O'Reilly - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres sign Ryan O’Reilly to massive contract extension

BUFFALO – That didn’t take long. A week after the Sabres acquired Ryan O’Reilly in a blockbuster trade with the Colorado Avalanche, they locked up their new No. 1 center today with a max deal, a whopping seven-year, $52.5 million contract extension.

That’s an average annual value of $7.5 million.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who tweeted the contract’s value, O’Reilly’s salary will be $1 million per season. The rest will be paid via a ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: GM Tim Murray adds AHL standouts for Amerks

BUFFALO – Tim Murray has spoken about the need for the Rochester Americans to improve following an awful season. The general manager left no doubt he was serious Wednesday, signing two notable AHL players to two-way deals – defenseman Matt Donovan and winger Jason Akeson – for the Sabres’ top affiliate.

“I think they bring depth,” Murray said inside the First Niagara Center.

Otherwise, the Sabres stayed quiet on the first day of free agency. ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel signs entry-level contract with Sabres

BUFFALO – It’s official: Jack Eichel will play for the Sabres next season. The 18-year-old is turning pro.

Eichel, the second overall pick Friday, signed a three-year, entry-level deal today and will leave Boston University after one season.

It was widely expected Eichel would join the NHL. The center spoke glowingly about the city and team after getting drafted, saying he wanted to be a part of the Sabres. Players of his caliber ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres sign Cal O’Reilly to one-way deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed an O’Reilly. It’s probably not the one you’re thinking of, however.

The team inked center Cal O’Reilly, Ryan O’Reilly’s older brother, to a two-year, one-way deal worth $700,000 per season this afternoon, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

Update: Sabres general manager Tim Murray said this afternoon the Sabres have not signed O’Reilly. The two sides have talked. Murray said Sabres have signed winger Jason Akeson.

Cal O’Reilly, an AHL ... Read the full article

Ryan O’Reilly wants leadership role with Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly’s ready to tackle a new challenge. During his first six NHL seasons, the 24-year-old wasn’t viewed as one of the Avalanche’s leaders. Colorado stars Matt Duchesne, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon often overshadowed him.

But O’Reilly, acquired in a blockbuster deal Friday at the NHL Draft, will have a new role next season. The Sabres want him to be one of the guys to shepherd a team filled with ... Read the full article

Awful season costs Cody Hodgson job with Sabres

BUFFALO – Cody Hodgson’s Sabres career is over.

The team put the struggling winger on unconditional waivers Monday, meaning the final four seasons of his six-year, $25.5 million contract will be bought out for one-third the remaining value since he’s under 26 years old.

The Sabres owe him $6.333 million over the next eight years, money that will count against the salary cap until 2022-23, according to generalfanager.com. They must absorb a $1,041,666 hit ... Read the full article

Ryan O’Reilly excited to join Sabres; Phil Housley elected to Hall of Fame

Sabres waive Cody Hodgson for buyout

BUFFALO – Cody Hodgson’s Sabres career is over.

The team put the struggling winger on unconditional waivers today, meaning the final four seasons of his six-year, $25.5 million contract will be bought out for one-third the remaining value.

The 25-year-old endured perhaps the worst year of any NHL forward in 2014-15, mustering only six goals and 13 points in 78 games, a stunning 14-goal, 31-point drop in six more appearances.

Hodgson scored one goal ... Read the full article

Sabres feel they have steal in prospect Devante Stephens

SUNRISE, Fla. – For a few days during his year away from the NHL, Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma helped out a former teammate, Kelowna Rockets coach Dan Lambert, and ran some practices for the Western Hockey League team.

At least one youngster, Devante Stephens, a 6-foot-1, 171-pound defenseman the Sabres drafted in the fifth round, 155^th overall on Saturday, caught his eye. Bylsma didn’t know it then, but Buffalo had a strong interest ... Read the full article

Sabres leave NHL Draft feeling good about future

SUNRISE, Fla. – Tim Murray isn’t one for reflection. The gruff Buffalo Sabres general manager usually focuses on one task before quickly moving to the next one.

But at some point today, after an arduous NHL Draft weekend in which he added major assets, Murray will hop on a plane home to Buffalo and feel a sense of satisfaction.

Murray enjoyed arguably the best two days of any GM by drafting future cornerstone Jack Eichel... Read the full article