Krueger - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Rasmus Ristolainen happy with Sabres, excited to play for Ralph Krueger again

The chatter about Rasmus Ristolainen wanting out of Buffalo has ended. These days, the defenseman says he’s happy and excited to be with the Sabres.

“I enjoy being here right now,” Ristolainen said on a Zoom call Sunday. “The team looks good and ready to go and it’s going to be a very exciting year.”

Ristolainen, 26, has rarely spoken so optimistically. Prior to last season, in an interview with a Finnish TV station, he ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson day-to-day after suffering upper-body injury

Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson suffered an upper-body injury when he crashed into the goalpost Saturday and is day-to-day, the team announced Sunday.

Tage Thompson practiced in Olofsson’s spot Sunday at right wing on the No. 1 line, according to reports from KeyBank Center.

Olofsson briefly left the ice favoring his right arm and wrist before returning to practice, according to The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington. But Olofsson departed for good when the Sabres took ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner, Eric Staal excited to team up as duo with Sabres

During the six years Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal spent together as teammates with the Carolina Hurricanes, they usually skated on separate lines.

Back then, the Hurricanes were in the midst of a marathon 14-year playoff drought. As one of the NHL’s bottom-feeders, they possessed little depth up front. So the coaches would often play their top scorers on different lines.

“We were pretty thin,” said Staal, who joined Skinner and the Buffalo Sabres in ... Read the full article

Sabres assessing Victor Olofsson after crash into goalpost

Coach Ralph Krueger said the Buffalo Sabres are assessing winger Victor Olofsson, who left today’s practice after crashing into the goalpost.

“We do not have an update,” Krueger said on a Zoom call this afternoon.

Olofsson briefly left the KeyBank Center ice favoring his right arm and wrist before returning to practice, according to The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington. But Olofsson departed for good when the Sabres took a break to watch video.

Update:... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin ready to enjoy breakout season after long layoff

As defenseman Rasmus Dahlin spent month after month packing muscle on his 6-foot-3 frame and honing his skills, coach Ralph Krueger could feel a special transformation was taking place.

Dahlin, 20, possesses the maturity to match his enormous skill set. The Buffalo Sabres’ disappointing finish last season – they missed the NHL’s 24-team playoff qualifying round by one point – irked the Swede and put him in a reflective state of mind.

So Dahlin, who’s ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jack Eichel misses first practice

Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger prefaced his update on the statuses of captain Jack Eichel and goalie Linus Ullmark with four words to alleviate any concern.

“All is under control,” Krueger said on a Zoom call Friday after both players missed the first session of training camp inside KeyBank Center.

Shortly before the Sabres’ first practice in almost 10 months, they announced Eichel, their MVP, would be sidelined Friday. The center suffered an upper-body injury ... Read the full article

Sabres prepared for unexpected as training camp opens during pandemic

Short training camps are nothing new for Ralph Krueger.

Krueger spent 13 years leading Team Switzerland at major international tournaments. He coached Team Europe to the final of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, a gig that helped him land in Buffalo. Prior to joining the Sabres, his only season as an NHL head coach, 2012-13, began in January following a lockout.

Krueger had about a week to begin putting his mark on the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kevyn Adams, Ralph Krueger know season will present challenges

Ralph Krueger’s ability to communicate with his players might be his greatest strength as a coach, so the idea of holding team meetings through Zoom or another video program doesn’t appeal much to him.

“Believe it or not, this is maybe how the odd team meeting will be happening this season,” Krueger said on a Zoom call Tuesday to discuss training camp, which opens Thursday when players report for testing and physicals.

In normal times, ... Read the full article

Sabres could have time to evaluate Dylan Cozens during training camp

In Team Canada’s opener at the World Junior Championship, Buffalo Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens helped the powerhouse demolish a short-handed German squad, scoring three goals and six points in a 16-2 victory.

“It’s a great start for him in the World Juniors, and I love the fact that’s he’s a go-to guy there,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said on a Zoom call Tuesday to discuss training camp, which opens Thursday.

But a night later, ... Read the full article

Sabres release training camp roster, schedule; 37 players to participate

On Friday, the Buffalo Sabres will touch the KeyBank Center ice for the first time in 296 days and begin preparing for the most unusual of seasons.

The NHL will be attempting to play during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will likely experience problems – positive tests, postponements or even cancellations – as the schedule unfolds.

But those potential roadblocks can be examined another day. The Sabres’ 10-month break is nearly over. Training camp officially ... Read the full article