Crosby - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Mike Weber understands role well

PITTSBURGH – By now, after years and years of getting scratched, gritty veteran Mike Weber knows sitting out occasionally accompanies his role as the Buffalo Sabres’ sixth or seventh defenseman.

“You never want to come out,” Weber said Thursday, “so I understand it’s kind of unfortunately built into my role for reasons unknown. … I just continue to come to the rink determined to work hard and be a good teammate, and when I get ... Read the full article

Sabres hope they can close gap against Penguins

PITTSBURGH – Just how lopsided did contests between the Penguins and the Sabres become as Buffalo infamously fielded a less-than-stellar lineup for two seasons?

Well, the Penguins have outscored the Sabres 25-3 in their six straight victories against them!

Last year, they throttled the Sabres 5-0, 6-1 and 2-0. Yes, the Sabres scored once in 180 minutes of hockey.

The Sabres haven’t beaten the Penguins since a 4-2 triumph here April 23, 2013.

These days, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dan Bylsma knows return to Pittsburgh will be emotional

PITTSBURGH – There are no hard feelings, Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. For five and a half seasons, he enjoyed a heck of a ride leading the Penguins, winning a Stanley Cup just months after taking over the job in 2009.

That they let him twist in the wind at the end of another disappointing season, refusing to fire him for three weeks after letting general manager Ray Shero go, doesn’t matter.

“I don’t ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson rebounds; Jack Eichel ready for Sidney Crosby

PITTSBURGH – Buffalo Sabres goalie Chad Johnson embraces a simple philosophy following poor outings: Don’t panic, just stick with it.

“I think when you start sitting down and being like, ‘OK, I got to change this, change that, get out here and do this,’ now you’re overthinking instead of saying it was one of those days,” Johnson said Wednesday inside the Consol Energy Center.

Johnson, 29, experienced one of those days Friday, looking shaky in ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner knows he’s a question mark

BUFFALO – As a Swedish import, Sabres newcomer Robin Lehner isn’t a big football fan. But after arriving here in August, the goalie started following the Buffalo Bills a little bit.

“A lot of people talk about their defense and how good their defense and stuff are, but people start questioning the quarterback a little bit,” Lehner said this morning prior to the season opener. “I feel like I’m a little bit in the same ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Jack Eichel’s wild summer almost over

TORONTO – The Summer of Jack is almost over. Believe it or not, in 10 days, Jack Eichel will be in a Buffalo Sabres uniform for a rookie camp prospects game against the New Jersey Devils, officially ending what the phenom called a “whirlwind” offseason.

“I think it’s starting to get real,” Eichel, the second overall pick, said Tuesday at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase inside Mattamy Athletic Centre, site of the old Maple Leaf Gardens.... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Jack Eichel plans to live with veteran Matt Moulson

TORONTO – Shortly after the Buffalo Sabres drafted Jack Eichel second overall June 26, veteran winger Matt Moulson, his future teammate, congratulated the 18-year-old and then asked the center a surprising question.

The 31-year-old Moulson, one of the most experienced and accomplished Sabres, asked Eichel if he wanted to live with his family during his rookie season.

Eichel hadn’t made any living arrangements yet, so he decided moving in with the Moulson clan – his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ 2015-16 schedule features early home games, new strategy

SUNRISE, Fla. – If slick center Jack Eichel joins the NHL next season, Buffalo fans will get a long look at the second overall pick October. The Sabres open the season with three straight home games for the first time in 40 years.

That’s just one highlight of the 2015-16 schedule the NHL released Thursday.

Six of the opening eight games are at the First Niagara Center, so Eichel, the phenom the Sabres will select ... Read the full article

Future Sabres pick Jack Eichel won’t apologize for possessing confidence

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel, of course, never expected his words would leak out. The superstar was simply expressing some confidence in his special abilities during pre-draft interviews this week.

Eichel told teams, including the Sabres, who will select the 18-year-old second overall on June 26, he plans on being a better player than Connor McDavid, arguably the biggest prospect in decade.

Was it cocky? Sure. But the slick Boston University center wasn’t taking a dig ... Read the full article

Dan Bylsma had eye on Sabres job

BUFFALO – There was a time before the Sabres hired Dan Bylsma on Thursday that the coach and general manager Tim Murray both represented the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

Back in the early 2000s, as Bylsma finished up his journeyman playing career, Murray was the team’s director of player personnel.

“I complained about him a lot,” Murray cracked Thursday during a news conference to introduce Bylsma as the Sabres’ 17^th coach in franchise history. “That’s ... Read the full article