Luukkonen | Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres present special opportunity for goalie Eric Comrie: ‘I’m so thankful’

For the first time in five years, goalie Eric Comrie stayed put last season, playing for one team, the Winnipeg Jets, in one league, the NHL.

There was no shuttling between the big leagues and minors. There was no waiver claim and a sudden change of address.

Comrie, who signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres last Wednesday, remained in Winnipeg, quietly establishing himself as a one of the league’s steadiest backups ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Brett Murray to one-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday re-signed winger Brett Murray, who played 19 NHL games last season, to a one-year, two-way contract.

The deal is worth $750,000 in the NHL and $225,000 in the AHL, according to capfriendly.com.

The Sabres now have two unsigned restricted free agents: goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and forward Arttu Ruotsalainen.

Murray, 23, compiled two goals and six points during his recalls to Buffalo last season. He made his first two NHL ... Read the full article

Sabres prospects Ryan Johnson, Erik Portillo could have futures in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Right now, Ryan Johnson acknowledged he’s leaning toward returning to Minnesota for his senior season. Still, the defense prospect hasn’t ruled out turning pro. He plans to use this week’s development camp to evaluate the Sabres.

“I could kind of see where the organization is,” said Johnson, a first-round pick in 2019, 31st overall.

Johnson, who turns 21 on July 24, said if he goes back to college, he could eventually sign with ... Read the full article

Sabres excited to sign ex-Jets goalie Eric Comrie: ‘He was our guy’

BUFFALO – As free agency approached and the Sabres ramped up their search for a goalie, they did their due diligence on Eric Comrie, a seldom-used but intriguing talent.

Comrie, 27, became a Group 6 unrestricted free agent because he fell 90 minutes short of the minutes threshold. So if he had played another two games, the Winnipeg Jets could’ve retained his rights.

General manager Kevyn Adams said the scouting and analytics staffs and goalie ... Read the full article

Sabres agree to terms with Victor Olofsson on two-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres today locked up their most significant restricted free agent, agreeing to terms with winger Victor Olofsson on a two-year, $9.5 million contract.

Olofsson, who turns 27 next Monday, finished last season on a tear, compiling 15 goals and 28 points over his final 34 games. He also enjoyed a hot start, scoring five goals and nine points in the first seven games.

If Olofsson hadn’t suffered a wrist injury in early ... Read the full article

Through free agency or trade, Sabres must find another goalie

BUFFALO – The Sabres possess a stable of strong goaltending prospects.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a Finn labeled as the Sabres’ goalie of the future, has looked impressive in his limited NHL action. While he has battled injuries and struggled at times in the minors, he’s still a terrific young talent.

The Sabres also boast Devon Levi, the NCAA’s top goalie last season at Northeastern, and drafted Topias Leinonen in the second round on Friday, ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Vinnie Hinostroza, bring back Malcolm Subban

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday re-signed winger Vinnie Hinostroza to a one-year, $1.7 million contract and agreed to terms with goalie Malcolm Subban on a one-year, two-way deal worth $850,000 in the NHL.

Both players could’ve become unrestricted free agents Wednesday.

Hinostroza, 28, compiled 13 goals, 25 points and a minus-11 rating in 62 games last season, establishing himself as a scoring threat on the Sabres’ third or fourth line. His 12 even-strength goals ranked ... Read the full article

Sabres’ development camp roster loaded with top prospects

Eight first-round picks, including all three the Buffalo Sabres selected last week – centers Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich – are on the 43-man development camp roster the team released Monday.

The most anticipated camp in a long time – the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Sabres to cancel it the last two years – begins Wednesday at LECOM Harborcenter.

The roster is loaded with top prospects. Forwards Peyton Krebs, Jack Quinn, Isak Rosen ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Jacob Bryson to two-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday locked up their second restricted free agent this summer, re-signing defenseman Jacob Bryson to a two-year, $3.7 million contract.

Bryson, 24, earned regular duty last season, compiling one goal and 10 points in 73 games. The 18 minutes, 10 seconds of ice time he averaged each outing ranked seventh on the Sabres.

The Providence College product, a left-handed shot, also established himself as a versatile presence, often playing on ... Read the full article

In Topias Leinonen, Sabres thrilled to draft another high-end goalie prospect

MONTREAL – All along, the Buffalo Sabres planned to select a goalie this year. But there was a problem: the 2022 NHL Draft was light on net prospects.

Still, one youngster, Topias Leinonen, NHL Central Scouting’s top-ranked European goalie, caught their eye.

“We felt this guy had first- (or) second-round value,” Jerry Forton, the Sabres’ director of amateur scouting, said Friday afternoon following the draft inside the Bell Centre. “The question was do we use ... Read the full article