Quinn - Buffalo Hockey Beat

As Tage Thompson enters COVID-19 protocol, other Sabres close to leaving

BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato knew it would happen again. COVID-19 has been clobbering the NHL, forcing hundreds of players into protocol over the past several weeks, including 11 Sabres.

“When’s it going to happen to the next guy the way it’s going around the league and around the world?” Granato said following Monday’s practice. “It happens today.”

On Monday, shortly after prospect Jack Quinn joined the Sabres, top center Tage Thompson, the team’s leading ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson enters NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning placed Tage Thompson, their top center and leading goal scorer, in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

In addition to Thompson, forwards Peyton Krebs, Kyle Okposo and Alex Tuch are in protocol. Defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, who entered protocol last Monday, returned to practice this morning.

The Sabres this morning reassigned winger Jack Quinn from the Rochester Americans to the taxi squad. They will likely also need to recall another forward before ... Read the full article

Sabres reassign prospect Jack Quinn from Amerks to taxi squad

BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning reassigned prospect Jack Quinn from the Rochester Americans to taxi squad.

Quinn, 20, could make his NHL debut Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The slick winger has enjoyed a dynamic rookie season, scoring 12 and 26 points in 20 AHL games.

... Read the full article

Sabres relieved as no one enters NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday, as zero Sabres entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Henri Jokiharju, who was held out of Tuesday’s practice as the team awaited test results, skated in Wednesday’s session, giving the Sabres a full defense corps.

“It was a relief on many fronts, just even to run a better practice with six full D,” Granato said of no one entering protocol. “But … they go into ... Read the full article

Sabres add three more players to NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato said dealing with COVID-19 and the chaos it creates has become “almost a new normal.” For two weeks, the virus has been ravaging the Sabres, forcing players and staff members into the NHL’s protocol and five games to be postponed.

On Tuesday, three more players – forward Anders Bjork, Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch – went into protocol. Granato said the Sabres also held defenseman Henri Jokiharju out of practice ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Jack Quinn nears return to practice with Amerks

Buffalo Sabres prospect Jack Quinn, who recently contracted mono, will likely return to practice in a non-contact role Friday and could play again next weekend, Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert said.

“If everything goes well physically in his reacclimatization to more exercise this weekend and contact at some point next week, I think there’s a chance that maybe next weekend he’s in the lineup,” Appert told the Times Herald.

Appert said Quinn, 20, ... Read the full article

Sabres move forward without Don Granato, five players: ‘I feel for the guys’

BUFFALO – Following the Sabres’ first practice in eight days, winger Kyle Okposo acknowledged that, yes, at times he recently wondered if they would ever skate together again.

On Sunday, Okposo arrived at the KeyBank Center excited the NHL’s Christmas/COVID-19 break had ended. But after coach Don Granato and forwards Dylan Cozens and Mark Jankowski tested positive for the virus, the Sabres canceled their scheduled afternoon practice.

“I was ready to go yesterday,” Okposo said ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Jack Quinn sidelined by mono with Amerks

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Jack Quinn, who’s off to a torrid start in the AHL, has tested positive for mono and will be sidelined until after Christmas, Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert said.

“It’s certainly unfortunate knowing how well he was playing, but knowing Jack, he’ll come back strong from this,” Appert told the team’s website.

When Quinn, 20, missed two games last week, the Amerks said he had the flu.

... Read the full article

With Casey Mittelstadt injured, could Sabres utilize JJ Peterka or Jack Quinn?

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that, yes, sometimes it can be hard to resist the temptation to recall one of the organization’s top prospects.

“There is a big temptation, yes, yes,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice inside KeyBank Center. “When you go to Rochester and you see the skill level of those kids … there’s a big temptation that’s tough to fight at times.”

Having lost center Casey Mittelstadt to another upper-body injury ... Read the full article

Mark Jankowski grateful for time with Amerks, excited to join Sabres

BUFFALO – After spending nearly four straight seasons in the NHL, Sabres center Mark Jankowski found limited opportunities as a free agent during the summer. Eventually, he settled for an invitation to the New Jersey Devils’ training camp.

After the tryout expired and the Devils passed on signing him, a chance to join the Rochester Americans materialized.

Jankowski said he and the Amerks’ coaching staff talked a lot. He liked what he heard and felt ... Read the full article