Jokiharju - Buffalo Hockey Beat

When will Sabres rookies Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka play again?

BUFFALO – For a day or two, rookie Jack Quinn is technically a member of the Rochester Americans again. In a paper move on Thursday morning, the Sabres loaned the winger to their AHL affiliate to create room to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Quinn, 21, isn’t going anywhere. The Sabres needed a roster spot and he can be assigned to the minors without waivers.

General manager Kevyn Adams said on Monday the Sabres would ... Read the full article

Sabres loan Jack Quinn to Rochester to create spot for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

BUFFALO – For a day or two, Sabres rookie Jack Quinn is technically a member of the Rochester Americans again. In a paper move on Thursday morning, they loaned the winger to their AHL affiliate to create room to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Quinn, 21, isn’t going anywhere. The Sabres needed a roster spot and he can be assigned to the minors without waivers.

General manager Kevyn Adams said on Monday the Sabres would have ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Panthers claim Casey Fitzgerald off waivers; Buffalo could make roster move

BUFFALO – Given the depth the Sabres have built up over the last year, losing someone on waivers seemed inevitable. Sure enough, on Wednesday, the Florida Panthers nabbed defenseman Casey Fitzgerald off the wire.

As a 25-year-old right-shot defenseman, the chances of Fitzgerald clearing seemed low.

On Tuesday, the Sabres waived Fitzgerald to create a roster spot for defenseman Henri Jokiharju.... Read the full article

Sabres lose Casey Fitzgerald on waivers

The Florida Panthers this afternoon claimed defenseman Casey Fitzgerald on waivers from the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres waived Fitzgerald, 25, on Tuesday to create a roster spot for defenseman Henri Jokiharju.

The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Fitzgerald compiled three assists, a minus-1 rating and four penalty minutes in 23 games with the Sabres this season.

Defenseman Kale Clague recently passed Fitzgerald on the depth chart, and he sat out seven straight games as a healthy scratch.

The ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka sit as healthy scratches; UPL misses start

BUFFALO – In the nine games prior to Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken, Sabres winger Jack Quinn registered zero points. JJ Peterka, his linemate, wasn’t much better during that stretch, mustering just two assists.

On Tuesday, the Sabres scratched the struggling rookies. Rasmus Asplund and Vinnie Hinostroza, both of whom had sat out nine straight games, replaced the youngsters on a line with center Dylan Cozens.

Peterka had played every ... Read the full article

Sabres place Casey Fitzgerald on waivers, create roster spot

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon waived defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, a move that creates a roster spot for them to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans.

Update: Defenseman Henri Jokiharju, out since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 9, has been activated from injured reserve and taken Fitzgerald’s roster spot, according to the team’s website.

Update: General manager Kevyn Adams said on today’s “Jeff Marek Show” on 590 The Fan that Luukkonen ... Read the full article

After sending Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Amerks, expect more moves as Sabres try to keep three goalies

BUFFALO – By loaning goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the Rochester Americans to create a roster spot for Eric Comrie, the Sabres bought themselves some time.

Right now, the Sabres have a full 23-man roster. If they wanted to activate Comrie from injured reserve and keep Luukkonen, they might’ve had to waive a young defenseman and risk losing him.

The Sabres can send Luukkonen, 23, to the AHL without waivers, so his assignment on Monday ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Henri Jokiharju nears return from lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju, sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 9, could play in about a week, coach Don Granato said.

Jokiharju, 23, joined his teammates this morning and skated in a contact role as they prepared for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild. The Finn has missed the last nine games.

“When a player gets back into practice, that window is really short at this point, as long as he ... Read the full article

Prolific season earns Sabres star Tage Thompson spot in NHL All-Star Game

BUFFALO – Tage Thompson’s development into an NHL All-Star ranks as one of hockey’s most remarkable stories.

Less than two years ago, Thompson, 25, was a struggling winger on the NHL’s worst team. The Sabres even demoted him to the taxi squad. Today, he’s their No. 1 center and the centerpiece of the league’s most prolific offense.

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Thompson has scored 30 goals and 55 points in 36 outings this season, gaudy numbers ... Read the full article

Sabres recall defenseman from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres, who played Thursday’s game with just five healthy defensemen, have recalled Jeremy Davies from the Rochester Americans.

Lower-body injuries forced defensemen Jacob Bryson, Henri Jokiharju, Ilya Lyubushkin and Owen Power to all miss Thursday’s 4-2 road win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Power was a late scratch prior to Thursday’s game. Lyubushkin, meanwhile, resumed practicing on Wednesday and is working toward a return.... Read the full article