Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres add goalie depth, sign Dustin Tokarski to two-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres added goaltending depth to the organization today, signing Dustin Tokarski to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $725,000.

The veteran, one of the AHL’s most experienced goalies, is likely ticketed for the Rochester Americans, where he can help mentor goalie prospects Jonas Johansson and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Tokarski’s arrival means Luukkonen, Buffalo’s top goalie prospect, could spend part of the upcoming season, assuming it can be played, with the ... Read the full article

Sabres loan goalie Jonas Johansson to German team

The Buffalo Sabres have loaned goalie prospect Jonas Johansson to the Krefeld Penguins, a team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany’s top pro circuit.

Johansson, 25, played his first six NHL games last season, compiling a 1-3-1 record with a 2.94 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.

The Swede enjoyed a terrific 2019-20 campaign with the Rochester Americans, posting a 14-4-3 mark with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. He was ... Read the full article

AHL moves anticipated start of 2020-21 season to Feb. 5

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the American Hockey League to move the anticipated start of the 2020-21 season again, this time to Feb. 5.

The league’s board approved the move Wednesday. More details regarding the schedule will be announced at a later date.

The AHL season, of course, usually begins in early October. In July, the AHL moved the anticipated start of season to Dec. 4.

Commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier this month the NHL ... Read the full article

Devils hire former Amerks coach Chris Taylor as assistant

The New Jersey Devils have hired former Rochester Americans head coach Chris Taylor as an assistant on Lindy Ruff’s staff, the team announced today.

Taylor played for Ruff over parts of four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Ruff, who was hired by New Jersey on July 9, also added Dave Rogalski as goalie coach to complete his staff.

Ruff named Mark Recchi and Alain Nasreddine his first assistants in September.

New Buffalo general manager Kevyn ... Read the full article

Joining Sabres, Ralph Krueger ‘no-brainer’ for Tobias Rieder

Two years ago, new Buffalo Sabres winger Tobias Rieder pulled a Ville Leino, scoring zero goals in 67 games over a full season with the Edmonton Oilers.

Not surprisingly, teams showed little interest in Rieder following his miserable season. The German ended up settling for a tryout with the Calgary Flames, and he impressed them enough during training camp he earned a one-year contract.

So Rieder, 27, felt a sense of satisfaction when he ... Read the full article

Sabres add forward depth, sign Steven Fogarty to one-year contract

The Sabres added more forward depth today, signing Steve Fogarty to a one-year, $700,000 contract.

Fogarty, 27, spent most of the past four seasons with the Hartford Wolf Pack, compiling 50 goals and 130 points in 252 AHL games. He played 18 regular-season games for the New York Rangers during that stretch, including seven last season. He also made his first playoff appearance in 2019-20.

The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Fogarty could be ticketed for the Rochester ... Read the full article

Sabres’ signings show Ralph Krueger’s growing influence under Kevyn Adams

When the Buffalo Sabres fired general manager Jason Botterill and gutted their hockey department four months ago, they also also elevated Ralph Krueger.

Technically, Krueger, 61, still holds the same title: head coach. But his influence has clearly grown under rookie GM Kevyn Adams, a front office neophyte.

Three of the five free agents the Sabres have signed this offseason – most notably, Taylor Hall, the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner – have connections ... Read the full article

Sabres sign three depth players during odd day of free agency

The COVID-19 pandemic promised to make this offseason unusual.

NHL teams have generated little or no revenue over the past seven months. The league has frozen the salary cap at $81.5 million for 2020-21, a season it would like to start in January. That, of course, could be difficult.

The uncertainty surrounding the season created an odd opening day of free agency Friday. Many teams are operating on internal budgets far below the cap.

Instead ... Read the full article

Sabres NHL Draft tracker: J-J Peterka selected 34th after trade

The Buffalo Sabres made a trade early on the second day of the NHL Draft, sending the 38th and 100th picks to the San Jose Sharks so they could move up and grab German forward J-J Peterka 34th overall.

The Sabres don’t have another pick today until the fifth round, 131st overall.

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Peterka spent last season playing against men for Red Bull Munich in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), scoring seven goals ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Tage Thompson to three-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed winger Tage Thompson to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $1.4 million, the team announced Monday.

Thompson, 22, was a restricted free agent.

The American suffered a season-ending right shoulder injury in his 2019-20 Sabres debut Nov. 17. Before earning that recall, he compiled six goals and 12 points in 16 games with the Rochester Americans.... Read the full article