Power - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Michael Kesselring, Josh Doan thrilled for chance trade to Sabres offers

When defenseman Michael Kesselring recently played alongside Sabres winger Tage Thompson with Team USA at the World Championship, he joked KeyBank Center in Buffalo was his favorite NHL arena.

On Nov. 12, 2023 in Buffalo, Kesselring scored his first NHL goal for the Arizona Coyotes against, of all goalies, Devon Levi, his former college teammate at Northeastern.

“So I can give him a little more crap about it a little bit more often now,” joked ... Read the full article

Sabres trade JJ Peterka to Mammoth in exchange for two players

In trading winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth, the Buffalo Sabres created a big, possibly temporary, hole in their lineup.

Michael Kesserling, the top asset the Sabres received in exchange for Peterka, fills their need for a right-shot defenseman. Winger Josh Doan, the other player acquired early Thursday morning, will likely be utilized on the third or fourth line.

Suddenly, the Sabres need a top-six forward to replace Peterka, who scored 27 goals and ... Read the full article

Offseason likely to feature trades about to kick into high gear for Sabres

In winger JJ Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram, the Buffalo Sabres possess two budding stars under 25.

Peterka, 23, is coming off a career-high 68-point season and has recorded 28 and 27 goals, respectively, in each of the last two campaigns.

Meanwhile, in his first full season in Buffalo, Byram, 24, enjoyed a breakout year, scoring 38 points while averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice time per outing.

The youngsters, both of whom are due ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Owen Power faces two-month recovery from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Owen Power knows the lower-body injury he suffered in last Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers could’ve been a lot worse.

Power, who’s sporting a brace on his left knee and using crutches to get around, said he will need about two months to recover.

He recently sought out a second opinion and learned he won’t need surgery.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs becomes trusted, versatile asset for Lindy Ruff

BUFFALO – Six and a half months ago, Peyton Krebs sat out the Sabres’ season opener as a healthy scratch. In Thursday’s finale, his 81st consecutive appearance, he centered Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker on a scoring line.

Krebs’ consistent effort and willingness to embrace any task quickly earned him coach Lindy Ruff’s trust. It can be argued Krebs, 24, grew more than any player during Ruff’s first season back behind Buffalo’s bench.

His short-handed ... Read the full article

Owen Power’s injury appears to be serious; Sabres to make recall

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Owen Power suffered what appears to be a serious injury when Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe fell on his left leg in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“Don’t really have a time frame yet, but it looks to be (serious),” Ruff said of Power’s lower-body injury this morning in KeyBank Center.

Power’s season, of course, is over. Ruff said the youngster will be evaluated again today and later ... Read the full article

Sabres legend Ryan Miller happy in role as goalie scout and development coach with Sharks

ROCHESTER – Right now, Buffalo Sabres legend Ryan Miller is busy interviewing goalie prospects and writing reports, his final preparations for the NHL Draft.

Later this month, Miller, 44, will be in Texas watching prospects at the World Under-18 Junior Championship.

These days, Miller, who retired in 2021, works as a goalie scout and development coach for the San Jose Sharks. It’s a job, given his long and successful career and cerebral approach to hockey, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jacob Bernard-Docker earning regular duty after trade; Noah Ostlund honored for hot stretch

OTTAWA – In the time he spent earlier this season recovering from a high ankle sprain and also regularly watching games as a healthy scratch, Buffalo Sabres newcomer Jacob Bernard-Docker tried to reflect and understand why he had lost his spot in the lineup.

Bernard-Docker, a right-shot defenseman the Sabres acquired March 7 in the trade that sent center Dylan Cozens to the Senators, said he realized he needed to be harder to play against.... Read the full article

Following trade to Sabres, wait for visa, Jacob Bernard-Docker ready to go

BUFFALO – Before defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker could really join the Sabres, one issue had to be worked out.

As a Canadian joining an American team, he needed to have his visa approved. So after the Sabres acquired him in last Friday’s deadline trade that sent center Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators, he couldn’t participate in team-related activities.

“That was obviously made pretty clear at the border when I came through,” Bernard-Docker said following Friday’s ... Read the full article

Sabres eke out win over Devils, don’t go after Stefan Noesen following illegal hit on Tage Thompson

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff cut off a reporter, refusing to let him finish the question.

“Bull(crap). Bull(crap),” an agitated Ruff interjected when asked about the perception his team did not respond properly Sunday afternoon when New Jersey Devils winger Stefan Noesen hit leading scorer Tage Thompson in the head, knocking him out of the Sabres’ 4-3 win. “Let’s go. Next question.”

Ruff said Thompson, who scored one goal and three points as the ... Read the full article