Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

After trade, injuries, Josh Norris scoring for Sabres, grateful for time in Ottawa

OTTAWA – The Josh Norris who scored four goals and 10 points in his first eight games for the Buffalo Sabres after returning from an injury looks a heck of a lot like the slick young star who scored 35 times for the Senators four years ago.

In 2021-22, Norris was emerging as a stud center and one of the Senators’ building blocks. Then injuries hit.

Shoulder problems wreaked havoc, never allowing him to play ... Read the full article

Once given up for dead, win streak has vaulted Sabres into thick of playoff race

OTTAWA – Two weeks ago, having just lost to the feeble Calgary Flames for the second time in three weeks, the Buffalo Sabres appeared to be barreling toward another postseason DNQ.

Their third consecutive defeat as they began a six-game road trip kept them mired in last place in the Eastern Conference, eight points out of the second wild card spot.

At that point, the Sabres had just two road wins all season, including zero ... Read the full article

Sabres add to new front office by hiring Marc Bergevin, Josh Flynn

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday made their first front-office hires under new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, adding Marc Bergevin as associate GM and Josh Flynn as assistant GM.

Bergevin, 60, served as GM of the Montreal Canadiens from 2012 to 2021, making the playoffs six times and reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2021. He most recently worked as a senior advisor for the Los Angeles Kings.

He began his post-playing career working for the ... Read the full article

Alex Lyon, hot Sabres beat Islanders to extend season-long win streak

BUFFALO – If Colten Ellis hadn’t suffered a concussion and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made a few more saves, then Sabres goalie Alex Lyon might still be waiting for his next opportunity.

But Ellis took a hit in the crease and Luukkonen struggled, so the Sabres turned to Lyon again last week, a move that has ignited their season.

Contributions up and down the lineup have buoyed the Sabres throughout to a five-game win streak, none bigger ... Read the full article

Sabres continue front-office overhaul by firing associate GM Jason Karmanos

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday continued overhauling their front office by firing associate general manager Jason Karmanos, who also served as the Rochester Americans’ GM.

Former Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, who was fired Monday and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen, hired Karmanos, whom he knew from his playing days with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Karmanos, who joined the Sabres in 2021, attended Buffalo’s last game, Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres recall prospect from Rochester

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon recalled winger Isak Rosen prior to their game against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center

Rosen, one of the Sabres’ top forward prospects, scored twice for the Amerks in Friday’s 3-2 victory over the Belleville Senators, including the overtime winner.

Sabres forward Tyson Kozak is questionable for this afternoon’s contest with an upper-body injury.... Read the full article

Alex Lyon winning games, emerging as Sabres’ No. 1 goalie

BUFFALO – When Sabres goalie Alex Lyon left Yale University following his junior season to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers as an undrafted free agent, he thought riches and enshrinement in hockey’s hallowed hall would be in his future.

“When I first came out of college, I thought I was going to make tens of millions of dollars,” he said following Friday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I was going to be a Hockey Hall of ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyson Kozak could play against Islanders; Conor Timmins ‘steady’ D before breaking leg

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tyson Kozak, who left Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers with an upper-body injury, is questionable for this afternoon’s home game against the New York Islanders, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff said Kozak, who did not practice Friday, will skate early today before the Sabres decide if he can play.

If Kozak, 22, can’t go, forward Josh Dunne will likely move into the lineup.

Update: Kozak is scratched. Dunne is ... Read the full article

Sabres win fourth straight, rally to beat Flyers in Jarmo Kekalainen’s first game as GM; Conor Timmins breaks leg

BUFFALO – From his seat in the press box high above the KeyBank Center ice, Jarmo Kekalainen couldn’t have liked what he saw in the opening 30 or so minutes of his first game as Sabres general manager.

Early in Thursday’s 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, the Sabres looked out of sync and sluggish, falling behind 2-1 in the second period.

But by late in that period, as they found their legs, the Sabres ... Read the full article

After trade, injuries, Michael Kesselring ready to make impact for Sabres

BUFFALO – After hurrying back from a knee injury, Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring said the ankle sprain he suffered just nine games into his season offered him a chance to “reset a little.”

Not that Kesselring, the Sabres’ biggest offseason acquisition, wanted to miss more time. But when he went down again Nov. 15, he said he was still battling his first injury a bit and “putting a lot of pressure” on himself.

“I didn’t ... Read the full article