WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
2026-27 Season Edition
Jeff Skinner (pictured) practiced with Curtis Lazar and Riley Sheahan on Friday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
After a 10-month layoff, the Buffalo Sabres play 10 games in an 18-day stretch, starting with Thursday’s season opener against the Washington Capitals.
That includes three back-to-back sets. The early stretch will be rigorous and likely test the Sabres’ depth. They’re going to have to roll four lines.
“Right now, we need to be a good four-line team early in the season,” Krueger said on a Zoom call Friday.
So Krueger, who pretty much kept ... Read the full article
Riley Sheahan has quickly found a home in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When the Sabres promoted forward Riley Sheahan earlier this week after Zemgus Girgensons suffered a season-ending hamstring injury, it appeared the veteran would be sticking around Buffalo.
Sure enough, on Friday, the Sabres signed Sheahan, who came to training camp on a professional tryout, to a one-year contract worth $700,000.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said “the specialist that he is” helped Sheahan earn a deal.
“(He’s) strong on faceoffs, (an) excellent penalty killer, ... Read the full article
Riley Sheahan joined Buffalo on a professional tryout contract last week. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Sabres forward Riley Sheahan grew up about 30 miles from Buffalo in St. Catharines, Ontario, so he has carried what he called a “soft spot” for his new team.
Growing up, Sheahan would make the trip across the border to watch the Sabres or see them when they visited his hometown for training camp.
“I’ll be honest, I was a little bit of a (Toronto Maple) Leafs fan but Sabres tickets were more affordable and ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens enjoyed a standout World Junior Championship for Team Canada.
Coach Ralph Krueger said this afternoon that prospects Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, both of whom represented Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, could join the Sabres’ second practice group Friday.
Cozens and Quinn have been quarantining in a hotel since arriving from Edmonton following Canada’s loss 2-0 loss to Team USA in Tuesday’s gold medal game. They took a private plane to Buffalo, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
“I hope they’re enjoying ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons has been one of Buffalo’s few constants during a tumultuous era. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
As winger Zemgus Girgensons spends the next six months rehabbing after undergoing surgery to repair his hamstring, coach Ralph Krueger wants to keep him around the Sabres.
NHL teams often separate their injured players from the regular group. But Girgensons, 27, is such a popular teammate that Krueger feels the Latvian must have a presence during his long recovery.
“We’re going to keep Zemgus close, because (of) how important he is in the organization, what ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel missed the first four sessions of training camp. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
After months of anticipation and a five-day delay, Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel on Wednesday finally practiced beside Taylor Hall, his new left winger.
Eichel, 24, said he had been battling an upper-body injury he sustained during an on-ice workout a few weeks ago. The Sabres said at the beginning of training camp their top center and leading scorer was day-to-day.
“Today was a good test for me to get out there and be ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons was injured Monday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons is likely out for the season after undergoing surgery today to repair a hamstring injury he suffered in Monday’s scrimmage.
In a statement, the Sabres said Girgensons’ recovery time is approximately six months.
In the second period of the scrimmage, Girgensons eyed up Steven Fogarty as he carried the puck and tried to hit him inside the blue line.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel suffered an upper-body injury before training camp. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel and goalie Linus Ullmark are practicing for the first time this season today at KeyBank Center.
An upper-body injury sidelined Eichel for the first four sessions of training camp. Ullmark, meanwhile, had to quarantine because an immigration issue following his arrival from Sweden.
In addition, winger Victor Olofsson is practicing after suffering an upper-body injury when he crashed into the net Saturday.
In other news, winger Zemgus Girgensons, who ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton is one of the NHL’s best puck-handling goalies. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the waning seconds of Monday’s scrimmage, Buffalo Sabres goalie Carter Hutton said a “perfect situation” materialized for him.
Over the years, Hutton, one of the NHL’s best puck-handling netminders, said he had tried to score an empty-net goal a few times.
“I’ve never been successful other than just shooting a few pucks at the end of practice,” Hutton said on a Zoom call.
But on Monday, as Hutton’s Team Blue enjoyed a 4-1 ... Read the full article
Jason Botterill spent three seasons as Sabres GM. ©2021, Dan Hickling, Hickling Images
Former Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill has landed a new job as assistant GM of the Seattle Kraken, the expansion team announced today.
Botterill, 44, will be working with Kraken GM Ron Francis, a Hall of Fame player.
The Kraken begin play in the 2021-22 season.
“Everyone in hockey is extremely excited about what’s happening in Seattle, and I am thrilled for this unique opportunity,” Botterill said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to ... Read the full article