Johnson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres to host Prospects Challenge rookie tournament Sept. 11 to 15

The Buffalo Sabres will be hosting four teams at the Prospects Challenge rookie tournament from Sept. 11 to 15 at LECOM Harborcenter, the team announced Monday.

The Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins will also be participating in the round-robin tournament. The Ottawa Senators have dropped out.

Tickets for the games cost $11.80 and are on sale. Rosters will be announced at a later date.... Read the full article

Kevyn Adams says Sabres would match any offer sheet to Bowen Byram

BUFFALO – If a team swoops in and gives restricted free agent Bowen Byram an offer sheet, general manager Kevyn Adams said the Sabres are prepared to match it.

“The moves we’ve made and the position we’ve put ourselves in from the cap perspective has been strategic,” Adams said prior to Wednesday’s session of development camp in LECOM Harborcenter. “If you leave just enough room in your cap that where maybe you see a projection ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Alex Lyon, make trade and add depth as free agency opens

What exactly will goalie Alex Lyon’s role be with the Buffalo Sabres?

Right now, Lyon, their most significant signing on Tuesday, the first day of free agency, is likely penciled in as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s backup.

But what if Luukkonen, 26, struggles like he did last season? Late in the year, veteran James Reimer took over, keeping the Finn on the bench as he enjoyed a career-best stretch.

The Sabres are under enormous pressure to win ... Read the full article

After career-best season, Sabres re-sign Ryan McLeod to $20 million contract

Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod has parlayed a breakout season in which he set new career highs by scoring 20 goals and 53 points into a four-year, $20 million contract.

He inked the deal Tuesday shortly after becoming a restricted free agent.

McLeod, 25, fit in nicely in his first season in Buffalo, moving up and down the lineup while being utilized for faceoffs and as a penalty killer.... Read the full article

Sabres trade Sam Lafferty, re-sign two defensemen; Buffalo signs goalie Alex Lyon to two-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres today traded forward Sam Lafferty to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2026.

Lafferty, 30, struggled last season after signing a two-year, $4 million contract as a free agent, registering four goals, seven points and a minus-15 rating in 60 games.

The Sabres inked the speedy Lafferty, who had just enjoyed a career year with the Vancouver Canucks, when they overhauled their fourth line.... Read the full article

Sabres don’t extend qualifying offers to Jacob Bernard-Docker, three others

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Monday did not extend an $866,250 qualifying offer to defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker, making him a free agent.

They extended qualifying offers to goalie Devon Levi, defensemen Bowen Byram, Ryan Johnson and Conor Timmins and forwards Tyson Kozak and Ryan McLeod.

Byram, Johnson, McLeod and Timmins all have arbitration rights. Bernard-Docker had them before the Sabres did not qualify him.

Forwards Aleksandr Kisakov, Bennett MacArthur and Tyler Tullio – ... Read the full article

Jiri Kulich plays hero, helps Rochester Amerks even series versus Laval Rocket

ROCHESTER – It felt like only a matter of time before Jiri Kulich put his mark on the Americans’ hotly contested second-round series against the Laval Rocket. The center, after all, is now an NHL player, having spent nearly all season with the Buffalo Sabres.

Kulich, however, has returned to the AHL for one final run with the Amerks during the Calder Cup Playoffs. Having just about outgrown the minors, he’s expected to be a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ streak hits 10 games with loss to Maple Leafs: ‘Toughest solve I’ve been around’

TORONTO – Lindy Ruff has coached 1,805 games over 24 seasons. He has led Buffalo Sabres teams that went bankrupt during the season and that came within two wins of a Stanley Cup victory.

Ruff, 64, has experienced just about everything during his long and distinguished career. He has won 875 games, the fifth-highest total in NHL history, and led three franchises to the playoffs.

He has always found a way to get his teams ... Read the full article

Sabres recall goalie Devon Levi; Buffalo to make lineup change in Toronto

TORONTO – Goalie Devon Levi is back with the Buffalo Sabres.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Levi, 22, will start this afternoon against the Toronto Maple Leafs after being recalled today from the Rochester Americans.

Levi, of course, began the season with the Sabres, compiling a 2-5-0 record with a 3.95 goals-against average and an .870 save percentage in seven games.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan Johnson skates big minutes; Rasmus Dahlin still sidelined

BUFFALO – Instead of easing Ryan Johnson into the lineup, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff tossed the defenseman headfirst into the fray, skating him nearly 21 minutes in his NHL season debut.

Not only did Johnson, 23, play the third-highest total of his short career (20:50), he earned a plum assignment playing alongside Bowen Byram throughout Monday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

When Johnson’s turnover in the corner led to Alex DeBrincat’s tying ... Read the full article