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Buffalo Sabres to Hold ‘Sabres Summer Fan Fest’ After Rookie Camp Scrimmage

June 19th, 2013 at 9:47 AM
By Anthony Custode Jr.

The Buffalo Sabres announced that they have partnered with Buffalo Place to host a day of hockey-themed entertainment on Canalside titled, 'Sabres Summer Fan Fest', on July 12.

Sabres' rookies will compete in a scrimmage at the First Niagara Center, and a concert headlining alternative rock group 10,000 Maniacs will follow. Sabres President Ted Black says the passion of the fans is what inspired the event.

“The fan turnout at last year’s development camp and scrimmage really drove home the fact that our fans have an appetite for hockey that continues year-round,” Black said in a statement. “We’re excited to build upon that fan interest and offer a larger event that capitalizes on our arena’s location on Buffalo’s burgeoning waterfront.”

First Niagara Center will be open to fans at 3 pm while the rookie camp wraps up. The scrimmage is scheduled to begin at 4 pm. Concession stands throughout the arena will be open and will offer family-friendly prices. 

Following the scrimmage, the Sabres and Buffalo Place will move the party to Canalside, which is the home of Buffalo Place's summer concert series. Music will begin at 6 pm, as will a rookie autograph session which will be open to children 12 and younger. 10,000 Maniacs are scheduled to hit the stage at 8 pm and the night is expected to be capped with a fireworks show.

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Buffalo Sabres Owner Terry Pegula Voices Opinions Over the Radio

June 18th, 2013 at 11:48 AM
By Mike Matisz

Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula was on local radio Tuesday discussing his thoughts on the Sabres and the team's current status. 

'NHL Store' photo (c) 2010, Marlon E - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ Pegula, who had previously been under fire for not making many public appearances to give answers for his personnel decisions, spoke with Kevin Sylvester on WGR 550-AM's "Hockey Hotline" and brought some of those opinions to light. 

One of the major decisions Pegula spoke on was the hiring of Ron Rolston as head coach after not expanding the scope of their search beyond him.

"Ron didn't give us much choice last year," Pegula said. "I don't think when you trade away your captain you deal him your best hand. You trade … two experienced defenseman. Then by the way, he does pretty well. He's another guy that … you're not going to outwork Ron Rolston. He's a hard worker."
He backed his decision up by noting one of Rolston's major strengths.
"In the next three years, we have 11 picks in the first two rounds. We're going to have this massive influx of young players and some of our key players, the [Mikhail] Grigorenkos, the [Zegmus] Girgensons, the [Johan] Larsson s… these are all young guys. Ron's a teacher."
 From head coach to general manager, Pegula also backed his decision to keep Darcy Regier on staff, assuring the fans that his previous blunders were a result of not having full control of his team.
"Maybe somebody was holding the painter's hand while he was doing the painting," Pegula said.
He also made mention that he and Regier do talk very frequently. Pegula joked that he speaks to Regier more than his own wife:
"I think for a GM in today's sports to operate efficiently, he's got to have access to his owner."
Lastly, from the player perspective, Pegula made mention of free agency and some players who have been predicted to leave this offseason.
"I can tell you that every free agent, we have been heavily involved with them," Pegula said. "They make the decision. I think last year's market was a pretty good example of that. Why didn't we get this guy? Guess what … he's got a brain in his head and he makes the decision based on where he wants to go."
Pegula also shared his thoughts on Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek:
"I can tell the fans I'm concerned, too. Yes we want them here. They have a say in that decision. What that decision is, no one has been re-signed yet. So, we're still working."
The next move for the Sabres will be the NHL draft June 30 from the Prudential Center in New Jersey, where the team has two top-20 picks. 
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Buffalo Sabres Seem Unwise to Have Let Daniel Paille, Others Escape

June 17th, 2013 at 9:00 AM
By Paul Lane Sabres 101

Would the Buffalo Sabres be in the Stanley Cup finals right now if they'd kept Daniel Paille? That's doubtful.

 

But would they be better off? That's entirely possible.

'20100202 Paille and Theodore' photo (c) 2010, Dan4th Nicholas - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Paille kicked off his 15 minutes of fame late Saturday after scoring the overtime game-winner for the Boston Bruins to help them even the series at 1-1 with the Chicago Blackhawks. Game three is at 8 p.m. tonight on the NBC Sports Network.

That was his third goal of these playoffs and his second game-winner. So, while hardly a prolific scorer (he had 10 goals and seven assists in the regular season), he can come through in the clutch.

More importantly, the 29-year-old left winger has been steady on the third line for the Bruins since they traded for him two games into the 2009-10 season. He's been steady on the penalty kill and has added at least one short-handed goal every year for the Bruins.

In other words, he's everything the Sabres missed this past season.

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Former Buffalo Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff Passed Over by New York Rangers

June 16th, 2013 at 9:00 AM
By Paul Lane Sabres 101
Former Buffalo Sabres' coach Lindy Ruff is still on the job market after one of the teams he interviewed with instead hired the ex-coach of another possible Ruff landing spot.
 
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The New York Rangers are set to name Alain Vigneault as their new bench boss. Vigneault was fired after the Canucks' first-round exit from this year's playoffs. The 52-year-old won 313 games and six Northwest Division titles in seven seasons with Vancouver, guiding them to two President's Trophies and one Western Conference championship in 2011. He has a career 422-288-61 (35 ties) record over 11 seasons with the Canucks and Montreal Canadiens.
 
Ruff had interviewed with the Rangers last week. He's also been linked to the Vancouver job and interviewed with the Dallas Stars. He coached Team Canada at last month's IIHF World Championships.
 
He won an award last week given by the town of Clarence, the Buffalo suburb where he's lived since his playing days, and said to the crowd there the Buffalo area will always be his family's home.
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Buffalo Sabres to Host Free Draft Party June 30

June 15th, 2013 at 7:10 PM
By Paul Lane Sabres 101
The Buffalo Sabres will host a draft party June 30 at First Niagara Center for the 2013 NHL Draft.
 
The event starts at 2 p.m. The 2013 Entry Draft will be broadcast on the stadium scoreboard starting at 3 p.m.
 
'014-001 // welcome back fans!' photo (c) 2013, grilled cheese - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
 
Before and during the draft, events will be offered including locker room tours, floor hockey and player appearances. WGR 550 will broadcast its draft coverage from the arena.
 
Entry and parking are free. Concessions will be discounted. The New Jersey Devils are hosting the draft. The Sabres hold the eighth and 16th picks but are trying to work out a deal with the Colorado Avalanche to acquire the top overall pick.
 
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