Jost - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres to give prospect Zach Benson look on top line

BUFFALO – Placing rookie Zach Benson on the top line with center Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner for tonight’s preseason game isn’t a reward, coach Don Granato said.

“He’s a good hockey player,” Granato said after the Sabres prepared for the Boston Bruins in KeyBank Center. “He’s earned it in the sense that he might only be 18 years old, but he’s developed himself enough to be able to keep up with those two in ... Read the full article

Sabres sign defensemen Erik Johnson, Connor Clifton in free agency, bring back Tyson Jost

The Buffalo Sabres today made three moves in the opening hour of free agency, signing right-shot defensemen Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton and re-signing center Tyson Jost.

General manager Kevyn Adams said leading up to free agency he wanted to add to his blue line this offseason, and in Johnson and Clifton he addressed the Sabres’ most glaring need.

Johnson, 35, signed a $3.25 million contract. Meanwhile, Clifton, 28, inked a three-year deal with an ... Read the full article

Sabres don’t extend qualifying offers to Tyson Jost, two others

Following the end of his first season in Buffalo, center Tyson Jost talked about what a special group he had joined and how badly he wanted to return to the Sabres.

On Friday, the Sabres did not give Jost, 25, a qualifying offer, meaning he can become an unrestricted free agent when the market opens Saturday.

General manager Kevyn Adams, however, has said he wants Jost to return. By not extending him an offer as ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: NHL teams reluctant to trade top-10 draft picks

NASHVILLE – For first time since 2012, the Buffalo Sabres did not have a top-10 pick at the NHL Draft, meaning general manager Kevyn Adams likely had fewer teams trying to pry away his first selection.

Given the amount of high-end talent available early, teams are usually reluctant to part with one of the first 10 choices. This year, no trades were made in the entire first round.

“That’s shocking,” said Adams, who tried to ... Read the full article

Contracts for Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power in works; Kevyn Adams confident in goalies

BUFFALO – Following the season, some of the Sabres’ decision makers sat down with defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power and told them how much they believe in them and what they mean to the franchise.

“There was an excitement from both of them and a clear message to me that they both want to be here long-term,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Wednesday during a news conference in KeyBank Center to discuss the ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Zemgus Girgensons to one-year contract

Forward Zemgus Girgensons, the Buffalo Sabres’ longest-tenured player, will be returning for an 11th season.

The Sabres on Tuesday signed Girgensons to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. He could’ve become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Girgensons, 29, is the last remaining player from the Sabres’ “tank” teams of 2013-14 and 2014-15.

The Latvian has endured some rough seasons in Buffalo. The Sabres have finished dead last four times during his tenure and never ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyson Jost hopes he has found home in Buffalo: ‘Really special group’

BUFFALO – Tyson Jost had no idea what to expect here. The center joined the Sabres at their nadir in mid-November, an eight-game losing streak. Having spent his entire career in the Western Conference, he wasn’t familiar with the organization.

Right away, Jost, a waiver claim from the Minnesota Wild, felt at home. The tight-knit group warmly welcomed him. The Sabres ended their skid in his first game and he quickly earned regular duty.

Following ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Tage Thompson wanted to hit 50-goal mark

BUFFALO – At the beginning of the season, fresh off a breakout 38-goal campaign, Sabres star Tage Thompson wanted duplicate last year’s career-best output.

“If I could get around the same as I got last year, it would be successful and (I’d) be pretty happy with that,” Thompson said prior to Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center, the Sabres’ home finale.

Well, Thompson, 25, hit the 30-goal mark Jan. 3, ... Read the full article

Sabres injury update: Tage Thompson practices, could play against Panthers

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson gutted out his upper-body injury once, playing less than a day after colliding with New Jersey Devils star Timo Meier.

But Thompson, 25, was a non-factor March 25 in a 2-0 road win over the New York Islanders. So the Sabres’ leading scorer has sat out the last three games.

“It just got to a point where it was hindering me too much to where I couldn’t really play ... Read the full article

Canadiens spoil Lukas Rousek’s debut; Sabres’ Tage Thompson out with injury

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Eric Comrie sounded somber trying to explain Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Their two-game winning streak had ignited hope that perhaps they could make a late-season climb toward the second wild card spot that seemed so unlikely a week ago.

A victory over the Canadiens at KeyBank Center would’ve moved the Sabres to within one point of the struggling Florida Panthers and four points of the Pittsburgh Penguins, ... Read the full article