November Edition
Cody Eakin knew very little about Buffalo before he signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Sabres as a free agent earlier this month.
Eakin played eight of his first nine NHL seasons in the Western Conference, meaning he usually visited Buffalo just once a year. Still, Eakin, who spent some time in Buffalo as a member of Team Canada at the 2011 World Junior Championship, has a basic understanding of his new city.... Read the full article
If Jason Botterill hadn’t been fired as general manager, then perhaps center Johan Larsson would’ve returned to the Buffalo Sabres.
Larsson, 28, just enjoyed arguably his best NHL season, becoming one of coach Ralph Krueger’s trusted forwards. The checking line the Swede pivoted between Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo quickly solidified itself as the Sabres’ steadiest combination. Krueger kept the trio intact nearly all season.
It appeared Larsson, who signed a two-year contract with ... Read the full article
The Sabres made their first notable move of free agency today, signing center Cody Eakin to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.25 million, according to Sportsnet and TSN.
Eakin, 29, scored five goals and 10 points in 49 total games last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets. He played eight games with the Jets after joining them in a trade Feb. 21.
Update: The Sabres officially announced the ... Read the full article
Former Buffalo Sabres center Johan Larsson is going to take a paycut to join the Arizona Coyotes.
Larsson’s new two-year contract carries an average annual value of $1.4 million, according to Sportsnet. He had a one-year deal worth $1.55 million last season.
ArizonaCoyotesInsider.com first reported Larsson was close to joining the Coyotes as a free agent.
Larsson, 28, spent seven years in Buffalo, compiling 38 goals and 97 points in 392 games. The Swede was ... Read the full article
When Kevyn Adams took over the Buffalo Sabres and started gathering information on his team, he made it a priority to ask the coaches their feelings about the goaltending.
“One of the most important first conversations,” said the general manager, who will likely be busy Friday when free agency opens at noon.
Linus Ullmark, 27, thrived last season in his first prolonged run as an NHL starter, developing into the Sabres’ backbone. After beginning the ... Read the full article
Johan Larsson looked looser early last season. The Sabres center, affectionately nicknamed “Angry Larry,” even occasionally smiled, a rarity throughout his turbulent seven-year career in Buffalo.
Naturally, as the season progressed, the Sabres’ annual implosion sapped some of his happiness.
Still, Larsson, 28, enjoyed perhaps his best NHL campaign. The tenacious Swede entrenched himself between Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo early in 2019-20, helping the trio morph into one of the league’s best checking ... Read the full article
A dynamic season in which Jack Eichel scored a career-high 36 goals in 68 games while generating Hart Trophy buzz has earned the captain the Buffalo Sabres’ MVP award for 2019-20.
Eichel was also named Sabres Foundation Man of the Year for his work in the community. Meanwhile, 20-goal winger Victor Olofsson was named the Sabres’ rookie of the year and veteran winger Kyle Okposo, who enjoyed a terrific bounce-back season, was named the ... Read the full article
Buffalo Sabres winger Kyle Okposo has undergone successful surgery on his right knee and is expected to make a full recovery in six weeks, the team announced this afternoon.
After being relied upon as a scorer his entire career, Okposo, 32, morphed into a strong checking presence in 2019-20, compiling nine goals and 19 points in 59 games. The American spent most of his 13th NHL season playing right wing beside center Johan Larsson and ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Expect Linus Ullmark to morph into a workhorse again over the final four weeks this season. If the goalie can stay healthy, he might start 12 or 13 of the reeling Sabres’ 14 remaining games.
Ullmark, who hasn’t played since suffering a lower-body injury Jan. 28, will likely start tonight against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center.
Before Ullmark missed 17 games – he backed up Carter Hutton on Saturday – he seized ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Having dropped all four games of their recent road trip, the Sabres sealed their fate long before Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
While the Sabres haven’t officially been eliminated from the playoffs, they will earn their eighth straight DNQ in the coming weeks.
Barely two weeks ago, the Sabres’ slick offense helped them roar back into the playoff race. They scored 23 goals over a six-game stretch, winning five times.
They ... Read the full article
