Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres re-sign Chad Ruhwedel to 2-year deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year contract, leaving center Tyler Ennis as the club’s lone notable restricted free agent.

Ruhwedel had one assist in 21 NHL games last season. The 24-year-old four goals and 28 points in 47 games with Rochester.

The San Diego native has played 28 NHL contests. The Sabres signed him as a free agent after three NCAA seasons at the University of UMass Lowell.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko takes responsibility for past struggles

BUFFALO – The comments are significant, Mikhail Grigorenko’s most telling since joining the Sabres months after they selected him 12^th overall in 2012.

In a hallway outside the First Niagara Center dressing room hours before a development camp scrimmage Tuesday, the 20-year-old Russian spoke candidly about his short career, blaming himself for his NHL struggles.

“From past experiences, I kind of realized it was probably no one’s fault but mine I didn’t stay in ... Read the full article

Sam Reinhart and deep prospect pool show Sabres could have bright future

BUFFALO – Up and down they went side-by-side, each stride drawing eyes inside the First Niagara Center. For a few moments during development camp Monday, Sam Reinhart and Brendan Lemieux, the jewels of the Sabres’ 2014 draft class, skated together, a brief-but-memorable glimpse into the future.

If the Sabres become contenders again someday, this week’s camp could be remembered as one of the building blocks.

Seven first-round picks are participating, including Reinhart, the slick ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Jordan Samuels-Thomas ready for fresh opportunity

BUFFALO – As a seventh-round pick, Jordan Samuels-Thomas faced some long odds to earn an NHL contract. But the 6-foot-4, 220-pound winger possesses size, a precious commodity in today’s game.

The Sabres have made it no secret they covet “heavy,” hard-to-play-against talent for their rebuild. So they shipped a 2015 seventh-rounder to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday for Samuels-Thomas’ rights.

They signed the Connecticut native to a one-year, two-way contract Saturday.

“I was ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart wants to play in NHL immediately

BUFFALO – Slick center Sam Reinhart has no problem saying it. The top Sabres prospect, the No. 2 overall pick last month, wants to crack the NHL immediately next season.

“In my mind, I’m thinking if I come and play the way I’m capable of playing, I feel confident I can earn a spot and make an impact next year,” Reinhart said this afternoon following the opening session of development camp inside the First Niagara ... Read the full article

Plenty of intriguing Sabres prospects participating in development camp

BUFFALO – Some experts are already predicting the Sabres, a team three months removed from the worst NHL season in recent memory, will be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in a few years.

Why? Their prospect pool might be the deepest in hockey.

Seven first-round picks are participating in the team’s development camp this week. Seven of the 41 prospects played in the NHL last season, including center Zemgus Girgensons, who spent the entire campaign ... Read the full article

Sabres sign forward Zac Dalpe to one-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres added forward depth today, signing Zac Dalpe, who spent most of last season with the Vancouver Canucks, to a one-year contract.

Update: The contract is a “high” two-way deal, according to Stephen Bartlett, Dalpe’s agent.

The 24-year-old has nine goals, 17 points and 10 penalty minutes in 96 NHL games. He played a career-high 55 times in 2013-14, compiling four goals and seven points.

Dalpe, the 45^th overall pick by ... Read the full article

Sabres sign top prospect Sam Reinhart to entry-level deal

BUFFALO – Barely two weeks after drafting him No. 2 overall, the Sabres have signed slick 18-year-old center Sam Reinhart to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced today.

The Sabres expect Reinhart, who’s in town for the team’s upcoming development camp, to compete for an NHL roster spot next season.

“We are very excited to have Sam under contract,” Sabres general manager Tim Murray said in a statement. “We look forward to watching ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Jordan Samuels-Thomas to entry-level deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed winger Jordan Samuels-Thomas to a one-year, entry-level contract, the team announced today.

They sent a 2015 seventh-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday for the 24-year-old’s rights.

Samuels-Thomas, the 203^rdoverall pick by the Winnipeg franchise in 2009, compiled 50 goals, 104 points and 162 penalty minutes in 138 NCAA games over four seasons with Quinnipiac University and Bowling Green State University. He played two seasons with ... Read the full article

Sam Reinhart, rest of Sabres’ 2014 draft choices to attend development camp

BUFFALO – Forty one prospects, including No. 2 pick Sam Reinhart and all of the Sabres’ 2014 draft choices, will be participating in the annual summer development camp from Monday to Friday, the team announced today.

Seven first-round picks are on the roster.

The sessions inside the First Niagara Center are free and open to fans. Here’s a complete schedule from the Sabres:

Monday On-ice coach’s practice: 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.... Read the full article