Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres prospect William Carrier close to making NHL

BUFFALO – By around mid-March, it looked imminent. William Carrier, the often overshadowed Sabres prospect, was about to earn his first NHL recall from the Rochester Americans.

In a 21-game stretch, Carrier scored nine goals and 20 points. Before his torrid run, Carrier had compiled only 11 goals and 31 points in his first 94 AHL contests.

“One good game, two good games – it just starts rolling out,” Carrier said Thursday following a development ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo knows Jimmy Vesey would fit with Sabres

BUFFALO – Shortly after winger Kyle Okposo put on his new No. 21 Sabres jersey and spoke to the media Thursday morning, some of the team’s higher-ups reportedly boarded a charter flight from Prior Aviation bound for Boston.

What was the purpose of their trip? Likely a meeting with winger Jimmy Vesey, 23, the former Harvard University star whose negotiating rights the Sabres acquired June 20.

Vesey seems dead set on becoming an unrestricted ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo sees similarities in Jack Eichel, John Tavares

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Kyle Okposo was beginning his third pro season when the New York Islanders, fresh off a disastrous campaign, welcomed No. 1 overall pick John Tavares.

Over the years, Okposo witnessed Tavares’ rapid development from a raw prospect into one of the NHL’s premier centers.

Now, seven years later, Okposo has another rare opportunity to watch – and even help – Sabres center Jack Eichel, the No. 2 pick in 2015, become ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander not looking far ahead

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Hudson Fasching was looking for small details in Alexander Nylander’s game. Sure, he could see the eighth overall pick possesses terrific speed and soft hands.

But when a player is that talented, Fasching, 20, likes to examine him a little closer.

“You can kind of just tell, if you pay a little extra attention to him, every puck he shoots it’s crisp, it’s in a direction,” Fasching said Wednesday following ... Read the full article

Prospect Austin Osmanski on wearing Sabres jersey: ‘amazing’

BUFFALO – Five minutes before his development camp session started this afternoon, Sabres prospect Austin Osmanski was sitting nervously inside the HarborCenter dressing room, wondering if he should go on the ice early.

Eventually, Osmanski, an East Aurora native, left the room and was the first player on the ice. Winger Justin Bailey, a Williamsville native, followed him.

“Justin Bailey was right behind me, so it was pretty cool,” Osmanski said.

Wearing a Sabres jersey ... Read the full article

Alexander Nylander one of many Sabres prospects to watch

BUFFALO – Watching a top prospect skate in a Sabres jersey for the first time, even in a development camp setting, is a special experience for fans always eager to welcome new talent.

For the next six days, starting with today’s session inside HarborCenter, the Sabres’ rabid fan base will receive its first glimpses of Swedish winger Alexander Nylander, the eighth overall pick June 24 at the First Niagara Center, sporting blue and gold ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo revamped approach after poor season

BUFFALO – Three years ago, after his production plummeted to four goals and 24 points in the lockout-shortened 48-game season, Kyle Okposo started fretting.

Okposo knew he had accomplished some good things in his four seasons with the New York Islanders. Still, after following up a 24-goal campaign with an awful season, he learned he lacked consistency.

So he seriously examined his career.

“I just felt that I was kind of being pushed into a ... Read the full article

Sabres trade draft pick to Blues for goalie Anders Nilsson

BUFFALO – After a goalie reneged on a verbal agreement with the Sabres on Friday, general manager Tim Murray said he was open to anything – a trade, landing another free agent or even using prospect Linus Ullmark – to fill the backup role.

With most of the established goalies in the Sabres’ price range already signed, Murray went the trade route today, sending a 2017 fifth-round draft pick to the St. Louis Blues for ... Read the full article

Sabres add forward depth with Derek Grant

BUFFALO – The Sabres have added forward depth on the second day of free agency, signing center Derek Grant to a one-year, two-way contract.

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Grant, 26, will likely be ticketed for the AHL Rochester Americans.

The Michigan State product has three assists in 40 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames. Grant has often been a top-level AHL scorer, compiling 88 goals and 162 points in 292 games since 2010-11.... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray wants Evander Kane to change behavior

BUFFALO – Even if Evander Kane is cleared of the harassment complaints recently filed against him, Sabres general manager Tim Murray believes the winger needs to change his behavior.

Kane, 24, has been involved in two off-ice legal incidents since December.

Two women filed a complaint against Kane following an alleged altercation at a Buffalo bar June 24, the same day the Sabres hosted the NHL Draft.

“Certainly we don’t like this is twice now ... Read the full article