WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
November Edition
JJ Peterka skates during Monday’s practice. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres on Monday finalized their 23-man regular-season roster, sending goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and defenseman Lawrence Pilut to the minors and placing forward Riley Sheahan on injured reserve with a muscle injury.
That means wingers JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn, both of whom enjoyed dynamic rookie seasons with the Rochester Americans last year, have made the big club.
While Peterka did not stand out during training camp, the Sabres are confident he ... Read the full article
Rasmus Asplund played a career-high 80 games last season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – From his perch above the ice last spring at Nokia Arena, Sabres coach Don Granato proudly watched Rasmus Asplund’s exploits for Team Sweden.
Asplund, 24, carried the confidence he generated during his first full NHL season into the World Championship, seizing a starring role in Tampere, Finland.
Over two weeks, he morphed into a first-line winger and his country’s most utilized forward, scoring six goals in eight games.... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo has one season remaining on his seven-year contract. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
As expected, the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday named veteran winger Kyle Okposo the 20th full-time captain in franchise history.
The team also announced veteran forward Zemgus Girgensons and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin will serve as alternate captains.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams announced the new leadership group Saturday at a team function.... Read the full article
Chase Priskie is one of three defensemen Buffalo would like to send to the minors. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon placed defensemen Kale Clague, Jeremy Davies and Chase Priskie on waivers.
If they clear, coach Don Granato said they will be assigned to the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres have 26 players – 15 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies – left in training camp. They must finalize their 23-man regular-season roster by 5 p.m. Monday.
Update: Clague, Davies and Priskie have cleared and been assigned to the Amerks.... Read the full article
Lawrence Pilut is one of several defensemen Buffalo signed during the summer. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres have likely known for months which seven defensemen will comprise their opening night roster.
Jacob Bryson, Rasmus Dahlin, Henri Jokiharju, Casey Fitzgerald, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson entrenched themselves on the blue line last season. In signing Ilya Lyubushkin in free agency, the Sabres added a gritty veteran presence they lacked.
But what about the rest of the defense corps? Given the rugged nature of the position, defensemen are always at ... Read the full article
Vinnie Hinostroza re-signed with Buffalo during the summer. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres scratched Victor Olofsson for Tuesday’s preseason game, so Vinnie Hinostroza earned a promotion to the top line, skating at right wing beside center Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner.
Early in the 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Hinostroza grabbed a nifty pass from Skinner high in the slot and roofed a shot in as he zoomed to the net.
On Wednesday, the Sabres, having lost Kyle Okposo to an upper-body ... Read the full article
Jack Quinn played his first two games with Buffalo last season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Early in Tuesday’s 4-2 victory, Sabres prospect Jack Quinn aggressively cut from the left wing into the slot, zipped by a defender and released a low, hard shot toward the far side from one knee.
While Quinn, 21, did not score – Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made a terrific pad save – the slick play illustrated the youngster’s burgeoning confidence.
“That’s just my game,” Quinn said following Wednesday’s session of training camp ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo left Tuesday’s preseason win early. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato said winger Kyle Okposo, who suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s 4-2 exhibition win, could be ready for next Thursday’s season opener.
“It’s going to take a few days for him,” Granato said following Wednesday’s session of training camp at KeyBank Center. “The issue he’s dealing with will resolve. … You’ll probably see him on the ice in a couple of days.”
Okposo left the game against the ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson scores a breakaway goal Tuesday on Carolina goalie Pyotr Kochetkov. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson pounced on Jalen Chatfield, making the defenseman pay for his open-ice hit on winger Vinnie Hinostroza early in Tuesday’s 4-2 preseason win over the Carolina Hurricanes’ junior varsity squad.
In fighting Chatfield 15:41 into the game, Thompson quickly completed a Gordie Howe hat trick – he scored a goal and recorded an assist earlier in the period – and further illustrated the tight-knit group the Sabres have become.
Thompson, ... Read the full article
JJ Peterka has registered one assist in three preseason games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato said it’s only natural that Sabres rookie JJ Peterka might be pressing as he battles to earn a roster spot out of training camp.
So far, Peterka, 20, has had an underwhelming preseason, registering just one assist in three outings.
“I would love to score a little bit more right now,” Peterka said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “But for me, it’s just trying to find my game and getting ... Read the full article