Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres excited for prospect Casey Mittelstadt’s arrival

TORONTO – Even among the established NHL talent on the ice during those morning skates last summer in Minnesota, Buffalo Sabres prospect Casey Mittelstadt’s skills stood out and turned heads.

“Five-on-five, that pace, that’s the highest pace that I’ve played in the summer and he was really impressive there,” Sabres winger Kyle Okposo said Monday, shortly after Mittelstadt agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract. “I had guys on the bench saying how special of a ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt’s arrival gives Sabres one of hockey’s best prospects

TORONTO – Even among the established NHL talent on the ice during those morning skates last summer in Minnesota, Buffalo Sabres prospect Casey Mittelstadt’s skills stood out, even turned heads.

“We skated Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at different rinks, five-on-five,” Sabres winger Kyle Okposo said this afternoon, shortly after the center signed a three-year, entry-level contract. “That pace, that’s the highest pace that I’ve played in the summer and he was really impressive there. I ... Read the full article

Sabres sign top prospect Casey Mittelstadt to entry-level contract

TORONTO – The Buffalo Sabres have signed top prospect Casey Mittelstadt, the eighth overall pick in 2017, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced this morning.

Sabres coach Phil Housley said this afternoon he wants to play Mittelstadt as soon as possible. Housley said Mittelstadt is expected to arrive in Buffalo tonight or Tuesday. After tonight’s tilt against the Maple Leafs, the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

Naturally, Housley is ... Read the full article

Sabres, Maple Leafs going in opposite directions as rivals meet

TORONTO – Given the Maple Leafs’ torrid run and the Buffalo Sabres’ futility, tonight could get ugly.

Right now, having won two straight games and six of the last seven, the Maple Leafs are scorching. They’ve scored a whopping 29 goals in that stretch.

They’ve won a franchise-record 13 straight games at home. They haven’t lost at the Air Canada Centre in more than two months.... Read the full article

Sabres sign defenseman Will Borgen to entry-level contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed Will Borgen, one of their top defense prospects, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced today.

Borgen, who just finished his junior season at St. Cloud State University, will sign an amateur tryout and report to the AHL Rochester Americans. His NHL contract will kick in next season.

The Sabres selected the 6-foot-2, 188-pound Borgen in the fourth round, 92nd overall, in 2015.... Read the full article

Phil Housley calls out Sabres’ leadership group following loss to Canadiens

BUFFALO – For the Sabres, the NHL’s worst team, any minor success is usually fleeting. A bad period quickly overshadows the good one.

For the opening 20 minutes Friday, the Sabres responded strongly after two home losses, following their game plan and pumping pucks on net.

Then they started freelancing following a scoreless first period, fell behind and lost 3-0 to the hapless Montreal Canadiens.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Nick Deslauriers thriving with Canadiens

BUFFALO – Six months ago, Nick Deslauriers’ future in the NHL looked iffy. Following a career-worst season in which he scored zero goals for the Sabres, it became apparent the popular winger wasn’t part of the new regime’s plans.

On Sept. 30, the Sabres waived Deslauriers. Four days later, they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens, who promptly assigned him to the Laval Rocket.

Deslauriers, 27, hadn’t played in the AHL since 2013-14.... Read the full article

Former Sabre Nick Deslauriers happy with hometown Canadiens

On Sept. 30, the Sabres waived Deslauriers. Four days later, they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens, who promptly assigned him to the Laval Rocket.

Deslauriers, 27, hadn’t played in the AHL since 2013-14.

To ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nathan Beaulieu to sit out against Canadiens

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Nathan Beaulieu is a “little sore” and will miss tonight’s tilt against his old team, the Montreal Canadiens, coach Phil Housley said.

But if Beaulieu, 25, hadn’t taken a puck to his upper body last game, he would still be scratched.

“He was not playing in this game tonight,” Housley said this morning.

Defenseman Josh Gorges, a Canadiens regular for eight seasons, will return tonight. Gorges, 33, has sat out ... Read the full article

Sabres need better efforts if they hope to be competitive

BUFFALO – It was a simple execution drill – “Attacking with wide speed and a middle lane drive,” Phil Housley explained – that forced the coach to lay into the Sabres.

Just hours after an embarrassing 4-1 home loss, the Sabres looked sluggish early during Thursday’s practice. At one point, associate coach Davis Payne barked at the players to stop coasting.

Housley finally had enough after watching them execute the drill incorrectly, yelling, “Get ... Read the full article