Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres captain Brian Gionta: ‘I want to see this thing through’

BUFFALO – Brian Gionta said it again this morning, that despite an expiring contract, he wants to stay with the Sabres, the team he has captained three seasons.

“I’ve made my position pretty clear,” Gionta said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Nashville Predators inside KeyBank Center. “I’d like to stay here. I’d like to be here going on in the future. I want to see this thing through.”

Of course, the ... Read the full article

Sabres acquire Mat Bodie from Rangers for Dan Catenacci

BUFFALO – In a swap of AHL players, the Sabres acquired defenseman Mat Bodie from the New York Rangers this afternoon for forward Dan Catenacci.

Bodie, 26, has spent his entire pro career with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, compiling 20 goals, 98 points and 127 penalty minutes in 196 games. He has eight goals, 30 points and a minus-14 rating in 45 appearances this season. He was also Hartford’s captain.... Read the full article

Goalie Linus Ullmark returns to Sabres’ net

BUFFALO – This campaign, Linus Ullmark’s second in North America, has turned into what the loquacious Sabres goalie thought his rookie season would be like.

“Maybe some call-ups, whatever,” said Ullmark, who will likely start tonight against the Nashville Predators inside KeyBank Center, his first NHL nod since April 9.

Update: Robin Lehner is healthy and will apparently start tonight. Ullmark isn’t dressed.

Early in 2015-16, after only a few AHL appearances following surgery on ... Read the full article

Slumping Sabres have assets to trade

BUFFALO – So what should the Sabres sell off before Wednesday’s trade deadline? After their most wrenching weekend in years, they can’t possibly be buyers, right?

Brutal road losses to the hapless Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes kicked them down the standings, effectively eliminating them from contention with 20 games left.

Desperate for wins, the Sabres couldn’t handle the NHL’s two worst teams. Think about that. Against the Coyotes, they frittered away a 2-0 third-period ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Linus Ullmark from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres, who close a two-game road trip tonight against the Arizona Coyotes, have recalled goalie Linus Ullmark from the Rochester Americans.

It’s unclear if one of the team’s regular goalies, Robin Lehner or Anders Nilsson, is injured, sick or a deal is in the works. Stay tuned for updates. Lehner has started eight straight games.

Ullmark, 23, has been a workhorse in the AHL this season, going 20-20-2 with a 2.90 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody Franson could be wanted before trade deadline

BUFFALO – It’s quieter in these parts, easier for Sabres defenseman Cody Franson to avoid the noise leading up to Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline.

As a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs two seasons ago, Franson, 29, couldn’t escape the constant trade chatter inside a hockey metropolis.

“It was kind of in your face everyday,” Franson said Sunday inside KeyBank Center. “The media attention to that type of thing there was probably a decent amount ... Read the full article

Sabres add recalls; Derek Grant sent to Amerks

BUFFALO – With the Sabres set to practice tonight in Colorado following a bye week, the team has recalled forwards Justin Bailey and Evan Rodrigues from the AHL.

The rookies spent four days back with the Rochester Americans, playing one game, Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime win at KeyBank Center.

To make room, the Sabres sent center Derek Grant to the Amerks. Grant has zero goals and three assists in 40 games with the Sabres this season. ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander struggling with Amerks

BUFFALO – When Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander left the Rochester Americans to represent Sweden at the World Junior Championship in December, the rookie’s stat line looked impressive: in his first 29 pro games, the AHL’s youngest player had five goals and 17 points.

Right now, the slick winger has six goals and 21 points in 47 contests with the Amerks.

The eighth overall pick finally scored again Sunday, his first goal since Dec. 10, ending ... Read the full article

Groin injury dogging Sabres prospect Hudson Fasching with Amerks

BUFFALO – The crazy opportunity that suddenly materialized in front of winger Hudson Fasching shocked the Sabres prospect.

“I was like, ‘Is this right?’” a smiling Fasching said after scoring early Wednesday inside KeyBank Center. “Like, I don’t feel like I’m supposed to have the puck here.”

Late in the first period of the Rochester Americans’ 3-2 overtime win, Paul Geiger’s shoot-in attempt bounced out front instead of ringing around the boards, leaving Utica ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Vaclav Karabacek slowly finding game with Amerks

BUFFALO – For an AHL team mired in 13th place in a 14-team conference, the Rochester Americans possess some impressive young forward talent.

Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste and Evan Rodrigues just returned from successful NHL stints. Hudson Fasching made the Sabres out of camp. If he hadn’t suffered a groin injury early on, he likely would’ve earned more NHL action. And while Alexander Nylander, 18, has struggled recently, the eighth overall pick is ... Read the full article