Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres agree to two-year contract with Beck Malenstyn, avoid arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday avoided arbitration with winger Beck Malenstyn, agreeing to terms with the newcomer on a two-year contract worth $1.35 million per season.

The Sabres now have two unsigned restricted free agents: goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who also filed for arbitration, and center Peyton Krebs.

They acquired Malenstyn, 26, from the Washington Capitals on June 29 in exchange for the 43rd overall pick at the NHL Draft.... Read the full article

After trade to move up, Sabres possess mature prospect in Brodie Ziemer

BUFFALO – On the ice, Brodie Ziemer doesn’t grab your attention right away. The Sabres prospect doesn’t possess that wow factor that makes you jump out of your seat.

“He’s not the fastest skater, he doesn’t have the best shot, he’s not elite in any one category,” Nick Fohr, Ziemer’s coach at the US National Team Development Program, told the Times Herald.

The thing is, Ziemer is above average in most categories. Add everything together ... Read the full article

Ex-Sabres prospect Linus Weissbach signs contract in native Sweden

Winger Linus Weissbach has returned home to play in the Swedish Hockey League.

The former Buffalo Sabres prospect on Saturday signed a two-year contract with Frolunda HC.

Weissbach, 26, spent the last three seasons with the Rochester Americans, scoring 52 goals and 117 points in 192 AHL games. He added four goals and 11 points in 18 contests in the Calder Cup Playoffs.... Read the full article

After signings and trades, where does Peyton Krebs fit with Sabres?

BUFFALO – During their exit meeting in April, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams noticed a bit of a shift in center Peyton Krebs’ mentality.

When Adams asked him about his season, Krebs, 23, told him he believes he can be a 200-foot, two-way center in the NHL.

“When he first got here, there was so much emphasis on offense and he’d always been an offensive player,” Adams said June 20 in KeyBank Center.

Krebs, ... Read the full article

Nomadic Nicolas Aube-Kubel excited to give Sabres’ fourth line grit, speed

As free agency approached and winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel began looking for his fifth NHL team in the last three and a half years, he told his agent he wanted to join a younger group.

Having started last season in the AHL – he played 11 games for the Hershey Bears before earning regular duty with the Washington Capitals – Aube-Kubel knew he likely wouldn’t receive a multi-year deal.

But the idea of growing with a ... Read the full article

Excited Ryan McLeod ready for ‘great opportunity’ after trade to Sabres

Eleven days after his marathon nine-month, 105-game season ended, Ryan McLeod was posing for pictures at his friend’s wedding when he learned the Edmonton Oilers had traded him to the Buffalo Sabres.

Naturally, McLeod, 24, wanted to enjoy some down time following an emotional and grueling campaign, so the timing struck him as “a little funny.”

“A little whirlwind,” the center said on a Zoom call Wednesday of getting traded for the first time. “You ... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Sam Lafferty enjoyed career season after trade

BUFFALO – Sabres center Sam Lafferty’s first three NHL teams utilized him in a checking role, deploying him for faceoffs in enemy territory for a whopping 73.7 percent of his zone starts.

Then last year, after the Vancouver Canucks acquired Lafferty, 29, from the Toronto Maple Leafs days before the season, they gave him a dual role.

For the first time in his five-year career, he had more offensive zone starts than defensive starts (51.3 ... Read the full article

Sabres sign prospect Konsta Helenius to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday signed center prospect Konsta Helenius, the 14th overall pick on June 28, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The Finn, having spent the last two years competing against stronger and more experienced talent in Liiga, could continue his pro hockey in North America next season.

Helenius, 18, and Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams have both said they’re open to different options, including playing in Buffalo or with the Rochester Americans.... Read the full article

Sabres receive immediate help in Ryan McLeod by trading Matt Savoie to Oilers

After the Buffalo Sabres recently made a minor deal and signed some free agents, it appeared the significant trade that was expected this summer might never materialize.

Maybe, just maybe, general manager Kevyn Adams felt that adding some grit to augment a talented lineup and having a new coach in Lindy Ruff would be enough to help the Sabres end their NHL-record 13-year playoff drought.

But on Friday, Adams, who has expressed his willingness to ... Read the full article

After strong campaign, Sabres re-sign Henri Jokiharju to one-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Friday re-signed defenseman Henri Jokiharju to a one-year, $3.1 million contract.

Jokiharju, 25, can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The Sabres now have three unsigned restricted free agents: goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, center Peyton Krebs and winger Beck Malenstyn.

Luukkonen and Malenstyn on Friday filed for salary arbitration. If a player files, a contract can still be worked out. Hearings run from July 20 to Aug. 4.... Read the full article