Cozens - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Devon Levi excited to visit Buffalo, happy at Northeastern

Buffalo Sabres prospect Devon Levi does things his way, embracing a patient approach in his development as a goalie while blocking out any outside noise.

To wit: Levi, the NCAA’s top goaltender last season, chose to return to Northeastern for his junior year instead of turning pro. If he had signed with the Sabres, perhaps he would’ve started for the Rochester Americans or earned a quick taste of the NHL.

But Levi, 20, is perfectly ... Read the full article

Sabres draft centers Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich

MONTREAL – Centers are perhaps the most precious commodity in hockey, and the Buffalo Sabres had built up an impressive stockpile of them before they selected Matthew Savoie ninth overall, Noah Ostlund 16th and Jiri Kulich 28th at the NHL Draft on Thursday.

In 18-year-old youngsters, the Sabres picked three of the most talented pivots in the draft and added to perhaps the league’s deepest group.

In the NHL, the Sabres have skilled centers Dylan ... Read the full article

Sabres sign prospect Filip Cederqvist to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday signed forward Filip Cederqvist, a fifth-round pick in 2019, 143rd overall, to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Cederqvist, 21, spent all of the 2021-22 season with Djurgardens IF, scoring 14 goals and 32 points in 49 games. His career-high offensive totals ranked second on the Swedish Hockey League team.

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Cederqvist has compiled 19 goals and 42 points in 115 career SHL games.

... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens to represent Team Canada at World Championship

Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens has been named to Team Canada’s entry at upcoming the World Championship in Finland, Hockey Canada announced today.

Cozens, 21, just completed his second NHL season, compiling 13 goals and 38 points in 79 games.

The Yukon native last represented Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championship, winning a silver medal while serving as captain.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson leading huge offensive surge

BUFFALO – You have to go back 11 years to find the last time the Sabres showcased an offense this exciting and prolific.

The Sabres’ next goal will be their 222nd of the season, their highest total since they scored 240 times in 2010-11, the last year they made the playoffs. They also scored 221 goals in 2018-19.

Overall, the Sabres rank 22nd in goals scored this season entering Saturday afternoon’s home game against the ... Read the full article

Sabres to change lines against Flyers; Mattias Samuelsson questionable

BUFFALO – In Friday’s practice, Sabres coach Don Granato changed every forward line, tinkering with trios that have recently developed chemistry and enjoyed success.

Granato often explains how he wants his lineup to become interchangeable. While he showcases more patience than most coaches – lines and defense pairs sometimes stay intact for weeks – he’s not afraid to experiment within games or try new things.

So for tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens ‘progressing every day,’ becoming trusted talent for Sabres

BUFFALO – Dylan Cozens wants to taste success right now. Sure, the second-year Sabres center respects the development process. He understands he’s a neophyte.

But Cozens, 21, also acknowledges he’s “a competitive guy.” Sometimes his patience can be tested.

“I know how good I can be, and I want to be that good now,” Cozens said following Wednesday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “But Donny (Granato) told me, I’m young, playing against lots of guys ... Read the full article

Sabres growing close, winning and don’t want season to end

BUFFALO – Just 11 games remain in a grueling season in which the Sabres will miss the playoffs again, and veteran winger Kyle Okposo is disappointed.

Okposo, 33, is having a blast and wants it to keep going. The team has grown close this season. And after a decade of futility, the Sabres appear to have finally turned a corner, winning 10 of their last 17 games (10-4-3) entering tonight’s road game against the Carolina ... Read the full article

Victor Olofsson, Sabres continue hot streaks in win over Hurricanes

BUFFALO – In his three-year NHL career, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson has probably never been so wide open.

As the puck rimmed around the left boards with Tuesday’s game tied late, it appeared to be leaving the Carolina Hurricanes zone. But Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said he “fake pressured” one of the Hurricanes, forcing him to move the puck. Dahlin then batted it down inside the blue line before quickly spotting Olofsson in the right ... Read the full article

Energy from crowd on Rick Jeanneret’s night gave Sabres ‘chills’

BUFFALO – In the third period of Friday’s emotional win, as the raucous capacity crowd celebrating Rick Jeanneret and the upstart Sabres began doing the wave, winger Kyle Okposo said he saw his teammates looking around and soaking up the excitement.

“Guys got chills,” Okposo said following Saturday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “They hadn’t seen it.”

Then Okposo, a 15-year veteran, turned to center Dylan Cozens, who’s in his second season.... Read the full article