Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

PSE pledges $1.2 million to help COVID-19 pandemic response

Pegula Sports and Entertainment has pledged to donate at least $1.2 million to Western New York residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, Buffalo Bills and Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula announced Wednesday.

“We realize we are in uncertain times as a nation and as a community,” PSE president and CEO Kim Pegula said in a statement. “Like many Western New Yorkers, we are faced with making difficult decisions, but we realize that focusing on the ... Read the full article

NHL postpones scouting combine in Buffalo, draft and awards show

The NHL has postponed three events in June – the scouting combine in Buffalo, the draft in Montreal and the awards show in Las Vegas – because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league announced today.

The rescheduled dates for the three events and the NHL Draft Lottery will be announced later.

The combine, which has been held at LECOM Harborcenter and KeyBank Center since 2015, was scheduled to take place June 1 to 6.... Read the full article

Sabres sign Mattias Samuelsson to entry-level contract

After two seasons at Western Michigan, Buffalo Sabres defense prospect Mattias Samuelsson has turned pro.

Samuelsson, 20, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract, the Sabres announced today. They drafted the American in the second round in 2018, 32nd overall.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Samuelsson compiled seven goals, 26 points and 78 penalty minutes in 65 career games at Western Michigan. The COVID-19 pandemic cut short his sophomore season.... Read the full article

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger ready if NHL season resumes

The Buffalo Sabres occasionally enjoy a team dinner together, and they happened to be gathered for one in Montreal when word began spreading an NBA player had tested positive for coronavirus.

“Everything kind of started unraveling from there,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said on a conference call Monday. “We weren’t sure where that would take us.”

Still, the Sabres began the next day, March 12, like they would play their scheduled game against the Canadiens ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Western Michigan product Dawson DiPietro to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed winger Dawson DiPietro to a one-year, entry-level contract, the team announced today.

DiPietro, 24, scored 12 goals and 29 points in 35 games as a senior with Western Michigan in 2019-20.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound DiPietro attended the Sabres’ summer development camp last year.

“Dawson was excellent at our development camp last summer, where he was able to showcase his speed and skill,” Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said in a ... Read the full article

Sabres at 50: Dave Hannan fondly remembers overtime goal versus Devils

A few years ago, former Buffalo Sabres center Dave Hannan sat down to watch a little television before bed and spotted a replay of the wildest six hours of his 15-year NHL career.

In the years since he scored 5:43 into the fourth overtime on April 27, 1994, he had only caught a few periods of the 1-0 playoff classic the Sabres and New Jersey Devils played until 1:52 a.m. inside Memorial Auditorium.

So Hannan ... Read the full article

Five ‘Sabres Classics’ to air next week on MSG

For hockey-deprived fans waiting for the NHL season to resume, five memorable Buffalo Sabres games will be rebroadcast next week on MSG and also be available on the team’s YouTube channel.

So get ready to relive goalie Dominik Hasek’s legendary 70-save performance, the final game at historic Memorial Auditorium and other “Sabres Classics.”

The games, of course, are being aired because the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NHL to suspend its season indefinitely March 12.

The ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Penn State product Brandon Biro to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed former Penn State forward Brandon Biro to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced today.

Biro, 22, captained Penn State as a senior in 2019-20, scoring 10 goals and 25 points in 25 games as the Nittany Lions’ 12-8-4 record led the Big Ten.

“Brandon will bring a combination of skill, hockey sense and character to our organization,” Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said in a statement. “We’re confident that ... Read the full article

AHL season won’t resume before May

The American Hockey League season won’t resume before May, the league announced today.

But the league has recommended to its 31 teams they help their players return home, an ominous sign the season could be canceled in the coming weeks.

On Thursday, shortly after the NHL suspended its season indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AHL also stopped its campaign.

On Sunday, the CDC recommended that events with 50 or more people be canceled ... Read the full article

NHL tells players they can return home

In a best-case scenario, the NHL could restart its season in the second week of May, the league announced today.

Of course, that timeline could be overly optimistic. The COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the NHL to suspend its season indefinitely Thursday, is a fluid situation.

Just days ago, the NHL was hopeful players could soon resume small group workouts.... Read the full article