Summer Edition
The Sabres became a tight group this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Before center Zemgus Girgensons reported to the rink Saturday morning, his wife, Katie, asked him what he would tell the Sabres’ brass during his end-of-season meetings.
Girgensons, the Sabres’ longest-tenured player, experienced a lot of losing and turmoil over his eight NHL seasons, so in previous years, he had plenty of gripes to share before he left town for the summer.
“Usually in the morning, you’re trying to gather thoughts of all the ... Read the full article
Owen Power has turned heads in his first four NHL games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato doesn’t consider rookie Owen Power a young player.
Sure, the defenseman left college earlier this month and has played just four NHL games. And, yes, he doesn’t turn 20 for another seven months.
Still, Granato said “it’s a little bit disrespectful sometimes” when young guys get thrown in a category.
“This is a guy that’s studied the game of hockey at an extremely young age and developed himself like ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson has enjoyed a breakout season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson acknowledged that, yes, the Stanley Cup that Ryan O’Reilly won in 2019, his first season in St. Louis, is always in the back of his mind.
“But at the same time, it doesn’t change my objective,” Thompson said prior to Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the Blues, his former team, at KeyBank Center. “My objective is to come here and help our team win and help any way I can ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson has performed like a future star this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
TORONTO – Brent Thompson remembers his son, Tage, was beside himself that day almost eight years ago during their five-hour ride home to Long Island.
Tage Thompson, who has emerged as the Buffalo Sabres’ most lethal goal scorer this season, had just been cut from one of USA Hockey’s regional camps, and he left Syracuse angry and shocked.
If Thompson had advanced and earned one of 200 spots for the national camp at the Northtown ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson has scored 21 goals this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
Much of the pregame talk leading up to Friday’s 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues surrounded center Tage Thompson and his emergence as the Buffalo Sabres’ most lethal scoring threat.
Thompson, 24, played 41 games for the Blues in 2017-18 before they sent him to Buffalo in the Ryan O’Reilly trade following that season.
The American, the 26th overall pick by the Blues in 2016, left St. Louis a raw, skinny kid and returned ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson has already reached last season’s goal output. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – At times over three tumultuous seasons, it felt like Tage Thompson would never reach this point, at least with the Sabres.
Right now, Thompson, 24, is their No. 1 center and leading goal scorer and point producer. After scoring twice in Monday’s 7-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, he has already recorded eight goals and 13 points in 18 games, equaling last season’s career-high goal total in 20 fewer outings.
The 6-foot-7 ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson was switched to center this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato could see Tage Thompson possessed confidence. It was just that the talented center believed he would eventually reach his potential.
Granato wanted Thompson, 24, to understand the opportunity he had right now.
“I talked to him a lot in the last year about I know you are confident about success, but that confidence is somewhere off in the future, I’m going to be able to become the player ... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark first joined Buffalo in 2015. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the barely a week, the Buffalo Sabres have said goodbye to four of their most talented players: goalie Linus Ullmark, center Sam Reinhart and defensemen Jake McCabe and Rasmus Ristolainen.
And in the coming days or weeks, they will likely trade captain Jack Eichel, their most dynamic player and the face of the franchise.
Remember, the Sabres finished dead last in the 2020-21 season, winning only 15 of their 56 games, with those players... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Jake McCabe in 2012. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Jake McCabe’s seven-year career with the Buffalo Sabres is over.
The defenseman this afternoon agreed to terms with the Chicago Blackhawks on a four-year, $16 million contract in free agency.
McCabe makes his offseason home in suburban Chicago.
General manager Kevyn Adams said on Saturday the Sabres were still interested in re-signing McCabe, 27, but he expected him to hit the open market.
Update: On a virtual news conference, McCabe said joining Chicago is ... Read the full article
Jerry Forton ran his first NHL Draft as Buffalo’s director of amateur scouting. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – You had to go back five years and 34 picks to find the last time the Sabres drafted a Russian.
Before they selected winger Prokhor Poltapov 33rd overall Saturday, they hadn’t drafted a Russian since winger Vasily Glotov in the seventh round in 2016.
Poltapov’s selection was harbinger. The Sabres used three straight picks on Russians and took four overall Saturday.
Later in the second round, the Sabres drafted winger Aleksandr Kisakov with ... Read the full article