WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Robin Lehner signed with the New York Islanders in July. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – In a harrowing first-person essay, former Sabres goalie Robin Lehner shares details how his drug and alcohol addiction and untreated bipolar disorder led him to contemplate suicide multiple times late last season before seeking help.
“I wanted to kill myself. I was extremely close multiple times,” Lehner wrote in The Athletic New York. “The battle playing hockey was nothing compared to the battle inside my brain. It was at its worst.”... Read the full article
Jack Eichel believes players can get things off their chest. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The open communication among the Sabres and the accountability it has bred is new and welcome.
In the recent past, the team’s problems often festered or worsened over time. Players clearly felt uncomfortable discussing any issues.
Then following last season’s dreadful 31st-place finish, coach Phil Housley challenged the Sabres. He wanted self-reflection. He wanted them to change before the new season, which started this morning with veterans reporting for their training camp physicals.... 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
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
Victor Antipin played 47 games with the Sabres. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres did not tender a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Victor Antipin by Monday’s deadline, making the Russian defenseman a free agent.
Antipin, 25, signed a one-year contract last year following a strong season in the KHL. In 47 games as a rookie in 2017-18, Antipin compiled 10 assists.
“We were really impressed with him,” Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said Monday inside KeyBank Center. “I know things didn’t go maybe ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin (left) and Jason Botterill hold up the Swede’s new jersey today. ©2018, Hickling Images
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
Alexander Nylander got off to a slow start in Rochester. ©2018, Michline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – In the AHL, where Alexander Nylander has spent most of the last season and a half, the slick forward is still a youngster adjusting to pro hockey.
But at the World Junior Championship, Nylander, 19, is a veteran. In his third and final tournament, Team Sweden, which will compete for a gold medal tonight, has leaned heavily on the Sabres prospect.
The Sabres are in no rush to promote Brendan Guhle. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
ROCHESTER – The Buffalo Sabres have a plan for Brendan Guhle.
That’s why one-quarter into another miserable season, their top prospect is still developing in the AHL. That’s why after a stunning rash of injuries – the Sabres, incredibly, are 12 defensemen down the depth chart – the slick Guhle is playing big minutes in Rochester, not Buffalo.
The Sabres’ new regime wants Guhle, 20, to pay his dues with the Americans.... Read the full article
Kyle Criscuolo went undrafted. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Center Kyle Criscuolo left a pretty good gig to join the Sabres.
The undrafted Harvard product enjoyed a terrific rookie season in 2016-17, scoring 17 goals in the AHL and winning a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Leaving the Detroit Red Wings organization to sign a two-year contract with the Sabres on July 1 “was really tough,” he said.... Read the full article
