WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Will Borgen was a fourth-round pick in 2015. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – On the ice, Sabres defense prospect Will Borgen often looks like a beast, throwing his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame around and rattling opponents.
Borgen showcased his physicality throughout Friday’s 6-4 win inside noisy HarborCenter, throttling some New Jersey Devils and drawing their ire in the Prospects Challenge opener.
“He really enjoyed it,” coach Chris Taylor said. “Obviously, the fans brought that out for him. They were cheering for him, the big hit.”... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander has played seven NHL games. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – In a matter of minutes, coach Chris Taylor noticed a different, more mature Alexander Nylander. Instead of taking a backseat, the slick Sabres prospect started his third pro season acting like a leader.
During the first session of rookie camp Thursday, Nylander, 20, showcased his newfound confidence, leading practice drills.
“He’s leading, he’s going to the front of the lines now,” Taylor said inside HarborCenter. “Before he’d go second, third, maybe last ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin hasn’t played a game in about five months. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Chris Taylor understands the excitement surrounding defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s first appearance in Blue and Gold. Tonight, more than four months after the Sabres won the right to draft the ultra-talented Swede first overall, he will finally play a game.
“So do you guys want me to play Rasmus for 30 or 40 minutes tomorrow?” Taylor joked Thursday after rookie camp opened inside HarborCenter.
There are, you know, 26 other youngsters on the roster ... Read the full article
The Sabres selectred Vasily Glotov in the seventh round in 2016. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
The Rochester Americans have signed forwards Tyler Randell and Vasily Glotov to one-year AHL contracts, the Buffalo Sabres’ top affiliate announced today.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Randell played 27 games with the Boston Bruins in 2015-16, scoring six goals and six points.... Read the full article
C.J. Smith compiled 17 goals and 44 points last season. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed forward C.J. Smith, one of the AHL’s top rookies last season, to a one-year, two-way deal, the team announced today.
The contract is worth $874,125 at the NHL level.
Winger Sam Reinhart is now the Sabres’ only unsigned restricted free agent.... Read the full article
Nick Baptiste stayed with the Sabres down the stretch last season. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed forwards Nick Baptiste and Danny O’Regan to one-year, two-way contracts, the team announced this morning.
The deals are worth $787,500 and $874,125, respectively, in the NHL.
Baptiste, 22, earned regular NHL duty throughout the second half last season, compiling four goals and six points in 33 games with the Sabres.
The Sabres drafted Baptiste in the third round, 69th overall, in 2013. He compiled seven goals and 18 points ... Read the full article
Sean Malone has played one NHL game. ©2018, Hickling Images
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
Steve Smith won three Stanley Cups during his playing career. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Despite finishing dead last in 2017-18, the Sabres kept their entire coaching staff. There will, however, be one addition to Phil Housley’s crew next season.
The Sabres have hired former NHL defenseman Steve Smith, a three-time Stanley Cup winner, as an assistant coach, the team announced this morning.
Other than Housley, a Hall of Fame defenseman, the only former NHL defender on staff, Chris Hajt, played six games. Given the Sabres just drafted ... Read the full article
Griffin Luce will be a junior in college. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – For defenseman Griffin Luce, the proud grandson of a Sabres legend and a fan of the team growing up, wearing Blue and Gold for four days last week was a special experience.
Luce, 20, attended other NHL development camps earlier in his career. But participating in the Sabres’ camp with his grandfather, Don, watching from the HarborCenter stands, had extra meaning for the University of Michigan defenseman.... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly was due a big bonus Sunday. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – If the Sabres pay Ryan O’Reilly his $7.5 million bonus by midnight, the dynamic of any potential trade for the center would change, general manager Jason Botterill said.
Speaking earlier in the day on a conference call, Botterill explained based on his conversations with other teams, paying the money would mean the Sabres have a new asking price.... Read the full article
