WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Jake McCabe was injured Feb. 20. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
After Jake McCabe tore up his right knee Feb. 20, ending his season, the Sabres defenseman said he had some difficult conversations with his family that night.
Then McCabe, who had just returned after battling COVID-19, refused to feel sorry for himself. The American decided “being sad and mad” wouldn’t help him rehab from ACL, MCL and meniscus injuries.
“I’ve just had a really good attitude about it the whole time,” McCabe said on an ... Read the full article
Jacob Bryson began this season in Rochester. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger figured defenseman Will Borgen couldn’t have broken his arm.
After the rookie blocked a shot late in the first period of Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils, he stayed in the game, taking a regular shift over the final 40 minutes.
So when Krueger learned another evaluation had revealed Borgen, 24, fractured his right forearm, he said he felt “absolute shock.”
Borgen underwent surgery Tuesday and will ... Read the full article
Tobias Rieder (pictured) has slid into Zemgus Girgensons’ spot on the third line. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the not-so-distant past, losing a player who possessed Zemgus Girgensons’ talents could’ve created a massive hole in the Sabres’ lineup.
The Sabres’ weak depth has regularly contributed their annual struggles. But when Girgensons underwent season-ending hamstring surgery last week, coach Ralph Krueger simply promoted Tobias Rieder to the Latvian’s spot at left wing beside center Cody Eakin and Kyle Okposo.
In Rieder, a free agent the Sabres signed Oct. 9, the ... Read the full article
Riley Sheahan has quickly found a home in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When the Sabres promoted forward Riley Sheahan earlier this week after Zemgus Girgensons suffered a season-ending hamstring injury, it appeared the veteran would be sticking around Buffalo.
Sure enough, on Friday, the Sabres signed Sheahan, who came to training camp on a professional tryout, to a one-year contract worth $700,000.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said “the specialist that he is” helped Sheahan earn a deal.
“(He’s) strong on faceoffs, (an) excellent penalty killer, ... Read the full article
Riley Sheahan joined Buffalo on a professional tryout contract last week. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Sabres forward Riley Sheahan grew up about 30 miles from Buffalo in St. Catharines, Ontario, so he has carried what he called a “soft spot” for his new team.
Growing up, Sheahan would make the trip across the border to watch the Sabres or see them when they visited his hometown for training camp.
“I’ll be honest, I was a little bit of a (Toronto Maple) Leafs fan but Sabres tickets were more affordable and ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons has been one of Buffalo’s few constants during a tumultuous era. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
As winger Zemgus Girgensons spends the next six months rehabbing after undergoing surgery to repair his hamstring, coach Ralph Krueger wants to keep him around the Sabres.
NHL teams often separate their injured players from the regular group. But Girgensons, 27, is such a popular teammate that Krueger feels the Latvian must have a presence during his long recovery.
“We’re going to keep Zemgus close, because (of) how important he is in the organization, what ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons was injured Monday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons is likely out for the season after undergoing surgery today to repair a hamstring injury he suffered in Monday’s scrimmage.
In a statement, the Sabres said Girgensons’ recovery time is approximately six months.
In the second period of the scrimmage, Girgensons eyed up Steven Fogarty as he carried the puck and tried to hit him inside the blue line.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel suffered an upper-body injury before training camp. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel and goalie Linus Ullmark are practicing for the first time this season today at KeyBank Center.
An upper-body injury sidelined Eichel for the first four sessions of training camp. Ullmark, meanwhile, had to quarantine because an immigration issue following his arrival from Sweden.
In addition, winger Victor Olofsson is practicing after suffering an upper-body injury when he crashed into the net Saturday.
In other news, winger Zemgus Girgensons, who ... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt finished last season in Rochester. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
On the surface, Casey Mittelstadt’s 36-game run with the Rochester Americans last season looks a little underwhelming.
In his first stint in the minors, Mittelstadt, 22, never morphed into a dominant AHL presence or forced his way back to the Buffalo Sabres. The center compiled nine goals, 25 points and a poor minus-15 rating – hardly numbers you might expect from an eighth overall pick with 114 games of NHL experience.
But Mittelstadt, who was ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons left Monday’s scrimmage. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the second period of Monday’s Buffalo Sabres scrimmage, Zemgus Girgensons eyed up Steven Fogarty as he carried the puck and tried to hit him inside the blue line.
But Fogarty skated around Girgensons, forcing the Latvian to make a last-second adjustment. Girgensons’ legs split awkwardly as he attempted to find Fogarty and he fell to the KeyBank Center ice. Girgensons left the scrimmage and did not return.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Girgensons, who ... Read the full article