Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Giorgio Estephan quietly one of Sabres’ best prospects

BUFFALO – The most prolific goal scorer among Sabres prospects last season wasn’t top pick Alexander Nylander, 83-point man Eric Cornel or even Justin Bailey, whose fine play earned him his first NHL action.

Try Giorgio Estephan, a 2015 sixth-round selection, 152^nd overall, who scored 30 goals and 74 points in only 59 games for the Western Hockey League’s Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2015-16.

If you haven’t heard much about Estephan, that ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Nick Baptiste building off rookie season

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Nick Baptiste understands coming off consecutive 40-goal junior seasons, his rookie campaign with the Rochester Americans looks a bit underwhelming.

“Whenever you go from 40 goals to 13, it’s obviously a pretty steep decline,” Baptiste said Friday after rookie camp opened inside HarborCenter. “But it’s a different league. It’s pro hockey. You’re playing against 30-year-old men versus 18-year-old boys. It’s a lot different.”

For two years, Baptiste, 21, was quietly one ... Read the full article

Sabres prospects will fight for jobs in rookie camp

BUFFALO – Sure, it’s just rookie camp, four days reserved for Sabres prospects before training camp. By the end of the month, most of the youngsters participating will be back in junior or the minors.

But with young talent relied on so heavily these days, the battle for NHL jobs really begins today, when camp opens inside HarborCenter.

Five prospects – forwards Justin Bailey, Hudson Fasching and Evan Rodrigues and goalies Jason Kasdorf and ... Read the full article

Amerks sign Tyson Strachan to AHL contract

Two years ago, when the Sabres signed Tyson Strachan to a two-way contract, the defenseman ended up staying in Buffalo the entire season, playing 46 games.

Strachan, 31, never made it to the minors. This year, however, he should see regular duty with the Rochester Americans, as they inked the veteran to a one-year AHL contract today.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Strachan adds some much-needed depth to Buffalo’s top affiliate. Only 10 defensemen in the organization ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly added to Canada’s World Cup roster

Buffalo Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly has been added to Team Canada’s World Cup of Hockey roster as an injury replacement for Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.

Seguin played in two pre-tournament games over the weekend and reportedly practiced Tuesday. The 24-year-old missed the final 10 regular-season games in 2015-16 and 12 of the Stars’ 13 playoff games with Achilles tendon and hamstring injuries.

With O’Reilly leaving, the Sabres will be without ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner on different look, weight loss: ‘New choices, new me’

BUFFALO – At first glance, you might not recognize Robin Lehner. While the 6-foot-5 Sabres goalie wouldn’t give an exact number, he appears to have shed around 40 pounds since April. His hair, which he has often worn long, is closely cropped. His bushy beard is gone.

“I’ve lost a decent amount of weight, got in shape,” Lehner said Monday after skating inside HarborCenter. “I’ve done some life changes. It’s not always going in ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner sporting new look: ‘I’ve done some life changes’

“I’ve lost a decent amount of weight, got in shape,” Lehner said this morning after skating inside HarborCenter. “I’ve done some life changes. It’s not always going ... Read the full article

Sabres to open training camp Sept. 23 at HarborCenter

BUFFALO – The Sabres will open training camp Sept. 23 in a different venue than past years, the team announced this afternoon.

HarborCenter, the Sabres’ two-rink practice facility they recently used for development camp, will host the early sessions of training camp to start the 2016-17 season. The sessions are free and open to the public. Practices will move to the First Niagara Center once the exhibition schedule starts.

Sabres veterans will report for physicals ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Zemgus Girgensons to 1-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a one-year contract, the team announced this afternoon.

With Girgensons’ $1.15 million salary, the Sabres have $8.537 million left in salary cap space, according to generalfanager.com. Their last restricted free agent is defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Training camp opens in about three weeks.

Girgensons, 22, is coming off a disappointing season in which he mustered only seven goals and 18 points in 71 games. ... Read the full article

Former Sabres agitator Patrick Kaleta working for new opportunity

BUFFALO – As a 30-year-old grinder still searching for a contract, Patrick Kaleta understands his 10-year career could already be over. The passionate former Sabres winger talks openly about the inevitable end and how he is prepared for his post-playing life.

“I’m lucky enough that I love hockey and I’ll die for the sport,” Kaleta said Wednesday after skating inside HarborCenter. “I’ll die playing the sport, especially for my team. That’s how much my team ... Read the full article