Adams - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres excited to give prospect Jacob Bryson opportunity: ‘It just felt right’

Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger figured defenseman Will Borgen couldn’t have broken his arm.

After the rookie blocked a shot late in the first period of Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils, he stayed in the game, taking a regular shift over the final 40 minutes.

So when Krueger learned another evaluation had revealed Borgen, 24, fractured his right forearm, he said he felt “absolute shock.”

Borgen underwent surgery Tuesday and will ... Read the full article

Ralph Krueger returns to Sabres: ‘Time to realize how lethal this COVID is’

BUFFALO – Ralph Krueger only stayed on the ice about 15 minutes. After the Sabres coach chatted with several players and exchanged some fist-bumps, he left and watched Sunday’s practice from the KeyBank Center stands.

But just having an opportunity to touch the ice for a spell and enjoy some brief interactions helped recharge Krueger, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 4.

“Just this morning, when the players arrived and we passed each other, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel confident he will play better: ‘Going to start to take off’

BUFFALO – Following nearly a 10-month break, an upper-body injury forced captain Jack Eichel to wait an extra five days to join training camp. Then after having barely a week of practice, the Sabres began a dizzying run of 10 games over 18 days.

So when the Sabres started an eight-day COVID-19 pause last week, Eichel, 24, used the unexpected break as an opportunity to let his body recover and examine his game.

“It took ... Read the full article

Sabres thrilled to be back, believe they can grow from COVID adversity

BUFFALO – The COVID-19 protocols the NHL implemented this season have stymied off-ice activities.

Wanna grab a bite to eat or check out a museum on the road? Wanna stop over after practice and play Xbox? Forget about it. Socializing is kept to the bare minimum.

The Sabres added eight new faces this season, so enjoying a team dinner or group outing would’ve helped the players become familiar with each other.

“You can’t go get ... Read the full article

Sabres felt comfortable playing Devils before COVID-19 problems began

BUFFALO – Before the Sabres played the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 30, general manager Kevyn Adams said he asked Bill Daly about their opponent’s situation with COVID-19.

At that point, the NHL had placed five Devils on the protocol-related absences list. Based on the information the deputy commissioner had been given, the game at KeyBank Center was green-lighted, and the Sabres won a 4-3 shootout.

“The comfort was that we should move forward and ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Don Granato could move from behind bench

BUFFALO – When the Sabres play a game again, the chances of assistant coach Don Granato being behind the bench appear to be slim.

Granato, 53, missed nearly two months at the beginning of last season after he was hospitalized with severe pneumonia. He needed a ventilator and had a blood infection, according to The Buffalo News.

The Sabres have nine players on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list. Coach Ralph Krueger, meanwhile, tested positive ... Read the full article

Sabres return to practice without coach Ralph Krueger, nine players

BUFFALO – Following an eight-day break, the Sabres practiced this afternoon without coach Ralph Krueger, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, and the nine players who are on the NHL’s protocol-related absences list.

Some quick updates from Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams, who spoke on Zoom before the session inside KeyBank Center:

– Adams said Krueger, 61, is symptomatic.

“I feel very comfortable that he’s being looked at from our doctors and trainers,” Adams ... Read the full article

Sabres set to practice this afternoon

The Buffalo Sabres, who have nine players on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list, will practice this afternoon for the first time in eight days.

The Sabres’ facilities have been closed since Tuesday, when the NHL postponed four games. The league postponed two more contests Monday.

Stay tuned for more details. General manager Kevyn Adams will speak to the media at 1 p.m. The Sabres are scheduled to practice at 1:15 p.m.... Read the full article

Making of a coach: How Amerks’ Seth Appert went from college goalie to AHL

Seth Appert remembers feeling scared walking up the stairs that day almost 26 years ago inside Ferris State’s hotel.

A night earlier, as Miami was annihilating his school in a CCHA playoff game in Oxford, Ohio, Appert had approached his coach, Bob Daniels, during the second intermission.

Appert, a junior backup goalie, suggested to Daniels that Jeff Blashill, who had been pulled early from the blowout, should replace him. If Blashill re-entered the game, Appert ... Read the full article

Cody Eakin, Tobias Rieder and Sabres’ other newcomers already contributing

BUFFALO – With 33 seconds remaining Tuesday and the Sabres clinging to a one-goal lead against the New York Rangers, coach Ralph Krueger sent out center Cody Eakin to take a critical draw in his own zone.

Eakin has quickly become a trusted faceoff specialist, winning 59.4% this season. With winger Taylor Hall serving a boarding penalty and goalie Alexandar Georgiev on the bench for an extra attacker, the Sabres desperately needed the puck.

Eakin ... Read the full article