Archives for February 2023

'Somebody who can bring our union together and bring our sport together, along with the NHL. It's going to be a collaborative effort to bring this game – I think this game has so much potential to go in a different stratosphere than it is now. We wanted somebody who had experiences leading unions, working with both sides, working with businessmen, working with people. That … [Read more...] about Q&A: Sabres captain Kyle Okposo on NHLPA’s search for new executive director

'Wieland's greatest coup, though, was helping the Sabres draft a player who didn't exist. Wieland, former Sabres coach George "Punch" Imlach and the team's scouting director created a fictional player – named Taro Tsujimoto – they said was based in Japan.' … [Read more...] about Paul Wieland recalled as merry Sabres prankster whose hijinks made sports fun

'“We finally decided to shoot a puck and we did not through two periods,” said Granato. “We made a lot of work for ourselves because we were unwilling to shoot a puck. We wanted to make a pretty play or a perfect play instead of just simple and hard. Upie had to keep us in there for two periods, but I give our guys a lot of credit. They did what they needed to in the third.”' … [Read more...] about Observations: Sabres gain ground in playoff chase by solving Sharks in 4-2 win

'Wieland was a newspaper reporter – including a stint in the late 1960s at this very publication – before taking a job at General Motors in New York City. It was ex-journalism colleague Dick Johnston, who became a Hall of Fame reporter for The News covering the first 15 years of the Sabres, who reached out to Wieland and urged him to apply for the position to come back as lead … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Raise your sticks to the late Paul Wieland, PR head and funny man of Aud-era Sabres

'“I think seeing Hasek in the Czech jersey I designed, and then winning it all, that's still the best,” Bodamer, now 52 said with pride. “That's the best. Don't get me wrong. I loved seeing the Golden Knights come out, seeing the Sabres coming out in the 50th and all that. But that moment in time for me, at my age, where I was in my career, my favorite player of all time from … [Read more...] about Eric Bodamer’s journey from Sabres fan to designing his hometown team’s jerseys

'“I think last year was probably the hard one for me, just getting hurt,” he said. “I feel like I had so much momentum from the year before, and to miss a lot of time, I think, more than anything, you just miss games. You play and learn and get better. I do think maybe a little bit at the beginning of the year, towards now, I look back, I feel like ... I'm going to so many … [Read more...] about Casey Mittelstadt proving to be a ‘really underrated’ part of Sabres’ success