McDavid - Buffalo Hockey Beat

2023-24 Sabres schedule features early home games, two visits from Toronto

NASHVILLE – The Buffalo Sabres begin the 2023-24 season at home Oct. 12 against the New York Rangers and play five of their first six games at KeyBank Center.

So the 82-game schedule released Tuesday features an early opportunity for the Sabres, who struggled at home last season, to roar out of the gate.

The Sabres play five of their Atlantic Division opponents – the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning ... Read the full article

In Connor Bedard, NHL might have the next Connor McDavid

BUFFALO – Connor Bedard prefers to live in the moment. With all the outside noise and hype surrounding him, the ultra-talented center, a lock to be the first overall pick at the upcoming NHL Draft, said it allows him to enjoy things “kind of be where your feet are.”

“That’s good advice I’ve got from a few guys,” Bedard said Friday in LECOM Harborcenter, where the NHL Scouting Combine is taking place this week.

That’s ... Read the full article

Connor McDavid burns Sabres for two goals in Oilers’ win

BUFFALO – Connor McDavid and the high-octane Edmonton Oilers rolled into town Monday, and as expected, fans got their money’s worth.

The superstar continued perhaps the most dynamic NHL season this century, scoring two goals, including the third-period winner, in the Oilers’ entertaining 3-2 win over the Sabres before a crowd of 17,634 at KeyBank Center.

McDavid’s wraparound goal opened the scoring 7:21 into the contest, then he put the Oilers up 3-2 3:23 into ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie, Jiri Kulich and likely other Sabres prospects off limits in trades

BUFFALO – In his early days as general manager, Kevyn Adams began reshaping the Sabres by trading established assets.

Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen all fetched hefty returns and have helped the Sabres compile a deep and talented stable of prospects.

As the Sabres have developed into a playoff contender this season, Adams has learned how much other teams covet their young talent.... Read the full article

Sabres’ home woes continue in loss to Blue Jackets: ‘We were not sharp’

BUFFALO – Call it a classic trap game. As the Sabres battle for their first playoff berth in 12 years, they have a loaded schedule in the coming days.

Contests against the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, superstar Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, and the New York Islanders, a team they’re chasing, are on the horizon.

First, however, the Sabres had Tuesday’s game against the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets who rank dead last in ... Read the full article

Dynamic December earns Sabres’ Tage Thompson NHL Third Star honors

A career-best month in which he scored a whopping 13 goals and 22 points in 11 games has earned Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson NHL Third Star honors for December.

Thompson, 25, scored a goal in eight games during the month, including a five-goal, six-point outing on Dec. 7 in Columbus, and registered a point in nine contests.

In that 9-4 road win against the Blue Jackets, Thompson became just the second Sabres player to ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens becoming star between JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn

BUFFALO – Forget about Dylan Cozens’ skill set for a moment. What makes the Sabres center such a unique talent and one of the NHL’s burgeoning young stars are the intangibles he possesses.

Cozens, 21, plays a mature, tenacious style that belies his limited experience.

“He competes for the right reason being in a team sport,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following Tuesday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “He brings guys in with him, he drags ... Read the full article

Torrid week earns Sabres’ Dylan Cozens NHL’s Second Star honors

A torrid four-game stretch in which Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens registered four goals and nine points has earned him NHL Second Star honors for the week ending Sunday.

Cozens, 21, scored in last Monday’s 6-5 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning before adding two more goals in Wednesday’s 5-4 shootout road win over the Detroit Red Wings.

The Yukon native followed up by recording one goal and two assists in Thursday’s 6-4 loss ... Read the full article

‘Russian bear’ Ilya Lyubushkin gives Sabres’ defense much-needed grit

BUFFALO – There are two distinct sides of Sabres newcomer Ilya Lyubushkin.

There’s the gritty, high-octane defenseman who’s detested by opponents. When Lyubushkin’s on the ice, you better have your head on a swivel.

“He’s a Russian bear,” captain Kyle Okposo said Monday in KeyBank Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s road game against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. “We enjoy having him on our side, for sure. He plays a hard ... Read the full article

Sabres place Anders Bjork on waivers

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Monday placed forward Anders Bjork, a healthy scratch both games this season, on waivers, according to reports.

Bjork, 26, lost his spot in the lineup late last season and never regained it, sitting out more than a month straight.

This year, the American had an underwhelming training camp, and he never appeared to be close to cracking the forward corps.

With forward Riley Sheahan ready to be activated from ... Read the full article