Bailey - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect William Carrier close to making NHL

BUFFALO – By around mid-March, it looked imminent. William Carrier, the often overshadowed Sabres prospect, was about to earn his first NHL recall from the Rochester Americans.

In a 21-game stretch, Carrier scored nine goals and 20 points. Before his torrid run, Carrier had compiled only 11 goals and 31 points in his first 94 AHL contests.

“One good game, two good games – it just starts rolling out,” Carrier said Thursday following a development ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander not looking far ahead

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Hudson Fasching was looking for small details in Alexander Nylander’s game. Sure, he could see the eighth overall pick possesses terrific speed and soft hands.

But when a player is that talented, Fasching, 20, likes to examine him a little closer.

“You can kind of just tell, if you pay a little extra attention to him, every puck he shoots it’s crisp, it’s in a direction,” Fasching said Wednesday following ... Read the full article

Prospect Austin Osmanski on wearing Sabres jersey: ‘amazing’

BUFFALO – Five minutes before his development camp session started this afternoon, Sabres prospect Austin Osmanski was sitting nervously inside the HarborCenter dressing room, wondering if he should go on the ice early.

Eventually, Osmanski, an East Aurora native, left the room and was the first player on the ice. Winger Justin Bailey, a Williamsville native, followed him.

“Justin Bailey was right behind me, so it was pretty cool,” Osmanski said.

Wearing a Sabres jersey ... Read the full article

Alexander Nylander one of many Sabres prospects to watch

BUFFALO – Watching a top prospect skate in a Sabres jersey for the first time, even in a development camp setting, is a special experience for fans always eager to welcome new talent.

For the next six days, starting with today’s session inside HarborCenter, the Sabres’ rabid fan base will receive its first glimpses of Swedish winger Alexander Nylander, the eighth overall pick June 24 at the First Niagara Center, sporting blue and gold ... Read the full article

Austin Osmanski’s selection by Sabres emotional

BUFFALO – By late Saturday morning, as the seven-round NHL Draft crept toward the end, East Aurora’s Austin Osmanski and his 50 or 60 supporters started getting nervous.

At one point, Osmanski, 18, joked to his father, Kevin, who was sitting beside him, they should leave. But deep down, the defenseman was really worried he wouldn’t be selected by anyone, let alone the hometown Sabres.

Osmanski responded to his aunt’s attempt to lighten the mood ... Read the full article

Sabres’ recent drafts have yielded potential high-end talent

BUFFALO – To thrive in the modern NHL, teams must build through the draft. It’s that simple. The days of loading up with veteran players through free agency or trades are long gone. The league belongs to the 20-somethings now, and if teams draft poorly, they’re doomed.

How good are the Sabres at drafting? Judge for yourself below. Since drafts usually don’t start paying dividends for a few years, here’s a look at their selections ... Read the full article

Popular Amerks veteran Matt Ellis pondering future

ROCHESTER – Physically, Matt Ellis said, he hasn’t felt this good in four or five years. At 34 years old, having just finished his 14^th pro season, the popular former Buffalo Sabres forward believes he could keep playing.

“I definitely feel like I got lots left in the tank,” Ellis said Thursday inside the Blue Cross War Memorial.

Still, Ellis understands he could be nearing retirement. This season, his first out of the NHL ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Justin Bailey thriving with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Before Americans winger Justin Bailey started his first pro season, he set a significant goal for himself. The Williamsville native wanted to score 20 times, a tough number for anyone, let alone a rookie, to reach in this low-scoring era.

“I think it’s something that in the beginning I strived to accomplish,” Bailey said Thursday inside the Blue Cross War Memorial after the AHL club prepared for tonight’s home finale against the Albany ... Read the full article

Improved defense has boosted Sabres rookie Jack Eichel’s offense

BUFFALO – Empty-net goals rarely make highlight reels. They’re usually the game’s least-exciting score. Sometimes they’re merely an uncontested 10- or 15-foot shot, hockey’s version of the layup. Other times they’re simply a long zone clear that happens to hit the net.

Then there was Sabres rookie Jack Eichel’s rugged, zig-zagging empty-netter that sealed Tuesday’s 3-1 road win against the New Jersey Devils.

“It was a battle royale from the blue line in,” coach Dan ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly questionable for Devils

Buffalo Sabres centers Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly are both questionable for tonight’s road game against the New Jersey Devils, coach Dan Bylsma told reporters in Newark.

Bylsma said Eichel enjoyed a maintenance from practice Monday. O’Reilly, meanwhile, rested something he hurt in Saturday’s 4-3 win against the New York Rangers.

Bylsma said he expects one to play “for sure.” That’s likely Eichel.

The Sabres could recall a forward, Bylsma said.

Update: The Sabres recalled ... Read the full article