Richard - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres waive eight players, including first-rounder, assign 17 to Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres on Friday placed eight players on waivers, including defenseman Ryan Johnson, a first-round pick in 2019, for the purpose of assigning them to the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres also waived goalie Matt Villalta, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and forwards Mason Geertsen, Trevor Kuntar, Aidan McDonough, Carson Meyer and Jason Polin.

Update: Everyone on waivers cleared.

In addition, the Sabres also assigned the following players to the Amerks, their AHL affiliate: goalies Talyn ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Jiri Kulich to center top line; Gavin McCarthy set to debut

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ plan for Jiri Kulich this preseason includes moving him around the lineup at different positions.

So the Czech forward, who missed most of last season recovering from a blood clot, is expected to center the top line alongside Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund for at least some of tonight’s preseason road game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Kulich, who will likely play all four exhibition contests, has spent some of training ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Lindy Ruff will miss opener in Pittsburgh; Buffalo to field young lineup against Penguins

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will miss tonight’s preseason opener in Pittsburgh to attend a Celebration of Life ceremony for his former teammate, Brent Peterson, in Nashville.

Sabres assistant coach Seth Appert will run the bench against the Penguins in Ruff’s absence.

Peterson, who played four seasons with the Sabres in the 1980s, died Sept. 11 after a long battle with Parkinson’s. He was 68.... Read the full article

Sabres sign prospect Jake Richard to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday signed forward prospect Jake Richard, a sixth-round pick in 2022, to a two-year, entry level-contract.

Richard, 21, played three seasons at the University of Connecticut, compiling 32 goals, 88 points, a plus-30 rating and 88 penalty minutes in 108 career games.

The Jacksonville native enjoyed his best season as a sophomore in 2024-25, registering 15 goals, 43 points and a plus-26 rating in 34 contests and earning NCAA Hockey ... Read the full article

Sabres wing prospect Jake Richard and father bonded through unique hockey journey

BUFFALO – Gilles Richard returned home following a short stint as general manager of the Augusta RiverHawks and realized he needed to keep working in hockey.

It wasn’t for selfish reasons, mind you. No, in 2011, Richard decided to stay in hockey for his son, Jake, who had developed a passion for the sport.

When Jake was born in 2004, Gilles had just started working for the Jacksonville Barracuda, a team in the fledgling Southern ... Read the full article

NHL Draft Tracker: Sabres select Finnish goalie Topias Leinonen 41st overall

MONTREAL – The Buffalo Sabres this morning selected Finnish goalie Topias Leinonen in the second round, 41st overall, at the NHL Draft.

The 6-foot-5, 233-pound Leinonen is NHL Central Scouting’s top-ranked European goalie.

Leinonen, 18, spent most of last season with JYP, a junior team, compiling a 9-10-0 record with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 21 games. He also played four games with JYP’s pro team in Liiga and made ... Read the full article