Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

NHL Draft could get crazy after Auston Matthews, early picks go

BUFFALO – Once ultra-talented forwards Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi are nabbed early tonight, the NHL Draft might really get interesting.

Sure, after the Toronto Maple Leafs select Matthews, there’s speculation the Winnipeg Jets could pass on Laine, the presumptive No. 2 pick, and go for Puljujarvi, another Finn, leaving Laine for the Columbus Blue Jackets. But those three players will almost certainly go first.

What could happen next on the First ... Read the full article

Sabres hire Bob Woods as assistant coach

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Dan Bylsma filled one of the openings on his staff today, hiring Bob Woods as an assistant.

Woods, 48, just spent two seasons as the coach and general manager of the junior Saskatoon Blades, a Western Hockey League club. Prior to that, he was as an NHL assistant under Bruce Boudreau for six years in Washington and Anaheim.

Before his NHL run, Woods coached with the AHL Hershey Bears for five ... Read the full article

Sabres’ recent drafts have yielded potential high-end talent

BUFFALO – To thrive in the modern NHL, teams must build through the draft. It’s that simple. The days of loading up with veteran players through free agency or trades are long gone. The league belongs to the 20-somethings now, and if teams draft poorly, they’re doomed.

How good are the Sabres at drafting? Judge for yourself below. Since drafts usually don’t start paying dividends for a few years, here’s a look at their selections ... Read the full article

Sabres’ 2016-17 schedule features long trips; Dan Bylsma close to making hires

BUFFALO – After the Sabres open their season Oct. 13 at home against the Montreal Canadiens, they start a four-game road trip – longer than any swing they had last season – three days later against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

That’s just one notable stretch of the 82-game 2016-17 schedule the NHL released Tuesday.

The Sabres, who went 19-17-5 on the road last season, better get comfortable playing away from the First Niagara ... Read the full article

Amerks hire Lockport’s Chuck Weber, Brad Tapper as assistants

The Rochester Americans have hired Lockport native Chuck Weber and former NHL winger Brad Tapper as assistants on new coach Dan Lambert’s staff, the Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate announced today.

Former assistants Paul Fixter and Chris Taylor were let go last week by Lambert, who took over the Amerks last month.

Weber, 43, was the Amerks’ head coach in 2010-11, their last season with the Florida Panthers before the Sabres bought the team. He was ... Read the full article

Auston Matthews knows Buffalo won’t always be so welcoming

BUFFALO – This city, the site of the 2016 NHL Scouting Combine and Draft, will always hold a special place in Auston Matthews’ heart.

After the combine concludes today, hockey’s biggest prospect will return in three weeks, and barring a seismic, unexpected turn of events, the Toronto Maple Leafs will select Matthews No. 1 overall June 24 inside the First Niagara Center.

The pinnacle of his young career will always be tied to Buffalo.

The ... Read the full article

Former Sabres standout Jay McKee ready for head coaching job

The tweets are gone now, most likely casualties of Jay McKee’s budding new career.

In between gigs a few years ago, before McKee, 38, quickly ascended up the junior coaching ladder, the popular former Buffalo Sabres defenseman often eschewed the mundane words and pictures many ex-athletes tweet and utilized Twitter to showcase his lively personality.

It was all, of course, harmless fun for McKee, who on May 12 was named coach of the Kitchener Rangers. ... Read the full article

Assistant coach Dave Barr leaves Sabres for Panthers

BUFFALO – The Sabres now have two assistant coaching vacancies, as Dave Barr has left the team to join former teammate Gerard Gallant’s staff with the Florida Panthers, according to multiple reports.

Sabres coach Dan Bylsma’s first staff – one that appeared to mesh quickly and work well together – has only assistant Terry Murray and goalie coach Andrew Allen left. The team shifted assistant Dan Lambert to Rochester last month to coach the AHL ... Read the full article

Sabres sign prospect Vaclav Karabacek to 3-year, entry-level contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed wing prospect Vaclav Karabacek to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced this morning.

The Sabres drafted the 6-foot, 198-pound Karabacek in the second round, 49^th overall, in 2014.

Karabacek, 20, split 2015-16 between the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Moncton Wildcats, compiling 18 goals and 30 points in 47 games.

The Czech finished his three-year junior career with 56 goals and 117 points in ... Read the full article

Sabres sign prospect Brycen Martin to three-year, entry-level contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed defense prospect Brycen Martin to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced today.

The Sabres drafted the 6-foot-2, 199-pound Martin in the third round, 74^th overall, in 2014.

Martin, 20, split 2015-16 between the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades and Everett Silvertips, tying his career highs with six goals, 31 assists and 37 points.

The Calgary native finished his four-year junior career with 21 goals, 131 points and ... Read the full article