WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Shane Wright began playing in the OHL when he was just 15. ©2022, Robert John Boucher, Kingston Frontenacs
Right now, there’s no consensus first overall pick for the 2022 NHL Draft.
NHL Central Scouting recently ranked Shane Wright, a youngster so talented the Ontario Hockey League granted him exceptional status to play as a 15-year-old, No. 1 in its final evaluation of North American skaters for the draft.
Wright, a center for the Kingston Frontenacs, has thrived under intense pressure for three years, securing his place among the most dynamic prospects on the ... Read the full article
Kevyn Adams has a lot of assets to strengthen Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – As the owner of three first-round picks this year, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has accumulated some substantial draft capital.
If Adams offers one or two of the selections in a trade, he can likely acquire some established talent that might help the upstart Sabres right away.
But Adams, as he has demonstrated throughout the last year, plans to keep exercising patience.... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson has two 20-goal seasons on his resume. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Having experienced restricted free agency two years ago, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson understands he must stay patient this offseason.
Olofsson, 26, has already amassed two 20-goal seasons and has shown he possesses the talent to crack the 30-goal mark. Contracts like the one he’s expected to sign are complicated.
The Swede, who’s set to become an RFA again, expects it could take months to reach a new deal.... Read the full article
The Sabres became a tight group this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Before center Zemgus Girgensons reported to the rink Saturday morning, his wife, Katie, asked him what he would tell the Sabres’ brass during his end-of-season meetings.
Girgensons, the Sabres’ longest-tenured player, experienced a lot of losing and turmoil over his eight NHL seasons, so in previous years, he had plenty of gripes to share before he left town for the summer.
“Usually in the morning, you’re trying to gather thoughts of all the ... Read the full article
Owen Power has turned heads in his first four NHL games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato doesn’t consider rookie Owen Power a young player.
Sure, the defenseman left college earlier this month and has played just four NHL games. And, yes, he doesn’t turn 20 for another seven months.
Still, Granato said “it’s a little bit disrespectful sometimes” when young guys get thrown in a category.
“This is a guy that’s studied the game of hockey at an extremely young age and developed himself like ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson enjoyed Sunday afternoon’s Heritage Classic. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The poise Mattias Samuelsson possesses belies his experience. Barely 30 games into his NHL career, the Sabres consistently utilize the rookie against the opposition’s top talent.
On Thursday, Samuelsson faced Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. In Sunday afternoon’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the defenseman was often tasked with shutting down Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, one of the NHL’s elite duos.
At one point Sunday, with Marner roaring toward him, ... Read the full article
Don Granato is excited about Buffalo’s future. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato kept rattling off names. There was Taylor Hall, Brandon Montour, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen and Eric Staal.
“I’m probably missing a couple more,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter.
Then two more names, Jack Eichel and Jake McCabe, popped into his head.
One year ago today, Granato inherited a veteran-laden team at its nadir. The Sabres were 12 losses into what would become a stunning 18-game winless ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens found a spot next to Buffalo owner Terry Pegula after being kicked out of Sunday afternoon’s Heritage Classic. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Dylan Cozens only remembers Terry Pegula mentioned the cross-check on Rasmus Dahlin. The rest of his interaction with the Sabres owner following his ejection from the Heritage Classic is a little fuzzy.
“I’m gonna be honest, I had a lot of adrenaline going so I don’t really remember too much,” the center said following Tuesday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter.
The maturation of a young team is often filled with seminal moments, and the ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson greets Vinnie Hinostroza after Hinostroza’s second-period goal Sunday afternoon. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
HAMILTON, Ont. – If the Buffalo Sabres crack the postseason in the near future, the last four days, punctuated by Sunday afternoon’s 5-2 victory in the Heritage Classic, will be remembered as a significant stretch in their maturation.
Before a capacity, pro-Toronto crowd of 26,119 fans outdoors at chilly Tim Hortons Field, the Sabres scored three third-period goals to down the playoff-bound Maple Leafs.
It was a game, just like Thursday’s 3-1 win over ex-captain ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin has been looking forward to playing outdoors for months. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – It doesn’t matter that they’ll be playing a regular-season NHL game on a pristine sheet of ice before 24,000 fans. When the Sabres head outdoors for Sunday afternoon’s Heritage Classic, coach Don Granato believes the elements will take them back to a simpler time when they skated on frozen ponds and backyard rinks.
“You get the feel of being a kid,” Granato said following Friday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “The ice sounds like ... Read the full article