Bryson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Lindy Ruff could utilize depth to change Buffalo’s lineup

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ depth offers coach Lindy Ruff some intriguing options. He has been scratching three healthy players each game, meaning he has fresh bodies he can plug into the lineup.

With another game tonight in Detroit, he can infuse some jump in a team that will likely feel fatigued following Friday’s 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders in KeyBank Center.

“In back-to-back games, we’ll have depth to put fresh bodies ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jiri Kulich scratched as Nicolas Aube-Kubel returns

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres have a good problem. Winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel has recovered from a lower-body injury, giving them 13 forwards.

So if they remain healthy up front, that depth they’ve built up will force coach Lindy Ruff to make some difficult decisions.

Ruff made room for Aube-Kubel in Monday’s lineup for the Sabres’ 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers by scratching rookie Jiri Kulich. They placed winger Zach Benson, who’s battling a ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson playing like superstar, helps Sabres beat Red Wings

BUFFALO – A strong argument can be made the past week or two ranks as the most significant stretch of Tage Thompson’s four-year run as the Sabres’ top center.

His gaudy statistics are just part of it, mind you. After scoring two goals and three points in Saturday afternoon’s 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, he has recorded six goals and 10 points during his six-game point streak.

Right now, Thompson, who has a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nicolas Aube-Kubel close to playing; Zach Benson out injured

BUFFALO – After winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel suffered a lower-body injury, believed to be a knee sprain, in the season opener Oct. 4, the Sabres said he would be sidelined three to six weeks.

On Tuesday morning, 18 days after going down, Aube-Kubel rejoined his teammates on the KeyBank Center ice prior to their 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars.

“I’m actually shocked,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “I’m really impressed that he’s back.”

Aube-Kubel, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn scratched against Blue Jackets; Jiri Kulich moves in

COLUMBUS – Jack Quinn, of course, is hardly alone. The winger is one of seven Buffalo Sabres forwards still looking for his first goal.

But Quinn, a second-liner, is expected to score. Through five games this season, he hasn’t looked like himself, struggling to generate offense.

He has compiled zero goals, one assist, five shots on goal and a minus-4 rating. He was a minus-2 in Wednesday’s 6-5 overtime road loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.... Read the full article

Three years after trade, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs trying to reinvent himself

BUFFALO – During practices, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has noticed Peyton Krebs possesses the skill to make what he called “special plays.” Of course, having registered 20 goals and 66 points in his career, the center only occasionally showcases that talent in games.

In Krebs, 23, Ruff sees a player trying to figure things out. When the Vegas Golden Knights drafted him 17th overall in 2019 and the Sabres acquired him almost three years ago ... Read the full article

Nicolas Aube-Kubel (left) moves alongside New Jersey’s Jonas Siegenthaler last week in Prague, Czechia.

Sabres injuries: Nicolas Aube-Kubel out long-term; JJ Peterka, Zach Benson day to day

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who suffered a lower-body injury in Friday’s season opener, will be sidelined about three to six weeks, coach Lindy Ruff said.

There is, however, some good news. Ruff said wingers JJ Peterka (concussion) and Zach Benson (lower body) are considered day to day after suffering injuries in Prague, Czechia.

Neither practiced Tuesday in KeyBank Bank Center, the Sabres’ first session since returning from their season-opening trip.... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Buffalo to dress most of regulars, give Jiri Kulich first chance

BUFFALO – When coach Lindy Ruff said most of the Sabres’ regulars would dress for the preseason opener, he wasn’t kidding.

Tonight’s roster resembles a regular-season lineup, with perhaps the entire first and second lines playing against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.

Assistant coach Seth Appert said No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start and go the distance.

While the lineup mostly features established talent, rookie winger Jiri Kulich will receive his first action ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Jason Zucker, Sam Lafferty in free agency, re-sign Jacob Bryson

BUFFALO – The Sabres added two forwards shortly after free agency opened today, signing Jason Zucker to a one-year, $5 million contract and Sam Lafferty to a two-year, $4 million deal.

Zucker, 32, compiled 14 goals, 42 points, 81 penalty minutes and a minus-9 rating in 69 games with the Arizona Coyotes and Nashville Predators last season.

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Zucker, a winger, has scored 196 goals and 370 points in 697 career NHL games. ... Read the full article

Sabres don’t give Jacob Bryson, two others qualifying offers

LAS VEGAS – The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday did not extend a $1.9 million qualifying offer to defenseman Jacob Bryson, making him a free agent.

The Sabres extendeded qualifying offers to goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, defenseman Henri Jokiharju and forwards Beck Malenstyn and Peyton Krebs.

Luukkonen, Jokiharju and Malenstyn all have arbitration rights.

Defensemen Riley Stillman and Calle Sjalin, two other pending restricted free agents, also did not receive qualifying offers.... Read the full article