November Edition
For the first time since Sam Reinhart played for the Vancouver NW Giants in 2010-11, the Buffalo Sabres winger is spending the fall at home.
Normally, Reinhart, who turns 26 on Friday, would be one month into a new hockey season. Since leaving home in 2011, he has spent his Octobers and Novembers in Kootenay, British Columbia, where he played junior, or Buffalo.
But the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the NHL to push back the ... Read the full article
Former Buffalo Sabres winger Dominik Kahun has signed a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers, according to eichockeynews.com.
The deal is worth $975,000, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Kahun had a salary cap hit of $925,000 last year.
The Sabres did not give Kahun, 25, a qualifying offer last month, making him a free agent. That decision, of course, raised some eyebrows.
Kahun looked impressive in six late-season games with the Sabres, scoring ... Read the full article
The New Jersey Devils have hired former Rochester Americans head coach Chris Taylor as an assistant on Lindy Ruff’s staff, the team announced today.
Taylor played for Ruff over parts of four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Ruff, who was hired by New Jersey on July 9, also added Dave Rogalski as goalie coach to complete his staff.
Ruff named Mark Recchi and Alain Nasreddine his first assistants in September.
New Buffalo general manager Kevyn ... Read the full article
When the Buffalo Sabres fired general manager Jason Botterill and gutted their hockey department four months ago, they also also elevated Ralph Krueger.
Technically, Krueger, 61, still holds the same title: head coach. But his influence has clearly grown under rookie GM Kevyn Adams, a front office neophyte.
Three of the five free agents the Sabres have signed this offseason – most notably, Taylor Hall, the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner – have connections ... Read the full article
If Jason Botterill hadn’t been fired as general manager, then perhaps center Johan Larsson would’ve returned to the Buffalo Sabres.
Larsson, 28, just enjoyed arguably his best NHL season, becoming one of coach Ralph Krueger’s trusted forwards. The checking line the Swede pivoted between Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo quickly solidified itself as the Sabres’ steadiest combination. Krueger kept the trio intact nearly all season.
It appeared Larsson, who signed a two-year contract with ... Read the full article
The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed defenseman Brandon Montour to a one-year, $3.85 million contract, the team announced tonight.
Montour was the Sabres’ only restricted free agent to pass on filing for salary arbitration earlier today.
The right-handed Montour struggled early last season playing on the left side for new coach Ralph Krueger. A hand injury Montour suffered in the preseason also sidelined him 14 games.... Read the full article
For weeks, there was speculation the Buffalo Sabres would pass on tendering defenseman Brandon Montour a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.
Considering former general manager Jason Botterill traded a top prospect and a first round pick for Montour in 2019, the thought of letting him go seemed outrageous. But the belief was the Sabres, who have tightened their belts during the COVID-19 pandemic, did not want to pay Montour big money.
Well, Wednesday’s ... Read the full article
The smile on Kevyn Adams’ face said everything. What promises to be the oddest offseason in NHL history is about to kick into high gear, and the Buffalo Sabres’ rookie general manager couldn’t hide his excitement.
During a 30-minute Zoom call Monday, Adams, 45, rarely stopped grinning. After preparing nearly four months throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to reshape the Sabres, Adams and his staff will be busy this week.
Following the NHL Draft – the ... Read the full article
The Buffalo Sabres have no intention of trading captain Jack Eichel, general manager Kevyn Adams said Monday.
Eichel’s comment following last season he was “fed up” with losing ignited speculation he could want out. Last week, after Eichel’s name surfaced in rumors, TSN’s Bob Mackenzie reported Eichel hadn’t requested a trade and the Sabres had no intention of dealing their top center.
“People call every day,” Adams said on a Zoom call in advance ... Read the full article
Johan Larsson looked looser early last season. The Sabres center, affectionately nicknamed “Angry Larry,” even occasionally smiled, a rarity throughout his turbulent seven-year career in Buffalo.
Naturally, as the season progressed, the Sabres’ annual implosion sapped some of his happiness.
Still, Larsson, 28, enjoyed perhaps his best NHL campaign. The tenacious Swede entrenched himself between Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo early in 2019-20, helping the trio morph into one of the league’s best checking ... Read the full article
