Hammond - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ decision to fire Amerks coach Chris Taylor looks foolish

In 2017, former general manager Jason Botterill and his assistant, Randy Sexton, took an unusual first step in rebuilding the Buffalo Sabres’ struggling AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

Barely a year after the Sabres’ previous regime had let Chris Taylor go as an assistant coach from the Amerks, Botterill and Sexton, who also served as Rochester’s GM, rehired him as head coach.

The move made sense. Taylor, who was fired again Tuesday, spent his ... Read the full article

Sabres suspend Zach Bogosian for failing to report to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres have suspended defenseman Zach Bogosian for failing to report to the Rochester Americans, the NHL club announced late Monday afternoon.

They assigned Bogosian, 29, to the Amerks on Saturday.

After morphing into a spare part – he was scratched 17 of the last 26 games – and often struggling during his sporadic appearances, the Sabres waived Bogosian on Friday.

“There will be no further information or comment at this time,” ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Carter Hutton, Johan Larsson expected to face Senators

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Ralph Krueger expects goalie Carter Hutton and center Johan Larsson to play against the Ottawa Senators despite their absence from Monday’s practice for maintenance.

Meanwhile, the Sabres announced illness will keep winger Michael Frolik from playing tonight. The Czech did not travel with the team to Ottawa. He also missed Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“We’re not worried about any of these injuries,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton game-time decision for Maple Leafs

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Carter Hutton will be a game-time decision tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Hutton, who has won three straight starts, missed Saturday’s practice for maintenance.

“We’re testing him at the moment as a we speak here,” Krueger said this morning inside KeyBank Center.

If Hutton can’t play, Krueger said rookie Jonas Johansson will start.

The Sabres also recalled goalie Andrew Hammond from the Rochester Americans on Saturday.... Read the full article

Sabres make more moves, recall Andrew Hammond, John Gilmour

BUFFALO – With goalie Carter Hutton absent from Saturday’s practice for maintenance, the Sabres recalled Andrew Hammond from the Rochester Americans.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Hutton’s absence isn’t related to the hit he took from Columbus Blue Jackets forward Eric Robinson in Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win.

A puck also hit Hutton in mask earlier in the night.

“We’re quite optimistic about his rehab day today,” Krueger said when asked about Hutton’s status for tonight’s ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian clears waivers, assigned to Amerks by Sabres

BUFFALO – The Sabres assigned defenseman Zach Bogosian to the Rochester Americans after he cleared waivers today.

Bogosian, 29, is not expected to play in the Amerks’ road game tonight against the Syracuse Crunch. There is no official word if the Massena native will report to the AHL.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said waiving and demoting Bogosian was “an organizational decision.”

“What’s going on there is not really my issue,” said Krueger, whose Sabres host ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jeff Skinner battling marathon slump, still playing down lineup

BUFFALO – At worst, you figured Sabres winger Jeff Skinner would score 25 or 30 goals this season. But having performed so dynamically most of last year, hitting 35 or even 40 again seemed possible.

Skinner and top Sabres captain Jack Eichel formed a lethal duo a year ago. For the first time in his career, Skinner, 27, had an elite center feeding him the puck, and he responded by scoring 40 goals.

When ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan Miller’s win in Buffalo special to goalie, Ducks

BUFFALO – On Thursday, the Sabres will celebrate “2000s Night,” bringing back Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell and some other key figures from their wildly successful 2005-06 and 2006-07 teams that reached the Eastern Conference final.

Ryan Miller, the star goalie those seasons, can’t make it. As the only active NHL player left from those popular clubs, he will be in Anaheim for the Ducks’ game against the Calgary Flames.

“I’m actually going to ... Read the full article

Sabres recall goalie Andrew Hammond with Carter Hutton unavailable

BUFFALO – Center Marcus Johansson (sick) and goalie Carter Hutton (family circumstances) will not play this afternoon, the Sabres have announced.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said rookie goalie Jonas Johansson will start this afternoon against the Anaheim Ducks at KeyBank Center.

To replace Hutton, the Sabres have recalled goalie Andrew Hammond from the Rochester Americans. Krueger said the Sabres will dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards.... Read the full article

First recall to Sabres special for goalie Jonas Johansson: ‘Just really pumped’

BUFFALO – On Monday, goalie Jonas Johansson represented the Rochester Americans at the AHL All-Star Classic, an honor he received for his breakout season.

After landing Tuesday night in Rochester following a long travel from Ontario, Calif., Amerks coach Chris Taylor called Johansson to relay some special news.

Johansson, 24, had earned his first recall to the Sabres. Having lost Linus Ullmark to a lower-body injury for three to four weeks in Tuesday’s 5-2 home ... Read the full article