Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres introduced some of their free agent signings on Thursday via a Zoom conference call.
Vinnie Hinostroza is a small, hard-working forward that can provide a solid bottom-six option that can kill penalties. As he went through the free agency process, Hinostroza said there were a few things that made him want to come to Buffalo.
“What caught my eye with Buffalo was getting on a call with 'Donny' Granato," he said with the assembled media. "I played for him when he was an assistant coach in Chicago [Blackhawks]. We talked for about 40 minutes, and with the way the team’s going and the way they want to play, I think I fit perfectly there.”
There’s another trait that Granato possesses that Hinostroza likes, as he decided to sign with the Sabres.
“With him as a head coach, you’re always going to have that transparency where you know what he wants from you," Hinostroza said. "If you’re not doing something right, he’s going to tell you. There’s never that grey area where you’re wondering.”
Hinostroza has another connection with the Sabres - He was linemates with Anders Bjork while they played at the University of Notre Dame. Hinostroza led the Fighting Irish in scoring that year, netting 11 goals and 33 assists for 44 points in 42 games. He said Bjork filled him in about this team.
“Talking to him, I got a feel for the room,” Hinostroza said.
Free agency didn’t work for Hinostroza last year. He signed with the Florida Panthers, but was then was traded back to the Blackhawks ahead of the trade deadline. He said signing in Florida was a mistake.
“I didn’t have many opportunities, so I kept working hard waiting for the opportunities to come," Hinostoza explained. "I think I played nine games, and when I played, I played four or five minutes. So no opportunity really there. Going to Chicago, I was able to be myself and just play and not think about it.”
Hinostroza described himself as a hard-working forward that likes to play on the second or third line.
Hinostroza is looking forward to interacting with the people here, plus he’s very familiar with the Buffalo Bills.
“It’s going to be great to have fans in the building," he said. "Every time I’ve played in Buffalo, it’s been crazy. I’ve been to a Buffalo Bills game and Josh Allen was always my fantasy QB, so I’m super pumped. I know how passionate this city is, so it’s going to be really, really fun.”
Mark Pysyk was taken 23rd overall by the Sabres in the 2010 NHL Draft. When he showed up his rookie season, he had to learn in Rochester with the Amerks, and play some in Buffalo. His first three years in the league were split with 142 games with the Amerks and 70 games with the Sabres.
Tim Murray didn’t believe the analytics hype on Pysyk, so the, then, general manager traded him to the Panthers to acquire one of the worst defensemen to ever wear the blue and gold, Dmitry Kulikov.
Pysyk is now back in Buffalo and is more grown up at the age of 29. He is happy to have come full circle.
“I was pretty excited," Pysyk said on Thursday. "There’s a level of conformability there from ownership to the trainers, so it’s something that will be fun to be a part of being around the young players. They’ve got a lot of young talent that took some steps last year.”
In his last season with the Panthers, Pysyk was moved to right wing. He also played a game or two of wing with the Dallas Stars last season. This season, he will likely just play just defense, and Pysyk is pleased about that.
“I think this is a good chance to re-establish myself as a full-time defenseman,” he said.
Pysyk wasn’t upset when head coach Joel Quenneville put him at wing in Florida, but it took getting used to.
“It was a shock at the start," Pysyk explained. "I was getting scratched the first couple of games, so it was more of an opportunity to get in the lineup.
“It was a good challenge. It was definitely different, but it was just anything to get into the lineup and stay in this league.”
When Pysyk was here, he grew up with Tyler Myers, Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and Brian Flynn.
“It was my first taste of the NHL, and it’s always going to be special for me playing at that arena,” he added.
Pysyk also said he's excited for his kids to be here in Buffalo to see where it all started for him.
