WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Matej Pekar likes to agitate opponents. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – After Matej Pekar hit Casey Mittelstadt in the head during Saturday’s three-on-three development camp tournament, the agitator sensed an opportunity.
“That’s my shot to kind of piss him off, get in his head and try to win the game for the team,” Pekar said after camp ended inside HarborCenter. “I guess it worked out.”
Pekar, the 94th overall pick a week ago, kept going after Mittelstadt, irking the Sabres’ top forward prospect. The ... Read the full article
The Sabres are Brandon Hickey’s third NHL organization. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Right away, Brandon Hickey’s former Boston University teammates reached out to him. Jack Eichel, Danny O’Regan and Evan Rodrigues all welcomed the defenseman to the Sabres with text messages.
Hickey, 22, already looks comfortable with the Sabres, who traded winger Hudson Fasching to the Arizona Coyotes for the former third-round pick and forward Mike Sislo on June 14.
“There’s some familiar faces within the locker room there,” Hickey said Thursday. “When I ... Read the full article
Matej Pekar enjoyed a strong season in the United States Hockey League. ©2018, Hickling Images
DALLAS – Matej Pekar’s smile told the story. In the moments after the Buffalo Sabres drafted the Czech winger in the fourth round, 94th overall, Saturday, it never left his face.
About 10 months ago, the NHL Draft wasn’t exactly on Pekar’s radar.
“Before the season, I was like, ‘Draft, what is it? I’m not going to get drafted,’” Pekar said inside American Airlines Center.
So sitting at a table wearing a blue Buffalo Sabres ... Read the full article
Jason Botterill has more work to do this offseason. ©2018, Hickling Images
DALLAS – For the time being at least, Ryan O’Reilly, the versatile center several teams are trying to pry away from the Sabres, is still with Buffalo.
General manager Jason Botterill, who’s expected to overhaul the NHL’s worst team this offseason, left the NHL Draft on Saturday without making any player trades.
Of course, the league’s busy season is just getting underway. Teams can talk to free agents starting Monday and begin signing them ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson talks this morning. ©2018, Olean Times Herald
DALLAS – With the 32nd pick, the Buffalo Sabres kicked off the second day of the NHL Draft by selecting Mattias Samuelsson, a defenseman with the United States National Development Program.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Samuelsson is the son of former NHL defenseman Kjell Samuelsson.
“I’m really shaking, I’m so happy,” Samuelsson said inside American Airlines Center. “Buffalo’s like a world-class organization.”... Read the full article