McCabe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Colin Miller hopes to bring lessons learned with Golden Knights to Sabres

BUFFALO – Two years ago, Sabres defenseman Colin Miller joined the Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team filled with castoffs hungry for an opportunity.

Within a matter of weeks, a group that had little or no expectations began one of the greatest and most unique seasons in NHL history.

Players who had never spent any time together quickly meshed. The Golden Knights morphed into a powerhouse and would become the unlikeliest Stanley Cup finalist ever.... Read the full article

Conor Sheary knows consistency must improve to help Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Conor Sheary certainly showcased flashes of his scoring prowess last season.

On Nov. 18, Sheary scored in his third straight game, his sixth goal in just his 16th outing with the Sabres.

Then suddenly, Sheary, 27, went cold.

The speedy UMass product endured a 16-game goal drought. After scoring an empty-netter Dec. 22, he experienced an 11-game dry spell.

On. Jan 29, Sheary finally scored past a goalie again.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign goalie Linus Ullmark, go over salary cap

BUFFALO – The Sabres have gone over the NHL’s $81.5 million salary cap, according to capfriendly.com.

It appears re-signing goalie Linus Ullmark to a one-year, $1.325 million contract Saturday put them over. But it had been expected the Sabres would exceed the cap as they inked their restricted free agents.

Earlier Saturday, the Sabres avoided arbitration with Jake McCabe, re-signing the defenseman to a two-year, $5.7 million contract. McCabe’s hearing was scheduled for today.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Jake McCabe to two-year, $5.7 million contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have avoided arbitration with Jake McCabe, re-signing the defenseman to a two-year, $5.7 million contract.

The deal, announced this morning, gives the Sabres just $265,476 of salary cap space for the upcoming season, according to capfriendly.com. McCabe has a $2.85 million cap hit.

The Sabres still must re-sign goalie Linus Ullmark, who had his arbitration hearing Friday.

The NHL has a second buyout period following a team’s final arbitration ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres, Jake McCabe nearly $2.5 million apart before arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres and defenseman Jake McCabe are nearly $2.5 million apart heading into Sunday’s arbitration hearing, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The Sabres offered McCabe $1.95 million, while he countered with $4.3 million, Friedman tweeted this morning.

McCabe, 25, earned $1.775 million last season.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Remi Elie to one-year, two-way contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed winger Remi Elie to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000, the team announced today.

Elie and the Sabres settled after this morning’s arbitration hearing.

The Sabres utilized Elie sparingly after claiming him off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Oct. 2, playing him only 16 times before sending him to the AHL in the winter. After recording one assist with the Sabres, the former second-round pick compiled eight goals ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres, Linus Ullmark nearly $2 million apart before arbitration hearing

The Buffalo Sabres and goalie Linus Ullmark are nearly $2 million apart heading into Friday’s arbitration hearing, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The Sabres offered Ullmark $800,000, while the Swede countered with $2.65 million, Friedman tweeted this morning.

For some perspective, Sabres starting goalie Carter Hutton has a $2.75 million salary.

Ullmark, who turns 26 today, earned $800,000 in 2018-19, his first full NHL campaign.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues awarded $2 million contract

BUFFALO – An independent arbitrator has awarded Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues a one-year, $2 million contract, the club announced today.

The decision basically split the difference of what the sides had proposed.

Rodrigues, whose hearing was Tuesday, wanted $2.65 million, according to Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman. The Sabres, meanwhile, offered $1.5 million, according to Friedman.

Rodrigues, 25, set career highs across the board last season, compiling nine goals and 29 points in 74 games. His versatility ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Johan Larsson to one-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed center Johan Larsson to a one-year, $1.55 million contract, the team announced today.

The Swede, 26, was a restricted free agent.

Larsson, a veteran of 331 NHL games, is one of three Sabres left from the 2013-14 squad that finished dead last in the NHL. Forward Zemgus Girgensons and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen are the others.... Read the full article

Trading Alexander Nylander was inevitable for Sabres

BUFFALO – Following another underwhelming season, it felt like only a matter of time before the Sabres cut their losses and traded winger Alexander Nylander.

Through three years as a pro, Nylander, the eighth overall pick by the Sabres’ old regime in 2016, has mostly been a bust.

Sure, the Swede has occasionally showcased his slick skills. Still, he hasn’t consistently displayed the tenacity to match them.

Nylander, 21, couldn’t develop into a dominant ... Read the full article