Kulich - Buffalo Hockey Beat

After rough season, Sabres’ Jack Quinn responds to challenge from Lindy Ruff

BUFFALO – On the surface, Jack Quinn’s 2024-25 season might look productive. The Sabres winger set career highs across the board, recording 15 goals, 24 assists and 39 points.

Of course, two other telling numbers must be attached to that stat line: minus-18, his team-worst rating, and six, the number of games he sat out as a healthy scratch before scoring his first goal against a goalie on Dec. 15.

“You look at a tough ... Read the full article

Injuries sideline Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Michael Kesselring

BUFFALO – Injuries will likely keep Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and defenseman Michael Kesselring from playing in Thursday’s season opener against the New York Rangers.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Luukkonen and Kesselring, both of whom left Wednesday’s 5-3 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, are “kind of week to week.”

“It’s going to be more than day to day,” Ruff said following today’s pregame skate in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Buffalo loses another player to injury, gets one back

BUFFALO – Another day, another injury for the Sabres.

Coach Lindy Ruff said this morning winger Zach Benson has “a little bit of an ailment that we’re keeping him off the ice for.” He said the injury is only a “short-term thing.”

Benson joins defensemen Mattias Samuelsson (upper body) and Owen Power (strain) and forwards Jordan Greenway (mid body) and Noah Ostlund (undisclosed) on the sideline.... Read the full article

Sabres lose Owen Power to injury; Jiri Kulich ready to play

BUFFALO – Make that three injured defensemen for the Sabres.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Owen Power missed Tuesday’s practice with a strain and is day to day. He joins defensemen Bowen Byram and Mattias Samuelsson on the sideline.

Ruff said Byram, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday afternoon’s exhibition game, skated on his own Tuesday. Samuelsson is week to week with an upper-body injury.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson, Bowen Byram sidelined by injuries

BUFFALO – Following a trying season, oft-injured Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson enjoyed a productive summer and looked impressive early in training camp, coach Lindy Ruff said.

But Samuelsson, 25, has already been sidelined.

Ruff said on Monday the American re-aggravated an upper-body injury and is week to week. He hasn’t practiced since Thursday.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch ready for preseason debut; Mattias Samuelsson injured

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alex Tuch, who missed the first two days of training camp with an undisclosed injury, will be making his preseason debut this afternoon against the Detroit Red Wings, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Meanwhile, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could miss the game after sitting out Friday’s practice with an upper-body injury.

“We’ll have him evaluated,” Ruff said following the session in KeyBank Center. “He had a good practice yesterday, and maybe that ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen practices; Jiri Kulich injured

BUFFALO – Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen knows if the Sabres hope to end their embarrassing 14-year playoff drought, he must bounce back following a disappointing season in which he often struggled and briefly lost his starting job.

It can be argued no player is more integral to the Sabres’ success than Luukkonen, who failed to build on his breakout 2023-24 campaign and sat out late-season games when journeyman James Reimer took over the net.

So it ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Radim Mrtka set to debut, Alexandar Georgiev to start

BUFFALO – Bo, meet Radim. Radim, meet Bo. Now go out and play together.

In the opening days of training camp, the Sabres kept the players expected to comprise their NHL roster in one practice group. So defenseman Bowen Byram said he hadn’t met rookie Radim Mrtka until this morning.

Tonight, Byram will be tasked with skating alongside Mrtka, 18, in his NHL preseason debut on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets.... Read the full article

After strong season, Sabres prospect Isak Rosen focused on sticking in NHL

BUFFALO – On Friday, winger Isak Rosen will suit up for the Sabres in his fourth Prospects Challenge. Given his slick skill set and experience, there’s an expectation he will be a dominant presence in the rookie tournament.

Rosen has registered 48 goals and 105 points over the last two seasons in the AHL and played 15 NHL games. Last year, he developed into the Rochester Americans’ top offense threat, scoring 28 goals and 55 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris gives designer bags to Zach Benson in exchange for No. 9

BUFFALO – In late July, Sabres center Josh Norris texted his teammate, Zach Benson, and asked what it would take for him to give up No. 9.

Benson said he thought Norris, who wore No. 13 in his first three games with the Sabres before a torn oblique muscle ended his season, was joking.

“I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not,” Benson said Saturday after throwing out the first pitch before the ... Read the full article