Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Williamsville’s Trevor Kuntar agrees to AHL contract with Rochester Amerks

Williamsville native Trevor Kuntar has joined the Rochester Americans.

The Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate on Thursday announced it has agreed to terms with Kuntar, a forward, and defenseman Peter Tischke on one-year AHL contracts.

Kuntar, 24, spent his first two pro seasons with the Providence Bruins, Boston’s AHL affiliate. Boston did not give him a qualifying offer last month, making him a free agent.

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Sabres add depth up front with another signing for Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday added depth up front, signing center Jake Leschyshyn to a one-year, two-way contract.

Leschyshyn, 26, will likely begin the upcoming season with the Rochester Americans.

He spent most of last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, registering 13 goals, 24 points, 34 penalty minutes and minus-35 rating in 69 games for the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate. He also recorded zero points in one outing with the Rangers.

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2025-26 Sabres schedule features early home games, long trip in December

An early three-game home stand that concludes against the two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, a home-and-home series with the Toronto Maple Leafs later in October and a six-game road trip in December are among the highlights of the Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 schedule the NHL released Wednesday.

The Sabres open the season against the New York Rangers on Oct. 9 at KeyBank Center before visiting the Boston Bruins on Oct. 11.

They begin their three-game ... Read the full article

Sabres sign prospect Radim Mrtka to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday signed defense prospect Radim Mrtka, the ninth overall pick on June 27, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The deal has a $975,000 average annual value, according to PuckPedia.

Mrtka, 18, is expected to play junior again next season with the Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds. He briefly played pro early last year in his native Czechia before coming to North America to receive more ice time.

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Sabres sign Bowen Byram to two-year contract, avoid salary arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres late Monday avoided salary arbitration with defenseman Bowen Byram, signing him to a two-year, $12.5 million contract.

When the contract expires, Byram, 24, can become an unrestricted free agent.

The Sabres now have two unsigned restricted free agents: goalie Devon Levi and defenseman Conor Timmins, who earlier this month filed for arbitration.

By recently electing for arbitration with Byram, the Sabres made him ineligible to sign an offer sheet.

Byram’s $6.25 million ... Read the full article

Sabres to host Prospects Challenge rookie tournament Sept. 11 to 15

The Buffalo Sabres will be hosting four teams at the Prospects Challenge rookie tournament from Sept. 11 to 15 at LECOM Harborcenter, the team announced Monday.

The Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins will also be participating in the round-robin tournament. The Ottawa Senators have dropped out.

Tickets for the games cost $11.80 and are on sale. Rosters will be announced at a later date.

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In USHL star Luke Osburn, Sabres might have special defense prospect

BUFFALO – Rochester Americans coach Mike Leone understands talking about a prospect in the same breath as a current or former NHL star can create unrealistic expectations.

Still, he wanted to illustrate how much Luke Osburn, a high-scoring defenseman the Sabres drafted in the fourth round in 2024, has impressed him.

“It’s an unfair comparison, but you know when Duncan Keith played, he was really wiry and his skating ability,” Leone said of the former ... Read the full article

Four years ago, Sabres goalie Alex Lyon ignited NHL career by evolving: ‘Found another level of desperation’

The genesis of the Alex Lyon you’ve seen over the past four seasons – the goalie who won the Calder Cup, earned critical late-season victories for the Florida Panthers and played so well for the Detroit Red Wings that the Buffalo Sabres awarded him a two-year contract – can be traced to the 2021 offseason.

Following five years in the Philadelphia Flyers organization, he said the limited opportunities he found in free agency forced him ... Read the full article

Sabres choose to take Bowen Byram to salary arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres today chose salary arbitration for restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The moves means Byram, 24, is no longer eligible to sign an offer sheet.

In team-elected arbitration, the player picks the term of the award. For example, Byram could chose a two-year contract and become an unrestricted free agent when the deal expires.

The sides, of course, could complete a new contract before their hearing.... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Conor Timmins files for salary arbitration

Newly acquired Buffalo Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins has filed for salary arbitration, the NHL Players’ Association announced today.

Timmins, 26, is one of the Sabres’ three unsigned restricted free agents. Defenseman Bowen Byram and goalie Devon Levi also need new contracts.

Byram had arbitration rights but did not use them.

Filing, of course, doesn’t mean a player will go to arbitration. Negotiations can continue. The sides usually reach a deal before the arbitration hearing.... Read the full article