Eichel - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson eager to build on standout rookie season

As the 181st overall pick in 2014, Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson faced long odds to play in the NHL.

For some perspective, consider the Sabres drafted 16 prospects in the seventh round from 2005 until 2016. Only two – Olofsson and defenseman Brady Austin, who played five games in 2016-17 – have cracked the big leagues.

So when Olofsson, 25, signed his second NHL contract Thursday – his 20-goal rookie season earned ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Victor Olofsson to two-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres have avoided arbitration with Victor Olofsson, re-signing the winger to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.05 million, the team announced today.

His hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

The Sabres now have $3,495,833 of projected salary cap space, according to capfriendly.com.

Olofsson, 25, had a $767,500 cap hit as a rookie last season. He will be a restricted free agent again when the contract expires.... Read the full article

Sabres sign Sam Reinhart, Linus Ullmark to one-year contracts

The Buffalo Sabres avoided arbitration with winger Sam Reinhart and goalie Linus Ullmark by signing the restricted free agents to a pair of one-year contracts Sunday.

Reinhart, whose hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, inked a $5.2 million deal. Meanwhile, Ullmark, whose hearing was set for today, signed a $2.6 million contract.

The Sabres now have $6,545,833 in salary cap space remaining, according to capfriendly.com. They still have one arbitration hearing scheduled: winger Victor Olofsson’s ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Sam Reinhart to one-year, $5.2 million contract

The Buffalo Sabres have avoided arbitration with Sam Reinhart, re-signing the winger to a one-year, $5.2 million contract, the team announced today.

His hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.

Reinhart, 24, earned $3.7 million in 2019-20 in the final season of a two-year, $7.3 million contract. He will be a restricted free agent again next year.

The Sabres now have $8,445,833 in salary cap space remaining, according to capfriendly.com. Goalie Linus Ullmark (Monday) and winger ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Taylor Hall understands Jack Eichel’s frustrations

Few players understand what Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel has endured over his first five NHL seasons better than Taylor Hall.

Hall needed 529 games, eight seasons and two organizations before making his first playoff appearance.

Eichel, having played 354 games without sniffing the postseason, has experienced a similarly frustrating start to his career.

The American, 23, was supposed to lead the Sabres’ resurgence after they drafted him second overall in 2015. Hall, 28, ... Read the full article

Ralph Krueger has history of getting most out of Sabres’ Taylor Hall

Taylor Hall wanted to connect with Ralph Krueger again, so on Sunday morning, hours before he would stun the hockey world by choosing the Buffalo Sabres, he and his old friend chatted on FaceTime.

After free agency opened Friday, Hall spoke to general manager Kevyn Adams, owners Terry and Kim Pegula and, of course, Krueger to learn more about the Sabres.

Hall, 28, liked what he heard. He needed to make a decision. But ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Taylor Hall ‘very interested’ in making Buffalo long-term home

Before free agency started, Taylor Hall knew in the back of his head joining the Buffalo Sabres could be a terrific opportunity.

“If it came down to it,” an excited Hall said on a Zoom call Monday, a day after stunning the hockey world by signing a one-year, $8 million contract with the Sabres.

Hall, 28, had plenty of options to explore. After the market opened Friday, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger, who knows Hall from ... Read the full article

Finding his fit: Why Taylor Hall picked Sabres over other suitors

When free agency opened Friday, rookie general manager Kevyn Adams called Darren Ferris, Taylor Hall’s agent, and told him the Buffalo Sabres would be interested in talking to his client.

Few expected Hall, the most coveted winger available, would chose a team mired in a nine-year playoff drought. The 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner recently expressed how winning had become his top priority.

Still, Hall wanted to talk to the Sabres. Their coach, Ralph Krueger, knows ... Read the full article

Taylor Hall signs one-year, $8 million contract with Sabres

For nearly three days, the Buffalo Sabres remained quiet in free agency, adding only depth players.

Reports materialized last week the Sabres would pursue slick winger Taylor Hall, one of the most coveted players on the market. Still, few expected a team mired in an embarrassing nine-year playoff drought could lure the former Hart Trophy winner.

It appeared if general manager Kevyn Adams wanted to dramatically improve the Sabres, he would have to do so ... Read the full article

Top Sabres pick Jack Quinn developed rapidly during 52-goal draft season

Growing up, Jack Quinn liked to think of himself as a multi-sport athlete. The high-scoring winger the Buffalo Sabres drafted eighth overall Tuesday did not simply focus on hockey. He also enjoyed playing baseball and golf.

“I didn’t really train for hockey, really, I just played it,” said Quinn, who scored 52 goals in 62 games last season for the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67’s.

Not surprisingly, Quinn struggled to make any progress in hockey. ... Read the full article