Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Lukas Rousek earning place among Sabres’ best forward prospects

BUFFALO – Having enjoyed a breakout stretch during the Rochester Americans’ long postseason run last spring, Lukas Rousek’s play no longer qualifies as a surprise.

In recording two goals and six points as the Amerks won two Calder Cup Playoff series, the Czech established himself as one of the Sabres’ notable forward prospects.

This year, the Sabres believe Rousek, 23, will keep making more significant strides in his development.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich impresses in debut: ‘Couldn’t have been happier’

BUFFALO – Forget that Jiri Kulich possesses a shot so lethal his coach described it as “scary.” Forget that the Sabres prospect has recently dominated his peers, scoring 17 goals over a torrid 16-game stretch. Forget that he already has a full season of pro hockey experience.

In a few weeks, following his first NHL training camp, the Sabres will likely assign Kulich to Rochester, where he will begin his North American career with the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyson Kozak stealing spotlight at Prospects Challenge

BUFFALO – As the Sabres killed a penalty early in the third period of Thursday’s Prospects Challenge opener, center Tyson Kozak grabbed the puck at the far blue line and zoomed down the left wing on a two-on-one.

When Kozak hit the circle, instead of passing to winger Linus Weissbach, he cut to slot before deftly backhanding the puck the into the net for the short-handed score.

The skill Kozak displayed in scoring his ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Isak Rosen showcases rapid development: ‘Ready to attack’

BUFFALO – Two months later, Isak Rosen has returned to the Sabres a more aggressive, assured and explosive prospect.

“He looks faster. He looks harder on the puck,” Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert said of Rosen’s rapid improvement since development camp ended in mid-July. “And his first step looks like it’s got either more pop or more assertiveness. So some of it’s physical.”

Rosen said prior to recording an assist in Thursday’s Prospects Challenge opener ... Read the full article

‘Electric’ Sabres rookie Matthew Savoie ready for Prospects Challenge

BUFFALO – Seth Appert smiled and began searching for the right words to describe his first impressions of Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie.

The coach settled on two.

“Just electric,” Appert said Wednesday.

Two months ago, a shoulder injury forced Savoie, the ninth overall pick on July 7, to stay off the ice during development camp. So Appert had to wait until rookie camp opened at LECOM Harborcenter to watch the ultra-talented center up close.... Read the full article

In Matthew Savoie, Sabres possess talented, unique prospect

The arrangement was unusual. Matthew Savoie would spend most of the 2019-20 season practicing with the Winnipeg Ice, learning the rigors of major junior hockey at the tender age of 15. But the phenom would be permitted to play just half of the team’s games.

Savoie, the ninth overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres on July 7, had applied to Hockey Canada for exceptional status, which would’ve allowed the ultra-talented center to join the Ice ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund turning heads in Sweden, scoring special goals

The night before Djurgardens’ recent exhibition game, Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund and his teammate, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, bet each other who would score the first “Michigan,” a lacrosse-style goal, this season.

The goal made famous by the Wolverines’ Mike Legg in the 1996 NCAA Tournament involves skill, timing and some luck. A player must lift the puck off the ice behind the net and quickly whip it over an unsuspecting goalie’s shoulder.

“(Ostlund) went out and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Prospects Challenge roster includes three first-round picks

Three first-round picks – centers Matthew Savoie and Jiri Kulich and winger Isak Rosen – are among the 27 youngsters listed on the Buffalo Sabres’ roster for the upcoming Prospects Challenge rookie tournament.

The roster, released Monday, also includes Russian winger Aleksandr Kisakov, a second-round pick in 2020, and winger Flip Cederqvist, a fifth-round selection in 2019 coming off a 14-goal season in the Swedish Hockey League.

The Sabres open the tournament Thursday against the ... Read the full article

Ex-Sabres goalie Ryan Miller thrilled by ‘special’ U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame honor

Over the last three months, the honors celebrating former Sabres goalie Ryan Miller’s decorated career have started rolling in.

On Thursday, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame announced Miller, 42, as one of its 2022 inductees. In early June, the Sabres revealed they will retire Miller’s No. 30 and induct him into their hall of fame this season. Days before, he had been announced as one of the 2022 Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame ... Read the full article

Sabres to open training camp Sept. 21

Buffalo Sabres veterans will report for their training camp physicals on Sept. 21 and have their first on-ice sessions of the new season Sept. 22 at KeyBank Center, the team announced Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sabres rookies will practice next Wednesday at LECOM Harborcenter in advance of next Thursday’s Prospects Challenge rookie tournament opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

In other news, the Sabres will appear on national broadcasts 12 times during the upcoming season.... Read the full article