WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Zach Benson has played just 34 NHL games. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Early in Monday afternoon’s 3-0 win, Sabres coach Don Granato shuffled his lines to give them more directness.
Most notably, he shifted Casey Mittelstadt from left wing on the top line, where he had been subbing for Jeff Skinner, to center, his natural position, between Jordan Greenway and captain Kyle Okposo.
To replace Mittelstadt alongside center Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, he promoted 18-year-old rookie Zach Benson, who began the game playing with ... Read the full article
Anders Bjork played 74 games for Buffalo. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday traded winger Anders Bjork to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.
The deal possibly gives Bjork, 26, an opportunity to resume his NHL career. In October, the Sabres waived him and assigned him to Rochester, where he began his first stint in the AHL since 2019-20.
Shortly after the deal was announced, the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago’s AHL affiliate, sent center Carson Gicewicz, an Orchard Park native, to Rochester ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson’s celebrates his game-tying goal Saturday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Hours before Tage Thompson’s clutch two-goal performance in Saturday’s 4-3, come-from-behind overtime victory, Sabres coach Don Granato gave his struggling center a simple message: relax.
Thompson, fresh off a breakout 38-goal season, admittedly demands a lot from himself. After scoring just once in the first seven games, he began feeling pressure to produce.
So Granato told Thompson, who turns 25 today, to stop trying to score the perfect goal and overthinking things. Just ... Read the full article
Kale Clague, who began the season in Rochester, joined Buffalo as a free agent. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochster Americans
BUFFALO – Having shuttled between the NHL and minors for four seasons, Sabres newcomer Kale Clague understand his role as a depth defenseman.
Despite enjoying a strong training camp, Clague, 24, started the season with the Rochester Americans as the eighth or ninth defenseman in the organization.
Given the rugged nature of the position, it seemed likely the Sabres would need Clague at some point, and sure enough, the Sabres recalled him on Sunday after ... Read the full article
Owen Power has played 15 NHL games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – As the seconds ticked down and the crowd grew restless, Sabres rookie Owen Power stayed calm, displaying poise that belies his age.
Power, 19, said he initially wanted to shoot when winger Victor Olofsson passed him the puck above the left circle. But he had a little space, and when he saw a seam open up, he adroitly fed Rasmus Dahlin, his defense partner, in the right circle.
“So many guys feel ... Read the full article
Rick Jeanneret called his final game Friday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato said he can’t simply tell his players about the Sabres’ history. They need to see and experience it for themselves.
That’s why Granato believes the Sabres’ season-long celebration of legendary play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret, who called his final game Friday, will have a lasting effect for his young team.
“Having everybody celebrate RJ this season meant they celebrated 50 years of Sabre hockey and the history,” Granato said prior to ... Read the full article
Casey Fitzgerald played his first 36 games with Buffalo this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres made three roster moves prior to Friday’s season finale against the Chicago Blackhawks, sending defenseman Casey Fitzgerald and goalie Aaron Dell to the Rochester Americans and recalling netminder Michael Houser.
The Amerks, who thumped the Utica Comets 8-1 in Friday’s regular-season finale at Blue Cross Arena, needed the victory to stay alive the AHL North Division playoff chase. Their defense has been decimated by injuries and recalls, so Fitzgerald’s arrival was ... Read the full article
Rick Jeanneret speaks at his emotional banner raising ceremony April 1 in Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Legendary Sabres play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret figures he has set an unbreakable record for longevity.
How many NHL announcers call games for 51 years, let alone with one team?
“That’s unheard of,” a proud Jeanneret, who will be calling his final game tonight, told the Times Herald last month. “That’ll never be matched again, not a chance.”
If Sabres fans had their way, there would be a 52nd season. It feels like everyone ... Read the full article
Malcolm Subban has played 82 NHL games. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon addressed their goaltending, acquiring Malcolm Subban from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.
With No. 1 goalie Craig Anderson recovering from an upper-body injury, the Sabres have been relying on journeyman goalie Dustin Tokarski.
Sabres goalie Aaron Dell, Tokarski’s backup, was pulled from his last start. The Sabres even started Tokarski back-to-back nights last week, most likely because of Dell’s struggles.... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Jake McCabe in 2012. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Jake McCabe’s seven-year career with the Buffalo Sabres is over.
The defenseman this afternoon agreed to terms with the Chicago Blackhawks on a four-year, $16 million contract in free agency.
McCabe makes his offseason home in suburban Chicago.
General manager Kevyn Adams said on Saturday the Sabres were still interested in re-signing McCabe, 27, but he expected him to hit the open market.
Update: On a virtual news conference, McCabe said joining Chicago is ... Read the full article