Buffalo’s Connor Clifton (left) and Jack Quinn fight for the puck Tuesday with Seattle’s Justin Schultz. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Defensive lapses doom Sabres in loss to Kraken: ‘It was the mistakes we made’

BUFFALO – The Seattle Kraken grabbed a commanding three-goal lead in the second period, and frustration immediately overwhelmed Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin.

Dahlin smashed his stick over the top of the net, looking more like a lumberjack than a defenseman, breaking it into two pieces.

The Sabres, having won two straight games for just the second time this season, began Tuesday feeling pretty good about themselves. As they started a six-game home stand, they had ... Read the full article

Dustin Tokarski has a 1.87 goals-against average in his last three outings. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski bounces back with two strong outings

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato needed to wait to make a decision. If goalie Dustin Tokarski experienced a heavy workload Friday, then he likely couldn’t have utilized him back-to-back nights.

But Tokarski faced just 11 shots over the final 40 minutes of the Sabres’ 4-1 home win. So Granato felt comfortable starting him again Saturday in Detroit.

“The workload late in that game was not too extensive for Dustin, and that factored in,” ... Read the full article

Mark Pysyk battles Ryan O’Reilly during his days with Florida. ©2021, Dan Hickling

NHL free agency tracker: Sabres bring back Mark Pysyk on one-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres late this afternoon brought back old friend Mark Pysyk, signing the defenseman to a one-year, $900,000 contract.

Pysyk, 29, played his first 125 NHL games with the Sabres, who drafted him in 23rd overall in 2010.

The Sabres traded Pysyk to the Florida Panthers in 2016 in the deal that netted them defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.

The 6-foot-1, 196-pound Pysyk spent four years in Florida before playing last season with the Dallas ... Read the full article

Buffalo drafted Jake McCabe in 2012. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

NHL free agency tracker: Sabres lose Jake McCabe to Blackhawks

Jake McCabe’s seven-year career with the Buffalo Sabres is over.

The defenseman this afternoon agreed to terms with the Chicago Blackhawks on a four-year, $16 million contract in free agency.

McCabe makes his offseason home in suburban Chicago.

General manager Kevyn Adams said on Saturday the Sabres were still interested in re-signing McCabe, 27, but he expected him to hit the open market.

Update: On a virtual news conference, McCabe said joining Chicago is ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark enjoyed a stellar season on a bad team in 2020-21. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Losing top goalie Linus Ullmark in free agency would be huge blow to Sabres

The days of the Sabres trying to lure big-name free agents to Buffalo are over. When the market opens today, they’ll likely be bit players, focusing on filling some of their many holes and adding depth while attempting to re-sign goalie Linus Ullmark.

Ullmark’s departure would be a massive blow to the Sabres. The Swede, their backbone and MVP, earned nine of the team’s 15 wins last season in only 20 outings.

They don’t ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark was Buffalo’s backbone last season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Linus Ullmark, Jake McCabe could leave Sabres in free agency

BUFFALO – Throughout the offseason, the Sabres have stayed in regular contact with Linus Ullmark’s agent and stressed they want the Swede to be their No. 1 goalie.

The Sabres sorely need Ullmark, their backbone and team MVP. While prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looked impressive in limited NHL action late last season, he’s ticketed to return to the minors for more seasoning.

They don’t have another netminder in the pipeline ready to assume the starting job.... Read the full article

Ramsus Ristolainen has never played an NHL playoff game. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Ex-Sabre Rasmus Ristolainen welcomes fresh start after trade to Flyers

BUFFALO – In defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen’s first eight seasons, the Sabres morphed into the NHL’s laughingstock, finishing dead last four times and winning barely one-third of their games.

The constant losing and turmoil – Ristolainen played for a whopping six coaches and four general mangers, stunning numbers that illustrate the Sabres’ futility – wore on him. The straight-shooting Finn often voiced his frustration.

On Friday afternoon, hours before the Sabres picked Michigan defenseman Owen Power... Read the full article

Rasmus Ristolainen played eight years in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres trade Rasmus Ristolainen, get huge return from Flyers

Rasmus Ristolainen’s eight-year career with the Buffalo Sabres is over.

The Sabres this afternoon traded the Finnish defenseman to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for the 14th overall pick in tonight’s NHL Draft, a 2023 second-round selection and defenseman Robert Hagg.

Ristolainen, 26, has just one year left on his contract. He often voiced his frustration with the constant losing he has endured over his NHL career. Following last season, he said he was open ... Read the full article

Buffalo opens its 2021-22 schedule Oct. 14. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

2021-22 Sabres schedule features early home stand, games against Kraken

A season-opening four-game home stand, two contests against the expansion Seattle Kraken and four meetings with the Toronto Maple Leafs are among the highlights of the 82-game 2021-22 Buffalo Sabres schedule the NHL released Thursday.

The Sabres open the campaign Oct. 14 against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center and also host the Arizona Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins before playing their first road game Oct. 23 versus the New Jersey Devils.

The Sabres ... Read the full article

Buffalo drafted Will Borgen in 2015. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Kraken take Will Borgen in NHL Expansion Draft

If the Seattle Kraken hadn’t selected Will Borgen from the Sabres in Wednesday’s NHL Expansion Draft, he likely would’ve competed for a spot among Buffalo’s top-six defensemen next season.

Borgen, 24, was close to enjoying regular duty last season before breaking his forearm.

So after six years of development – the Sabres drafted Borgen in the fourth round in 2015, 92nd overall – he departed just as he was maturing into an NHL talent.... Read the full article