Botterill - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres sign Penn State product Brandon Biro to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed former Penn State forward Brandon Biro to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced today.

Biro, 22, captained Penn State as a senior in 2019-20, scoring 10 goals and 25 points in 25 games as the Nittany Lions’ 12-8-4 record led the Big Ten.

“Brandon will bring a combination of skill, hockey sense and character to our organization,” Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said in a statement. “We’re confident that ... Read the full article

Wayne Simmonds thrilled to join Sabres: ‘A perfect opportunity for me’

BUFFALO – Sabres newcomer Wayne Simmonds has a reached a critical point in his career. The 12-year veteran needs to play meaningful games. Staying another six weeks with the hapless New Jersey Devils wouldn’t have helped him much.

Simmonds, 31, has endured the worst season of his NHL career. Given his age and declining production – just eight goals in 61 games this season – he needs to demonstrate he still possesses the skills that ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jason Botterill happy Zach Bogosian landed with Lightning

BUFFALO – Before the Sabres terminated Zach Bogosian’s contract, general manager Jason Botterill said the team tried on its own and worked with the defenseman to find a solution.

“It didn’t materialize,” Botterill said Monday inside KeyBank Center.

So the Sabres cut ties with Bogosian, 29, on Friday, putting him on termination waivers after he was suspended for refusing to report the Rochester Americans. The Sabres originally waived the Massena native Feb. 14.

On ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Evan Rodrigues, Conor Sheary to Penguins

BUFFALO – The Sabres have traded forwards Evan Rodrigues and Conor Sheary to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for center Dominik Kahun.

Rodrigues, 26, reportedly quested a trade earlier this season after his playing time dwindled. The Sabres scratched him in both games before this afternoon’s trade deadline.

Meanwhile, Sheary, 27, has returned to Pittsburgh, where he won the Stanley Cup twice. The Penguins traded Sheary to the Sabres in June 2018.... Read the full article

Sabres trade pick to Devils for Wayne Simmonds

BUFFALO – The Sabres have acquired winger Wayne Simmonds from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2021, the teams announced this afternoon.

The pick can turn into a fourth-rounder if the Sabres make the playoffs and Simmonds plays 10 games. The Devils will retain half of Simmonds’ $5 million salary.

The acquisition is significant. General manager Jason Botterill, whose Sabres have crept within six points of the Atlantic Division’s ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo’s goals help Sabres beat Jets, surge back into playoff race

BUFFALO – Suddenly, the Sabres have roared back into the playoff chase. A few dreadful losses over the past month seemed to extinguish their faint hope of playing meaningful games down the stretch.

But a perfect weekend moved the fifth-place Sabres to within six points – in these parts, that’s meaningful – of the sputtering Toronto Maple Leafs, who own the Atlantic Division’s final playoff spot.

The trade deadline hits at 3 p.m. today. Are ... Read the full article

Jimmy Vesey, Sabres’ other UFAs should draw interest at trade deadline

BUFFALO – Forget about Jimmy Vesey’s slow start. Since the Sabres winger registered his first goal Nov. 25, he has scored nine times in 37 games.

Over a full season, that’s a 20-goal pace. Vesey, 26, has saved his best hockey for the past few weeks, performing more like the player the Sabres likely envisioned when they traded the New York Rangers a third-round pick for him.

The Harvard product has also evolved into ... Read the full article

Sabres suspend Zach Bogosian for failing to report to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres have suspended defenseman Zach Bogosian for failing to report to the Rochester Americans, the NHL club announced late Monday afternoon.

They assigned Bogosian, 29, to the Amerks on Saturday.

After morphing into a spare part – he was scratched 17 of the last 26 games – and often struggling during his sporadic appearances, the Sabres waived Bogosian on Friday.

“There will be no further information or comment at this time,” ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville not retired, would like to play again

BUFFALO – Popular former Sabres captain Jason Pominville recently told some friends he would love to help out their beer league team if they ever needed a player to fill in.

“They’re like, ‘You’re in full time!’” Pominville said prior to Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside KeyBank Center.

So Pominville, who scored 16 goals in 73 games for the Sabres last season, plays hockey once a week at the ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Jason Botterill would like to add forward before trade deadline

BUFFALO – Even after acquiring Michael Frolik earlier this month, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill would like to add another forward before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

The Sabres’ depth up front, of course, was weak before Vladimir Sobotka and Tage Thompson both suffered season-ending injuries in November.

Right now, Victor Olofsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Evan Rodrigues has been a huge disappointment, scoring just two goals and often sitting out as a ... Read the full article