Florida Panthers - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Zach Benson scores 10th goal at end of surprising rookie season

BUFFALO – Seven months ago, rookie Zach Benson arrived here having just scored a hat trick for the Wenatchee Wild, the junior team seemingly everyone, including the Sabres, expected he would be returned to following training camp.

Benson’s preseason exploits in Washington illustrated that at just 18, he had possibly outgrown the Western Hockey League. But the diminutive winger’s limited options – as a teenager, he can only play in junior or the NHL – ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams emotional after trading Kyle Okposo to Panthers: ‘An unbelievable person’

BUFFALO – Kevyn Adams processed the question, cleared his throat and stepped back from the podium for a moment to compose himself. When the Sabres general manager began talking about trading his captain, Kyle Okposo, he fought back tears.

“An unbelievable person,” an emotional Adams said Friday in KeyBank Center after dealing the veteran winger to the Florida Panthers hours before the 3 p.m. trade deadline. “I have a lot of respect for people that ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Kyle Okposo to Panthers

BUFFALO – Captain Kyle Okposo’s career with the Sabres is over.

The Sabres late this morning traded the veteran winger to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defense prospect Calle Sjalin and a seventh-round pick in 2024.

Okposo, 35, said earlier this week he and general manager Kevyn Adams were on the same page as this afternoon’s deadline approached.

The Panthers, who rank first in the Eastern Conference, offer Okposo a chance to pursue the ... Read the full article

NHL fines Sabres’ Don Granato $25,000 for outburst directed at officials

The NHL on Thursday fined Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato $25,000 for “unprofessional conduct directed at the officials” late in Tuesday’s 3-2 road loss to the Florida Panthers.

At the 9:01 mark of the third period, when rookie winger Zach Benson went off for tripping, officials called an unsportsmanlike conduct bench penalty on the Sabres, putting them down two men.

Apparently, Benson’s penalty was the final straw for Granato.

“At some point, you got to ... Read the full article

Sabres coach Don Granato confident in Tage Thompson: ‘Inevitable he’ll score’

BUFFALO – In Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win, Sabres center Tage Thompson wreaked havoc all night, utilizing his size and skill to generate a game-high 10 scoring chances, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Thompson, 26, performed like the aggressive, dynamic goal scorer from last season as he pumped five shots on net and attempted 11.

The American might’ve been the best player on the ice against the Carolina Hurricanes.... Read the full article

Sabres veteran Erik Johnson anxious as trade deadline approaches

BUFFALO – Having never experienced this in his 17-year NHL career, Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson acknowledged that, yes, these days he feels a little anxious.

In signing Johnson, 35, to a one-year, $3.25 million contract, the Sabres added a much-needed veteran presence to a blue line filled with 20-somethings. But they’ve stumbled this season, and instead of maturing into a playoff team, they’ve fallen out of the race.

So the graying Johnson could be moved ... Read the full article

Buffalo goalie Eric Comrie tries to stop Florida’s Evan Rodrigues on Thursday.

Sabres generate offense again, still lose to Panthers; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could return from injury soon

BUFFALO – Remember that recent seven-goal outburst by the Sabres? As suspected, it turned out to be an anomaly.

On Thursday, they reverted back to their regular form, generating plenty of offense but showcasing a stunning lack of finish in their 4-0 loss to the heavyweight Florida Panthers before a crowd of 14,277 fans in KeyBank Center.

Fresh off Tuesday’s 7-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings, the Sabres pumped 45 shots on Anthony Stolarz, ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jacob Bryson standing out following stint in Rochester

BUFFALO – When the Sabres sent defenseman Jacob Bryson to the minors for the first time in almost three years, he knew the assignment would be temporary.

Playing in the AHL could help Bryson, 26, find a groove after sitting out 29 of the first 32 games as a healthy scratch, and return to Buffalo ready to contribute.

“That was the plan,” he said prior to Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers in KeyBank ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen out with injury; Sabres recall goalie

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will miss tonight’s game against the Florida Panthers with a lower-body injury and is day to day, the team announced late this afternoon.

Luukkonen, 24, participated in this morning’s pregame skate and did not appear to be injured. He has started four straight games and 10 of the last 11.

The Finn has been one of the NHL’s hottest goalies, compiling a 7-5-0 record with a 1.60 goals-against average ... Read the full article

Following trade, Sabres prospect Matt Savoie on tear in Moose Jaw

BUFFALO – Six months, five teams and three leagues later, Sabres prospect Matt Savoie has settled into one place and can enjoy the final months of his junior hockey career.

A season that Savoie, 20, began injured in Buffalo has taken him to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, after stops in Rochester, Wenatchee (Washington) and Sweden.

Along the way, he showed he’s ready for the pros, made his NHL debut, represented Team Canada at the World Junior ... Read the full article