Krueger - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Vladimir Sobotka undergoes knee surgery, out indefinitely

BUFFALO – Forward Vladimir Sobotka underwent successful surgery on his right knee and is out indefinitely, the Sabres announced this morning.

After Sobotka, 32, was injured Nov. 8 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Stockholm, Sweden, the Sabres said he would miss four to six weeks.

However, according to the Sabres, team doctors decided surgery would be the appropriate action for the Czech’s recovery.

Sobotka was injured when star Nikita Kucherov hit him low and ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin’s concussion another worry for struggling Sabres

BUFFALO – Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin often struggled in the Sabres’ first 24 games this season, looking like a youngster in need of a confidence boost.

Still, Dahlin, who suffered a concussion in Monday’s 5-2 road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning when Erik Cernak elbowed him in the face, is a dynamic talent. The reeling Sabres sorely need him in the lineup.

Update: Dahlin is out indefinitely, according to the Sabres.

The Sabres haven’t given ... Read the full article

Elbow to head gives Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin concussion

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin suffered a concussion when Erik Cernak elbowed him in the head during the second period of Monday’s 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Cernak wasn’t penalized for the hit, which occurred just after Dahlin passed the puck. Dahlin left the game and did not return.

“Very disappointing,” Krueger told reporters in St. Petersburg. “We’ll let the league deal with the judgment of what happened. Right ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Jean-Sebastien Dea from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres recalled forward Jean-Sebastien Dea from the Rochester Americans this morning.

Having lost center Evan Rodrigues to an undisclosed injury in Sunday afternoon’s 5-2 road win against the Florida Panthers, the Sabres needed to summon a forward before tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Right now, the Sabres have four injured forwards. They dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen Sunday. Curtis Lazar, a healthy scratch against the Panthers, was their only ... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres’ reshuffling lands Jimmy Vesey spot on top line

BUFFALO – When the Sabres acquired Jimmy Vesey in the summer, it seemed like he could earn an opportunity to play with top center Jack Eichel.

Of course, no one thought that chance would materialize after scoring zero goals in his first 18 outings. But right now, Vesey is the reeling Sabres’ No. 1 left winger.

“Getting put up there kind of gives you a shot in the arm and a little bit of a ... Read the full article

Don Granato returns to Sabres; Jimmy Vesey promoted to top line

BUFFALO – Finally, some good news for the struggling Sabres.

Assistant coach Don Granato, who took a leave of absence Oct. 1 after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia, returned to the Sabres today.

Granato, 52, was on the ice for practice inside KeyBank Center and accompanied the Sabres on their three-game road trip, which begins Thursday in Boston.

“That was a real-life story,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. “It’s amazing that was Sept. 28 when ... Read the full article

Trade could be coming for hapless Sabres following ugly loss to Wild

BUFFALO – A week before Thanksgiving, the same team that started the season 8-1-1 has already fallen apart. Right now, having lost eight of their last nine games, the Sabres are reeling.

The Sabres can deny it all they want, but it feels eerily similar to last season, when they won 10 straight games in November before imploding and missing the playoffs.

“Listen, we’re not talking about last year,” captain Jack Eichel said following the ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: John Gilmour moves up to forward as injury replacement

BUFFALO – In the end, instead of recalling a forward or trading for one, the Sabres simply utilized defenseman John Gilmour as a winger for Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger, who has five injured forwards, said Monday the Sabres could dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards.

The other option likely would’ve been recalling someone from the Rochester Americans. The AHL club, however, only has two healthy forwards on NHL ... Read the full article

Sabres to use John Gilmour up front, scratch Marco Scandella

BUFFALO – In the end, instead of recalling a forward or trading for one, the Sabres will simply utilize defenseman John Gilmour as a winger.

So for the first time since he was 15 or 16, Gilmour will skate up front tonight against the Minnesota Wild. He could also move back to the blue line, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said.

Krueger, who has five injured forwards, said Monday the Sabres could dress seven defensemen and ... Read the full article

Reeling, injury-plagued Sabres need to replenish lineup

BUFFALO – Having lost five forwards in the last five games, a stunning run of injuries, the reeling Sabres have two options for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

The Sabres can either dress seven defensemen and only 11 forwards, coach Ralph Krueger said, or they can recall a forward from the Rochester Americans.

They stayed remarkably healthy over the first month of the season, utilizing the same lineup most games. But the injuries have ... Read the full article