Casey Mittelstadt and Bowen Byram switched teams Wednesday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres sad, surprised Casey Mittelstadt traded, excited for Bowen Byram

TORONTO – Sooner or later, it was going to happen. Over the past few years, as the Sabres grew into a tight-knit group, their young core remained intact. But as the team evolved and needs materialized and the salary cap became a factor again, someone would have to leave Buffalo.

On Wednesday, two days before the trade deadline, it happened. The Sabres dealt center Casey Mittelstadt, a beloved teammate and their leading scorer, to the ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt skates this morning in Scotiabank Arena. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Stunner: Sabres trade top scorer Casey Mittelstadt to Avs for Bowen Byram

TORONTO – Sooner or later, it was going to happen. Over the past few years, as the Sabres grew into a tight-knit group, their young core remained intact. But as the team evolved and needs materialized and the salary cap became a factor again, someone would have to leave Buffalo.

This afternoon, two days before the trade deadline, it happened. The Sabres dealt center Casey Mittelstadt, a beloved teammate and their leading scorer, to the ... Read the full article

Owen Power was injured Feb. 12. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Owen Power returns from injury; Jacob Bryson playing regularly

BUFFALO – On Sunday morning, Sabres defenseman Owen Power did not take his usual spot on the second power-play unit, a sign he possibly needed more time to recover from his upper-body injury.

But following the pregame skate, coach Don Granato said the youngster could be ready for the Sabres’ contest against the Carolina Hurricanes at KeyBank Center.

Sure enough, Power, 21, returned their 3-2 shootout win, scoring the late tying goal and skating 23 ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie has played for five teams this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu (Rochester/Buffalo), Nick Pettigrew (Moose Jaw)

Following trade, Sabres prospect Matt Savoie on tear in Moose Jaw

BUFFALO – Six months, five teams and three leagues later, Sabres prospect Matt Savoie has settled into one place and can enjoy the final months of his junior hockey career.

A season that Savoie, 20, began injured in Buffalo has taken him to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, after stops in Rochester, Wenatchee (Washington) and Sweden.

Along the way, he showed he’s ready for the pros, made his NHL debut, represented Team Canada at the World Junior ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie played one game for Buffalo this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres prospect Matt Savoie traded to Moose Jaw in WHL

It was only a matter of when, not if, the Wenatchee Wild moved Buffalo Sabres prospect Matt Savoie before the Western Hockey League trade deadline.

Contenders coveted Savoie, a junior star set to turn pro next season, as a rental player.

The Moose Jaw Warriors value Savoie, 20, so much that on Thursday they dealt the Wild seven draft picks, including two first-rounders, in exchange for the slick center.... Read the full article

From left, Zach Benson, Casey Mittelstadt, Mattias Samuelsson and Rasmus Dahlin celebrate Mittelstadt’s game-tying goal Saturday. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Kevyn Adams expresses faith in Don Granato; Seth Appert subs for ill coach in OT win

BUFFALO – Forty-five minutes prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, general manager Kevyn Adams acknowledged he understands the frustration directed toward himself, coach Don Granato and the assistants.

The Sabres have woefully underachieved this season, morphing from one of the NHL’s up-and-coming young teams into perhaps its biggest disappointment.

They’re wildly inconsistent, regularly get outworked, often fall behind early in games and have trouble scoring and preventing goals. Nearly ... Read the full article

Jiri Kulich left Rochester to represent Team Czechia. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich captaining Team Czechia at World Juniors

Having already played in two World Junior Championships, won a silver medal and scored nine goals, Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich was the obvious pick to captain Team Czechia’s entry at this year’s tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The slick forward wanted to represented his country so badly that he asked the Sabres for permission to leave the Rochester Americans.

Kulich, 19, possesses the talent to enjoy a special tournament. His 16 goals this season are ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie played one game for Buffalo earlier this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Two Sabres prospects named to Team Canada’s World Juniors roster

Buffalo Sabres prospects Matt Savoie and Scott Ratzlaff have earned spots on Team Canada’s 22-man roster for the 2024 World Junior Championship.

General manager Kevyn Adams recently said Canada showed interest in adding rookie winger Zach Benson, 18, to the roster, but as an NHL regular, the Sabres don’t seem interested in letting him go.

Savoie, 19, played his first NHL game Nov. 10 before the Sabres sent him back to junior. The forward ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson skates during Tuesday’s first period. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Tage Thompson returns from injury; Alex Tuch could play soon

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson said he originally expected the left hand injury he suffered on Nov. 14 would sideline him four to six weeks.

“Things progressed a little quicker,” Thompson said prior to recording an assist in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in KeyBank Center. “X-rays came back good.”

Thompson’s injury healed so quickly that he returned in just three weeks. Despite the layoff, he played after participating in just ... Read the full article

Zach Benson has played six games this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Next three games will decide rookie Zach Benson’s future with Sabres

BUFFALO – As the roster spot he earned out of training camp illustrates, the Sabres feel comfortable awarding rookie winger Zach Benson NHL action.

Still, Benson, 18, has essentially been on a trial run. He can play nine games before the first year of his entry-level contract kicks in. So far, he has dressed for six contests.

Benson, the 13th overall pick this year, has missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury.... Read the full article