Eichel - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres captain Jack Eichel traveled for ‘deeper assessment’ of injury

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Jack Eichel traveled out of state to seek a “deeper assessment” of his upper-body injury, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Krueger said Eichel will be sidelined at least another seven to 10 days.

“We hope to have a complete assessment here within the next couple of days,” Krueger said on a Zoom call this morning.

Eichel appeared to hurt his neck when Casey Cizikas hit him behind the net late in ... Read the full article

Sabres lose shootout to Flyers, return to Buffalo in crisis

Now what happens? The hapless Sabres completed the road trip from hell and returned to Buffalo following Tuesday’s 5-4 shootout loss, a game in which they twice enjoyed a two-goal lead over the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Sabres, who went 0-4-1 on the trip, have today off before hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Will Ralph Krueger still be their coach on Thursday?

Right now, the Sabres are enduring one of the roughest stretches in franchise history. They’ve ... Read the full article

Fast development earns Sabres’ Dylan Cozens promotion to No. 1 center

For almost two months, the Buffalo Sabres eased rookie Dylan Cozens into the NHL by playing him at right wing instead of center, his natural position.

Cozens, 20, kept seizing his opportunities, moving up the lineup and becoming one coach Ralph Krueger’s most trusted forwards just weeks into his career.

So when the upper-body injury captain Jack Eichel suffered Sunday afternoon kept him from playing Tuesday, instead of promoting a veteran, Krueger tabbed Cozens to ... Read the full article

Upper-body injury to sideline Sabres’ Jack Eichel against Flyers

Things keep getting worse for the hapless Buffalo Sabres.

An upper-body injury will keep Sabres captain Jack Eichel out of tonight’s road game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced this morning.

Eichel appeared to hurt his neck when Casey Cizikas hit him behind the net late in Sunday afternoon’s 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders. The NBC broadcast showed the center in discomfort on the bench moments later.

“All I can tell you ... Read the full article

Kevyn Adams says reeling Sabres being evaluated, including Ralph Krueger

In evaluating coach Ralph Krueger, general manager Kevyn Adams wants to do what’s best for the hapless Buffalo Sabres right now while also considering the big picture.

Adams, a rookie GM who inherited his coach, likes Krueger and clearly wants to fire him only as a last resort.

“Everything is being evaluated,” Adams said on a Zoom call Friday afternoon to discuss the Sabres’ sorry state. “Ralph and I talk every day, multiple times a ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Kevyn Adams says Jack Eichel hasn’t requested trade

When the Buffalo Sabres hired Kevyn Adams as general manager, he made it a point to develop a relationship with Jack Eichel, his captain and best player.

“Jack is someone that I’ve bounced things off of, he’s talked to me and we have an open dialogue,” Adams said on a Zoom call Friday afternoon.

Given the Sabres’ woes throughout Eichel’s six-year tenure, some believe he could want out of Buffalo. But Adams said Eichel, ... Read the full article

Despite slow start, Sabres’ Taylor Hall open to contract extension with Buffalo

When Taylor Hall shocked the hockey world by signing a one-year, $8 million contract with the Sabres, he said he was open to staying in Buffalo on a long-term deal.

Twenty-one games into the season, Hall and the Sabres have struggled mightily.

Hall scored his first goal since opening night in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders. It was his first even-strength goal this season and just his 13th point. The Sabres, having ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens’ fight could have lasting effects for Sabres

As Buffalo Sabres rookie Dylan Cozens battled Ryan Lindgren around the New York Rangers net early in the third period, he knew it was time.

A few games ago, Cozens said he decided he wanted to fight. The winger just needed to pick the right spot.

So when the Rangers defenseman asked him to scrap Tuesday, he happily obliged, dropping the gloves for the first time in his 15-game NHL career.

The 6-foot-3 Cozens, 20, ... Read the full article

‘Bubble lifestyle’ helping Sabres on road; Buffalo to make lineup changes

The Sabres have performed downright awful in Buffalo this season, compiling a wretched 2-7-2 record that ranks 29th in the NHL.

On the road, however, they have often looked like a different team, showcasing a calmer style while scoring more goals. They’re 4-3-1 away from KeyBank Center.

“The bubble lifestyle on the road actually is easier than the bubble we’re attempting to live in at home,” said coach Ralph Krueger, whose Sabres begin a five-game ... Read the full article

Why is Sabres captain Jack Eichel having such a down season?

BUFFALO – Three weeks ago, Sabres captain Jack Eichel felt confident he would shake off his underwhelming start and, in his words, begin to “take off.”

Eichel, understandably, had trouble adjusting to the dizzying pace of the schedule earlier this season.

An upper-body injury sidelined him the first five days of an abbreviated training camp. Then he played 10 games in 18 days following barely a week of practice.

So the COVID-19 pause that began ... Read the full article