Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres recall defenseman from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres, who played Monday’s 3-2 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers without injured defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Riley Stillman, have recalled Lawrence Pilut from the Rochester Americans.

It’s unclear if the Sabres have another injured defenseman or they just want insurance. They play a road game tonight against the New York Islanders.

Samuelsson and Stillman are both day to day with upper-body injuries, according to the Sabres.... Read the full article

Connor McDavid burns Sabres for two goals in Oilers’ win

BUFFALO – Connor McDavid and the high-octane Edmonton Oilers rolled into town Monday, and as expected, fans got their money’s worth.

The superstar continued perhaps the most dynamic NHL season this century, scoring two goals, including the third-period winner, in the Oilers’ entertaining 3-2 win over the Sabres before a crowd of 17,634 at KeyBank Center.

McDavid’s wraparound goal opened the scoring 7:21 into the contest, then he put the Oilers up 3-2 3:23 into ... Read the full article

Jordan Greenway could enjoy career-changing opportunity with Sabres

BUFFALO – In their first stint together almost a decade ago with Team USA, Sabres coach Don Granato said he would sometimes push winger Jordan Greenway hard.

Greenway, then a teenager with the U.S. National Team Development Program, did not always like what Granato demanded of him as a junior player. Still, Granato said, the youngster “pushed through,” developing into a terrific NHL prospect.

“We had a great relationship prior,” said Greenway, who made his ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie, Jiri Kulich and likely other Sabres prospects off limits in trades

BUFFALO – In his early days as general manager, Kevyn Adams began reshaping the Sabres by trading established assets.

Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen all fetched hefty returns and have helped the Sabres compile a deep and talented stable of prospects.

As the Sabres have developed into a playoff contender this season, Adams has learned how much other teams covet their young talent.... Read the full article

Sabres maintain focus, bounce back by beating Lightning: ‘We needed that’

BUFFALO – Just over halfway into Saturday afternoon’s entertaining 5-3 win, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin appeared to have Anthony Cirelli lined up for an open-ice hit before both players suddenly moved.

Dahlin and Cirelli got tangled, and the Tampa Bay Lightning center quickly chased down his opponent, igniting a melee as the Sabres led 2-1. As Cirelli kept Dahlin pinned on the ice, Sabres winger Jeff Skinner zoomed in to help.

Skinner and Cirelli each ... Read the full article

Sabres believe Jordan Greenway can reach new levels: ‘A lot of potential’

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato and newcomer Jordan Greenway go back nearly 10 years, to their days together at the U.S. National Team Development program.

Having coached Greenway as a teenager, Granato has a unique understanding of the 6-foot-6, 231-pound winger’s skill set and potential.

“There’s lots of players in the league I’m very familiar with and coached,” Granato said of Greenway, who was acquired from the Minnesota Wild prior to Friday’s trade deadline. ... Read the full article

GM Kevyn Adams becomes emotional talking about Sabres; Trade for Jordan Greenway beefs team up

BUFFALO – Following Friday’s trade deadline, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams was talking about his excitement for the stretch run when, suddenly, he became choked up.

For the first time in years, the Sabres are playing meaningful late-season games as they fight to end an NHL-record playoff drought. In the hours before the deadline, Adams beefed up his team by trading for hulking winger Jordan Greenway. On Monday, he acquired defenseman Riley Stillman.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Asplund traded; Injured Rasmus Dahlin practices

BUFFALO – Following his first season as an NHL regular and a standout performance at the World Championship, forward Rasmus Asplund was expected to become a big contributor to the Sabres this year.

Instead, Asplund, 25, lost his regular spot in the lineup in late November, quickly morphing into a spare part.

The Swede had played just two of the last 18 games and 27 overall this season when the Sabres dealt him to the ... Read the full article

Trade deadline: Sabres acquire Jordan Greenway from Wild, swap AHL D

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon added to their forward corps shortly before the 3 p.m. trade deadline, acquiring winger Jordan Greenway from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a second-round pick this year and a fifth-rounder in 2024.

The 6-foot-6, 231-pound Greenway, 26, played junior hockey for Sabres coach Don Granato at the U.S. National Team Development Program.

Greenway has endured a rough season, compiling just two goals and seven points in 45 games. ... Read the full article

Standing pat at trade deadline might benefit Sabres in long run

BUFFALO – It can be hard to argue with the philosophy that has helped the Sabres quickly morph into a playoff contender.

For two years, general manager Kevyn Adams has stuck to his plan, refusing to make any moves that might jeopardize the Sabres’ long-term future. He has trusted his young talent, and they’ve rewarded him by becoming one of the NHL’s slickest young teams.

In rising up the standings and arriving ahead of schedule, ... Read the full article