Murray - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Jack Eichel could miss 6-8 weeks; GM Tim Murray signs contract extension

BUFFALO – In Ottawa, top pick Auston Matthews compiled the greatest debut in modern NHL history, scoring an eye-popping four goals for Toronto. In Edmonton, the slick Connor McDavid enjoyed a dynamic season opener, scoring two goals and three points.

Hours before Jack Eichel’s contemporaries began the 2016-17 season in grand fashion Wednesday, the young Sabres star sustained a high left ankle sprain late in practice.

Eichel, 19, watched Thursday’s 4-1 season-opening loss to the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel has ‘moderate’ ankle sprain; Ryan O’Reilly ready for opener

BUFFALO – The scary high ankle sprain center Jack Eichel suffered when his left leg buckled Wednesday is “moderate,” coach Dan Bylsma said this morning.

Still, Bylsma said Eichel, 19, will be sidelined “more weeks than days at this point.” He didn’t give a firmer timeline.

Clearly, Eichel’s injury late in the final practice before tonight’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens shocked the team. The young star, a popular teammate, is supposed to have ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen signs 6-year, $32.4 million contract

BUFFALO – Just hours before he had to set his roster Tuesday afternoon, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma called the 23-man squad a “little bit of a moving puzzle.”

In addition to a slew of injuries, Bylsma had one missing piece – the biggest, perhaps – No. 1 defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, a holdout two days before the season opener against Montreal.

Bylsma was tight-lipped about the restricted free agent then, only saying he was “hopeful” ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Rasmus Ristolainen to 6-year contract

BUFFALO – Two days before the season opener, the Sabres today signed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to a six-year contract with an average annual value of $5.4 million, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, ending a brief holdout by the restricted free agent.

The Finn, 21, had been practicing without a contract as a “goodwill” gesture, his agent said. He didn’t practice today.

Ristolainen was the Sabres’ best defenseman last season, compiling nine goals and 41 points ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Derek Grant close to earning roster spot

BUFFALO – It was just an informal skate before training camp, so Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges couldn’t be sure if Derek Grant, the center who quickly caught his eye that day in September, was as talented as he looked.

“Summer skates, how do you tell?” Gorges said Sunday following practice inside KeyBank Center.

So Gorges, a 12-year veteran, kept watching the 6-foot-3, 202-pound Grant when camp opened last month.

What has Gorges noticed about ... Read the full article

Rasmus Ristolainen practicing as ‘goodwill’ gesture to Sabres

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, an unsigned restricted free agent a week into training camp, started practicing with his teammates Thursday as a “goodwill” gesture, his agent said.

“His agent has asked and Rasmus has asked to be able to skate,” coach Dan Bylsma said Thursday morning inside KeyBank Center before the Sabres traveled for their third preseason game.

Sabres general manager Tim Murray gave the OK, and Ristolainen skated ... Read the full article

Rasmus Ristolainen set to practice with Sabres

BUFFALO – Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, still an unsigned restricted free agent a week into training camp, will start practicing with the Sabres today, coach Dan Bylsma said.

“His agent has asked and Rasmus has asked to be able to skate,” Bylsma said inside KeyBank Center. “(General manager) Tim (Murray) has said that will be alright, so we will see Rasmus get back on the ice.”

Ristolainen, 21, was the Sabres’ best defenseman last season, ... Read the full article

Derek Grant, Robin Lehner help Sabres down Senators in overtime

BUFFALO – Forget that the Sabres rallied to beat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in Tuesday’s preseason home opener. Forget that they did it in spectacular fashion, tying it late before defenseman Jake McCabe scored a nifty overtime winner.

Individual efforts often matter the most during exhibition contests, and the Sabres received some strong performances, led by center Derek Grant’s one-goal, three-point night and No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner’s 37-save outing.

Grant tied it at 2 ... Read the full article

Williamsville’s Cole Schneider impressing Sabres

BUFFALO – In the first days of the season, Cole Schneider, an undrafted winger with two games of NHL experience, not an established veteran or hotshot prospect, has emerged as the biggest standout in Sabres training camp.

After scoring a hat trick in the first scrimmage and a one-goal, two-point performance the next day, Schneider, 26, could already have an inside track to earn a roster spot as the 12^th or 13^th... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson used Russian job to jumpstart NHL career

BUFFALO – Two years ago, frustrated by his limited opportunities, Sabres newcomer Anders Nilsson bolted North America for a gig tending goal for Ak Bars Kazan, a Russian team in the KHL.

The decision, of course, made Nilsson’s NHL future iffy. But after 23 appearances with the New York Islanders, the Swede said he felt “ready for the next step.” He wanted to develop at a high level, something a fourth straight season in the ... Read the full article