Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Don Granato happy trade deadline has passed

BUFFALO – Just like his players, Sabres coach Don Granato feels relieved the trade deadline has passed.

All the speculation about who’s potentially coming or going ended Monday afternoon, and for the final six weeks this season, Granato has his team.

“Before the deadline, you talk about, ‘Hey, this is our team and we’re a team and play as a team,’” Granato said following Tuesday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “And let’s face it, in professional ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Fitzgerald nearing return from upper-body injury

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Casey Fitzgerald practiced Tuesday, his first session since suffering an upper-body injury March 10.

Fitzgerald, however, won’t play in Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.

Right now, the Sabres have a surfeit of defensemen, so coach Don Granato won’t rush Fitzgerald, 25, back into the lineup. Fitzgerald, who has missed the last four games, practiced Tuesday beside Will Butcher.... Read the full article

Why didn’t the Sabres make any trades before Monday’s deadline?

BUFFALO – In winning four of their last five games, including two straight road contests in overtime, the Sabres have taken significant steps over the past two weeks.

For one of the few times in the past decade, the Sabres are clearly improving as the season progresses. So as the trade deadline approached, general manager Kevyn Adams had to decide if dealing some influential veterans on expiring contracts was worth the return.

For example, goalie ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Peyton Krebs, others could rejoin Amerks for playoffs

BUFFALO – Post-trade deadline, NHL teams are allowed four non-emergency recalls. The Sabres quickly used three Monday to make winger Peyton Krebs and defensemen Casey Fitzgerald and Mattias Samuelsson eligible for the AHL playoffs.

The Sabres assigned the rookies to the Rochester Americans and “recalled” them in a paper transaction.

Right now, the Amerks, despite often using a patchwork lineup because of injuries and recalls, rank fourth in the North Division. If the postseason started ... Read the full article

After Robert Hagg deal, Sabres could make more trades before deadline

BUFFALO – Expect a quiet deadline day for the Sabres. General manager Kevyn Adams made one trade Sunday, sending defenseman Robert Hagg to the Florida Panthers. Perhaps a few more veterans on expiring contracts will be dealt before 3 p.m.

This deadline lacks the intrigue of a year ago, when Adams was trying to trade winger Taylor Hall, a free agent bust, or in 2020, when ex-GM Jason Botterill loaded up for a playoff ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Robert Hagg to Panthers

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon made their first trade prior to Monday’s deadline, sending defenseman Robert Hagg to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2022.

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Hagg, 27, is in the second season of a two-year, $3.2 million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Sabres acquired Hagg on July 23 from the Philadelphia Flyers in the Rasmus Ristolainen trade.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Jack Quinn dazzles for Amerks in return from injury

ROCHESTER – In the opening minutes of Friday’s third period, Americans center Mark Jankowski fought off a defender behind the net and laid the puck on the doorstep for his linemate, Jack Quinn, to convert.

When goal scorers receive a nifty pass like that in close, they shoot, oh, just about every time. But Quinn, the most dangerous threat the Amerks have had in a long time, displayed poise under pressure, quickly dishing the puck ... Read the full article

If Sabres trade Craig Anderson, Mark Pysyk, could they return next season?

BUFFALO – When the Sabres signed a slew of cheap free agents to one-year contracts last summer, it appeared their tenures here would be short.

After a season or less, they might become expendable. Some of organization’s prospects would mature and the rebuilding Sabres might also acquire better talent.

Well, so far, some prospects – defenseman Casey Fitzgerald and Mattias Samuelsson, for example – have graduated from the minors and earned regular duty. Others like ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson earning trust, big minutes from Sabres: ‘An athletic giant’

BUFFALO – The poise Mattias Samuelsson possesses belies his experience. Barely 30 games into his NHL career, the Sabres consistently utilize the rookie against the opposition’s top talent.

On Thursday, Samuelsson faced Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. In Sunday afternoon’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the defenseman was often tasked with shutting down Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, one of the NHL’s elite duos.

At one point Sunday, with Marner roaring toward him, ... Read the full article

One year after hiring, Don Granato has dramatically changed the Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato kept rattling off names. There was Taylor Hall, Brandon Montour, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen and Eric Staal.

“I’m probably missing a couple more,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter.

Then two more names, Jack Eichel and Jake McCabe, popped into his head.

One year ago today, Granato inherited a veteran-laden team at its nadir. The Sabres were 12 losses into what would become a stunning 18-game winless ... Read the full article