WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
January Edition
Craig Anderson played two seasons in Buffalo. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the first season following his retirement, former Sabres goalie Craig Anderson has occasionally dropped in and visited his old teammates.
It turns out he wasn’t just saying hello.
The Sabres on Thursday announced they’ve hired Anderson, 42, for a part-time position as a “hockey liaison.”
In his role, he will “continue to serve as a trusted voice in the Sabres’ locker room, providing insight, guidance, and support to the players and coaching ... Read the full article
Riley Stillman (left) and Nikita Novikov skated together Friday. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
ROCHESTER – Instead of pouting over a surprising demotion, Americans defenseman Riley Stillman has chosen to embrace his first stint in the minors in three seasons.
Stillman, 25, believes the AHL offers an opportunity to evolve and play extra minutes he wouldn’t have received as the Buffalo Sabres’ sixth or seventh defenseman.
“For sure, it was a little shocking to me,” he told the Times Herald of getting waived, following Friday’s 4-3 season-opening overtime loss ... Read the full article
Owen Power played significant minutes as a rookie. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Scan through each NHL roster and try to pick out every so-called franchise defenseman. Most teams don’t have one.
In Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres possess two.
This week, Power and Dahlin each signed long-term contract extensions, ensuring two foundational pieces can remain teammates through the 2030-31 season.... Read the full article
Riley Stillman played 18 games for Buffalo last season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday moved closer to finalizing their regular-season roster, waiving defensemen Riley Stillman and Kale Clague and forward Brandon Biro for the purpose of assigning them to the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres also sent defenseman Ryan Johnson, 22, and winger Lukas Rousek, 24, to Rochester.
They have 25 players – 15 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies – left on their training camp roster. They must finalize their 23-man regular-season roster by ... Read the full article
Jacob Bryson lost his spot in the lineup late last season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – After playing four preseason games, Jacob Bryson sat out Friday’s finale. The Sabres used it as a dress rehearsal, and the six defensemen they likely plan to utilize opening night faced the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bryson, 25, has enjoyed a strong training camp, showcasing more assertiveness than last season and earning coach Don Granato’s praise.
Still, his future here is unclear. The Sabres have their deepest blue line since the post-lockout days of the ... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Ryan Johnson in 2019. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Ryan Johnson hadn’t experienced a week of hockey so jam-packed since his days of playing four games in two days at youth tournaments.
Last week, Johnson, 22, played four of the Sabres’ five preseason games, including three in a dizzying four-day stretch.
“I feel like I have not done that before in a long time,” the rookie said with a laugh following Monday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “… I like actually ... Read the full article
Zach Benson played in Buffalo’s first two preseason games. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the beginning of training camp, coach Don Granato said the Sabres penciled prospect Zach Benson in for three preseason games, a number he will hit tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
But Benson, the 13th overall pick this year, has looked so impressive in his early action he might earn more games. The Sabres have three more after tonight’s in Pittsburgh.
“Now, based on how he’s playing, there’s intrigue that he may get ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen played a career-high 33 games last season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
ST. THOMAS, Ont. – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen never expected he would spend five months in Buffalo, win 17 games or briefly emerge as the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie.
After all, Luukkonen, 24, began last season in the AHL before Eric Comrie’s injury forced the Sabres to recall him in mid-November. He quickly emerged as their top option, playing 33 games.
From Dec. 4 until Jan. 24, he won 12 of his 15 starts, including eight of ... Read the full article
The Joe Thornton Community Centre is ready for the Sabres. ©2023
ST. THOMAS, Ont. – When the Buffalo Sabres arrived via a police escort at Joe Thornton Community Centre to prepare for tonight’s Kraft Hockeyville game, defenseman Jacob Bryson, who grew up in nearby London, left the bus first to greet excited fans.
“I would say I was ordered,” joked Bryson, who will play in tonight’s preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Of course, Bryson gladly, as he said, “led the charge.” He occasionally practiced ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin had one goal and three points Saturday afternoon. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Go ahead, try to pick Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s most impactful play in Saturday afternoon’s thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Was it his game-tying power-play score in the second period, his first goal in nearly 11 weeks? His dazzling backhand pass that created center Casey’s Mittelstadt’s tying goal later in the period? Before he dished the puck, he generated highlight footage by zooming down the slot and slickly undressing two ... Read the full article