WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
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Jack Quinn (left) and JJ Peterka could have spots in Buffalo this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Michael Peca sees Sabres prospect JJ Peterka as such a rare and special talent he refers to the German winger a “unicorn.” Seriously.
Peca, an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans, can’t think of a former teammate or opponent or find anyone in today’s game who resembles the type of player Peterka, 20, can become someday.
“He has no idea how good he can be yet, which is scary,” said Peca, a popular ... Read the full article
Noah Ostlund also joined Rochester last season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres on Friday signed their three first-round picks in last week’s NHL Draft – centers Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich – to three-year, entry-level contracts.
The deals each have a $950,000 average annual value, according to capfriendly.com.
Right now, the 18-year-old prospects are in Buffalo for development camp. Savoie, who underwent shoulder surgery earlier this year, isn’t participating in the on-ice sessions.
The Sabres selected Savoie ninth overall, Ostlund 16th and ... Read the full article
Lawrence Pilut has played 46 games for Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
Defenseman Lawrence Pilut has returned to the Buffalo Sabres organization after a two-year stint in the Kontinental Hockey League.
The Sabres on Friday signed Pilut, 26, to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL, according to capfriendly.com. The Swede played 46 NHL games during his first stint with Buffalo.
General manager Kevyn Adams acknowledged earlier this week the Sabres wanted to re-sign Pilut but needed proof his contract ... Read the full article
Matteo Costantini enjoyed a terrific freshman season at North Dakota. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Matteo Costantini sees familiarity all around him at development camp.
Costantini starred for three years in the Jr. Sabres organization, which calls LECOM Harborcenter, the site of this week’s camp, its home. The native of nearby St. Catharines, Ontario, spends the summer training at the facility or across the street at KeyBank Center.
If he looks in the stands, he’ll see Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams, who used to run the ... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Ryan Johnson (left) and Erik Portillo in 2019. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Right now, Ryan Johnson acknowledged he’s leaning toward returning to Minnesota for his senior season. Still, the defense prospect hasn’t ruled out turning pro. He plans to use this week’s development camp to evaluate the Sabres.
“I could kind of see where the organization is,” said Johnson, a first-round pick in 2019, 31st overall.
Johnson, who turns 21 on July 24, said if he goes back to college, he could eventually sign with ... Read the full article
Eric Comrie has played just 28 NHL games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – As free agency approached and the Sabres ramped up their search for a goalie, they did their due diligence on Eric Comrie, a seldom-used but intriguing talent.
Comrie, 27, became a Group 6 unrestricted free agent because he fell 90 minutes short of the minutes threshold. So if he had played another two games, the Winnipeg Jets could’ve retained his rights.
General manager Kevyn Adams said the scouting and analytics staffs and goalie ... Read the full article
Ilya Lyubushkin spent last season with Arizona and Toronto. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres have landed their first free agents of the day, signing goalie Eric Comrie and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to two-year contracts.
Comrie’s deal is worth $3.6 million. Lyubushkin’s is worth $5.5 million.
The Sabres, of course, needed to find another goalie with NHL experience. They had just two – Craig Anderson and Malcolm Subban – under contract for the upcoming season.
Victor Olofsson scored 20 goals last season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres today locked up their most significant restricted free agent, agreeing to terms with winger Victor Olofsson on a two-year, $9.5 million contract.
Olofsson, who turns 27 next Monday, finished last season on a tear, compiling 15 goals and 28 points over his final 34 games. He also enjoyed a hot start, scoring five goals and nine points in the first seven games.
If Olofsson hadn’t suffered a wrist injury in early ... Read the full article
Ilya Samsonov could be interesting goalie for Buffalo to pursue. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres possess a stable of strong goaltending prospects.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a Finn labeled as the Sabres’ goalie of the future, has looked impressive in his limited NHL action. While he has battled injuries and struggled at times in the minors, he’s still a terrific young talent.
The Sabres also boast Devon Levi, the NCAA’s top goalie last season at Northeastern, and drafted Topias Leinonen in the second round on Friday, ... Read the full article
Vinnie Hinostroza scored 13 goals last season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday re-signed winger Vinnie Hinostroza to a one-year, $1.7 million contract and agreed to terms with goalie Malcolm Subban on a one-year, two-way deal worth $850,000 in the NHL.
Both players could’ve become unrestricted free agents Wednesday.
Hinostroza, 28, compiled 13 goals, 25 points and a minus-11 rating in 62 games last season, establishing himself as a scoring threat on the Sabres’ third or fourth line. His 12 even-strength goals ranked ... Read the full article