Girgensons - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres create roster space by waiving Tyson Jost, making another move

BUFFALO – If center Tyson Jost clears waivers and reports to the AHL – he has two goals and a $2 million salary, so teams will likely pass – he will begin his first stint in the minors in five years.

Jost, 25, fit in nicely on and off the ice last season after the Sabres plucked him off waivers from the Minnesota Wild, and he earned a new one-year contract.

But like many of ... Read the full article

Sabres must make roster move soon

BUFFALO – For the time being, everyone can stay. Twenty-five Sabres players participated in this morning’s skate. Twenty-four are on the active roster.

The Sabres are under the salary cap, so they’ve been able to carry an extra player through the NHL’s holiday roster freeze. But at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, they must reach the 23-man roster limit.

They don’t have make any moves before tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center, their first ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Ryan Johnson exceeding expectations, sticking in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Ryan Johnson figured his first trip to the NHL would be brief. Having lost defenseman Mattias Samuelsson to injury, the Sabres summoned the rookie on Nov. 4 for some insurance.

“I didn’t expect to be here longer than that game,” Johnson said prior to returning to the lineup for Thursday’s 9-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in KeyBank Center. “I didn’t expect to be here at all.”

Johnson, 22, played that night ... Read the full article

Sabres want to add pace, reunite Dylan Cozens line as forwards get healthy

BUFFALO – Pace. Coach Don Granato mentioned it over and over – 16 times, to be exact – after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. His reeling team doesn’t showcase enough of it.

“If I compare … seeing a game from last season and a game from this season, it’s the pace,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “The pace is the difference. … We compete better ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Eric Robinson’s brother, Buddy, set strong example; Jeff Skinner recovering from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres newcomer Eric Robinson acknowledged that, yes, Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Jackets, his former team, possessed “a little extra meaning.”

The Blue Jackets, after all, gave Robinson his big chance, signing him as a free agent out of Princeton in 2018. The New Jersey native grew up in their organization, playing 266 NHL games before the Sabres traded a conditional seventh-round pick in 2025 on Dec. 6 in exchange for the winger.... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner, other injured Sabres could play soon

BUFFALO – By the end of the week, the Sabres could have a healthy forward corps for the first time this season.

Winger Jack Quinn, out since tearing his Achilles tendon in late June, will make his season debut tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Quinn, 22, skated this morning at left wing alongside center Tyson Jost and Victor Olofsson. Coach Don Granato also said Quinn will also kill penalties.... Read the full article

Sabres place Jeff Skinner on injured reserve, make recall from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday placed winger Jeff Skinner on injured reserve and recalled Brett Murray from the Rochester Americans.

Skinner, 31, suffered an upper-body in Wednesday’s 5-1 road loss when Nathan MacKinnon hit him hard as he skated into the Colorado Avalanche zone, sending him backward toward the boards.

He left the game and briefly returned before departing again.

The veteran joins wingers Zemgus Girgensons (lower body) and Jordan Greenway (upper body) on the ... Read the full article

‘Persistence’ helps Brett Murray earn recall from Sabres: ‘Lots of initiative’

BUFFALO – Sometimes, Sabres coach Don Granato explained, young players return to the minors and don’t get any better. As they wait for that next recall, they’re not focused on improving for when another chance materializes.

Then there are players like winger Brett Murray, who on Monday was recalled from the Rochester Americans.

“I’ve tried to keep myself ready and prepared for this moment,” he said prior Monday’s 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes, his ... Read the full article

Despite missed chances, Sabres keep forging identity in loss to Canadiens

BUFFALO – The final result, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, stings. The Sabres squandered opportunities all night, pumping a season-high 48 shots on goal and failing to convert six power plays, including one that carried into overtime.

In Saturday’s shootout, they needed one stop to secure back-to-back wins for just the second time this season.

Still, in losing for the sixth time in eight outings (2-5-1), the Sabres at least carried over ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin to return from injury; UPL skates with teammates

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin made it clear he’s ready to play.

“I’m feeling really, really, really, really good today, so it’s all good,” said Dahlin, who missed Thursday’s 3-1 road win over the Boston Bruins with a nagging lower-body injury.

When Dahlin spoke this morning, he said he still needed approval to return tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. Coach Don Granato later confirmed he will play.... Read the full article