Granato - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospects Brandon Biro, Lukas Rousek shine in preseason win

BUFFALO – In the first week of training camp, the Sabres have often been placing forward prospects with established talent, offering Brandon Biro, Lukas Rousek, Linus Weissbach and others special development opportunities.

The reasoning is simple: coach Don Granato believes his veterans will send consistent messages about what the Sabres want collectively as a team.

In Tuesday’s 2-1 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center, some of those prospects ranked among the best ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie impressing Sabres; Buffalo to utilize strong lineup against Flyers

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Matt Savoie has integrated so quickly that coach Don Granato feels comfortable playing the rookie between veterans.

So tonight, less than a week into his first NHL training camp, Savoie, 18, will center Casey Mittelstadt and Kyle Okposo against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Savoie, the ninth overall pick this year, also played in Sunday afternoon’s preseason opener, a 4-3 overtime road win against the Washington Capitals.... Read the full article

Confident and healthy, Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt ready for breakout season

BUFFALO – Early in his career, Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt never thought he would someday go golfing with his general manager. But there he was recently, sharing the course with Kevyn Adams.

On the final hole, Mittelstadt and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin each birdied, giving their team a victory over Adams’ trio.

Besides some healthy competition, the outing offered Adams and the players an opportunity to bond outside of the rink.

Mittelstadt, 23, enjoyed getting to ... Read the full article

After signing big contract, Sabres’ Tage Thompson motivated to keep growing

BUFFALO – Since center Tage Thompson signed a surprising seven-year, $50 million extension, general manager Kevyn Adams has often been asked why the Sabres gave such a huge contract to someone who has enjoyed just one standout season.

Heck, even Thompson, 24, seems a little surprised he earned the deal, which he signed Aug. 30 and begins next season.

“It’s a huge leap of faith from the organization and management,” Thompson said Thursday following ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin stopped trying to please others, morphed into a star

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin can’t remember when it finally clicked for him, but at some point early last season, he stopped trying to impress others. He no longer cared what they thought about him.

Dahlin, 22, became comfortable in his own skin and quickly developed confidence. His play took off, and by February, he had earned his first spot in the NHL All-Star Game.

“I realized early last season that if I’m myself ... Read the full article

After season of growth, Sabres have intriguing candidates to be captain

BUFFALO – For just the second time in their history last season, the Sabres did not name a captain.

Instead, having undertaken another rebuild, they named Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo, their two longest-tenured players, as alternates. The move worked, and the veterans helped the team establish a fresh culture after Jack Eichel was stripped of the captaincy.

This year, however, with the roster stabilized, general manager Kevyn Adams said the Sabres plan to name ... Read the full article

Sabres begin training camp with high expectations, full roster and stability

BUFFALO – What makes this training camp so unique for the Sabres, besides the fact they’re, you know, relevant again, is the lack of roster competition.

Right now, with the Sabres set to hold their first on-ice sessions today at KeyBank Center, their lineup looks set.

Sure, some guys will be moved around. There will inevitably be injuries. And they could feel compelled to keep one of their talented youngsters if he wows them.

... Read the full article

Talent, maturity helped Sabres’ Tage Thompson earn massive contract

Talent is just one part of the equation that convinced the Buffalo Sabres to award Tage Thompson a seven-year, $50 million contract extension.

The deal, announced early Tuesday evening, raised some eyebrows. Yes, Thompson, 24, is coming off a breakout 38-goal season in which he morphed into the Sabres’ top scoring threat and No. 1 center. Still, he hadn’t scored more than eight goals in a campaign prior to last year.

The 6-foot-7 Thompson also ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Tage Thompson to huge long-term contract extension

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday rewarded Tage Thompson for his breakout 38-goal season, signing the center to a seven-year, $50 million contract extension.

Thompson, 24, is entering the final season of a three-year, $4.2 million deal. He could’ve become a restricted free agent following the 2022-23 campaign.

The Sabres, of course, view Thompson, their leading scorer last season, as one of their cornerstones of the future.... Read the full article

Ilya Lyubushkin gives Sabres’ young defense corps gritty veteran

At 28, having played nine pro seasons, newcomer Ilya Lyubushkin is the elder statesmen of the Buffalo Sabres’ defense corps.

Buffalo’s second-oldest defenseman, Casey Fitzgerald, is just 25. The average age of the seven defenders expected to be on the opening night roster is 23.

The six defensemen the Sabres utilized down the stretch late last season – Fitzgerald, Jacob Bryson, Rasmus Dahlin, Henri Jokiharju, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson – will all be returning ... Read the full article