WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Colin Miller gives the Sabres five right-handed defensemen. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ acquisition of defenseman Colin Miller from the Vegas Golden Knights for two draft picks Friday night will only fuel speculation more moves are coming soon.
Right-shot defenseman are coveted by NHL teams. The Sabres now possess five of them, a high number they must trim to create more balance on their defense pairs.
Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, of course, is a righty. After six seasons of losing in Buffalo, a ... Read the full article
Erik Portillo has some gaudy equipment. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – You can’t miss Erik Portillo on the ice. In addition to being one of three Sabres prospects listed at 6-foot-6 on the roster, the Swede sports the gaudiest equipment of any of the six goalies in development camp.
European teams love plastering advertising everywhere, and Portillo’s Frölunda gear features plenty. Even the back of his pants have two McDonald’s logos.
But fans attending this morning’s three-on-three tournament, the conclusion of the four-day camp ... Read the full article
The Sabres could have another trade in the works. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres acquired defenseman Colin Miller from the Vegas Golden Knights tonight for a second-round pick in 2021 and a fifth-round selection in 2022.
The 6-foot-1, 196-pound Miller, 26, compiled three goals and 26 points in 65 games last season. Miller has three years left on a contract that pays him $3.875 million annually.... Read the full article
Taylor Leier has spent a chunk of his career in Philadelphia. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans have signed forward Taylor Leier to a one-year AHL contract, the Buffalo Sabres’ affiliate announced today.
Leier, 25, morphed into one of the Amerks’ top forwards following his Jan. 17 arrival from the Philadelphia Flyers organization, scoring 12 goals and 23 points in 35 games.
According to the Amerks, Leier had successful surgery this offseason. The team did not specify what kind of surgery he underwent.
Overall, Leier compiled 22 goal and ... Read the full article
Brandon Hickey received limited action last season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Brandon Hickey attended his first development camp way back in 2014, so he knows what to expect this week at the Sabres’ annual summer prospect gathering.
This is the defenseman’s sixth camp with his third team.
“Two conferences, three time zones,” Hickey, 23, said of his travels from Calgary to Arizona to Buffalo.
While six players are older than him, Hickey’s long hair and beard make him look like the camp’s grizzled veteran.... Read the full article
Oskari Laaksonen won a gold medal in January. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Barely two years ago, unless you had spent time scouring the Finnish junior leagues for draft talent, the name Oskari Laaksonen wasn’t familiar to you.
NHL Central Scouting and other notable services didn’t even rank the Finnish defenseman. Googling his name would return some stats, that’s about it.
So when the Sabres grabbed Laaksonen 89th overall at the NHL Draft in 2017, going way off the board in the third round, the selection ... Read the full article
Chris Taylor plans to soak up knowledge from the Sabres’ new coaching staff. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – To many observers, Rochester Americans coach Chris Taylor possesses the talent to run an NHL bench someday.
Not only have the Amerks enjoyed two successful seasons under the affable Taylor, players seem to love playing for him.
Not surprisingly, Taylor’s name came up during the Sabres’ search for Phil Housley’s replacement. Taylor, of course, has close ties to general manager Jason Botterill, his friend and former teammate.... Read the full article
Phil Housley coached the Sabres two seasons. ©2019, Hickling Images
Former Buffalo Sabres head coach Phil Housley has found a new job.
The Arizona Coyotes have hired Housley, 55, as an assistant coach on Rick Tocchet’s staff, the Western Conference club announced today. Housley, who signed a multi-year contract, will run the Coyotes’ blue line.
The Sabres fired Housley on April 7 after a season in which they dropped from first overall in late November to sixth in the Atlantic Division.
From Jan. 1 until ... Read the full article
Sean Malone played only 38 games last season. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Center Sean Malone’s 2018-19 season started ominously. After some impressive performances early in his second NHL training camp, the West Seneca native injured his knee in the Sabres’ preseason opener.
So instead of competing for a spot on the big club, Malone, 24, didn’t play his first game until Nov. 7 with the Rochester Americans.
Injuries limited Malone to only 38 appearances during a frustrating campaign. The Harvard product never seemed to ... Read the full article
Sean Malone endured a tough season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Rochester Americans have signed West Seneca’s Sean Malone, who wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the parent Sabres, to a one-year AHL contract, the team announced today.
Injuries limited Malone, 24, to only 38 games during a frustrating 2018-19 campaign. The center hurt his knee in the Sabres’ preseason opener and never seemed to find a groove.
In two seasons with the Amerks, Malone has compiled 16 goals, 35 points and ... Read the full article