WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Ralph Krueger has no problem wearing a mask on the bench. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
So far, 10 days into training camp, the Sabres haven’t experienced any setbacks because of COVID-19.
But on Friday, the NHL announced six Dallas Stars players and two staff members had tested positive for the virus. The outbreak forced the team to close its facility and three games to be postponed.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, meanwhile, held out 17 players from Friday’s practice because of what they called “an abundance of caution and in accordance ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens has spent a year and a half in Buffalo’s organization. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Over the last two months – through Hockey Canada’s selection camp, a 14-day quarantine, the heartbreak of losing a gold medal and now in Buffalo – Sabres prospects Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn have grown close.
Shortly after Canada fell to Team USA in Tuesday’s World Junior Championship final, Cozens and Quinn boarded a private plane in Edmonton and flew to Buffalo, where they quarantined for two days before joining training camp Friday at KeyBank ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner (pictured) practiced with Curtis Lazar and Riley Sheahan on Friday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
After a 10-month layoff, the Buffalo Sabres play 10 games in an 18-day stretch, starting with Thursday’s season opener against the Washington Capitals.
That includes three back-to-back sets. The early stretch will be rigorous and likely test the Sabres’ depth. They’re going to have to roll four lines.
“Right now, we need to be a good four-line team early in the season,” Krueger said on a Zoom call Friday.
So Krueger, who pretty much kept ... Read the full article
Riley Sheahan has quickly found a home in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When the Sabres promoted forward Riley Sheahan earlier this week after Zemgus Girgensons suffered a season-ending hamstring injury, it appeared the veteran would be sticking around Buffalo.
Sure enough, on Friday, the Sabres signed Sheahan, who came to training camp on a professional tryout, to a one-year contract worth $700,000.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said “the specialist that he is” helped Sheahan earn a deal.
“(He’s) strong on faceoffs, (an) excellent penalty killer, ... Read the full article
Riley Sheahan joined Buffalo on a professional tryout contract last week. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Sabres forward Riley Sheahan grew up about 30 miles from Buffalo in St. Catharines, Ontario, so he has carried what he called a “soft spot” for his new team.
Growing up, Sheahan would make the trip across the border to watch the Sabres or see them when they visited his hometown for training camp.
“I’ll be honest, I was a little bit of a (Toronto Maple) Leafs fan but Sabres tickets were more affordable and ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens enjoyed a standout World Junior Championship for Team Canada.
Coach Ralph Krueger said this afternoon that prospects Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, both of whom represented Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, could join the Sabres’ second practice group Friday.
Cozens and Quinn have been quarantining in a hotel since arriving from Edmonton following Canada’s loss 2-0 loss to Team USA in Tuesday’s gold medal game. They took a private plane to Buffalo, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
“I hope they’re enjoying ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons has been one of Buffalo’s few constants during a tumultuous era. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
As winger Zemgus Girgensons spends the next six months rehabbing after undergoing surgery to repair his hamstring, coach Ralph Krueger wants to keep him around the Sabres.
NHL teams often separate their injured players from the regular group. But Girgensons, 27, is such a popular teammate that Krueger feels the Latvian must have a presence during his long recovery.
“We’re going to keep Zemgus close, because (of) how important he is in the organization, what ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel missed the first four sessions of training camp. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
After months of anticipation and a five-day delay, Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel on Wednesday finally practiced beside Taylor Hall, his new left winger.
Eichel, 24, said he had been battling an upper-body injury he sustained during an on-ice workout a few weeks ago. The Sabres said at the beginning of training camp their top center and leading scorer was day-to-day.
“Today was a good test for me to get out there and be ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton is one of the NHL’s best puck-handling goalies. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the waning seconds of Monday’s scrimmage, Buffalo Sabres goalie Carter Hutton said a “perfect situation” materialized for him.
Over the years, Hutton, one of the NHL’s best puck-handling netminders, said he had tried to score an empty-net goal a few times.
“I’ve never been successful other than just shooting a few pucks at the end of practice,” Hutton said on a Zoom call.
But on Monday, as Hutton’s Team Blue enjoyed a 4-1 ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons left Monday’s scrimmage. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the second period of Monday’s Buffalo Sabres scrimmage, Zemgus Girgensons eyed up Steven Fogarty as he carried the puck and tried to hit him inside the blue line.
But Fogarty skated around Girgensons, forcing the Latvian to make a last-second adjustment. Girgensons’ legs split awkwardly as he attempted to find Fogarty and he fell to the KeyBank Center ice. Girgensons left the scrimmage and did not return.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Girgensons, who ... Read the full article
