September Edition
The call lasted less than a minute. Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams simply informed Chris Taylor he was being fired as Rochester Americans coach, offering no details into the sudden dismissal.
Taylor was stunned. Following a successful three-year run in which the Amerks reestablished themselves as an AHL heavyweight, the Sabres let him go Tuesday with no explanation.
“It was very short, fast, why they felt that they wanted a clean slate,” Taylor told ... Read the full article
Following two productive seasons in the Buffalo Sabres organization, it seemed like a formality defenseman Lawrence Pilut would re-sign this offseason as a restricted free agent.
Pilut, 24, quickly acclimated to a new brand of hockey following his arrival from Sweden in 2018, developing into one of the AHL’s most dynamic defensemen as a rookie with the Rochester Americans. Less than two months into his North American career, he earned his first recall to ... Read the full article
The Buffalo Sabres sent prospect Will Borgen, their extra defenseman the last two games, back to the Rochester Americans this afternoon.
The Sabres also assigned Borgen, 22, to the Amerks on Saturday. He played for the AHL club later that day before they recalled him again Sunday.
Borgen will likely play in Wednesday’s home game against the Providence Bruins.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – John Gilmour had never waited so long to play a game. After appearing in the Sabres’ preseason finale Sept. 27, the defenseman sat out 11 contests before making his season debut Friday.
So Gilmour, the Sabres’ spare defender, patiently waited 28 days for his opportunity to materialize as the blue line remained healthy.
Gilmour, of course, acknowledged being a healthy scratch can be difficult. But he still reveled in the Sabres’ early-season success.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – For three or four weeks after Brandon Montour injured his left hand, the Sabres defenseman would dress in his full gear and skate around the ice without a stick.
“You can imagine how frustrating and how tough that was,” Montour said after returning to practice today inside KeyBank Center.
Montour, out since Sept. 17, couldn’t grip a stick at first. But he has graduated to full-contact practices and is officially day-to-day.
“I ... Read the full article
Injuries will sideline defenseman Marco Scandella and winger Jimmy Vesey tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, the Buffalo Sabres announced this afternoon.
Scandella (lower body) and Vesey (upper) were hurt in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers, the start of a two-game road trip.
The Sabres said the players will be evaluated this weekend in Buffalo.
Defenseman John Gilmour, a healthy scratch the first 11 games this season, and winger Evan Rodrigues... Read the full article
After losing defenseman Marco Scandella in Thursday’s 6-2 road loss to the New York Rangers, the Buffalo Sabres recalled Will Borgen from the Rochester Americans this morning.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger told reporters in New York that Scandella is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
The Sabres play tonight in Detroit against the Red Wings.
Borgen, 22, could just be insurance for the Sabres. John Gilmour has been a healthy scratch as the seventh defenseman ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman John Gilmour has never experienced anything like this. In his first three NHL training camps, he never pushed for a roster spot.
“It’s new for me,” Gilmour said following this morning’s practice, the final session of camp.
So Gilmour, of course, is a little nervous. He has to wait another day or two – 23-man NHL rosters must be finalized by 5 p.m. Tuesday – to find out if he cracked ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The good news for the Sabres is defenseman Brandon Montour’s hand injury probably won’t sideline him too long.
While Montour will miss the rest of the preseason, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said he should be ready “pretty soon” after the season opener Oct. 3.
The Sabres, who began training camp down three defensemen, could ill afford to lose another one, especially a point-producer capable of eating up minutes.
Then Montour, 25, left Tuesday’s ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Matej Pekar acknowledged he had been thinking about this opportunity. Sure, it’s just an NHL preseason game. But for the Sabres prospect, tonight’s exhibition represents another small milestone.
“It’s happening,” Pekar said after he prepared for the Sabres’ road contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, his preseason NHL debut. “I just have to be ready for it.”
While Pekar, 19, is probably a longshot to crack the Sabres, his mix of skill and ... Read the full article
