Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres to host prospects tournament again in September

Alexander Nylander’s first game action in a Buffalo uniform is just six weeks away, as the Sabres will host the “Prospects Challenge” tournament from Sept. 16-19 at HarborCenter, the team announced this morning.

Nylander, the talented Swedish winger drafted eighth overall June 24, will almost certainly participate in the three-team, round-robin tournament, which also includes the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils.

The Sabres started the tournament last season.

The game schedule:

Sept. 17, Buffalo ... Read the full article

Photo: Sabres prospect Rasmus Asplund captaining Sweden

Where will Buffalo Sabres prospect Rasmus Asplund end up next season?

Asplund, the 33^rd overall pick June 25, has already played two seasons of professional hockey at home. The talented center could return to the Swedish Hockey League in 2016-17. Or he could skate in North America, either with the Sabres or their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

Wherever Asplund, 18, plays, there’s a good chance he’ll be leaving in December for the world ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evander Kane arrested, charged in bar incident

Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane has been arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass and four counts of non-criminal harassment in connection with an incident at a downtown bar last month.

Kane, 24, turned himself into Buffalo police this morning and was handcuffed before being released, according to multiple reports. He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 1.

Kane’s attorney, Paul J. Cambria, told The Buffalo News, “Without a doubt, ... Read the full article

South Buffalo’s Tim Kennedy ready for season in Sweden

BUFFALO – In a perfect world, Tim Kennedy said, his summer would have played out as he had hoped.

Following a rough European season, the former Sabres forward wanted an NHL team, preferably one with an AHL affiliate in the Northeast, to sign him.

“But sports today is a results-based industry,” Kennedy told the Times Herald on Thursday.

Of course it is, and Kennedy, an AHL All-Star in 2014-15, is coming off a career-worst four-goal, ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Erik Burgdoerfer; Amerks ink goalie John Muse

BUFFALO – The Sabres added defense depth for the AHL today, signing Erik Burgdoerfer to a one-year, two-way contract.

He will most likely start next season with the Rochester Americans.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Burgdoerfer, 27, spent last season with the AHL Hershey Bears, compiling six goals, 20 points and 59 penalty minutes in 74 games.

Burgdoerfer mostly played in the ECHL for four seasons before moving up to the AHL in 2014-15. The East Setauket ... Read the full article

Pro experience helped Sabres prospect Rasmus Asplund develop

BUFFALO – Almost two years ago, in the midst of a high-scoring junior season, Rasmus Asplund’s success forced the Sabres prospect to “start from scratch,” he said.

Asplund had already scored 25 points in 19 games when Färjestad BK, a team in the Swedish Hockey League, the country’s highest pro circuit, recalled the center.

That meant Asplund, then just 16 years old, would start competing against men.

“It’s a different type of game when you ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Jason Kasdorf, Dan Catenacci

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed goalie Jason Kasdorf, who made his NHL debut late last season, to a two-year, two-way contract, the team announced Sunday.

The 6-foot-3, 172-pound Kasdorf, 24, will likely begin next season with the AHL Rochester Americans.

Kasdorf, an afterthought in the blockbuster 2015 Evander Kane with the Jets, joined the Sabres in March after finishing his NCAA career with R.P.I. He played his only pro game April 8, making ... Read the full article

Sabres sign top pick Alexander Nylander to 3-year, entry-level contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed winger Alexander Nylander, the eighth overall pick last month, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced tonight.

“We are extremely pleased to sign Alex to his entry-level deal,” Sabres general manager Tim Murray said in a statement. “When we selected Alex, we obviously knew he was a talented, skilled player. We look forward to him coming to training camp and competing for a job.”

On Tuesday, after ... Read the full article

Sabres hire Tom Ward as assistant coach; Dan Catenacci re-signed

BUFFALO – The Sabres have hired Tom Ward, a top prep coach who groomed Sidney Crosby, Kyle Okposo and other future NHL players at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, as the final assistant on Dan Bylsma’s staff, the team announced this afternoon.

Ward, 52, spent the last 18 seasons as the head coach of the boys prep team at the Minnesota high school, winning nine USA Hockey National Championships and finishing as runner-up twice.

Shattuck is known for ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Marcus Foligno to 1-year deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed another restricted free agent today, inking winger Marcus Foligno to a one-year contract worth a reported $2.25 million.

While Foligno, 24, was coming off a season in which he set career highs across the board, he earned the same salary last year.

Very quietly, the Sabres are creeping toward the salary cap for the first time in years. Generalfanager.com projects the team at $9,687,978 under the $73 million cap.

The ... Read the full article