Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson evolving in new role: ‘He’s become a better player’

PITTSBURGH – When you think of Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson scoring a goal, coach Don Granato said, you have a certain picture.

For much of the past five years, Olofsson has utilized his ultra-quick release and lethal shot, often from the circle area.

“You think of a certain spot on the ice where he opens up and it’s a one-timer,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “It’s a shift slightly into the ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Matt Savoie traded to Moose Jaw in WHL

It was only a matter of when, not if, the Wenatchee Wild moved Buffalo Sabres prospect Matt Savoie before the Western Hockey League trade deadline.

Contenders coveted Savoie, a junior star set to turn pro next season, as a rental player.

The Moose Jaw Warriors value Savoie, 20, so much that on Thursday they dealt the Wild seven draft picks, including two first-rounders, in exchange for the slick center.... Read the full article

Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin earns spot in NHL All-Star Game

For the third straight season, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has earned a spot in the NHL All-Star Game.

The NHL on Thursday named Dahlin, 23, to its Eastern Conference squad for the game Feb. 3 in Toronto.

Dahlin has enjoyed a terrific offensive season, recording 10 goals – tied for the NHL lead among defensemen with Vancouver Canucks star Quinn Hughes – and 29 points in 37 games entering Thursday’s road contest against the ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Devon Levi cherishes text message from Carey Price, childhood memories of Canadiens

BUFFALO – Once, when Sabres rookie Devon Levi was 10, he visited a restaurant in Montreal and had some pictures taken with his idol, Canadiens goalie Carey Price.

Another time, Levi’s girlfriend spotted Price at a basketball game and handed him the phone. The netminders ended up chatting on FaceTime for a bit.

Then prior to Levi’s fifth NHL start on April 10, Price texted him some words of advice before the Sabres beat the ... Read the full article

After slow start, Sabres’ Dylan Cozens playing confidently again

BUFFALO – A couple of weeks ago, Sabres captain Kyle Okposo approached center Dylan Cozens and asked him if he ever says “good job” to himself.

Having spent four seasons as teammates, Okposo, 35, knows how much pressure Cozens, 22, puts on himself. His struggles often consume him.

When Cozens replied, “I don’t think so,” Okposo told him if he makes a nice play, to acknowledge it to himself. Okposo wanted him to understand he ... Read the full article

Injured Kyle Okposo sidelined week to week; Don Granato returns to Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato called the timing of the lower-body injury that will sideline captain Kyle Okposo week to week “incredible.”

Okposo, 35, suffered the injury in Sunday’s 5-1 road loss to the Ottawa Senators, the same game Girgensons, 29, returned from a 17-game absence. The linemates hadn’t played a contest together since Nov. 24.

“I talked a lot about how nice it would be to have both of them in because we ... Read the full article

Goalie Eric Comrie clears waivers, sent to Amerks by Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday assigned goalie Eric Comrie to the Rochester Americans after he cleared waivers.

Comrie, 28, last played in the AHL one year ago, when he started three games for the Amerks during a conditioning assignment.

His arrival creates a logjam in Rochester’s net. The Amerks have two established AHL: goalies: Dustin Tokarski and Devin Cooley.... Read the full article

Sabres waive goalie Eric Comrie to create roster spot

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday placed struggling goalie Eric Comrie on waivers to create a roster spot for winger Zemgus Girgensons, who was activated from injured reserve.

Girgensons, 29, has missed the last 17 games with a lower-body injury. He could return for Sunday’s road game against the Ottawa Senators.

The move leaves the Sabres with goalies Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Comrie, who signed a two-year, $3.8 million contract as a free agent in ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kevyn Adams expresses faith in Don Granato; Seth Appert subs for ill coach in OT win

BUFFALO – Forty-five minutes prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, general manager Kevyn Adams acknowledged he understands the frustration directed toward himself, coach Don Granato and the assistants.

The Sabres have woefully underachieved this season, morphing from one of the NHL’s up-and-coming young teams into perhaps its biggest disappointment.

They’re wildly inconsistent, regularly get outworked, often fall behind early in games and have trouble scoring and preventing goals. Nearly ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Don Granato to miss game because of illness; Seth Appert to fill in

Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato is ill and won’t be available for this afternoon’s home game, the team announced this morning. Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert will assume his duties behind the bench for the day.

Granato, 56, conducted Friday’s practice and addressed the media after the Sabres prepared for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.

When Granato went into COVID-19 protocol in 2020-21, general manager Kevyn Adams subbed behind the ... Read the full article