Sabres notebook
Andreychuk, Ellis picked for Sabres’ Hall
Dave Andreychuk, one of the most prolific scorers in Buffalo Sabres history, had his name announced over the public address system an astronomical number of times. And almost every time his name rang out in Buffalo, Milt Ellis was the person saying it.
Their link will strengthen later this month, when Andreychuk and Ellis become the newest members of the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame. The duo will become the 34th and 35th members of the team’s honor roll, the Sabres announced Friday.
The honor is bestowed based upon outstanding contributions to hockey and the organization, and both certainly qualify.
Andreychuk spent 12 of his 23 seasons in Buffalo, including his first 11. The left winger quickly established himself as a sniper, and he is the NHL’s all-time leader in power-play goals with 274. He set a team record with 28 man-advantage tallies in 1991-92, part of his 161 power-play goals scored in a Sabres uniform.
Andreychuk played 891 games for the Sabres from 1982 to ’93 and returned for the 2000-01 season. He is second in the team record book for assists (436) and points (804), and he’s third in goals (368). Including the postseason, Andreychuk has 381 goals, 458 assists and 839 points.
Aside from Andreychuk’s encore season, Ellis was around for all of it in Memorial Auditorium. Known as the “Voice of the Aud,” Ellis announced goals, scratches and penalties for 26 seasons. Ellis, a graduate of Syracuse University, also called games for the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League.
Their induction will take place Nov. 28 prior to the Sabres’ game against Pittsburgh in HSBC Arena.
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The Sabres solved their over-the- limit roster dilemma by placing Matt Ellis on waivers. If the center is not claimed by noon, he is cleared to report to Portland of the AHL.
Ellis was claimed off waivers by the Sabres just prior to the season opener to fill a void at center. With Jochen Hecht’s return from injury Friday, Buffalo again has a full stable of center-men with Hecht, Derek Roy, Tim Connolly, Adam Mair, Paul Gaustad and Clarke MacArthur able to fill the role.
Ellis had no points in seven games and was an even plus-minus.
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Right wing Drew Stafford, who had three points in the first dozen games, was scratched against Atlanta along with left wing Andrew Peters and defenseman Nathan Paetsch.
Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier cleared up Stafford’s waiver status prior to the game. Stafford would have to clear waivers if Buffalo decided to send him to Portland, contrary to a News story Thursday.
The collective bargaining agreement states that players who sign contracts at 20 years old, as Stafford did, can be sent outright to the minors within three seasons if they’ve played less than 160 games. Stafford has played 117 games.
However, Regier said because Stafford turned 21 in that first season (his birthday is in October), Stafford qualifies as a 21- year-old, even though he signed when he was 20. In that case, he has to clear waivers after 80 NHL games.
