Archives for April 2015

'“I love Buffalo. It’s a great place. I know it very well. Playing in Erie, I’ve been to Buffalo a whole bunch. It’s kind of the closest (NHL) place to Erie and there are a lot of Sabres fans living in the area. I live with a diehard Sabres fan in my billet (Bob Catalde). It’s a special place.”' … [Read more...] about Connor McDavid analyzes five teams with best odds to pick No. 1

'Former Bills who still call the Buffalo area home include Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Steve Tasker, Andre Reed, Mark Kelso, Steve Christie and Joe Devlin, to name a few. Former Sabres who remained in the area include Rob Ray, Larry Playfair, Mike Robitaille, Rene Robert, Rick Martin (until his death in March 2011), Matthew Barnaby, Bill Hajt, Andrew Peters and Darryl Shannon.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo is our kind of town — especially for ex-athletes

'By finishing last, Buffalo is guaranteed one of the two franchise players available in the draft. If the Sabres don't win the lottery, they'll pick second and can take Boston University centre Jack Eichel.' … [Read more...] about McDavid is generational prize for team that wins NHL draft lottery

'Murray will drive up to Toronto on Saturday, and will be present in Sportsnet’s downtown studios when the lottery announcement is made.' … [Read more...] about Tim Murray describes draft lottery as ”Another day in the process”

Reinhart provides a glimpse of future in Amerks' debut (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Photo gallery (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Corrado, Jensen lead Comets past Amerks (Utica Observer Dispatch) Reinhart shines in debut for Amerks (WGR-AM) Reinhart posts two points as Amerks fall to Comets in regular season home finale (Amerks.com) Final: Comets 3 @ Amerks 2 … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Rochester Coverage

'McDavid’s influence, of course, goes even further than his impact on the ice. Some markets could use more season tickets. There would be impact on jersey sales in the home city and around the league online. Television ratings, especially local ones, would get a boost. And it’s widely believed Detroit’s Mike Babcock, a pending free agent coach who is looking to get paid with a … [Read more...] about There are 14 NHL teams with eyes on the McDavid prize

'The league said McDavid and the two players expected to be the targets for most teams at No. 3, Erie forward Dylan Strome and Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifan, will also attend. Boston University forward Jack Eichel, the player the Sabres would presumably take at No. 2 if their 80 percent odds to claim that spot come through, is not scheduled to attend. A league … [Read more...] about McDavid will be in house when NHL reveals lottery slots

'A draft lottery involving the 14 teams that missed the playoffs this season will be conducted to determine the order of the 2015 draft, which will be held June 26 in Sunrise, Fla. Buffalo has a 20 percent chance of obtaining the first overall pick in the draft lottery and an 80 percent chance of picking second.' … [Read more...] about What the 2015 NHL Draft means to Sabres fans – and where to watch it

'“This is by far the worst years just I’ve had in my whole life, not just in just in a National Hockey League year,” Hodgson said Sunday inside the First Niagara Center as the Sabres cleaned out their lockers following a 30th-place finish. “I can’t explain what happened or what happened in more than one instance."' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Cody Hodgson on awful season: ‘I can’t explain what happened’

'"Connor is a tad younger, and he weighs 195, but he's going to get stronger. I think Jack has a better size-strength game because he is more physically mature. They are both going to be productive, impactful players for a long time. I think Connor will be viewed as more of a high-skill finesse guy. And Jack will be seen as a power-skill guy."' … [Read more...] about Draft lottery a win-win for the Buffalo Sabres

Cassidy knows review of Amerks staff is next for Murray (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) … [Read more...] about Friday’s Rochester Coverage

'"There's nothing you can say bad about the guy,'' Reinhart said. "Most people know what kind of player he is but he's a better guy in the locker room, a humble guy, which is my view is more important.''' … [Read more...] about Sam Reinhart would relish Connor McDavid as Sabres teammate

'“Unfortunately for Chad, he got hurt,” Lindback said. “It really opened a window for me to get playing time. I think that’s what’s been missing for me – playing, getting into a rhythm. It was a long time ago I got to play this much. I’ve just been feeling more comfortable for every game that’s passed.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres goalie Anders Lindback wants to return following strong run as starter

'Once the “blueprint” was decided, as right or wrong as it may be, it would take all aspects of the organization rowing together to ensure its success. Ted Nolan tipping his hand to the media and the public about running things the way he sees fit, about criticizing his GM for leaving defenseman Mark Pysyk in Rochester all season, and almost projecting a sense of schadenfreude … [Read more...] about Sabres ‘Blueprint’ Goes the Distance

'OK, we’ve all seen McDavid play, but we haven’t been on the ice with him. Reinhart likes many things, “I think the speed he’s able to generate, his hockey sense is right up there with the best.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Reinhart has learned a lot this season