Guhle - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander ready to seize chance in NHL

BUFFALO – On Feb. 27, Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander played his 13th straight game without scoring a goal. At that point, nearly five months into his third AHL campaign, the chances of the slick winger earning a recall looked slim.

Nylander, 21, enjoyed a strong training camp this season, nearly forcing the Sabres to keep him. The Swede parlayed that into a terrific start with the Rochester Americans, scoring six goals and 17 points ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Trade puts chip on Brandon Montour’s shoulder

TORONTO – Buffalo Sabres newcomer Brandon Montour doesn’t turn 25 for another six weeks. Over his three NHL seasons, he has established himself as the rarest of commodities: a right-handed, puck-moving defenseman.

Still, the Anaheim Ducks, who have imploded this season, dished Montour to the Sabres on Sunday, a day before the NHL trade deadline.

Not surprisingly, Montour said getting dealt has put a chip on his shoulder.

“It’s one of those things where I ... Read the full article

Sabres’ acquisition of Brandon Montour shows they want to win now

TORONTO – On Sunday night, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill made a significant trade for this season, sending a 2019 first-round pick and defense prospect Brendan Guhle to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Brandon Montour.

Think about that, the Sabres, a team seemingly in perpetual rebuilding mode, dealt futures for an established NHL player before today’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.

But for the first time since 2011-12, the Sabres are in the playoff ... Read the full article

Sabres acquire Brandon Montour from Ducks

BUFFALO – General manager Jason Botterill made a significant trade tonight to help the Sabres this season, sending a 2019 first-round pick and defense prospect Brendan Guhle to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Brandon Montour.

The first-round pick is the one the Sabres received from the San Jose Sharks last year, according to TSN. The Ducks have the option of taking the Sabres’ first-rounder from the St. Louis Blues if it’s between pick 20 to ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Randy Carlyle remembers Phil Housley’s talents

BUFFALO – Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle still remembers a skinny rookie named Phil Housley entering the NHL fresh out of high school in 1982.

“I can remember Phil coming here as an 18-year-old defenseman and looking and saying, ‘Holy crow, how’s this kid going to last?’”

Well, Housley lasted a long time, playing 21 seasons, including eight with the Sabres, in what would be a Hall of Fame career.

But 36 years ago, ... Read the full article

Randy Carlyle: Sabres’ Phil Housley far ahead of his time as player

BUFFALO – Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle still remembers a skinny rookie named Phil Housley entering the NHL fresh out of high school in 1982.

“I can remember Phil coming here as an 18-year-old defenseman and looking and saying, ‘Holy crow, how’s this kid going to last?’”

Well, Housley lasted a long time, playing 21 seasons, including eight with the Sabres, in what would be a Hall of Fame career.

But 36 years ago, Housley, ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Brendan Guhle returns to NHL confident

BUFFALO – During the second intermission Saturday in Cleveland, defenseman Brendan Guhle was informed the Sabres needed his services the next day more than 600 miles away in Boston.

So instead of finishing the Rochester Americans’ 2-1 victory against the Monsters, Guhle, who scored earlier in the game, spent all of the third period and overtime watching from the bench.

“It was pretty weird,” Guhle said prior to Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers ... Read the full article

Sabres send Matt Tennyson to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent defenseman Matt Tennyson back to the Rochester Americans this morning.

Tennyson, 28, struggled in Saturday’s 4-3 overtime road loss to the Washington Capitals, compiling a minus-3 rating in barely nine minutes of ice time.

The Sabres recalled defenseman Brendan Guhle prior to Sunday’s 4-2 road win against the Boston Bruins and scratched Tennyson.... Read the full article

Sabres defensemen Brendan Guhle, Matt Hunwick to make season debuts

Buffalo Sabres defensemen Brendan Guhle and Matt Hunwick will make their season debuts in this afternoon’s tilt against the Bruins, coach Phil Housley told reporters in Boston.

With defenseman Nathan Beaulieu day-to-day with an upper-body injury, according to Housley, the Sabres recalled Guhle, 21, from the Rochester Americans this afternoon.

To make room, the Sabres placed defenseman Lawrence Pilut (lower body) on injured reserve.

Hunwick, meanwhile, just completed an AHL conditioning stint after suffering a ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Lawrence Pilut making case to stick in NHL

BUFFALO – Every once in a while a prospect like Sabres defenseman Lawrence Pilut comes along. After a short apprenticeship in the AHL – maybe just a few months or less – he arrives in the NHL and stays for good.

For as much as the Sabres and other teams stress development and paying dues, some guys are just ready for the big leagues right away.

Pilut, 22, is just four games into his career. ... Read the full article