Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres suspend Zach Bogosian for failing to report to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres have suspended defenseman Zach Bogosian for failing to report to the Rochester Americans, the NHL club announced late Monday afternoon.

They assigned Bogosian, 29, to the Amerks on Saturday.

After morphing into a spare part – he was scratched 17 of the last 26 games – and often struggling during his sporadic appearances, the Sabres waived Bogosian on Friday.

“There will be no further information or comment at this time,” ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Taylor Leier to one-year, two-way contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed winger Taylor Leier to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000, the team announced this morning.

Leier, 26, has spent the entire season with the Rochester Americans, scoring seven goals and eight points in 17 games.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Leier underwent offseason shoulder surgery following a freak training accident and did not play his first game until Dec. 11.... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton game-time decision for Maple Leafs

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Carter Hutton will be a game-time decision tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Hutton, who has won three straight starts, missed Saturday’s practice for maintenance.

“We’re testing him at the moment as a we speak here,” Krueger said this morning inside KeyBank Center.

If Hutton can’t play, Krueger said rookie Jonas Johansson will start.

The Sabres also recalled goalie Andrew Hammond from the Rochester Americans on Saturday.... Read the full article

Jack Eichel sad to see close friend Zach Bogosian waived, leave Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Jack Eichel said he had to stop talking about defenseman Zach Bogosian before he became emotional.

Over five seasons, the teammates grew incredibly tight, becoming “probably even closer than friends,” Eichel said.

“He’s somebody that I went to for just about anything in my life,” Eichel said shortly after Bogosian cleared waivers Saturday and the Sabres assigned him to the Rochester Americans. “He’s been there since I was a rookie.”

Now, ... Read the full article

Sabres make more moves, recall Andrew Hammond, John Gilmour

BUFFALO – With goalie Carter Hutton absent from Saturday’s practice for maintenance, the Sabres recalled Andrew Hammond from the Rochester Americans.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Hutton’s absence isn’t related to the hit he took from Columbus Blue Jackets forward Eric Robinson in Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win.

A puck also hit Hutton in mask earlier in the night.

“We’re quite optimistic about his rehab day today,” Krueger said when asked about Hutton’s status for tonight’s ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian clears waivers, assigned to Amerks by Sabres

BUFFALO – The Sabres assigned defenseman Zach Bogosian to the Rochester Americans after he cleared waivers today.

Bogosian, 29, is not expected to play in the Amerks’ road game tonight against the Syracuse Crunch. There is no official word if the Massena native will report to the AHL.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said waiving and demoting Bogosian was “an organizational decision.”

“What’s going on there is not really my issue,” said Krueger, whose Sabres host ... Read the full article

Sabres place Zach Bogosian on waivers

BUFFALO – The Sabres placed defenseman Zach Bogosian, a healthy scratch eight of the last nine games, on waivers today.

Bogosian, 29, has become a spare part this season, sitting out 17 of the last 26 games. When the Sabres benched him for the first time Dec. 12, a report quickly surfaced he had requested a trade.

He hasn’t played since struggling in the Sabres’ 6-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville not retired, would like to play again

BUFFALO – Popular former Sabres captain Jason Pominville recently told some friends he would love to help out their beer league team if they ever needed a player to fill in.

“They’re like, ‘You’re in full time!’” Pominville said prior to Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside KeyBank Center.

So Pominville, who scored 16 goals in 73 games for the Sabres last season, plays hockey once a week at the ... Read the full article

Simple style helping Sabres’ Scott Wilson thrive following recall

BUFFALO – Earlier in his career, Sabres winger Scott Wilson said he would often run around on the ice, a style that sapped his energy and took him out of plays.

Wilson, 27, realized he needed to embrace a simpler way.

“Being physical when I can but not running around like an idiot,” Wilson said after the turnover he helped create led to center Johan Larsson’s goal in Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Anaheim ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jeff Skinner battling marathon slump, still playing down lineup

BUFFALO – At worst, you figured Sabres winger Jeff Skinner would score 25 or 30 goals this season. But having performed so dynamically most of last year, hitting 35 or even 40 again seemed possible.

Skinner and top Sabres captain Jack Eichel formed a lethal duo a year ago. For the first time in his career, Skinner, 27, had an elite center feeding him the puck, and he responded by scoring 40 goals.

When ... Read the full article