Krueger - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres captain Jack Eichel draws crowd and MVP talk in Toronto

TORONTO – When the NHL’s hottest player comes here, you can bet the media throng wants to talk to him. Sure enough, Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel drew a crowd this morning inside Scotiabank Arena.

Right now, Eichel, 23, is scorching. The slick center has a career-best 16-game point streak entering tonight’s contest against the Maple Leafs, the league’s longest this season.

Eichel has already scored 23 goals in 34 games, five off his career ... Read the full article

Sabres believe Casey Mittelstadt has right attitude to thrive with Amerks

TORONTO – On Sunday, a day off for the Buffalo Sabres, general manager Jason Botterill and coach Ralph Krueger summoned center Casey Mittelstadt to KeyBank Center to inform him he was being demoted to the Rochester Americans.

After Mittelstadt, 21, got over the initial shock and disappointment of getting sent to the minors – “It’s always an emotional conversation,” Botterill said Monday – he asked what he must to do return to the NHL.

“He ... Read the full article

Sabres thrilled for Bills’ success: ‘They’ve just had a tremendous season’

BUFFALO – Ralph Krueger normally goes to bed long before “Sunday Night Football” ends. Still, the Sabres coach stayed up late to watch the Bills’ thrilling 17-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, which clinched just their second playoff berth in 20 seasons.

“I cut into my sleep,” Krueger joked today inside KeyBank Center.

Of course, Krueger, who said he has become as a big a Bills fan as anybody, was happy he could enjoy such ... Read the full article

Sabres demoted Casey Mittelstadt to Amerks to play games

BUFFALO – On Sunday, a day off for the Sabres, general manager Jason Botterill and coach Ralph Krueger summoned center Casey Mittelstadt to KeyBank Center to inform him he was being demoted.

After Mittelstadt, 21, got over the initial shock and disappointment of getting sent to the Rochester Americans for the first time, Botterill said the youngster quickly asked what he must to do return to the NHL.

“He is a mature guy, he is ... Read the full article

Sabres send struggling Casey Mittelstadt to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres sent center Casey Mittelstadt, who has been a healthy scratch three of the last four games, to the Rochester Americans today.

While Mittelstadt, 21, has never played in the AHL, the demotion wasn’t exactly surprising.

Mittelstadt has struggled in his second full NHL season, compiling only four goals, nine points and a minus-5 rating in 31 games while often looking lost defensively.

The former eighth overall pick has mustered just ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian mum on if he requested trade

BUFFALO – Zach Bogosian’s demeanor said it all.

For two and a half minutes Friday, the Sabres defenseman answered questions about his uncertain future with terse replies. The normally affable veteran was expressionless.

In his 12-year NHL career, Bogosian had never experienced sitting out a game as a healthy scratch.

Then on Thursday, coach Ralph Krueger, who has eight healthy defensemen on his roster, benched Bogosian for the Sabres’ 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators.... Read the full article

Islanders present stiff challenge for Sabres

BUFFALO – What do the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and New York Islanders have in common?

The teams, three of the Sabres’ opponents this week, thrive because of their rigid defensive structure.

“It’s not a free-flowing, open style like a lot of teams are playing with the foot on the offensive gas all the time,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Friday. “There’s a real defensive passion to these three team games.”

After beating the ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel helping Sabres become heavyweight at home

BUFFALO – Thursday was “Aud Night” at KeyBank Center, a special 50th anniversary promotion that celebrated the Sabres’ first home and the 1980s throughout their entertaining 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators.

In addition to giving out Memorial Auditorium shirts – the Sabres laid out gold, red, blue and orange ones on the seats to match the old building’s unique look – alumni attended and the Sabres sported their special white anniversary jerseys.

“It adds ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Zach Bogosian healthy scratch as Rasmus Dahlin returns

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, a healthy scratch for Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators, has requested a trade, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

The oft-injured Bogosian, 29, is in the final year of a contract that pays him $6 million this season. He can become an unrestricted free agent following the season.

Bogosian underwent offseason hip surgery and made his season debut Nov. 24. He played 10 straight games before Thursday.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian to be healthy scratch; Rasmus Dahlin might play

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, who has played 10 straight games since returning from offseason hip surgery last month, will be a healthy scratch tonight against the Nashville Predators.

Does that mean defenseman Rasmus Dahlin will return after missing eight games with a concussion? Sabres coach Ralph Krueger wouldn’t say. Dahlin practiced Wednesday.

“It was good to get some contact, wake up a little,” Dahlin said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “You feel ... Read the full article