Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Jack Quinn scores slick shootout goal for Amerks

ROCHESTER – Sabres prospect Jack Quinn has utilized the scintillating moves at least three times to score highlight-reel shootout goals for the Americans.

“I’m just coming down the right side and kind of cutting into the hash marks,” Quinn told the Times Herald after using the moves to score again in Tuesday’s 3-2 win at Blue Cross Arena.

Then Quinn, 20, fakes a shot and the fun begins. If the goalie bites, as the Springfield ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Owen Power nearing end of dynamic, grueling season

BUFFALO – In a few weeks, after his dizzying year ends, Sabres rookie Owen Power might finally have a chance to sit back and enjoy a little time to himself.

Power, 19, had endured a grueling season prior to signing his entry-level NHL contract, leaving college to represent Team Canada at the Olympics more than 6,500 miles away in Beijing and at the World Junior Championship in Edmonton.

Even in the NHL, Power still has ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Owen Power’s terrific play belies limited NHL experience

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato doesn’t consider rookie Owen Power a young player.

Sure, the defenseman left college earlier this month and has played just four NHL games. And, yes, he doesn’t turn 20 for another seven months.

Still, Granato said “it’s a little bit disrespectful sometimes” when young guys get thrown in a category.

“This is a guy that’s studied the game of hockey at an extremely young age and developed himself like ... Read the full article

Sabres sign third-round pick Josh Bloom to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Josh Bloom, a third-round pick in 2021, to a three-year, entry-level contract that will begin next season, the team announced today.

The 6-foot-2, 182-pound Bloom, 18, will ink an amateur tryout and finish this season with the Rochester Americans.

He is the second prospect from the 2021 draft class the Sabres have signed, joining defenseman Owen Power, the first overall pick.... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo scores 20th goal, sparks Sabres to comeback win on birthday

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson had time and space, so he leaned into his shot, and when the puck hit teammate Kyle Okposo inside his right knee, he went down in a hurry.

As Okposo hobbled off the ice in pain late in Saturday’s first period, it felt like his night might’ve been finished. At that point, the Sabres trailed the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0, and Okposo, who turned 34 on Saturday, said he was ... Read the full article

Amerks’ Arttu Ruotsalainen sees future with Sabres, hasn’t signed in Europe

ROCHESTER – For three and a half months, Buffalo Sabres prospect Arttu Ruotsalainen has been on a scoring tear, developing into one of the AHL’s most lethal threats.

Ruotsalainen, 24, earned AHL Player of the Month honors for March, compiling eight goals and 18 points in 13 outings for the Rochester Americans.

Overall, the Finnish center has recorded 18 goals and 50 points in 51 games with the Amerks this season, including 18 goals and ... Read the full article

Sabres to change lines against Flyers; Mattias Samuelsson questionable

BUFFALO – In Friday’s practice, Sabres coach Don Granato changed every forward line, tinkering with trios that have recently developed chemistry and enjoyed success.

Granato often explains how he wants his lineup to become interchangeable. While he showcases more patience than most coaches – lines and defense pairs sometimes stay intact for weeks – he’s not afraid to experiment within games or try new things.

So for tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson scoring again, evolving into all-around presence

BUFFALO – Since he arrived in the NHL three years ago, the knock on Sabres winger Victor Olofsson has been he’s too one-dimensional, just a shooter who mostly scores power-play goals.

Olofsson, 26, possesses a lethal shot, and he has often utilized his ultra-quick release to pile up power-play goals from the circle.

Over his first 106 NHL games entering this season, Olofsson scored 20 of his 35 goals (57 percent) on the man advantage. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Don Granato grateful for visit from Bills coach Sean McDermott

BUFFALO – When Bills coach Sean McDermott arrived at the rink prior to Thursday’s game, coach Don Granato asked him if he would talk to the Sabres before they went on the ice.

Granato said at first, McDermott wasn’t sure if he wanted to address them.

“But after he went around and met the guys and saw what we do for a couple hours, he’s a natural, obviously,” Granato said following Friday’s practice at KeyBank ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Owen Power impresses again, records first point: ‘Special moment’

BUFFALO – The Sabres drew about 3,000 extra fans Thursday, and you can bet they all came to see ultra-talented defenseman Owen Power play his first home game.

The crowd of 11,565 spectators and Power’s teammates watched him closely all night, sensing something exciting could transpire every time the rookie stepped on the ice.

“Every time he was out there it put a smile on my face,” winger Rasmus Asplund said after Power recorded an ... Read the full article