Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin reveals fiancée recovering after heart transplant

BUFFALO – These days, following the most difficult time of his life, Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin said he finds himself in a good place.

His fiancée, Carolina Matovac, is home recovering in Sweden after experiencing major heart failure early in the summer while vacationing in France and receiving life-saving CPR.

After spending weeks on life support, she received a heart transplant.

Dahlin, 25, draws inspiration watching her recovery.... Read the full article

Alex Tuch believes in Sabres, wants to sign contract extension with Buffalo

BUFFALO – In the coming days, weeks or months, winger Alex Tuch is expected to sign a lucrative contract extension that could allow him to retire with the Sabres.

For a team that has watched some of its high-profile players grow disgruntled in recent years and demand a trade or walk away in free agency, Tuch’s commitment would be significant.

“Everyone in here knows I love Buffalo, I love being a Buffalo Sabre and I ... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff, Sabres want to set bar high with competitive training camp

BUFFALO – On Thursday, a day after watching the Sabres perform well in fitness testing, coach Lindy Ruff left his house by about 5 a.m. to lead the first sessions of training camp.

“I was excited where all our off-ice fitness was in a good place yesterday, and really wanted to see the on-ice, what it would look like with some of our guys,” he said in KeyBank Center.

Ruff has promised camp will be ... Read the full article

As new season begins, Kevyn Adams, Lindy Ruff like look of Sabres

BUFFALO – General manager Kevyn Adams understands that unless the Sabres win games, his words mean, well, nothing.

As training camp began Wednesday and another five-month offseason ended, Adams, who’s under internal and external pressure to end an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, expressed his belief in the newest edition of the Sabres.

“I can’t stand up here and talk to our fan base and say anything other than I am genuinely excited about this team. ... Read the full article

Sabres hopeful Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen won’t be injured long; Jordan Greenway begins training camp sidelined

BUFFALO – As training camp approached and Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen began ramping up his workouts to get into game mode, general manager Kevyn Adams said the Finn started experiencing some pain.

“He was just not able to … be strong and push and (do) the stuff that he needs to do,” Adams said Wednesday in LECOM Harborcenter as players reported to camp for physicals and testing.

Adams said Luukkonen, 26, is day to day ... Read the full article

Sabres begin season facing questions about UPL’s injury and Alex Tuch’s contract extension

BUFFALO – Maybe the Sabres’ fan base is too busy reveling in the Bills’ early-season success to pay much attention. Or perhaps, more likely, many of their supporters have lost interest in a team that owns an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.

Whatever the case, there’s little buzz around the Sabres as they begin another season.

Players report today to KeyBank Center for physicals and testing. The first on-ice sessions will be held Thursday at LECOM ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Riley Fiddler-Schultz used time as scratch wisely, earned NHL contract: ‘Amazing story’

BUFFALO – Over those difficult six weeks, as he sat out game after game as a healthy scratch, doubt would creep into Sabres prospect Riley Fiddler-Schultz’s head.

A year ago, fresh off a terrific rookie season with the Jacksonville Icemen, Fiddler-Schultz graduated to the Rochester Americans, then promptly morphed into spare part.

From opening night until Nov. 20, when he made his season debut, the Amerks scratched the speedy forward 14 straight games.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund displays toughness, skill in loss

BUFFALO – Having arrived in North America late in the 2023-24 season, Sabres center prospect Noah Ostlund is still acclimating to a more physical brand of hockey.

On the larger ice surface in his native Sweden, there’s less contact and, of course, fewer fights.

“I’m not as used to it as you guys over here are because we don’t have that in Sweden,” Ostlund said following Saturday’s chippy 7-5 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets ... Read the full article

Time in Seattle helped Sabres’ Radim Mrtka develop into special prospect

BUFFALO – When the Seattle Thunderbirds selected Radim Mrtka 71st overall in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft in 2024, they took a flier on a talented defenseman.

Coach Matt O’Dette said the Thunderbirds knew Mrtka planned to play pro hockey in his native Czechia last season. Still, if he did not receive the opportunity he wanted, there was a chance he could join the junior team.

Mrtka, the ninth overall pick by the Sabres... Read the full article

Sabres sign goalie Alexandar Georgiev to one-year contract

When the Buffalo Sabres signed veteran Alex Lyon in free agency, they appeared to have solidified the goaltending position.

Lyon would back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Buffalo, while Devon Levi would return to the Rochester Americans for another year of development.

So, why did the Sabres on Thursday night, a week before training camp opens, sign veteran goalie Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year, $825,000 contract?... Read the full article