Beck Malenstyn leads Buffalo in hits. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Despite limited minutes, Sabres’ Beck Malenstyn hitting, making impact

BUFFALO – Through eight games, no Sabres forward has played less than Beck Malenstyn. The newcomer has eclipsed the 10-minute mark just twice. In one contest, he skated only 1 minute, 52 seconds over three shifts.

Still, Malenstyn, a physical fourth-line winger the Sabres valued so highly they traded a second-round pick to acquire him, makes use of his limited action.

Despite averaging just 8 minutes, 28 seconds per outing, he has recorded a ... Read the full article

Nicolas Aube-Kubel has played one game for Buffalo. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Nicolas Aube-Kubel close to playing; Zach Benson out injured

BUFFALO – After winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel suffered a lower-body injury, believed to be a knee sprain, in the season opener Oct. 4, the Sabres said he would be sidelined three to six weeks.

On Tuesday morning, 18 days after going down, Aube-Kubel rejoined his teammates on the KeyBank Center ice prior to their 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars.

“I’m actually shocked,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “I’m really impressed that he’s back.”

Aube-Kubel, ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson (72) skates by former teammate Ilya Lyubushkin on Monday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres can’t put Ducks away in awful loss: ‘Gave them free chances’

BUFFALO – Almost halfway through Monday afternoon’s embarrassing 4-3 loss, the Sabres had the Anaheim Ducks on the ropes.

At that point, the Sabres had dominated the Ducks, outshooting them by about 20 as they generated a slew of prime scoring chances, including some breakaways.

Fourteen seconds after center Tage Thompson’s power-play goal put the Sabres’ up 2-1, the Ducks took another penalty.... Read the full article

Erik Johnson skates during Friday’s session of training camp. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Erik Johnson excited to be in Buffalo, give Sabres missing element

BUFFALO – Erik Johnson knows his time here could be short. The defenseman joined the Sabres on a one-year contract. At 35, he has entered perhaps the final phase of his terrific career.

Right now, the 17-year veteran might be more coveted for his experience and leadership than his skill.

Johnson’s still an asset on the ice, mind you. He averaged more than 17 minutes on it each game last season. In the first two ... Read the full article

Ilya Lyubushkin played one season in Buffalo. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres trade Ilya Lyubushkin to Ducks

The Buffalo Sabres trimmed their defense corps Friday night, trading Ilya Lyubushkin to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2025.

The Sabres had nine defensemen on one-way contracts prior to dealing Lyubushkin, who’s entering the final season of a two-year, $5.5 million contract.

While Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has said he would be comfortable having a surfeit of defensemen in training camp, it wasn’t surprising the Sabres made a move.... Read the full article

Erik Johnson sees similarities between Colorado, his old team, and Buffalo ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Veteran Erik Johnson believes Sabres will ‘contend for a long time’

BUFFALO – After defenseman Erik Johnson learned the Colorado Avalanche wouldn’t be re-signing him, he said five or six teams emerged as suitors in free agency.

The Sabres, a team he said reminds him of the Avalanche not long ago, quickly moved to the top of his list.

Johnson, 35, called some old teammates and bounced the interested clubs off them.

“All of them really said Buffalo’s a team on the rise,” said Johnson, who ... Read the full article

Erik Johnson won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

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

Ilya Lyubushkin is in his first season in Buffalo. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Safety concerns keep Sabres’ Ilya Lyubushkin out of Pride Night warm-up

BUFFALO – Out of concern for his safety, Russian-born defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin did not participate in the pregame warm-up Monday when the Sabres wore Pride-themed jerseys to celebrate the LGBTQ community.

Lyubushkin, 28, did play in the Sabres’4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He did not speak to the media following the team’s morning skate.

In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that makes it illegal to spread “LGBTQ propaganda.” ... Read the full article

Riley Stillman has played 140 NHL games. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres acquire Riley Stillman in trade with Canucks

The Buffalo Sabres made a minor trade Monday night to beef up their defense depth, acquiring Riley Stillman from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for prospect Josh Bloom.

The 6-foot-1, 196-pound Stillman, 24, has played 140 NHL games, including 32 with the Canucks this season.

It was believed Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams planned to address his defense depth before Friday’s trade deadline.

Stillman’s arrival gives Buffalo 24 players, so it must make a move ... Read the full article

Ilya Lyubushkin hadn’t scored a goal since last season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Don Granato sensed Ilya Lyubushkin would score OT goal

Ilya Lyubushkin had scored zero goals in his first 41 games with the Buffalo Sabres. In his five-year NHL career, the gritty Russian defenseman had scored just three goals in 252 contests, his last coming 10 months ago.

But when Lyubushkin grabbed the puck from Lightning captain Steven Stamkos in overtime Thursday and set off on a rare short-handed breakaway, Sabres coach Don Granato knew something special was about to happen.

“It was weird in ... Read the full article