WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Mark Pysyk played 68 games during his second stint in Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
In past years, a slew of former Buffalo Sabres had difficulty finding work in free agency.
With few suitors on the open market, some settled for training camp tryouts while others went overseas or never played again.
So far this offseason, seven players who spent time in Buffalo last season have quickly landed new NHL contracts. Here’s an update:
Ilya Samsonov could be interesting goalie for Buffalo to pursue. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres possess a stable of strong goaltending prospects.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a Finn labeled as the Sabres’ goalie of the future, has looked impressive in his limited NHL action. While he has battled injuries and struggled at times in the minors, he’s still a terrific young talent.
The Sabres also boast Devon Levi, the NCAA’s top goalie last season at Northeastern, and drafted Topias Leinonen in the second round on Friday, ... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt played in an outdoor game for Team USA as a junior star. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
HAMILTON, Ont. – In the midst of another grueling season, the Heritage Classic offers the Buffalo Sabres a refreshing change.
The day-to-day NHL grind has suddenly been interrupted by a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some players. When you play outdoors like the Sabres will this afternoon, you never forget it.
For a weekend, the Sabres can enjoy time in the spotlight and make memories they’ll cherish forever. Their families have joined them, and after Saturday’s chilly ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons has missed the last 13 games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Among all the blue and white on the ice for the Sabres’ optional skate this morning, one jersey, the gold non-contact one worn by winger Zemgus Girgensons, stood out.
For the first time since Jan. 25, Girgensons, 28, skated with his teammates. A lower-body injury has sidelined the Latvian, an alternate captain, 13 straight games and 18 of the last 19 contests. While he won’t play tonight against the Minnesota Wild or ... Read the full article
Drake Caggiula hasn’t played since Nov. 22. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Drake Caggiula will undergo season-ending fusion surgery today in Los Angeles to repair a herniated disc in his neck, general manager Kevyn Adams said this morning.
Caggiula, 27, has a six to eight month recovery, according to Adams.
“He’s been seeing some different specialists and gathered all the information and then made the decision a few days ago that he was moving forward with the surgery,” Adams said inside KeyBank Center.... Read the full article
Jack Quinn scored his first NHL goal Thursday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – If Jack Quinn hadn’t suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Dallas Stars, he likely would’ve kept playing for the Sabres in the coming weeks.
The Sabres, of course, won’t simply award their prospects a spot. But given their rash of injuries and that Quinn, 20, had performed so well – he scored his first NHL goal and assisted on another Thursday – he almost certainly would’ve earned a long ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson was injured in rookie camp. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
It was one of those so-called little plays that was really huge. In the second period of Monday afternoon’s 3-2 overtime loss, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson tied up Lucas Raymond near the net.
While the Detroit Red Wings forward managed to shoot the puck, Samuelsson stymied him enough to nullify what would’ve been a terrific scoring chance.
“I feel like that’s always been my style,” said Samuelsson, who was recalled Monday morning. “I’m not ... Read the full article
Jacob Bryson has missed two games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday, as zero Sabres entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
Henri Jokiharju, who was held out of Tuesday’s practice as the team awaited test results, skated in Wednesday’s session, giving the Sabres a full defense corps.
“It was a relief on many fronts, just even to run a better practice with six full D,” Granato said of no one entering protocol. “But … they go into ... Read the full article
Dustin Tokarski has played 14 games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Earlier this month, Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski entered COVID-19 protocol before a road game in Florida, so he spent his time quarantining in the Sunshine State.
“It wasn’t ideal since I couldn’t go and enjoy the ocean and the beaches,” Tokarski joked after rejoining his teammates for Monday’s practice inside KeyBank Center.
Tokarski, 32, said he has no idea how he caught the virus. He went from expecting to start Dec. 3 against ... Read the full article
Alex Tuch joined Buffalo on Nov. 4. ©2021
BUFFALO – The date Sabres winger Alex Tuch underwent shoulder surgery is seared in his mind.
“Two days less than five months since surgery,” Tuch said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center. “It’s been a long road.”
That road is about to end. Coach Don Granato said today that Tuch will play his first game with the Sabres, the team he adored growing up in Baldwinsville, on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“He’s ... Read the full article
