Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

With contract done, Sabres happy Jack Eichel can focus on hockey

BUFFALO – Throughout training camp, as Jack Eichel’s contract hung over his head, the third-year Sabres star tried to focus hockey, blocking out any distractions the situation created for him.

But Housley, a 21-year NHL veteran, knows it wasn’t easy for Eichel, who signed an eight-year, $80 million contract Tuesday night.

“Is there some weight off his shoulders? I think so.” Housley said this afternoon after the Sabres prepared for Thursday’s season opener. “I think ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jake McCabe ready to play

BUFFALO – After Jake McCabe practiced for the first time in 11 days this morning, the Sabres defenseman pronounced himself ready to play in Thursday’s season opener.

While Phil Housley had said McCabe was week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the coach sounded optimistic in recent days he would be ready for the regular season. McCabe was hurt late in an exhibition loss Sept. 22 in Toronto.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian day-to-day

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, who left Friday’s preseason finale with a lower-body injury, is day-to-day, coach Phil Housley said this afternoon.

So, could Bogosian play in Thursday’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens? Housley said the veteran’s injury isn’t as serious as the Sabres first believed.

“He seems to be in a good spot, so we’ll know more tomorrow,” Housley said inside HarborCenter.... Read the full article

Sabres send Justin Bailey, Nick Deslauriers to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres trimmed their roster by four today, sending wingers Justin Bailey, Nick Deslauriers and defenseman Taylor Fedun to the AHL and releasing defenseman Cody Goloubef from his tryout.

Deslauriers and Fedun must clear waivers before reporting to the Rochester Americans. The Sabres scratched all four players for Friday’s 3-1 home loss to the New York Islanders, the preseason finale.

The Sabres have 27 players – 16 forwards, nine defensemen and two ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jordan Nolan excited for fresh start in Buffalo

BUFFALO – As the son of a former Sabres coach, winger Jordan Nolan’s memories of his new team and this area are special.

As a child in the 1990s, Nolan sometimes tagged along with his father, Ted Nolan, to the rink. Years later, when the Sabres brought the elder Nolan back for a second run, Jordan proudly watched the news conference inside KeyBank Center.

Buffalo, Jordan Nolan said, has “kind of shaped our lives.”... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark using head to make saves

BUFFALO – The drill, Sabres netminder Linus Ullmark explained, is “very easy.” Someone – on Tuesday it was goalie coach Andrew Allen – shoots pucks at him “top shelf.”

“I just try to get my head up there and actually try to get the puck to where I want it to go,” Ullmark said following practice inside HarborCenter.

Yes, the 6-foot-4, 221-pound Swede really tries to redirect the puck with his head.... Read the full article

Depth defensemen fighting to stay with Sabres out of training camp

BUFFALO – Shortly after enjoying the longest stint of his NHL career, defenseman Taylor Fedun re-signed with the Sabres early in the summer, inking a two-year deal.

What made the contract significant wasn’t just the length – many depth players don’t earn multi-year deals – but the fact a new regime offered it.

Fedun, 29, provided valuable depth last season, playing 27 NHL games, 12 more than the previous three seasons combined. In the AHL, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues, Jake McCabe out with injuries

BUFFALO – The Sabres could start the regular season without two regulars, center Evan Rodrigues and defenseman Jake McCabe.

Rodrigues suffered a hand injury in Friday’s 3-0 loss in Toronto when Maple Leafs forward Andreas Borgman crunched him into boards, Sabres coach Phil Housley said. He had no timetable for a return.

“That’s as much as I know right now,” Housley said of the injury today following practice inside HarborCenter.... Read the full article

Sabres send Hudson Fasching, Brendan Guhle to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent winger Hudson Fasching and defenseman Brendan Guhle, two prospects expected to fight for NHL spots, to the Rochester Americans this morning.

The team also assigned forwards Kyle Criscuolo and C.J. Smith to its AHL affiliate.

Fasching, 22, made the Sabres out of training camp a year ago before a groin injury slowed his rookie season. He scored in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, his lone point ... Read the full article

Sabres get another opportunity to impress against Leafs

BUFFALO – The Rochester Americans open their training camp Monday, so a for a slew of Sabres, tonight’s preseason tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside KeyBank Center is a final chance to impress coach Phil Housley and the team’s brass.

The Sabres will almost certainly assign some players to their AHL affiliate in the near future.

“If you want to separate yourself from other people on the team or the totem pole, you got ... Read the full article