Houser - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres wanted Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to develop in Buffalo instead of going to Rochester for playoffs

BUFFALO – In his four-year pro career, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has never played a postseason game.

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs two straight years. Last year, Luukkonen suffered an injury late in the regular season and missed the Rochester Americans’ 10-game playoff run.

This year, the Sabres did not make Luukkonen, who started the season in Rochester, available to the Amerks, who open the playoffs Friday.

... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Asplund traded; Injured Rasmus Dahlin practices

BUFFALO – Following his first season as an NHL regular and a standout performance at the World Championship, forward Rasmus Asplund was expected to become a big contributor to the Sabres this year.

Instead, Asplund, 25, lost his regular spot in the lineup in late November, quickly morphing into a spare part.

The Swede had played just two of the last 18 games and 27 overall this season when the Sabres dealt him to the ... Read the full article

After assignment to Rochester, Sabres’ Vinnie Hinostroza happy to be back

BUFFALO – After clearing waivers and reporting for his first stint in the minors in more than five years, a much-needed opportunity quickly materialized for Sabres winger Vinnie Hinostroza.

Of course, under normal circumstances, Hinostroza, 28, wouldn’t have been assigned to the Rochester Americans.

“Vinnie went to Rochester on circumstance, not on play,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Sunday. “… He’s an NHL hockey player.”

But for about a month, Hinostroza, who signed ... Read the full article

Sabres sign goalie Michael Houser to NHL contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday signed goalie Michael Houser, who has spent all season with the Rochester Americans, to an NHL contract and placed him on waivers.

This is the third straight year the Sabres have awarded Houser, 30, an NHL deal during the season. Each time, he had been playing on an AHL contract.

His new contract is worth a prorated $750,000 in the NHL and $100,000 in the minors, according to capfriendly.com.... Read the full article

Despite scoring twice, Sabres prospect Filip Cederqvist costs Amerks win

ROCHESTER – In scoring his first two goals for the Americans, rookie Filip Cederqvist showcased why he has developed into one of the Buffalo Sabres’ most intriguing forward prospects.

Early in the second period of Friday’s 6-5 overtime loss, Cederqvist, 22, grabbed Isak Rosen’s pass beside the net on the power play and quickly stuffed the puck past Cleveland Monsters goalie Daniil Tarasov.

The 6-foot-3, 196-pound Cederqvist scored another power-play goal midway through the period, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt producing despite struggles at even strength

BUFFALO – Late in the second period of Thursday’s 7-4 loss, Casey Mittelstadt grabbed a short pass in the left circle and darted to the net. When the Sabres center approached the crease on his forehand, it briefly appeared he would shoot.

But Mittelstadt held the puck and, a split second later, he lifted a quick backhander past Vegas Golden Knights goalie Logan Thompson, tying the game at 2.

The slick goal, his second power-play ... Read the full article

Sabres trim roster, send Matt Savoie to junior, 21 players to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday assigned center Matt Savoie to his junior team and loaned 21 players to the Rochester Americans, their AHL affiliate.

They have 31 healthy players left in training camp. They must finalize their 23-man regular-season roster by 5 p.m. on Oct. 10.

The Sabres gave Savoie, the ninth overall pick this year, a long look during camp, awarding him three preseason games before sending to the Winnipeg Ice. Savoie, 18, was ... Read the full article

After two years away, Lawrence Pilut back with Sabres organization

Defenseman Lawrence Pilut has returned to the Buffalo Sabres organization after a two-year stint in the Kontinental Hockey League.

The Sabres on Friday signed Pilut, 26, to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL, according to capfriendly.com. The Swede played 46 NHL games during his first stint with Buffalo.

General manager Kevyn Adams acknowledged earlier this week the Sabres wanted to re-sign Pilut but needed proof his contract ... Read the full article

After re-signing Craig Anderson, Sabres must acquire more goalies

BUFFALO – When veteran goalie Craig Anderson finished his first season with the Sabres, he wanted to take some time to decompress and evaluate his future.

The Sabres felt Anderson’s impact – in addition to stabilizing their net, he established himself as a leader and mentor on the rebuilding club – and sorely wanted him back for another season.

But Anderson, 41, needed to talk to his family and see how his body felt before ... Read the full article

After rough stints with Sabres, goalie Aaron Dell found game with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Goalie Aaron Dell arrived in Buffalo nine months ago as perhaps the favorite to win the Sabres’ backup job before enduring a miserable preseason and getting waived.

When an opportunity materialized to play in the NHL a month later, Dell struggled so badly the Sabres acquired another netminder and demoted him to the AHL again.

Dell, 33, compiled downright awful statistics – a 1-8-1 mark with a 4.03 goals-against average and an ... Read the full article