WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Free Agency Edition
Tyson Kozak has started this season showcasing offense. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Right away, Seth Appert noticed a difference in Tyson Kozak. The Sabres center prospect looks more confident and assertive this season.
“He’s not a loud person,” said Appert, Kozak’s coach with the Rochester Americans. “He lets his action speak more than his words. But I hear him on the ice more right now.”
If Kozak’s recent exploits offer any indication, Appert will also be seeing more of him on the ice. He ... Read the full article
Isak Rosen (wearing the ‘A’) and his teammates celebrate his second-period goal Saturday. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Viktor Neuchev scored in front early, converting center Tyson Kozak’s nifty backhand pass from behind the net. Winger Zach Benson followed minutes later, releasing a wicked shot from the left circle.
After the New Jersey Devils scored in the second period, winger Isak Rosen zoomed to the net unfettered, recording his second goal in as many nights.
The early goals in Saturday’s 4-2 win at the Prospects Challenge in LECOM Harborcenter ... Read the full article
Jiri Kulich warms up before Friday’s Prospects Challenge game. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal learned Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich trains in his hometown in Czechia during the summer, he headed to the local rink in Ceske Budejovice to introduce himself.
Prospal, one of the Rochester Americans’ new assistant coaches, ran into some of his former teammates, so he invited Kulich to his house for lunch to chat.
Having coached against Kulich and followed hockey closely, Prospal knew about the youngster’s lethal shot – ... Read the full article
Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal played for seven NHL teams, including the New York Rangers. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
About six years ago, a mutual friend put Seth Appert and Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal in contact with each other.
Appert, now the Rochester Americans’ coach, was working at the U.S. National Team Development Program. Prospal, a veteran of 1,108 NHL games as a player, was coaching in the Tampa Scorpions youth organization.
As they chatted about hockey and player development, Appert realized how Prospal, who on Monday was named one of Rochester’s assistant coaches, embraced ... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Zach Benson 13th overall Wednesday. ©2023
First-round pick Zach Benson and the Buffalo Sabres’ seven other selections at the NHL Draft this week will be attending the team’s development camp that starts Sunday at LECOM Harborcenter.
The roster released today features 19 forwards, 11 defensemen and five goalies.
Winger Victor Neuchev and defenseman Nikita Novikov, Russian prospects who recently signed their entry-level contracts, will be participating. It’s the first time they’ve attended a camp in Buffalo.... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson scored 28 goals last season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
NASHVILLE – In the case of Sabres winger Victor Olofsson, both sides are willing to accept blame for his disappointing season.
Despite scoring a career-high 28 goals, Olofsson sat out seven late-season games as a healthy scratch, including five critical contests down the stretch.
“He knows he could’ve maybe performed at certain times,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Tuesday in the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
On the other hand, Adams said “maybe we need to ... Read the full article
Lawrence Pilut high-fives Rochester captain Michael Mersch following Friday’s game. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
For the second time in three years, defenseman Lawrence Pilut has left the Buffalo Sabres organization.
This time, however, it might be for good.
Pilut, who could’ve become an unrestricted free agent July 1, has signed a two-year contract with Lausanne HC in the Swiss National League, the team announced Tuesday.... Read the full article
Vsevolod Komarov’s season is still going. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday signed Russian defenseman Vsevolod Komarov, a fifth-round pick in 2022, 134th overall, to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Komarov, 19, registered 12 goals, 39 points and 60 penalty minutes in 62 regular-season games with the Quebec Remparts this season. He recently scored one goal and seven points in 17 playoff games as the Remparts captured the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship.
The Remparts begin play tonight in the Memorial ... Read the full article
Kevyn Adams said last month Buffalo wanted to sign some of its Russian prospects. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres on Friday signed Russian defenseman Nikita Novikov, a sixth-round pick in 2021, 188th overall, to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Novikov, 19, spent the 2022-23 season in the Kontinental Hockey League, registering two goals, five points and 14 penalty minutes in 62 games for Moscow Dynamo.
The 6-foot-3, 196-pound Novikov has compiled three goals, nine points and 20 penalty minutes in 94 career KHL appearances. Only three KHL defenseman have played more ... Read the full article
Kevyn Adams said last month Buffalo wants to sign some of its Russian draft picks. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday signed Russian forward Viktor Neuchev, a third-round pick in 2022, 74th overall, to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Neuchev, 19, spent the 2022-23 season in the Kontinental Hockey League, registering four goals, 12 points and 17 penalty minutes in 57 games for Yekaterinburg Automobilist.
The Sabres drafted the 6-foot-2, 165-pound Neuchev after a standout year in which the 40 goals and 67 points he compiled in 61 games led Yekaterinburg’s ... Read the full article