Adams - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres place Casey Fitzgerald on waivers, create roster spot

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon waived defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, a move that creates a roster spot for them to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans.

Update: Defenseman Henri Jokiharju, out since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 9, has been activated from injured reserve and taken Fitzgerald’s roster spot, according to the team’s website.

Update: General manager Kevyn Adams said on today’s “Jeff Marek Show” on 590 The Fan that Luukkonen ... Read the full article

After sending Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Amerks, expect more moves as Sabres try to keep three goalies

BUFFALO – By loaning goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the Rochester Americans to create a roster spot for Eric Comrie, the Sabres bought themselves some time.

Right now, the Sabres have a full 23-man roster. If they wanted to activate Comrie from injured reserve and keep Luukkonen, they might’ve had to waive a young defenseman and risk losing him.

The Sabres can send Luukkonen, 23, to the AHL without waivers, so his assignment on Monday ... Read the full article

After Damar Hamlin injury, Sabres had open dialogue, knew they had special opportunity: ‘We owed it to … Buffalo’

BUFFALO – In those first hours after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati, general manager Kevyn Adams sensed the Sabres needed to have some open dialogue.

Tuesday wouldn’t be a normal game day as the Sabres prepared for the Washington Capitals. Many players were watching “Monday Night Football” when Hamlin collapsed after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. The Bills and Sabres are both owned ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt’s odd trip to Buffalo to rejoin Sabres: ‘Planes, trains and automobiles’

BUFFALO – Casey Mittelstadt said he panicked a little bit. Having returned home to Minnesota to celebrate Christmas as a blizzard began walloping Buffalo last week, the Sabres winger needed to find a way back.

The ferocious storm forced the Buffalo/Niagara International Airport to close, and the Sabres had a game scheduled for Tuesday in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.

Of course, Mittelstadt, 24, wasn’t alone. The inclement weather had a few Sabres scrambling to ... Read the full article

After blizzard ravages Buffalo, Sabres return to work with heavy hearts

BUFFALO – Kevyn Adams’ mother-in-law lives about a half mile from him in Clarence, so on Christmas Eve, as a devastating blizzard ravaged the region, he decided to brave the elements and check on her.

“Wrapped up and got out there,” the general manager said prior to Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center, the Sabres’ first game since Dec.

The short walk ended up taking Adams two hours there and ... Read the full article

Sabres prospects Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen turning heads at World Juniors

Before Buffalo Sabres prospects Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen left Rochester to join their respective countries at the World Junior Championship, Americans coach Seth Appert challenged the youngsters to rely on more than their skill during the tournament.

He said the AHL rookies have evolved over the past three months, displaying a willingness to play on the inside and attack the net. Without the puck, they’ve learned how to forecheck and about the physicality needed ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen maturing, making case to stick in NHL

BUFFALO – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen needed time to adjust. In his first outings after the Sabres recalled him, the goalie occasionally looked a little wonky.

The Finn wasn’t much of a difference-maker.

Luukkonen, 23, had played just 13 NHL games, the last coming more than 10 months earlier, before Eric Comrie’s lower-body injury thrust into the starting role in late November. Having been labeled as the Sabres’ goalie of the future, when he’s summoned to Buffalo, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Eric Comrie feels healthy, unsure of return from injury

BUFFALO – When Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin checked Senators forward Mathieu Joseph into Eric Comrie five weeks ago, the goalie said he felt “a little bit of a pop in my knee.”

“It didn’t feel very good,” Comrie said following Wednesday’s practice, his second full session since getting injured midway through the Sabres’ 4-1 loss Nov. 16 in Ottawa.

Right away, Comrie, 27, knew something wasn’t right. Still, he tried to gut out the ... Read the full article

Tyson Jost finding home with Sabres: ‘He brings an awful lot’

BUFFALO – The struggles and other experiences Sabres center Tyson Jost has endured since entering the NHL as a teenager have helped him develop a unique perspective.

Jost has already played 358 NHL games, the fourth-highest total among Sabres skaters. Having been drafted 10th overall in 2016, the Colorado Avalanche initially cast him in a scoring role. When that didn’t work out, he fell down the lineup and was traded last season.

He lasted only ... Read the full article

Despite losing streak, Sabres sticking with plan, confident youth will grow

BUFFALO – Kevyn Adams constructed a roster filled with rookies and other neophytes in their early 20s knowing the Sabres would experience ups and downs. Still, the general manager never expected this: an eight-game losing streak following a torrid start.

Three weeks ago, it felt like the Sabres, the NHL’s youngest team, had established themselves as a legitimate playoff contender in the crowded Eastern Conference.

They throttled the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Nov. 2, improving ... Read the full article