Montour - Buffalo Hockey Beat

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 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

Sabres re-sign Brandon Montour to one-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed defenseman Brandon Montour to a one-year, $3.85 million contract, the team announced tonight.

Montour was the Sabres’ only restricted free agent to pass on filing for salary arbitration earlier today.

The right-handed Montour struggled early last season playing on the left side for new coach Ralph Krueger. A hand injury Montour suffered in the preseason also sidelined him 14 games.... Read the full article

Three Sabres file for salary arbitration

Three of the Buffalo Sabres’ four remaining restricted free agents – goalie Linus Ullmark and wingers Victor Olofsson and Sam Reinhart – filed for salary arbitration before today’s deadline.

Only defenseman Brandon Montour passed on it.

Update: Montour has signed a one-year, $3.85 million contract.

Filing, of course, doesn’t mean a player will go to arbitration. Negotiations can continue. The sides usually reach a deal before the arbitration hearing.

Last year, four Sabres filed ... Read the full article

Sabres could re-sign Dominik Kahun after passing on qualifying offer

For weeks, there was speculation the Buffalo Sabres would pass on tendering defenseman Brandon Montour a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.

Considering former general manager Jason Botterill traded a top prospect and a first round pick for Montour in 2019, the thought of letting him go seemed outrageous. But the belief was the Sabres, who have tightened their belts during the COVID-19 pandemic, did not want to pay Montour big money.

Well, Wednesday’s ... Read the full article

Sabres don’t tender Dominik Kahun qualifying offer

The Buffalo Sabres did not tender restricted free agent Dominik Kahun a qualifying offer before today’s 5 p.m. deadline, making the winger an unrestricted free agent.

That doesn’t, however, mean Kahun’s days in Buffalo are over. The Sabres could still sign Kahun, 25, to a different contract.

Kahun looked impressive in six games after arriving from the Pittsburgh Penguins before the trade deadline, scoring two goals and four points. The German quickly earned praise from ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Kevyn Adams reached out to Jack Eichel shortly after hiring

Since the Buffalo Sabres drafted Jack Eichel in 2015, they’ve employed three general managers and three coaches. The startling numbers illustrate the franchise’s dysfunction.

After the Sabres fired GM Jason Botterill on June 16, Kevyn Adams, his replacement, called Eichel later that day. Adams and owners Terry and Kim Pegula also had a conversation with their captain and biggest star.

“From there, (we) exchanged some notes back and forth,” Adams said on a Zoom call ... Read the full article

Sabres succeeded in helping Rasmus Ristolainen transform game this season

“We’re continuing to try to set this team up where we’re putting (Rasmus Ristolainen) in positions to have success.”

– Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, Aug. 17, 2019

As their nine-year run of futility indicates, the Sabres rarely accomplish what they set out to do. The once-proud franchise has become a laughingstock.

Still, in the case of defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, the Sabres deserve credit for helping him develop a smarter, sturdier style as ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Sam Reinhart emerging from career-worst slump

BUFFALO – Late in Monday’s 3-2 shootout win, Sabres winger Sam Reinhart grabbed the puck along the right boards and skated below the goal line before quickly threading it through a cluster of defenders.

A second later, Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour beat Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby from the edge of the left circle.

The play showcased some of Reinhart’s best talents – hockey sense, vision and adroit passing – and appeared to end his ... Read the full article

Sabres win in shootout after late goal disallowed: ‘Soft, questionable call’

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jeff Skinner tried to choose his words carefully when asked if he knows what constitutes goalie interference.

“I’m gonna get in trouble for that one,” Skinner said with a smirk after Monday’s 3-2 shootout win over the Washington Capitals ended the Sabres’ six-game losing streak. “I don’t know.”

Luckily, the questionable goalie interference call on Skinner that negated defenseman Brandon Montour’s goal with 2:48 left in regulation did not fluster the ... Read the full article