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“I saw the development right from the start of the career to where he was in the playoffs,” Barnaby said. “Because it was such a veteran-laden team, there wasn’t much pressure put on him. They were able to groom him the right way. Sometimes you aren’t put in a position to succeed, and he certainly was put in that by his coach up there.”

Spott and men such as LaFontaine, Barnaby and especially Buscaglia’s stepfather, Bob Tronolone, fill a special place in Bailey’s world – one that lacks an active father.

His dad is Carlton Bailey, who played linebacker for the Bills from 1988 to ’92. Justin was born while the football player was transitioning from the New York Giants to the Carolina Panthers. Carlton began a life in Charlotte while Buscaglia decided on Western New York.

“I grew up on my mom’s side of the family, so I don’t have a ton of contact with my dad,” Justin said. “It’s more during birthdays or holidays, but when we do talk, he does try to get his two cents in. They usually are pretty lengthy when he tries to get in those lessons that maybe he didn’t give to me as a kid.”

They recently had a discussion about what it takes to be a professional athlete.

“It’s great to be able to see that his goals and dreams have been able to come true,” Carlton Bailey said by phone from North Carolina. “Many people spend the large majority of their lives and never really have the chance to achieve the dreams that they do have.

“The most important thing is to be able to continue to work hard, to be disciplined, to be able to really play the game with passion like he did years ago when he was playing in the snow playing for the Sabres.”

Carlton is listed in Justin’s hockey bios, which usually leads to questions for the son about his dad. Justin handles the inquiries well despite the sensitive situation.

“Our relationship, everybody goes through different things, and when I’m called upon, I’m always going to be here,” Carlton said. “I love him no matter what. I think sometimes as men we may not understand how to express that. It’s not always the most masculine thing to be able to do. All of us choose different ways to be able to express our love, but the bottom line is that the love is always going to be there.”

Justin Bailey’s affection for his mom and God is always on display. He praises her for sacrifices such as 5 a.m. rides to practice and using tax refunds to pay for ice time.

“She’s everything to me, and I know I’m everything to her,” Bailey said. “The hard work that she put in really paid off. Whenever things get tough, I think of my family and back to God, as well, to keep me going and to keep me strong.”

Buscaglia bought her only child a bracelet to wear when he was trying out for Indiana. It read, “When in doubt: Pray.” He still wears an identical one every day.

Today, there should be no doubts. Prayers will be answered. His dream of joining an NHL team will come true.

“It’s amazing to look back,” Bailey said.

“Each transition just seemed to click,” Buscaglia added. “It was like puzzle pieces fitting together. I look at him and see such maturity both in his game and as a person. I couldn’t be more thankful.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682954 Buffalo Sabres

Miller, Vanek expected to stay with Sabres through draft

By John Vogl | News Sports Reporter | @BuffNewsVogl

on June 29, 2013 - 11:01 PM, updated June 29, 2013 at 11:02 PM

NEW YORK — There’s plenty of tire kicking left to be done, and engines are known to rev once all the general managers gather on the NHL draft floor. Still, it appears Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek won’t be hitting the road this weekend.

Sabres GM Darcy Regier said an abundance of names are being tossed around for trades, and he’s gauging the marketplace for Buffalo’s top players. Based on what he’s heard, he expects Miller and Vanek to remain in Buffalo through the end of the draft today.

“Right now, I do, yes,” Regier told The Buffalo News on Saturday afternoon.

Miller’s agent, Mike Liut, concurred in regard to his client.

“I am not expecting anything to happen,” he said via email.

The draft, which starts at 3 p.m. in the New Jersey Devils’ arena, is one of the prime transaction dates on the hockey calendar. Despite all the names being mentioned — including Boston center Tyler Seguin and Vancouver goalies Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo — Regier says there’s no guarantee anyone will move.

“As you add names and the supply gets greater, I don’t know what that will do with the asking prices and whether teams will be able to get the asking price or whether there will be any kind of adjustment in the marketplace for players or for the acquisition of players,” Regier said. “It’s really still a bit of a moving target that hasn’t settled yet.”

Miller and Vanek are the top names on the Sabres’ shopping list because they are set to enter the final year of their contracts. Buffalo is not expected to contend for the Stanley Cup and there is no assurance the players will re-sign, so Regier cannot let them exit the organization next summer without getting assets in return.

“I entered this weekend recognizing that they both are in the last year of their contracts, and I have a responsibility to see what that means both with those players and also within the marketplace,” Regier said. “Unless you’re a highly competitive team, it’s very difficult to have players on your roster whose contracts are going to expire if you either choose not to or don’t have the ability to re-up them.

“Just to lose those assets, you try to get a sense of what the marketplace is like, and that’s a process that’s ongoing. I expect it will continue to move through the draft into maybe free agency and maybe beyond that. We’re actively keeping our finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the league, and we’ll have to just make our decision.”

The lack of trade activity extends to the draft. The Sabres are set to pick eighth and 16th overall in the first round.

“Right now, I expect that we will pick where we’re picking, and I say that only because there’s nothing that’s imminent or concrete,” Regier said. “But like I said, there are a lot of conversations, and they will continue right until the draft starts and even beyond that.”

Regier said recently that most trade talk centered around lesser-known players, but that took a dramatic shift Saturday. Several reports had Boston willing to move Seguin, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft. Vancouver GM Mike Gillis admitted to listening to offers for Schneider, his young goaltender who supplanted Luongo to create an unsustainable tandem.

“We’re listening to proposals,” Gillis said. “I’m not sure how it’s going to turn out, but we’re certainly listening.”

...

...

USA Hockey has named Gilbert as its media relations liaison for the Olympics in Sochi. The Sabres’ longtime vice president of public and community relations is the only person selected to join Dave Fischer, USA Hockey’s senior director of communications.

“It was a little humbling,” Gilbert said. “I was surprised and I was honored at the same time to be recognized that way.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682955 Buffalo Sabres

Cup winner Fucale catches Sabres’ eye

By Mike Harrington | News Sports Reporter | @BNHarrington

on June 29, 2013 - 11:00 PM, updated June 29, 2013 at 11:01 PM

NEW YORK – The Buffalo Sabres just signed Jhonas Enroth to a two-year deal, acquired Matt Hackett from Minnesota in the Jason Pominville trade, watched Andrey Makarov star for Saskatoon and play well in the Memorial Cup, and have drafted Nathan Lieuwen and Linus Ullmark in the sixth round the last two years.

So what about another goaltender today in the NHL Entry Draft? And in the first round, no less?

At first glance, it may seem unlikely whether the Sabres trade Ryan Miller or keep him past today. But the team is known to be very interested in Halifax’s Zach Fucale, the top-rated goaltender in the draft by NHL Central Scouting.

Kevin Devine, the Sabres’ director of amateur scouting, said last week one of the team’s draft picks today will be a netminder. But he surprised media assembled for the draft preview news conference when he said “maybe even a goaltender comes into it” when talking about the No. 16 overall pick, the Sabres’ second in the first round.

That can only mean Fucale, the 18-year-old who backstopped Halifax to the Memorial Cup. How curious are the Sabres about Fucale? He told The News at Friday’s draft prospects luncheon in Weehawken, N.J., that the only two teams that brought him in for private combine workouts were the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres haven’t spent a first-rounder on a goalie since taking Mika Norenen in 1997.

“I don’t have to look very hard,” Fucale said when asked if he’s pondered Buffalo’s fluid situation in goal. “With all the information we’re exposed to these days, it’s not too complicated. Especially for goalies. We know the teams that might need one but so many things can change on draft day that you have to just wait.”

Fucale is a 6-foot-1, 181-pound butterfly specialist. He went 45-5-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .909 save percentage for Halifax. In the postseason, he was 16-1, 2.02, .918. The only loss came to Saskatoon and Makarov.

“Fucale is just grace under fire, under pressure,” said Dan Marr, the NHL’s Central Scouting director. “I’ve never seen him be on an emotional roller coaster in a game. He’s got real quick instincts and quick recovery on the play and his reflexes are outstanding. It’s just that composure that he has, that mental toughness that’s so important for a goaltender.”

“He’s a big goalie, pretty skinny off the ice but not many holes on it,” said Halifax teammate Jonathan Drouin, who will get selected in the top four today. “He’s not rushing or stressing about anything. I never saw him lose focus. He’s always in his bubble and he’s a really calm goalie.”

Fucale said he tries to stay quiet in the crease and simplify the game with his puck-tracking skills so he’s in position to make saves.

“Your task is stopping the puck. You focus on that task,” he said. “You don’t make it complicated as a goalie. You go day by day and let your skills develop.”

Teams ahead of the Sabres who figure to have some interest in Fucale as well include New Jersey at No. 9 (looking to have a prospect behind Martin Brodeur), Philadelphia at No. 11 and the New York Islanders at No. 15.

Fucale said practice was as important to him as games, given the fact he was going against Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon, the likely No. 1 pick today by Colorado, during every workout.

“For me, there were some days where it was kind of boring because it was basically impossible to stop them,” he said. “Then there were some days it would be really challenging and a lot of fun.”

“He acts like a 30-year-old man in the net,” said MacKinnon. “Definitely a very mature guy. He’s aware of what kind of goalie he is. He wants composure to be a strength of his game.”

And about Fucale’s claim that practice was impossible at times?

“I think he’s exaggerating a little bit,” said MacKinnon. “It was very tough to score on him. Jon and I have to do shootouts after every drill. He was always very good on that.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682956 Buffalo Sabres

Regier expects Miller, Vanek to remain with Sabres through draft weekend

June 29, 2013 - 2:37 PM

By John Vogl

NEW YORK – Darcy Regier entered draft weekend ready to gauge the marketplace for Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek. As of now, he expects to exit draft weekend with them as members of the Sabres.

“Right now, I do, yes,” Regier said this afternoon.

Miller’s agent, Mike Liut, concurs in regard to his client.

“I am not expecting anything to happen,” he said via email.

The trade market has had a number of names added to it this weekend, but Regier says that doesn’t mean transactions will occur.

“As you add names and the supply gets greater, I don’t know what that will do with the asking prices and whether teams will be able to get the asking price or whether there will be any kind of adjustment in the marketplace for players or for the acquisition of players,” Regier said. “It’s really still a bit of a moving target that hasn’t settled yet.”

Miller and Vanek are the top names on the Sabres’ shopping list because they are set to enter the final year of their contracts. Buffalo is not expected to contend for the Stanley Cup and there is no guarantee the players will re-sign, so Regier cannot let them exit the organization next summer without getting assets in return.

“I entered this weekend recognizing that they both are in the last year of their contracts, and I have a responsibility to see what that means both with those players and also within the marketplace,” Regier said. “Unless you’re a highly competitive team, it’s very difficult to have players on your roster whose contracts are going to expire if you either choose not to or don’t have the ability to re-up them.

“Just to lose those assets, you try to get a sense of what the marketplace is like, and that’s a process that’s ongoing. I expect it will continue to move through the draft into maybe free agency and maybe beyond that. We’re actively keeping our finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the league, and we’ll have to just make our decision.”

The lack of trade activity extends to the draft, which will be held Sunday in New Jersey. The Sabres are set to pick eighth and 16th overall.

“Right now I expect that we will pick where we’re picking, and I say that only because there’s nothing that’s imminent or concrete,” Regier said. “But like I said, there are a lot of conversations, and they will continue right until the draft starts and even beyond that.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682957 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres' Gilbert honored, humbled to join USA Hockey staff for Sochi Olympics

June 29, 2013 - 1:08 PM

By John Vogl

NEW YORK -- Mike Gilbert remembers being lucky enough to watch Team USA's triumph over Russia in the 1980 Olympics live on Canadian television. He's going to be even more fortunate next year. He'll be watching the 2014 Games live in Russia, and he'll be part of it.

USA Hockey today named Gilbert to its public relations staff for the Olympics in Sochi. The Sabres' longtime vice president of public and community relations is the only one selected to join Dave Fischer, USA Hockey's senior director of communications.

"It was a little humbling," Gilbert said. "I was surprised and I was honored at the same time to be recognized that way."

Gilbert was part of USA Hockey's news conference today in which it named Pittsburgh's Dan Bylsma as coach and Nashville's David Poile as general manager. Pittsburgh's Ray Shero will be the associate GM and Brian Burke will be director of player personnel. The national team advisory group will include Stan Bowman (Chicago), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles) and Dale Tallon (Florida).

"It really didn’t sink in a lot until today," Gilbert said. "You see all the GMs. Stan Bowman, who won the Stanley Cup a week ago, was right there. Dave Poile and Ray Shero, all these different people, and it started hitting home that, ‘Wow, these guys are the best in the United States,' and to be part of that in a small way was neat."

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682958 Buffalo Sabres

Seth Jones won't be offended if Avalanche draft a forward instead of him at No. 1

June 29, 2013 - 12:28 PM

By John Vogl

NEW YORK -- Seth Jones has been ranked No. 1 by NHL Central Scouting all year. When the Colorado Avalanche won the draft lottery, it seemed liked a no-brainer that they'd stick with the rankings and take the former Denver resident and Avs fan with the first pick.

But the Avs have indicated they're leaning toward center Nathan MacKinnon, with Jonathan Drouin also a possibility. Jones understands the logic and Colorado's outspokenness.

"That’s the first time in a long time that anyone’s came out like that, but I don’t blame them," Jones said. "I’m not taking it personally. It’s professional sports. It would have been a nice story, but at the same time they’ve got to make a decision. It’s definitely a tough one this year. Nathan’s a great player, along with Jonathan."

Jones then displayed his knowledge of draft history.

"I mean, one’s very special, but Chris Pronger’s been No. 2, Drew Doughty has been No. 2, so there’s been a lot of good defensemen and players in general that have gone on to have great careers," he said.

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682959 Buffalo Sabres

A goalie at No. 16? Sabres have some interest in Halifax's Fucale

By Mike Harrington

NEW YORK -- When the Sabres held their draft preview press conference last week, amateur scouting director Kevin Devine made it clear one of their 10 picks Sunday in the Prudential Center would be a goalie. Then Devine raised the antenna of those assembled when he said "maybe even a goaltender comes into it" when talking about the No. 16 overall pick, the Sabres' second in the first round.

That could mean only one player: Halifax 18-year-old Zach Fucale, the netminder who played behind draft superstuds Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin to lead the Mooseheads over Seth Jones-led Portland in the Memorial Cup championship game.

Fucale attended the annual Prospects Luncheon Friday afternoon in Weehawken, N.J., on the shores of the Hudson and the Quebec native dropped a mini bombshell when I asked him what teams brought him in for their own combines. The answer? Montreal and Buffalo.

Teams ahead of the Sabres who figure to have some interest in Fucale as well include the Devils at No. 9 (they need to develop a propsect behind Martin Brodeur at some point, right?), the Flyers at No. 11 and the Islanders at No. 15. But if the Sabres keep the No. 16 pick -- and that's a big if -- Fucale seems to be a legitimate option.

"I don't have to look very hard," Fucale said when asked if he's pondered Buffalo's fluid situation in goal. "With all the information we're exposed to these days, it's not too complicated. Especially for goalies. We know the teams that might need one but so many things can change on draft day that you have to just wait."

But would the outlook change if the Sabres were to deal Ryan Miller between now and, say, 4 p.m. Sunday?

"I guess it would," Fucale said with a laugh. "I don't really know what to say to that. Sunday is when I imagine this is all going to play out and when you're in my situation, you're just excited to be a part of this whole thing."

The Sabres, of course, just signed Jhonas Enroth to a two-year deal and have Matt Hackett, acquired from Minnesota in the Jason Pominville deal, likely to back him up. They have other goalies in the system as well, notably Andrey Makarov, their undrafted free agent signee from last season who went on to star for Saskatoon and even beat Halifax in the Memorial Cup. Their sixth-rounder the last two years has also been a goalie (Nathan Lieuwen and Linus Ullmark). But do any of them project down the road as an elite, top-of-the-line goalie? Hmmm.

Be sure to read my story on Fucale, including the thoughts of MacKinnon and Drouin on their goalie, in Sunday's editions of The Buffalo News. Apologies for no audio from Fucale here, but his 12-minute session with the media hopscotched between French and English and more of it was in French.

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682960 Buffalo Sabres

Road to the NHL Draft: Sean Malone

June 29, 2013 - 10:00 AM

By John Vogl

Sean Malone

Position: Center

Junior team: U.S. Under-18 (USHL)

Born: Buffalo

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 183 pounds

2012-13 stats: 44 games, 13 goals, 14 assists, 27 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 62 (North America)

Lowdown: Malone has toured the world since leaving Nichols School last year. He’s played home games in Michigan and pulled the USA crest over his head in Sweden and Russia. He’ll play in Boston next season as a forward for Harvard University. He’ll also get a future stop on his resume when an NHL team drafts him.

Malone’s hustle and skating should pique the interest of teams starting in the middle rounds. He has international experience after playing in the under-18 world junior tournament and the Ivan Hlinka tourney. The exposure helped him make a 38-spot jump in the eyes of NHL Central Scouting, which had him at No. 98 in the midterm rankings.

The 18-year-old struggled at times during the under-18 world juniors. He had just one assist in the seven games and was minus-2 while averaging 13:14 of ice time per game.

He said it: "You see all these guys here, all the same age, all working for the same thing. You want to make sure you’re working hard because you’ve got other competitors here. If you put in the work in the offseason, you can maybe get a step above some of these guys.” – Malone after attending the NHL Scouting Combine.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682961 Calgary Flames

Nieminen — still playing, still laughing

June 29, 2013. 1:08

Posted by:

Scott Cruickshank

First, Ville Nieminen grins, one of those wide-mouthed displays of pearly whites.

He also cackles. Stifles a snort.

Then finally guffaws.

A cult hero in Calgary, Nieminen has been asked to single out his favourite one-liner from his (too brief) time with the Flames, a run that included the 2004 playoffs.

As stellar as he had been in the post-season, Nieminen became known for his sense of humour, for his give and take with reporters, for his array of off-the wall cornball jokes.

His whacky take on, well, everything was a joy.

Former NHL player Ville Nieminen (L) answers questions about his teammate Aleksander Barkov of Finland during media availability on June 28, 2013 in Weehawken, New Jersey. The NHL will be holding its player draft on June 30 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Former NHL player Ville Nieminen (L) answers questions about his teammate Aleksander Barkov on June 28, 2013 in Weehawken, New Jersey.

“I remember all that stuff and I keep laughing,” says Nieminen, 36, attending this weekend’s NHL draft with his protege Aleksander Barkov, with whom he played this past season. “But nowadays English is a hard language for me — I can’t even remember when I last talked English. Probably someone else better remembers all my one-liners than I do.”

Happy to oblige.

After a prance through the archives, here, from Nieminen’s term with the Flames, is a sampling of his greatest quips:

* “I’m all Swedish, no Finnish.”

* “Give me the puck. I’m hot — in the steam room.”

* “I told the guys before that I had good hands — but it was in the casino.”

* “If your goalie’s not there? It’s like trying to build a house on soft land.”

* “Just from school.” (After being asked if he’d even been suspended.)