Botterill - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Jake McCabe to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe will undergo season-ending surgery to repair his injured shoulder, the team announced this afternoon.

McCabe, 24, hasn’t played since he underwent thumb surgery after blocking a shot Feb. 6.

“Jake has been progressing well in his recovery from his previous injury, but we decided that this was a good opportunity to take care of a problem that he has been dealing with for a while,” Sabres general manager Jason ... Read the full article

Disinterested Sabres implode early against Kings

BUFFALO – The NHL trade deadline hits in eight days, and based on the feeble effort given in Saturday afternoon’s ugly 4-2 loss, some Sabres are waiting for the phone to ring.

Clearly, some players want to get the heck out of town.

Against a Los Angeles Kings team that had lost three straight games, the Sabres showcased nothing early on, falling behind 1-0 while getting outshot 19-8 in the first period.... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner could be attractive option for contender

BUFFALO – Forget about struggling winger Evander Kane, the asset that could fetch the Sabres the greatest return before the upcoming trade deadline is goalie Robin Lehner.

Kane has been struggling for months, producing just four goals over a 32-game span, including zero in the past 13 contests. His value has dropped dramatically.

Lehner, meanwhile, has been tending some strong goal for the hapless Sabres, who have lost four straight home games. In ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian to undergo season-ending hip surgery

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian will undergo season-ending hip surgery next week, the team announced today.

Bogosian’s estimated recovery time is four to six months, so the 10-year veteran should be ready for the start of next season.

“The news regarding Zach’s injury is unfortunate,” Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said in a statement. “Zach has been dealing with this injury since the beginning of the season. After consulting with our medical team, we ... Read the full article

Former Sabre Nathan Paetsch at home with Amerks

ROCHESTER – The second phase of former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Nathan Paetsch’s career has been rewarding, even a bit unlikely.

Five years ago, Paetsch transitioned into a veteran role helping develop Detroit Red Wings prospects. He won two Calder Cups with the Grand Rapids Griffins, playing a vital role well into his 30s, an advanced age for the AHL.

Now, Paetsch has come full circle. Fourteen years after starting his career in Rochester as a ... Read the full article

World Juniors helping Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander’s development

BUFFALO – In the AHL, where Alexander Nylander has spent most of the last season and a half, the slick forward is still a youngster adjusting to pro hockey.

But at the World Junior Championship, Nylander, 19, is a veteran. In his third and final tournament, Team Sweden, which will compete for a gold medal tonight, has leaned heavily on the Sabres prospect.

... Read the full article

Scott Wilson comfortable with Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Scott Wilson spent three full seasons in the Pittsburgh organization, morphing from a seventh-round pick into a regular on the Penguins’ 2017 Stanley Cup championship team.

Wilson made 98 total appearances last season, including 20 in the playoffs. On June 11, the winger skated more than 13 minutes in Pittsburgh’s Cup-clinching victory.

But by October, Wilson’s days with the Penguins were numbered. They needed centers and had too many wingers. Wilson ... Read the full article

Sabres assign Alexander Nylander to Sweden

BUFFALO – The Sabres have assigned forward prospect Alexander Nylander to Team Sweden for the World Junior Championship, the team announced late Wednesday.

The tournament starts next week in Buffalo.

Nylander, 19, dazzled at times during the last two World Junior Championships, scoring nine goals and a whopping 21 points in 14 games.

Perhaps playing among teenagers again will jumpstart Nylander’s season.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian finding regular form after injury

BUFFALO – In Zach Bogosian’s first two appearances following a 25-game absence, adrenaline carried the Sabres defenseman, coach Phil Housley said.

“Those first two games he was our best defenseman,” Housley said prior to Friday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes inside KeyBank Center.

But after those outings earlier this month, Bogosian experienced a normal dip returning from his lower-body injury.

“The adrenaline’s not there, now you’re in the game mode and getting prepared, ... Read the full article

Sabres could loan prospect Alexander Nylander to Sweden

BUFFALO – If the Sabres want to jumpstart prospect Alexander Nylander’s season, they have a pretty strong option.

Nylander, 19, has endured a rough four months. After suffering a lower-body injury in rookie camp, the slick forward missed all of the main camp and didn’t make his season debut until Nov. 17 with the Rochester Americans.

So far, Nylander has struggled in his second AHL season, compiling one goal, four points and a minus-8 ... Read the full article