggest thing is to get these guys to feel good about themselves. If you feel good about yourself, you’ll get better.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres start ‘second season’ under Nolan

'“Everybody changes,” Nolan said. “I’m not the same guy I was 20 years ago, and I’m sure you’re not, either. We have to change with the times when we’re here. The one thing that hasn’t changed is what it takes to win.' … [Read more...] about An older, wiser Nolan embraces second chance

'“I think it’s being blown out of proportion with this game,” Scott said. “It’s something that happened in the preseason. I don’t think much is going to happen from it.”' … [Read more...] about Players downplay rematch with Leafs

'That is, sadly, not the kind of hockey team we have had for most of my 32 years here. Instead, the Sabres in the post-French Connection years – except for a few memorable stretches – have been too small, too soft and too frilly.' … [Read more...] about Feeling good about Sabres long overdue

'Channel 2 deserves some congratulations for ignoring the bottom line to air the event on TV at some cost. It also had the advantage of staying with it at 11 a.m., when its regular morning newscast airs. Sometimes, you make calls to go live to protect your image as the station to head to when there is breaking news. This was one of those times.' … [Read more...] about Channel 2 bests its rivals with coverage of Sabres’ news conference

'“It was really fast,” winger Tyler Ennis said about Nolan’s first real practice after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s home tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “We moved through things quickly. It was definitely higher and a lot more energy.”' … [Read more...] about Ted Nolan ready for interim debut against Leafs, puts Sabres through spirited practice

'“It happened a long time ago,” Carlyle said. “It’s things like that that we don’t like to remember, and it’s time to move on from that. We’re here to play a hockey game that’s going to give us the best chance for success.' … [Read more...] about Sabres and Leafs not expecting many fireworks in first meeting since preseason brawl

'Rebuilding a franchise means more than simply trading away all your good players, tanking two or three seasons and hoping the guys you draft grow up to be better than the ones they replaced. It requires a vision for the future and a definitive plan for how to execute that vision. Under Regier, I was never sure what kind of team this was supposed to be. Right now the only kind … [Read more...] about Sabres make an ooh-la-la move, finally