Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

College coach on Sabres prospect Jordan Samuels-Thomas: ‘He’s got high-end potential’

BUFFALO – At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, new Sabres prospect Jordan Samuels-Thomas possesses a chiseled body ready for the pro game.

“He’s a man,” Rand Pecknold, Samuels’ coach at Quinnipiac University, said by phone this morning. “He’s as good of an athlete and (in) as good a physical shape as anyone in Buffalo’s organization. He’s phenomenal.”

That imposing frame will help the 24-year-old winger, who compiled 50 goals and 104 points over four NCAA seasons, ... Read the full article

Sabres acquire prospect Jordan Samuels-Thomas from Jets

BUFFALO – The Sabres have acquired winger Jordan Samuels-Thomas from the Winnipeg Jets for a conditional seven-round draft pick in 2015, the club announced tonight.

Samuels-Thomas, the 203^rdoverall pick by the Winnipeg franchise in 2009, compiled 50 goals, 104 points and 162 penalty minutes in 138 NCAA games over four seasons with Quinnipiac University and Bowling Green State University. He played two seasons with each school.

The 24-year-old, a native of West Hartford, ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres re-sign goalie Matt Hackett

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed goalie Matt Hackett to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,750 in the NHL, according to reports.

The 24-year-old, a restricted free agent, accepted his qualifying offer.

Hackett played eight games with the Sabres late last season, going 1-6-1 with a 3.10 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. He was scheduled to undergo surgery after suffering a gruesome knee injury April 12 in Boston. The Sabres haven’t discussed ... Read the full article

Sabres sign defenseman Tyson Strachan for Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres added depth today, signing defenseman Tyson Strachan to a one-year, two-way contract. The 29-year-old’s likely ticketed for the AHL Rochester Americans next season.

Strachan, the 137^th pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003, has played 138 NHL games, compiling one goal, 15 points and 155 penalty minutes. He split last season between the Hershey Bears and Washington Capitals, making 18 NHL appearances. He played a career-high 38 games with the ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray on re-signing Steve Ott: ‘I don’t know if he’s a possibility’

BUFFALO – The five new players the Sabres acquired Tuesday will make it harder for them to re-sign Steve Ott, the popular former captain they traded in February.

“I don’t know if he’s a possibility,” Sabres general manager Tim Murray said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “I talked to his agent last night after I talked to you guys. I explained to him with what we did yesterday, it would make it more ... Read the full article

Sabres let Cory Conacher, Jamie McBain go

BUFFALO – The short Sabres careers of winger Cory Conacher and defenseman Jamie McBain are over.

The rebuilding club passed on giving them qualifying offers as restricted free agents, making them free to sign with any team.

The Sabres also didn’t qualify defensemen Nick Crawford and Matt MacKenzie, who played in Rochester, and goalie Connor Knapp, who played two NHL games last season.

Sabres general manager Tim Murray said Monday morning McBain, who struggled his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ recent drafts have yielded some strong talents and notable misses

Since most NHL Entry Drafts don’t start paying dividends for a few years, here’s a look at the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round picks from 2006-11 and some notable hits and misses. Fourteen of Buffalo’s 43 draft choices over that time have made the NHL.

The Sabres have eight picks this weekend in Philadelphia, including the No. 2 selection.

2011

First-round pick: center Joel Armia, 16^th overall

Armia endured a rough season in 2013-14, his ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray focusing on center for top pick, ready to add free agents

BUFFALO – In one week, general manager Tim Murray, like just about everyone else associated with hockey, expects stud defenseman Aaron Ekblad will be drafted No. 1 overall. Then the rebuilding Sabres have a franchise-altering decision.

Which slick prospect will they grab at No. 2?

“We’re taking the best player available,” Murray said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center.

Murray acknowledged the obvious, saying there’s a “very good chance” the Sabres will pick one of ... Read the full article

Sabres will likely draft center at No. 2, still want to add another high pick

BUFFALO – In eight days, Sabres general manager Tim Murray fully expects Florida – or whoever the Panthers trade the No. 1 overall pick to – will grab defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

So what will the rebuilding Sabres do with the next selection at the NHL Entry Draft?

“We’re taking the best player available,” Murray said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

Murray acknowledged the obvious, that, yes, the Sabres will likely select one of ... Read the full article

Otters hire former Sabres defenseman Jay McKee as assistant coach

Twitter funnyman and former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jay McKee has joined the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters as an assistant coach.

The team introduced the 36-year-old during a news conference this afternoon.

No word on whether he’ll still tweet about Nathan Gerbe’s size.

McKee, who retired from the NHL in 2010, coached one year with the Rochester Americans in 2011-12 before getting fired by former coach Ron Rolston.

Prior to his 802-game NHL ... Read the full article