Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect C.J. Smith piling up points with Amerks

ROCHESTER – It’s early, just 26 contests into a 76-game season. Still, Buffalo Sabres prospect C.J. Smith hasn’t let up yet, compiling nine goals and a gaudy 27 points to start his AHL career.

So keep an eye on Smith, an undrafted winger the Sabres signed out of UMass Lowell late last season. The Americans’ leading scorer is on a 25-goal, 79-point pace over a full season.

How rare is a campaign like that?... Read the full article

Matt Moulson clears waivers, sent to Ontario Reign

BUFFALO – As expected, winger Matt Moulson cleared waivers today, meaning the Sabres will likely send him to the Rochester Americans.

The NHL’s worst team waived the graying Moulson, 34, on Monday. The veteran compiled zero points and a minus-9 rating in 14 appearances this season.

Moulson hasn’t played in the AHL since 2008-09. He’s in the fourth season of a five-year, $25 million contract.... Read the full article

Waiving Matt Moulson sends strong message to Sabres

BUFFALO – The news the Sabres would waive Matt Moulson hit winger Kyle Okposo hard.

Okposo spoke emotionally and looked shaken discussing the likely end to his best friend’s long Sabres career. Moulson and Okposo became close years ago as New York Islanders teammates. They’re even godfathers to each other’s children.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Scott Wilson has winning background

BUFFALO – On paper, the Sabres acquired a third- or fourth-line forward with 13 goals and 32 points in 123 career NHL games. But in Scott Wilson, they have a player who developed in a winning culture and raised the Stanley Cup six months ago.

For a team currently dead last in the NHL, that means something.

Shortly after the Sabres waived Matt Moulson on Monday, general manager Jason Botterill sent the Detroit Red ... Read the full article

Waiving Matt Moulson difficult for Sabres

BUFFALO – The news the Sabres would waive Matt Moulson hit Sabres winger Kyle Okposo hard.

Sabres to waive Matt Moulson for assignment

BUFFALO – The Sabres will waive Matt Moulson at noon today for the purpose of an assignment, effectively ending the graying winger’s career here.

The Sabres announced the move in a one-sentence press release this morning. If Moulson, 34, clears, he will likely be assigned to the Rochester Americans. Moulson hasn’t played in the AHL since 2008-09.

Given Moulson’s in the fourth year of a five-year, $25 million contract, he will almost certainly pass through. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Hudson Fasching wants to showcase heavy style

PITTSBURGH – Instead of battling for an NHL roster spot during training camp, Sabres prospect Hudson Fasching started slowly before Buffalo demoted him early.

As a rookie last season, Fasching’s strong camp forced the Sabres to keep him. This year, however, the winger never really contended for a spot.

“It wasn’t the camp that I wanted,” Fasching said Saturday prior to his NHL season debut, a 5-1 loss to the Penguins inside PPG Paints Arena. ... Read the full article

Struggling Sabres make lineup changes

PITTSBURGH – If the Buffalo Sabres want to end their shocking three-game goal drought tonight against the Penguins, they must get more big bodies to the net to scrap for a dirty score.

That’s why the Sabres recalled 6-foot-3, 204-pound winger Hudson Fasching from the Rochester Americans this morning.

When you’ve lost three straight games and 10 of the last 11, you must make changes.... Read the full article

Sabres recall Hudson Fasching for spark

PITTSBURGH – After Friday’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Penguins, the third straight game the Buffalo Sabres have been blanked, a roster move seemed imminent before tonight’s tilt.

Sure enough, the Sabres recalled winger Hudson Fasching from the Rochester Americans this morning. Fasching, 22, will likely play tonight against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons mired in scoring slump

BUFFALO – The most vivid memory of Zemgus Girgensons’ NHL debut isn’t the goal he scored in Detroit’s historic Joe Louis Arena. No, something far less exciting stands out to the Sabres winger.

On Girgensons’ first shifts Oct. 2, 2013, he said star Pavel Datsyuk’s line kept hemming the Sabres in their own zone.

“I definitely remember that more than I scored a goal,” Girgensons said Friday prior to his 300th NHL game.... Read the full article