Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Report: Will Butcher to visit Sabres

Defense prospect Will Butcher, the Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey’s top player last season, will become an unrestricted free agent and visit the Buffalo Sabres, according to the Denver Post.

Butcher, 22, will also visit the New Jersey Devils and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Nathan Beaulieu to two-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to a two-year, $4.8 million contract, the team announced today.

Beaulieu, a restricted free agent, had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday.

With Beaulieu’s deal done, the Sabres only have one unsigned RFA, forward Zemgus Girgensons.

The Sabres acquired Beaulieu, 24, from the Montreal Canadiens on June 17 for a 2017 third-round pick.

Beaulieu has played 225 NHL games over four seasons, compiling seven goals, ... Read the full article

Sabres to appear on national TV seven times in 2017-18

The Buffalo Sabres will make seven appearances on national television in 2017-18, the NHL announced today.

The schedule:

Tuesday, Oct. 24 vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Columbus, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)

Tuesday, Nov. 7 vs. Washington, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

Tuesday, Dec. 19 vs Boston, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Sunday, Jan. 1 vs. New York Rangers, 1 p.m. (2018 Winter Classic on NBC)

Thursday, Jan. 18 at New York Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Monday, ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Evan Rodrigues to two-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed forward Evan Rodrigues to a two-year, $1.3 million contract, the team announced this afternoon.

With Rodrigues locked up, the Sabres have two unsigned restricted free agents: defenseman Nathan Beaulieu and forward Zemgus Girgensons.

Rodrigues, who turns 24 on Friday, enjoyed a breakout campaign as a center last season, playing regularly with the Sabres for the final two months. In 30 NHL games, the Boston University product compiled four goals ... Read the full article

Sabres sign goalie Robin Lehner to one-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have avoided arbitration with Robin Lehner, signing the starting goalie to a one-year, $4 million contract, the team announced this morning.

Lehner, a restricted free agent, had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Not surprisingly, with a new regime and Lehner light on experience as a No. 1 goalie, the Sabres went with a short-term deal. Lehner will be an RFA again next year.

In his first full season as ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo says concussion led to absence

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Kyle Okposo said he’s fully healthy and ready to play again after a concussion he suffered in March left him hospitalized in intensive care.

In a letter to fans posted on the team’s website, Okposo said an innocent hit during practice late last season eventually forced him to be admitted to the neuro surgical unit at Buffalo General Hospital.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Brett Murray happy at Penn State

BUFFALO – In early January, as the upstart Penn State men’s hockey team vaulted up the USCHO poll to the brink of a No. 1 national ranking, the Nittany Lions welcomed a new player, Sabres prospect Brett Murray.

Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky wondered how the NCAA freshman would assimilate to a team enjoying its best season ever.

“For a freshman to come in halfway through the season, I think could be, if the guy ... Read the full article

Amerks sign former KHL goal leader Stevie Moses

The Rochester Americans have added a top European league scorer, signing Stevie Moses to a one-year AHL contract, the team announced today.

Moses, 27, scored a KHL-record 36 goals in 60 games with Jokerit Helsinki in 2014-15, a breakout season that earned the Massachusetts native a one-year, $1 million contract from the Nashville Predators. Moses, however, never played for the club and was placed on unconditional waivers after only 16 AHL appearances.

Moses returned to ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo returns to ice

Buffalo Sabres winger Kyle Okposo, who was reportedly hospitalized late last season in the neuro surgical intensive care unit at Buffalo General Hospital, played in an informal summer league game Wednesday in Minnesota, his first notable action in months.

Okposo, 29, missed the final six games of 2016-17, his first season with the Sabres after signing a seven-year, $42 million contract. He paid immediate dividends, compiling 19 goals and 45 points in 65 appearances.... Read the full article

Brian Gionta likely won’t return to Sabres

BUFFALO – The chances of veteran winger Brian Gionta returning to the Sabres for his 16th NHL season “are pretty remote,” his agent said today.

“While we haven’t slammed the door – and I don’t think they have, either – I think they’ve also been pretty honest that it’s probably going to be a fairly unlikely scenario,” Steve Bartlett told the Times Herald. “So I’ve been focusing on trying to look at other opportunities for ... Read the full article