WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Jason Botterill’s team has struggled this month. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – General manager Jason Botterill said before tonight’s game he’s “actively looking” to find a forward to help the injury-depleted Sabres.
“But we also are very happy with how our players have come up from Rochester and played so far,” said Botterill, whose team played without five forwards against the Minnesota Wild.
The Sabres had lost a forward to injury in five straight games entering Tuesday. The organization is so depleted – three Rochester ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo suffered a concussion Saturday. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Having lost five forwards in the last five games, a stunning run of injuries, the reeling Sabres have two options for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild.
The Sabres can either dress seven defensemen and only 11 forwards, coach Ralph Krueger said, or they can recall a forward from the Rochester Americans.
They stayed remarkably healthy over the first month of the season, utilizing the same lineup most games. But the injuries have ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo suffered a concussion Saturday. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Winger Kyle Okposo is out indefinitely after suffering another concussion Saturday, the Sabres announced this afternoon.
Okposo has a scary history of concussions. This is at least his fourth since he joined the Sabres. After suffering one late in 2016-17, he was hospitalized in intensive care.
In the second period of Saturday’s 4-2 win over Ottawa, Okposo, 31, jumped off the bench and collided with Senators defenseman Ron Hainsey. Okposo got up, skated ... Read the full article
Colin Miller has played 17 games this season. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Colin Miller’s stint in the press box likely won’t last long. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Sabres defenseman returns to the lineup Saturday.
But Marco Scandella’s return from a lower-body injury Thursday forced Sabres coach Ralph Krueger to make a tough decision and sit out a regular defenseman.
Miller was the odd man out against for the 5-4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Right now, the Sabres have eight healthy defensemen. ... Read the full article
Zach Bogosian has had both his hips repaired. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Zach Bogosian couldn’t find the words to describe what he has experienced recovering from his second hip surgery.
Injuries have ravaged the Sabres defenseman throughout his five years here, costing him a whopping 148 games.
After undergoing surgery in April – Bogosian had his other hip repaired in early 2018 – he endured setbacks. A recovery expected to take about five or six months has lasted around eight.
Finally, Bogosian, 29, joined ... Read the full article
Zach Bogosian (4) battles Toronto’s Zach Hyman last season. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Zach Bogosian wasn’t about to let Henri Jokiharju skate by him today, even during a practice drill. So the Sabres defenseman rammed his teammate into the KeyBank Center glass, a move that looked better suited for a game.
“It was just the way the drill was going,” a smiling Bogosian said after practicing for the first time this season. “It was either that or he was going to go by me. That’s probably ... Read the full article
Zach Bogosian hasn’t played since last season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – More than six months after undergoing hip surgery, defenseman Zach Bogosian will return to practice today, the Sabres announced this morning.
Bogosian, who’s week-to-week, will be joined by defenseman Marco Scandella, who has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury.
That doesn’t mean the Sabres are healthy.
They announced this morning a lower-body injury will sideline winger Vladimir Sobotka four to six weeks. Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov hit Sobotka ... Read the full article
Zach Bogosian had hip surgery in April. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – When the Sabres announced defenseman Zach Bogosian had undergone successful hip surgery, they said he would need five to six months to recover.
That was six months ago today.
Bogosian, who has battled injuries for years, suffered setbacks during the summer and hasn’t even started practicing yet.
But Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said prior to Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks he believes Bogosian, 29, will play this season.... Read the full article
Henri Jokiharju has been playing in key situations. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Ralph Krueger doesn’t pay much attention to his players’ ages. Whether you’re a teenager and or a veteran, the Sabres coach said he treats everyone the same way.
In turn, Krueger expects a rookie to have the same habits as, say, a 35-year-old.
“So for younger players, that could sometimes put pressure on them,” Krueger said prior to Friday’s 3-2 shootout win over the Florida Panthers inside KeyBank Center. “For older players, it ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo scored in Saturday’s win. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Throughout his career, Ralph Krueger has refused to number lines. The Sabres coach said it’s one of his core philosophies.
Krueger believes everyone, no matter how small the role, contributes to a team’s success. Ranking forward trios or defense pairs would take away from that.
“I just (have) the respect for the depth that teams need to be successful and the role players that I need,” Krueger said after the 2-0 Sabres prepared ... Read the full article