#FlattenTheCurve
BUFFALO – The Sabres made their first significant roster cuts of training camp this morning, reassigning 15 players, most notably center Arttu Ruotsalainen and winger C.J. Smith.
The Sabres sent Ruotsalainen, 21, back to Ilves, a Finnish team in Liiga. Meanwhile, Smith, 24, must clear waivers before he can go to the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres also sent the following players to the Amerks, their AHL affiliate: forwards Eric Cornel, Sean Malone, Andrew Oglevie, ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Center Sean Malone’s 2018-19 season started ominously. After some impressive performances early in his second NHL training camp, the West Seneca native injured his knee in the Sabres’ preseason opener.
So instead of competing for a spot on the big club, Malone, 24, didn’t play his first game until Nov. 7 with the Rochester Americans.
Injuries limited Malone to only 38 appearances during a frustrating campaign. The Harvard product never seemed to ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The Rochester Americans have signed West Seneca’s Sean Malone, who wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the parent Sabres, to a one-year AHL contract, the team announced today.
Injuries limited Malone, 24, to only 38 games during a frustrating 2018-19 campaign. The center hurt his knee in the Sabres’ preseason opener and never seemed to find a groove.
In two seasons with the Amerks, Malone has compiled 16 goals, 35 points and ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – In Sunday’s 3-1 road loss, the Sabres thoroughly outplayed the New York Rangers, outshooting them a whopping 40-21.
Other than a 19-second span in which the Rangers scored twice, the Sabres held them in check, staying on the offensive and peppering goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
While the Sabres lost for the fourth time in five outings (1-2-2), the game illustrates how much they’ve grown this season. If they keep performing like they did Sunday ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Jason Botterill overhauled the Sabres for the 2018-19 season, adding eight new faces and improving their depth. Still, after Scott Wilson suffered a broken right ankle Sunday, the general manager felt they needed another winger for the fourth line.
So on Tuesday, the Sabres claimed Remi Elie on waivers from the Dallas Stars.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Elie, 23, has played 90 NHL games, compiling seven goals, 21 points and 26 penalty minutes. Last ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Thirteen forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies comprise the Sabres’ first 23-man roster for the 2018-19 season.
NHL rosters needed to be finalized by 5 p.m. The Sabres open the season Thursday against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres reached the 23-man limit by placing four players – forwards Johan Larsson, Sean Malone and Scott Wilson and defenseman Matt Hunwick – on injured reserve.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Conor Sheary, a newcomer expected to skate on a top line, is week-to-week after suffering an upper-body injury during Friday’s practice.
“In the first day (of training camp), he took a hit the wrong way, and we’re just making sure we’re on top of that,” said Sabres coach Phil Housley, who is dealing with three notable injuries just five days into camp.
Center Sean Malone will miss six weeks after ... Read the full article
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
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed forward Sean Malone, a West Seneca native who spent last season in the AHL, to a one-year, two-way deal, the team announced today.
The contract is worth $787,500 at the NHL level.
After battling injuries and missing all of training camp, Malone, 23, earned regular duty as a rookie with the Rochester Americans in 2017-18, compiling 12 goals and 22 points in 73 games.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ 48-year existence, players of all talents wore No. 26 before the team awarded the digits to defenseman Rasmus Dahlin today.
Two-time 40-goal scorer Thomas Vanek sported it. So did Randy Wyrozub, one of the franchise’s first players. The Sabres issued the number 20 times before Dahlin, according to hockey-reference.com.... Read the full article
