‘“I had an expectation for myself to carry over from the previous two years and continue to have production goal-scoring-wise,” Stafford said. “It just wasn’t there this year.”’

‘Elevating Rolston ensures the team’s insular nature. There can be no critical outside voice, no competing hockey vision. By making Rolston the prince of the realm, Regier attaches the crown more securely to his own head. It’s a predictably uninspired move by a tough-talking outfit whose actions come off as strictly small time.’

‘“The bottom line is I have to be a lot better and I’m going to do everything in my power to be as ready as possible coming into next season” Myers said.’

‘In my opinion, it comes down to three players more than any other.’

‘“The transition was quick, but when you put yourself in situations, this doesn’t come overnight,” Rolston said. “It’s a process where it’s been 23 years coaching, and it’s a profession, it’s a passion.”‘

‘In two-plus years since Terry Pegula purchased the franchise, management took a team that was a few players away from becoming a Stanley Cup contender and turned it into a small-time operation. They keep selling, and people keep buying whether it’s ownership or an apologetic minority of the fan base or, in this case, both.’

‘“I’m doing pretty good for an old guy,” said Jeanneret. “I have 70-year-old aches and pains.”’

‘“Starting with when he took over, I was very impressed with the work that he did,” Regier said.’

‘“It became more and more evident that he was a very good fit, not only for the present, but for the future,” Regier said inside the First Niagara Center in announcing Rolston’s hiring.’

‘The reason that Terry Pegula keeps Darcy Regier is because Regier has learned how to keep the seats filled while still showing a profit. The NHL, just like any other sports league, is a business. Terry Pegula can say that he doesn’t care if he loses money with the Sabres, but he has found out the hard way that it matters a lot.’

‘“I’m not going to be doing all the games, I will be cutting back to a certain extent, but I have no idea of how many. The Olympics will play a part of it, they haven’t confirmed that they are going, but trust me, they are going,” said Jeanneret, who started with the team on radio during the 1971-72 season.’

‘Rolston led the Sabres to a 15-11-5 record after Ruff was fired Feb. 20 following a 6-10-1 performance. Ruff spent 16 years as coach of the Sabres and 10 years as a player.’

‘”I was very impressed with the work he did individually and with the players, and I look forward to him continuing that,” said Sabres general manager Darcy Regier at a press conference Tuesday.’

‘General manager Darcy Regier was impressed with the effort of the Sabres late in the season, especially after dealing away team captain Jason Pominville. Before his two seasons at Rochester, Rolston won three gold medals as head coach of USA Hockey’s Under-18 team.’

‘The Sabres may feel Rolston, who is considered a strong teacher of the sport, is the right man for the job as they rebuild their roster. There could be a number of young players on the roster next season who will need to develop their game.’