Johansson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres sign Andrew Hammond, Curtis Lazar and others for depth

BUFFALO – As general manager Jason Botterill promised, the Sabres added a third goalie shortly after free agency opened Monday, signing veteran Andrew Hammond.

Hammond, whose one-year, one-way deal is worth $700,000, is best known for compiling a 20-1-2 record as a rookie with the Ottawa Senators in 2014-15 and earning “The Hamburglar” nickname.

Overall, Hammond, 31, has put together a 27-15-6 mark with a 2.31 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and four shutouts ... Read the full article

Sabres’ acquisition of Brandon Montour shows they want to win now

TORONTO – On Sunday night, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill made a significant trade for this season, sending a 2019 first-round pick and defense prospect Brendan Guhle to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Brandon Montour.

Think about that, the Sabres, a team seemingly in perpetual rebuilding mode, dealt futures for an established NHL player before today’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.

But for the first time since 2011-12, the Sabres are in the playoff ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton out Saturday; Scott Wedgewood recalled

BUFFALO – With Sabres goalie Carter Hutton day-to-day with an upper-body injury and out for Saturday afternoon’s tilt, according to coach Phil Housley, they recalled Scott Wedgewood this morning.

What happened to Hutton? The starter finished Monday’s 2-1 loss in Nashville and backed up Linus Ullmark for Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss here to Toronto.

Housley said Hutton had a maintenance day Thursday.

“It was sort of formed the last three or four days,” Housley said ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian day-to-day with lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Oft-injured Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, who played only 18 games last season, is day-to-day after suffering a lower-body injury Tuesday, coach Phil Housley said.

Housley said Bogosian, 28, will be reevaluated later today after leaving the Sabres’ 4-2 preseason loss to Columbus early.

Injuries, of course, have ravaged Bogosian. The Massena native has missed 114 games – a whopping 42 percent of Buffalo’s outings – since he joined the Sabres on Feb. ... Read the full article

Hockeyville in Clinton provides unique experience for Sabres

CLINTON – When center Casey Mittelstadt told some of his teammates skating this morning inside tiny Clinton Arena this felt like high school, he said they starting making fun of him.

But Mittelstadt, 19, is less than two years removed from playing high school hockey. Memories of skating in old rinks like the 65-year-old barn where the Sabres will face the Columbus Blue Jackets in tonight are fresh.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brandon Hickey ready for preseason debut

BUFFALO – When Sabres defenseman Brandon Hickey received word he would be playing in tonight’s preseason opener, he said a “whole bunch of anxious energy” started running through his body.

“It’s my first taste of pro hockey,” Hickey said this morning. “I’ve been looking forward to this my whole life. I’m pretty excited to get things going tonight.”

Hickey, 22, is a bit old for a rookie. Despite being picked by the Calgary Flames in ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson upbeat about Sabres’ future, new regime

BUFFALO – In his 11 NHL seasons, winger Matt Moulson has played for nine coaches, including four with the Sabres.

There have been Stanley Cup winners (Marc Crawford and Dan Bylsma), rookies (Scott Gordon, Ron Rolston and others) and old school veterans (Terry Murray and Ted Nolan).

Moulson, 33, has experienced the NHL coaching gamut. So when the three-time 30-goal scorer says new Sabres coach Phil Housley’s sessions “are some of the best practices I’ve ... Read the full article

Sabres get another opportunity to impress against Leafs

BUFFALO – The Rochester Americans open their training camp Monday, so a for a slew of Sabres, tonight’s preseason tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside KeyBank Center is a final chance to impress coach Phil Housley and the team’s brass.

The Sabres will almost certainly assign some players to their AHL affiliate in the near future.

“If you want to separate yourself from other people on the team or the totem pole, you got ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Cal Petersen leaves school; Giorgio Estephan still unsigned

Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Cal Petersen announced Wednesday he will forego his final season of NCAA eligibility with Notre Dame and sign a pro contact this summer.

Now, does that mean Petersen, 22, will sign with the Sabres, who drafted him in the fifth round, 129th overall, in 2013? Not necessarily.

The Sabres have 30 days to sign Petersen, one of the NCAA’s best goalies and the Fighting Irish’s captain, or they lose his rights. ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres interview Bob Boughner for coaching job

Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill interviewed San Jose Sharks assistant Bob Boughner for the team’s vacant head coaching job Tuesday, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

The Sabres haven’t had a coach since firing Dan Bylsma with GM Tim Murray on April 20.

Boughner, 46, has spent the last two seasons as an assistant in San Jose. He previously spent eight seasons coaching the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires, winning two championships. He was also ... Read the full article