Offseason Edition
Kevyn Adams has a lot of assets to strengthen Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – As the owner of three first-round picks this year, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has accumulated some substantial draft capital.
If Adams offers one or two of the selections in a trade, he can likely acquire some established talent that might help the upstart Sabres right away.
But Adams, as he has demonstrated throughout the last year, plans to keep exercising patience.... Read the full article
Craig Anderson played 31 games this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – If goalie Craig Anderson was in his mid-30s instead of two weeks away from turning 41, re-signing with the Sabres would be a no-brainer.
“If I was five years younger, that would be the ideal situation right now,” Anderson said Saturday of returning to the Sabres. “Yeah, the respect that I received as a player, the respect the players in the room get from management, from the coaching staff. You want to be ... Read the full article
The Sabres became a tight group this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Before center Zemgus Girgensons reported to the rink Saturday morning, his wife, Katie, asked him what he would tell the Sabres’ brass during his end-of-season meetings.
Girgensons, the Sabres’ longest-tenured player, experienced a lot of losing and turmoil over his eight NHL seasons, so in previous years, he had plenty of gripes to share before he left town for the summer.
“Usually in the morning, you’re trying to gather thoughts of all the ... Read the full article
Buffalo goalie Malcolm Subban talks to the media Saturday. ©2022
BUFFALO – The original plan called for a recording of Malcolm Subban singing the U.S. national anthem to be played before Friday’s season finale. But then the goalie’s Sabres teammates and some staff members encouraged him to do it live.
“It was awesome,” a smiling Subban said Saturday as the Sabres cleaned out their lockers and held end-of-season meetings. “I was, like, so nervous before. Like, I couldn’t even eat lunch. Oh yeah, I was ... Read the full article
Casey Fitzgerald played his first 36 games with Buffalo this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres made three roster moves prior to Friday’s season finale against the Chicago Blackhawks, sending defenseman Casey Fitzgerald and goalie Aaron Dell to the Rochester Americans and recalling netminder Michael Houser.
The Amerks, who thumped the Utica Comets 8-1 in Friday’s regular-season finale at Blue Cross Arena, needed the victory to stay alive the AHL North Division playoff chase. Their defense has been decimated by injuries and recalls, so Fitzgerald’s arrival was ... Read the full article
Craig Anderson has played 31 games this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Injured winger Kyle Okposo and goalie Craig Anderson could play in Friday’s season finale against the Chicago Blackhawks, Sabres coach Don Granato said.
“We want them to play, and they’re right on that cusp,” Granato said. “They are day to day.”
The Sabres play their final road game tonight against the Boston Bruins.... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo has scored 21 goals this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Kyle Okposo left Monday’s practice early and was being evaluated after injuring his left leg during a drill.
The veteran appeared to step on the puck during a rush and fell to the ice. Coach Don Granato said the Sabres would know more later Monday.
Okposo, 34, was injured hours after the Buffalo chapter of The Professional Hockey Writers’ Association named him the Sabres’ 2021-22 nominee for the Masterton Trophy.
Aaron Dell played 12 games with Buffalo earlier this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Craig Anderson is day to day with an undisclosed injury and will miss this afternoon’s game against the New York Islanders, coach Don Granato said.
Dustin Tokarski will start today at KeyBank Center. The Sabres this morning recalled Aaron Dell from the Rochester Americans to back him up.
Granato said Anderson, who has been experiencing soreness, did not like how he felt during Friday’s practice.
Rasmus Dahlin has been on a tear for Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – You have to go back 11 years to find the last time the Sabres showcased an offense this exciting and prolific.
The Sabres’ next goal will be their 222nd of the season, their highest total since they scored 240 times in 2010-11, the last year they made the playoffs. They also scored 221 goals in 2018-19.
Overall, the Sabres rank 22nd in goals scored this season entering Saturday afternoon’s home game against the ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has experienced an inconsistent season in Rochester. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
ROCHESTER – When Matthew Peca jumped off the bench, one-timed a rolling puck and beat Americans goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen under his blocker, it felt like the Springfield Thunderbirds’ second goal in four minutes might be a killer.
Luukkonen, 23, knew the go-ahead goal from the left circle early in Tuesday’s second period was suspect.
“It was a rolling so I kind of got surprised at that, dipped a little bit so it went underneath by ... Read the full article
