Granato - Buffalo Hockey Beat

With roster move needed, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie has uncertain future

BUFFALO – Eric Comrie processed the question and searched for the right words. The normally loquacious Sabres goalie never found them.

“I don’t know,” he replied when asked about the Sabres’ roster crunch and how he has been focusing on himself. “That’s a tough question to answer.”

Comrie, having once been claimed off waivers four times in a 17-month stretch, has endured a lot of uncertainty in his career. But after signing a two-year contract ... Read the full article

Tyson Jost clears waivers, assigned to Amerks; Sabres send rookie to AHL

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Friday assigned center Tyson Jost to the Rochester Americans after he cleared waivers.

Jost, 25, hasn’t played in the AHL since an eight-game stint with the Colorado Eagles in 2018-19. He has made just 13 appearances in the minors since turning pro in 2017.

The Sabres on Friday also activated center Tage Thompson from the non-roster list and sent rookie defenseman Ryan Johnson to the Amerks in a paper transaction ... Read the full article

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

Special teams doom Sabres in loss to Bruins: ‘Achilles’ heel for us tonight’

BUFFALO – Chew on these ghastly, NHL-worst numbers: the Sabres have allowed a whopping 48 first-period goals and possess a minus-22 goal differential in the opening 20 minutes this season.

In Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, the Sabres trailed by the 4:19 mark and fell behind 2-0 at 13:42 before the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans in KeyBank Center.

When the Sabres had a four-minute man advantage after going down 1-0, they frittered ... Read the full article

After getting waived by Sabres, Jacob Bryson seizes chance with Amerks

ROCHESTER – As the weeks dragged on and Jacob Bryson remained a healthy scratch, he told the Sabres throwing him in a game would be unfair.

No amount of practice can replicate game action, and the defenseman feared he would be susceptible to injury if they used him. When they waived him Dec. 18, he had sat out 20 consecutive contests over a 44-day stretch, his last appearance coming Nov. 4.

Bryson, 26, had morphed ... 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

No World Juniors, no problem: Sabres’ Zach Benson thrilled to be in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Earlier this month, having likely secured a spot with the Sabres for the rest of the season, rookie Zach Benson moved out of a hotel and into the basement of the spacious suburban home defenseman Rasmus Dahlin recently purchased.

“I have room and he needed a place to stay,” Dahlin said following Friday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I just figured he’s such a great guy and he brings such a positive attitude, so ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo enjoying offensive resurgence, among NHL’s hottest scorers

BUFFALO – The zero attached to Sabres captain Kyle Okposo’s name wouldn’t go away, looming larger and larger as the weeks went on.

Two weeks quickly turned into a month and then five weeks. On Thanksgiving, at the 19-game mark, nearly one-quarter of the season, Okposo hadn’t scored a goal.

“It’s not a fun feeling, for sure, that zero,” the veteran winger said following Friday’s practice in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres showcase emphatic response, annihilate Maple Leafs: ‘We took last game really personally’

BUFFALO – In the aftermath of the ugliest defeat of Don Granato’s tenure as Sabres coach, his players defended him more vigorously than they had their opponent that night.

But until they displayed more passion on the ice, showcased the pace and tenacity Granato demands, their words would carry some hollowness.

“We wanted to do more than just say we have his back, we wanted to go out there and prove it, and I think ... 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