WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
2026-27 Season Edition
Patrick Kane spent three seasons in Detroit. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the end, Patrick Kane signed with Chicago, choosing to return to the city where he’s a legend to help lead the Blackhawks back to glory.
The Sabres, Kane explained prior to Saturday’s game in KeyBank Center, aggressively pursued his services. When free agency opened July 1, one of the first calls he received was from general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.
“It was tough,” the South Buffalo native said of his decision. “It pretty ... Read the full article
Jiri Kulich puts the puck past Chicago goalie Spencer Knight on Saturday for the game-winning goal. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The other guys, Sabres center Jiri Kulich noted, did the heavy lifting to create his first goal in 343 days, the late winner in Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind victory.
Seconds before he gave the Sabres their first lead in the home opener, Kulich misfired after center Tage Thompson sent him in alone on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight during a four-on-four.
“I was pretty pissed after the first one,” said Kulich, who was ... Read the full article
Buffalo trade Bowen Byram during the offseason. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Bowen Byram’s first game here as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks will have to wait until next season.
Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said Byram, 25, is attending to a personal matter and will miss tonight’s game against the Sabres at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres traded Byram, who wanted an opportunity to become a No. 1 defenseman, to Chicago on June 23 in a blockbuster deal that brought the fourth overall pick ... Read the full article
Jack Quinn scored in Thursday’s game. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Friendly reminder, gang, while Seth Appert is the assistant coach in charge of the Sabres’ power play, it’s Lindy Ruff’s show. He’s the head coach.
Oh, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a .909 save percentage last season. Yes, the Finn struggled at times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But he still enjoyed a strong campaign.
Why do these things bear repeating just one game into the season? Well, the Sabres lost Thursday’s opener ... Read the full article
Bowen Byram wanted a fresh opportunity. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
ORCHARD PARK – The Sabres tried to convince Bowen Byram to stay in Buffalo. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he spent all season working on a new contract, calling it his “first priority.”
But Byram, 25, wanted to become a No. 1 defenseman, an opportunity he would likely never have in Buffalo with captain Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson around. So, according to Kekalainen, Byram “didn’t want to negotiate.”
“He wasn’t gonna sign ... Read the full article
Bowen Byram has one year left on his contract. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres completed a blockbuster trade with the Blackhawks tonight, sending defenseman Bowen Byram and winger Jordan Greenway to Chicago in exchange for the fourth overall pick in Friday’s NHL Draft, the 45th selection and defenseman Louis Crevier.
Now, does general manager Jarmo Kekalainen have another move up his sleeve? Will the Sabres, who host the draft Friday and Saturday at KeyBank Center, make their early pick? Or could they package it with, say, ... Read the full article
Logan Stanley joined Buffalo last month. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley knows it sounds a bit odd. After all, he fell out of the lineup after playing 14 straight games following his arrival from the Winnipeg Jets before the trade deadline.
But sitting out Wednesday’s 5-3 road win over the New York Rangers as a healthy scratch infused him with some much-needed confidence.
After being given a chance to reset, Stanley responded by enjoying his best outing with the Sabres ... Read the full article
Josh Doan scored two goals in Friday’s win. ©2025, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – After a loss so ugly it felt like it could kill any recent momentum they had generated, you wondered how the Sabres would respond against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Was it simply a one-off or the perhaps the start of a trend? Well, right now, after demolishing the Blackhawks 9-3 on Friday, Wednesday’s embarrassing 6-2 loss to the lowly Calgary Flames feels like a distant memory.
The Sabres, whose penchant for slow starts has ... Read the full article
Jack Quinn scored his last goal one month ago. ©2025, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Over the past month, Sabres winger Jack Quinn has often fought what he called “a battle I kind of have within myself.”
Quinn, 24, carried a 13-game goal drought into Friday’s contest against the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored his last goal Oct. 22, his third in the first seven games.
“I’m very frustrated I haven’t scored,” Quinn said Friday morning in KeyBank Center. “But there’s also some positives I am creating.”
Actually, Quinn ... Read the full article
Mason Geertsen often sat out as a healthy scratch. ©2025, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When the Sabres waived Mason Geertsen, coach Lindy Ruff, who helped bring the tough guy back to the NHL following a four-year absence, told him he’s still a part of the team.
It’s just that right now, carrying an enforcer is a luxury the Sabres, who must activate winger Jason Zucker from injured reserve before tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, can no longer afford.
“We’ve got a long list of players that ... Read the full article