Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons suffers ‘very questionable lower-body injury’

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

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

Johan Larsson had little dialogue with Sabres before leaving for Coyotes

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

Reports: Former Sabre Johan Larsson signs two-year contract with Coyotes

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

Johan Larsson’s long career with Sabres could be over

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

Dynamic season earns Jack Eichel Sabres MVP award for 2019-20

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

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo undergoes surgery on right knee

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

Sabres captain Jack Eichel frustrated by losing: ‘I’m fed up’

In their first five seasons with Jack Eichel, the Buffalo Sabres have been a perennial loser, winning just 39 percent of their games. Despite earning his place among the game’s elite talents, the captain still hasn’t sniffed the playoffs.

This year, the Sabres missed the NHL’s 24-team postseason qualifying round by one win.

When Eichel was drafted second overall in 2015, the thought of the Sabres missing the playoffs for the next five ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo understands frustrations: ‘I know people are mad’

Last year, Kyle Okposo and his family decided to sell their home in Minnesota and make Clarence their permanent residence. The roots he laid down in Buffalo have helped the veteran winger develop a unique understanding of how the Sabres’ stunning run of futility has disenchanted a passionate fan base.

“I understand the weight of the team that’s on the city, and I get it, because I now live here full time,” Okposo said on ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Wayne Simmonds doesn’t regret waiving no-trade clause

BUFFALO – Wayne Simmonds doesn’t regret waiving his no-trade clause to join the Sabres two weeks ago.

The Sabres, having crept within six points of a playoff spot, wanted the respected veteran winger to help their push. Meanwhile, Simmonds, an unrestricted free agent following the season, wanted a fresh opportunity after enduring a rough campaign.

So far, the deal – the Sabres sent the New Jersey Devils a conditional fifth-round pick – hasn’t paid many ... Read the full article