Eichel - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Alex Tuch practices in contact role, close to playing again

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch went through his first full-contact practice Wednesday in Minnesota and is nearing a return to game action, coach Don Granato told The Buffalo News.

Tuch, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery while a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, started practicing in a non-contact role Nov. 29.

“He is close,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice. “He’s going to go through a couple days of contact and we’ll get a ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Peyton Krebs on tear with Amerks, piling up points

ROCHESTER – At the end, after adding two more assists, Buffalo Sabres prospect Peyton Krebs showcased his underutilized shot, one-timing Sean Malone’s pass to secure the Americans’ fourth consecutive victory.

Wednesday’s overtime goal was just Krebs’ third shot on goal in the last four games. The winger, however, had recorded a whopping seven points in the last three contests entering Friday, six of them assists.

Amerks assistant coach Michael Peca, who subbed for coach ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt takes another step toward return; Alex Tuch joins Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that, yes, he has thought about what his lineup might look like when some of his injured players get healthy.

So Granato knows where he could put center Casey Mittelstadt and winger Alex Tuch, both of whom skated with the Sabres this morning, when they’re healthy. It was the first session with the Sabres for Tuch, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery.

Mittelstadt, who had his first contact ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Peyton Krebs changes positions, scores first goal for Amerks

Peyton Krebs likely won’t play left wing for very long. The Buffalo Sabres still envision the prospect as a center in the future.

But for the time being, Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert wants to keep Krebs, 20, in the spot he moved him last Friday.

“I’ll play any position,” Krebs told the Times Herald on Tuesday.

When Appert shifted Krebs beside center Mark Jankowski late in the Amerks’ 5-4 shootout win over the Lehigh ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch thrilled to join Sabres: ‘Buffalo, it’s gonna be like none other’

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alex Tuch couldn’t stop smiling as he recalled those dynamic post-lockout teams of 2006 and 2007. He kept rattling off players, seemingly trying to name the entire roster.

As a child growing up in Baldwinsville, Tuch, who was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in Thursday’s blockbuster Jack Eichel trade, loved the Sabres.

“I grew up next to Tim Connolly, who played here for years,” Tuch said prior to Saturday’s ... Read the full article

New Sabres prospect Peyton Krebs has special opportunity with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Peyton Krebs woke up in his Ottawa hotel room Thursday morning after having what he called a “weird dream” and checked his phone. Immediately, his heart started racing.

Krebs, who was expecting to play for the Vegas Golden Knights that night, had a few missed calls from general manager Kelly McCrimmon.

Around 6 or 7 a.m., Krebs, 20, learned the Buffalo Sabres acquired him in the blockbuster trade that sent star center Jack ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel trade shows Kevyn Adams refuses to compromise Sabres’ future

Kevyn Adams repeated it over and over – eight times in total while discussing Thursday’s blockbuster Jack Eichel trade. The general manager refuses to compromise if it will interfere with the plan he has laid out to rebuild the Buffalo Sabres.

Adams said he would only deal Eichel, the injured ex-captain, if someone met the Sabres’ asking price. So he held his greatest asset until an offering to the team’s liking materialized.

It took about ... Read the full article

Sabres excited about adding Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs to young core

In trading ex-captain Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Buffalo Sabres acquired no immediate help for their lineup.

Winger Alex Tuch, who grew up in Baldwinsville rooting for the Sabres, is recovering from shoulder surgery. General manager Kevyn Adams said Tuch will likely be sidelined two more months.

Meanwhile, shortly after the deal was announced, the Sabres assigned center prospect Peyton Krebs, who has 13 games of NHL experience, to the Rochester ... Read the full article

Sabres make another trade, acquire Johnny Boychuk to help cap number

Hours after trading center Jack Eichel today, the Buffalo Sabres swung a minor deal to help them stay above the salary floor, acquiring retired defenseman Johnny Boychuk from the New York Islanders in exchange for future considerations.

Boychuk, who was forced to stop playing last year because of a left eye injury, carries a $6 million cap hit.

The Sabres never dropped below the NHL’s $60.2 million floor after dishing Eichel and his $10 million ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Jack Eichel to Golden Knights for players, picks

The Jack Eichel saga ended this morning after nearly six months, with the Buffalo Sabres trading their disgruntled former captain to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for two players and two picks.

The Sabres received forwards Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch, a first-round pick in 2022 and a second-round pick in 2023 for the dynamic center. They also sent the Golden Knights a third-round pick in 2023. The first-rounder is top-10 protected.

The ... Read the full article