Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

NHL Draft: Rochester Amerks coach Michael Leone made impact on prospect Artyom Levshunov

BUFFALO – Two years ago, Artyom Levshunov arrived in the United States speaking little English. Today, the defenseman can comfortably hold court in front of a throng of reporters and cameras, joking and showcasing his personality.

At the NHL Scouting Combine, the affable Levshunov, 18, smoothly fielded questions, explaining his hockey journey from Belarus to the NHL Draft, where he could be selected as high as second overall June 28.

New Rochester Americans coach Mike ... Read the full article

NHL Draft: Macklin Celebrini staying in moment, not thinking about Sharks

BUFFALO – College hockey is a man’s game. Sure, there are plenty of teenagers, but of the 64 NCAA Division 1 teams, just one, Boston College, had an average age under 21, according to College Hockey News.

By any standard, Macklin Celebrini, the presumptive first overall pick by the San Jose Sharks at the NHL Draft on June 28, enjoyed a dynamic freshman season in 2023-24.

The ultra-talented center scored 32 goals and 64 ... Read the full article

Sabres hire Michael Leone as Rochester Amerks’ new coach

The Buffalo Sabres have hired another coach from junior hockey to be the Rochester Americans’ bench boss.

The Sabres on Thursday named Michael Leone, who spent the last two seasons as the general manager and coach of the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers, as head coach of their AHL affiliate.

The 36-year-old replaces Seth Appert, who earned a promotion to Lindy Ruff’s staff in Buffalo last month following four seasons with the Amerks.... Read the full article

Sabres won’t sign Mats Lindgren, two other prospects

The Buffalo Sabres won’t sign three draft picks, including defenseman Mats Lindgren, a fourth-round selection in 2022, to contracts before Saturday’s deadline, the team confirmed.

The Buffalo News first reported the Sabres will relinquish the rights to Lindgren, defenseman Albert Lyckasen and center Jakub Konecny. The Sabres selected Lyckasen and Konecny in the seventh round in 2020, general manager Kevyn Adams’ first draft.... Read the full article

After difficult season, Sabres’ Dylan Cozens stars for Team Canada

Nine goals scored in 10 outings, two more than any player in the World Championship. A six-game goal streak. An overtime winner. A gaudy 30 percent shooting percentage.

While Sabres center Dylan Cozens fell short of earning a medal in the tournament – Team Canada finished fourth, losing Sunday’s bronze medal game 4-2 to Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Team Sweden – he ended his season on a high note.

Cozens struggled with the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund’s hockey sense stands out with Rochester: ‘Basically blows your mind’

ROCHESTER – The Calder Cup Playoffs can be unforgiving to a 5-foot-11, 163-pound neophyte like Buffalo Sabres center prospect Noah Ostlund.

Forget about the talent and supreme hockey sense the Swede, 20, possesses. He was the lightest player on either roster during the Americans’ North Division semifinal series. No one had played fewer games in North America.

So after playing the first three playoff games, Ostlund, the 16th overall pick in 2022, took a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens thriving for Team Canada at World Championship

Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens often plays his best when he’s ticked off, so it wasn’t surprising he responded by scoring a power-play goal for Team Canada in Sunday’s 3-2 win after Team Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala kneed him.

Shortly after Fiala, a winger with the Los Angeles Kings, was ejected, Cozens scored his second of the game and sixth of the World Championship in Czechia.

The Yukon native, of course, just endured a difficult year ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Isak Rosen showcases strong development in Rochester; Joseph Cecconi seizes role

Over the final two months of the regular season, Buffalo Sabres prospect Isak Rosen busted out of his long offensive slump with the Rochester Americans, compiling nine goals and 22 points in his last 22 games.

In the last four contests, the Swedish winger registered four goals and seven points to finish with 20 goals and 50 points in 67 games. His point total tied center Mason Jobst for the team lead.

Consider that following ... Read the full article

Sabres prospects Matt Savoie, Vsevolod Komarov to play for Memorial Cup

In the Canadian Hockey League, contenders often mortgage their futures before the trade deadline by dealing loads of draft picks and other assets to acquire elite talent at the end of their junior careers.

For example, on Jan. 4, the Moose Jaw Warriors dished seven picks, including two first-round selections, to pry slick Buffalo Sabres center prospect Matt Savoie away from the Wenatchee Wild.

On Dec. 4, the Drummondville Voltigeurs traded four picks and three ... Read the full article

Despite late struggles in Rochester, Sabres happy with prospect Jiri Kulich’s development

Following a regular season in which he roared out of the gate, slumped in the middle and finished on a tear, Buffalo Sabres center prospect Jiri Kulich struggled in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Kulich, 20, scored nine goals in his final 13 regular-season outings for the Rochester Americans. In a game he did not score during that torrid stretch, he pumped 11 shots on goal.

Then the Syracuse Crunch often stymied the Czech during the ... Read the full article