Frolik - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark skating again after suffering lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark, out the last 10 games after suffering an upper-body injury Jan. 28, has started skating again, coach Ralph Krueger said.

“He’s got some skates on now, which is obviously an important step to be taking, and let’s see how it goes,” Krueger said this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. “But we are optimistic about the way rehab is going at this point. There’s been no setbacks and he’s on schedule.”... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Carter Hutton, Johan Larsson expected to face Senators

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Ralph Krueger expects goalie Carter Hutton and center Johan Larsson to play against the Ottawa Senators despite their absence from Monday’s practice for maintenance.

Meanwhile, the Sabres announced illness will keep winger Michael Frolik from playing tonight. The Czech did not travel with the team to Ottawa. He also missed Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“We’re not worried about any of these injuries,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton game-time decision for Maple Leafs

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Carter Hutton will be a game-time decision tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Hutton, who has won three straight starts, missed Saturday’s practice for maintenance.

“We’re testing him at the moment as a we speak here,” Krueger said this morning inside KeyBank Center.

If Hutton can’t play, Krueger said rookie Jonas Johansson will start.

The Sabres also recalled goalie Andrew Hammond from the Rochester Americans on Saturday.... Read the full article

Sabres make more moves, recall Andrew Hammond, John Gilmour

BUFFALO – With goalie Carter Hutton absent from Saturday’s practice for maintenance, the Sabres recalled Andrew Hammond from the Rochester Americans.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Hutton’s absence isn’t related to the hit he took from Columbus Blue Jackets forward Eric Robinson in Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win.

A puck also hit Hutton in mask earlier in the night.

“We’re quite optimistic about his rehab day today,” Krueger said when asked about Hutton’s status for tonight’s ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian clears waivers, assigned to Amerks by Sabres

BUFFALO – The Sabres assigned defenseman Zach Bogosian to the Rochester Americans after he cleared waivers today.

Bogosian, 29, is not expected to play in the Amerks’ road game tonight against the Syracuse Crunch. There is no official word if the Massena native will report to the AHL.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said waiving and demoting Bogosian was “an organizational decision.”

“What’s going on there is not really my issue,” said Krueger, whose Sabres host ... 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

Michael Frolik comfortable with Sabres, grateful for opportunity

BUFFALO – Before winger Michael Frolik waived his no-trade clause to leave the Calgary Flames, he coveted the kind of opportunity the Sabres awarded him upon his arrival last month.

Frolik, 31, will be a free agent following the season. The Czech is playing for his future in the NHL. He needs ice time to showcase his talents.

Earlier this season in Calgary, he regularly skated fewer than 10 minutes a night and sat out ... 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

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo hit hard by Kobe Bryant’s death: ‘He was a titan’

BUFFALO – Kyle Okposo grew up a rabid basketball fan in the 1990s and said he played the sport “way before” he took up hockey. The Sabres winger still loves talking about the NBA of his youth and its stars.

So the death of 41-year-old basketball legend Kobe Bryant has impacted Okposo. He sounded emotional this afternoon discussing Bryant, who died in helicopter crash Sunday in Los Angeles with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Sam Reinhart’s presence in circle boosting power play

BUFFALO – Long before he developed into a terrific net-front presence in the NHL, Sabres winger Sam Reinhart operated from the circle on the power play.

“It’s a pretty normal spot,” Reinhart said after scoring a power-play goal from the left circle in Saturday afternoon’s 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks inside KeyBank Center.

After moving back there earlier this month, Reinhart has looked comfortable, scoring on two one-timers.

Those goals, believe it or not, ... Read the full article