WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
2026-27 Season Edition
Olen Zellweger missed Thursday’s game. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Naturally, newcomer Olen Zellweger, the Sabres’ biggest offseason acquisition, wanted to play in Thursday’s season opener in Columbus.
But just nine days had passed since Zellweger, 23, suffered a concussion in a preseason game. While he was feeling better, he did not want to rush back.
So the defenseman decided to wait two more days. He returned to practice today and is expected to made his debut in Saturday’s home opener against ... Read the full article
Louis Crevier plays an efficient style. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
Throughout training camp, whenever reporters asked coach Lindy Ruff about defenseman Louis Crevier, one of the Sabres’ offseason additions, he lauded his smart, efficient style.
Crevier, who arrived in Buffalo in the blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, clearly made a strong first impression on Ruff and the Sabres.
On Thursday morning, hours before their season opener in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, the Sabres illustrated just how much they ... Read the full article
Dennis Gilbert also played for Buffalo in 2024-25. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres this morning recalled veteran defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Rochester Americans.
To create a roster spot, the Sabres, who open their season tonight in Columbus, placed defenseman Olen Zellweger on injured reserve. Zellweger suffered a concussion last week.
The Sabres summoned Gilbert for insurance because they lost three of their top defensemen to injury – Zellweger, Mattias Samuelsson and Conor Timmins – during the preseason.... Read the full article
Konsta Helenius has played only 13 total NHL games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When he hopped inside Sami Pajari’s Toyota Yaris in July, Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius figured the Finnish rally car driver would navigate a bit slower than usual through the rough terrain of the forest with a guest aboard.
Instead, Pajari, one of the world’s top-ranked racers, shocked Helenius by speeding through the course in Ylivieska, Finland.
“He did like better time than with his own passenger who’s reading the map,” Helenius recently told ... Read the full article
Olen Zellweger suffered a concussion in the preseason. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Mattias Samuelsson practiced Wednesday and could play in tonight’s season opener in Columbus. Meanwhile, newcomer Olen Zellweger missed the session and won’t face the Blue Jackets, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.
With only six defensemen – Samuelsson is on injured reserve, while Zellweger is on the 23-man roster despite having recently suffered a concussion – Ruff said the Sabres could recall another one before tonight’s contest.
Update: The Sabres this morning recalled defenseman ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson was injured last Tuesday. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Injured Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could play in Thursday’s season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury blocking a shot in the second preseason game, skated on his own Tuesday and could practice with the Sabres on Wednesday, coach Lindy Ruff said.
If the Sabres’ top shutdown defender can’t play in Columbus, Ruff expects him to return in the near future.... Read the full article
Conor Sheary is in his second stint with the Sabres organization. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon placed winger Conor Sheary on waivers and will assign him to the Rochester Americans if he clears, the team announced.
Sheary, 34, returned to practice today after suffering an upper-body injury last week.
Update: Sheary has cleared.
The Sabres brought back Sheary, who spent 2018-19 and most of 2019-20 in Buffalo, during the offseason, signing him to a one-year, one-way contract worth $850,000.... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left Saturday’s game after tweaking something. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres’ initial 23-man roster for the 2026-27 season released Monday features three goalies, six defensemen and 14 forwards.
Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon and defenseman Olen Zellweger, all of whom suffered injuries in preseason games last week, are listed on the roster.
One rookie, forward Konsta Helenius, made the team.... Read the full article
Matt Grzelcyk made his Buffalo debut Saturday. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres wasted no time getting newcomer Matt Grzelcyk acclimated. Without the benefit of a practice or pregame skate, they threw the defenseman into the lineup for their preseason finale.
Grzelcyk, who on Friday signed a one-year, $850,000 contract, looked comfortable throughout Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, skating 16 minutes, 48 seconds, mostly alongside Conor Timmins.
“It almost helped, honestly, just having no pregame skate, nothing – just go right ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left Saturday’s game in the third period. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When the Sabres open the regular season Thursday in Columbus, Colten Ellis could be their starting goalie.
A trying preseason in which they lost five significant players to injury in four games, including top goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, has mercifully ended.
In Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ruff said Luukkonen, who has a history of injuries, left 3:47 into the third period when he tweaked something on ... Read the full article