Sabres on Evander Kane accusations: ‘If true, we have to deal with it’ BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo Sabres’ draft weekend opened with news that forward Evander Kane was under investigation for two criminal complaints for alleged ‘physical harassment' of two women at the Buffalo bar Bottoms Up. The news was reported by WIVB, which quoted Buffalo police as saying the investigation was in its … [Read more...]

Puck Daddy’s 2016 NHL Draft Chatterbox: Day 2! Live Blog Puck Daddy's 2016 NHL Draft Chatterbox (Day 1) On Day 1 of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, we saw some stunning picks and mildly surprising trades. On Day 2, we hope to see some mildly surprising picks and stunning trades.  The Puck Daddy NHL Draft Chatterbox is your place for insight and news-breaking from the top insiders in the NHL … [Read more...]

Coyotes stun NHL Draft with Clayton Keller pick BUFFALO, N.Y. — It's fair to say Clayton Keller going seventh overall to the Arizona Coyotes was a bit of a surprise. Even the player himself was taken a little by surprise. "A little bit, yeah," Keller, who played for the US National Development team last season, said shortly after the pick. "I had a meeting with them during the combine, and … [Read more...]

Red Wings trade Datsyuk to Coyotes; clear space for Stamkos? BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Detroit Red Wings unloaded the contract of forward Pavel Datsyuk in draft day trade with the Arizona Coyotes, which could give them the necessary salary cap space to go after Tampa Bay Lightning pending unrestricted free agent Steven Stamkos. In the deal, the Red Wings sent the No. 16 overall pick and Datsyuk’s … [Read more...]

Auston Matthews reawakens both Toronto hope, Leafs hatred BUFFALO, NY – Auston Matthews breeds hope. Hope breeds swagger. Swagger breeds “Auston 20:16” shirts and a “Matthews [greater-than] Eichel sign” at the NHL Draft in Buffalo. “I think Auston Matthews is going to be a better prospect in the long run. Jack Eichel is going to be a great hockey player, but Auston Matthews is going … [Read more...]

Matthew Tkachuk goes to preferred choice in Calgary Flames BUFFALO, N.Y. – Matthew Tkachuk had circled the Calgary Flames as his preferred team several weeks ago.  At the NHL scouting combine Tkachuk met with the Flames and was impressed with the organization and the people he met. From that moment on he said he hoped the draft would break a certain way so he could land in Calgary. When the … [Read more...]

Blue Jackets give No. 3 pick Pierre-Luc Dubois birthday surprise BUFFALO, N.Y. – Nearly 20 hours after he officially turned 18 years old, Pierre-Luc Dubois heard his name called during Round 1 of the NHL Draft. That part was expected. What shocked everyone inside First Niagara Center was when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman called the name of the 6’2, 205 lbs. forward out of Cape Breton. Most, … [Read more...]

Kevin Shattenkirk derby could be NHL Draft day’s costliest Kevin Shattenkirk’s future was just determined by Keith Yandle.  When the Florida Panthers signed the defenseman to a seven-year, $44.45-million deal, that set the rate for Shattenkirk, who is going into the final year of his deal with the St. Louis Blues. The Blues have Alex Pietrangelo ($6.5 million) and Jay Bouwmeester ($5.4 … [Read more...]

Auston Matthews vindicates NHL expansion efforts in U.S. BUFFALO, NY – One of the more important games in Toronto Maple Leafs history, as far as myth-building goes, didn’t actually involve the Maple Leafs. Or maybe it did. Auston Matthews honestly can’t remember. Matthews was maybe two or three years old the first time he went to a Phoenix Coyotes game, likely in the 1999-2000 season. “I … [Read more...]

Arizona Coyotes select new arena location, mum on specifics The Arizona Coyotes have selected a location for their new arena. There weren’t further specifics announced by the team, but the hope is that could come in the next several weeks – by the end of the summer at the latest. “We have made significant progress here in the last several weeks and we are down to a point where we have … [Read more...]