Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich captaining Team Czechia at World Juniors

Having already played in two World Junior Championships, won a silver medal and scored nine goals, Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich was the obvious pick to captain Team Czechia’s entry at this year’s tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The slick forward wanted to represented his country so badly that he asked the Sabres for permission to leave the Rochester Americans.

Kulich, 19, possesses the talent to enjoy a special tournament. His 16 goals this season are ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo enjoying offensive resurgence, among NHL’s hottest scorers

BUFFALO – The zero attached to Sabres captain Kyle Okposo’s name wouldn’t go away, looming larger and larger as the weeks went on.

Two weeks quickly turned into a month and then five weeks. On Thanksgiving, at the 19-game mark, nearly one-quarter of the season, Okposo hadn’t scored a goal.

“It’s not a fun feeling, for sure, that zero,” the veteran winger said following Friday’s practice in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Ryan Johnson exceeding expectations, sticking in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Ryan Johnson figured his first trip to the NHL would be brief. Having lost defenseman Mattias Samuelsson to injury, the Sabres summoned the rookie on Nov. 4 for some insurance.

“I didn’t expect to be here longer than that game,” Johnson said prior to returning to the lineup for Thursday’s 9-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in KeyBank Center. “I didn’t expect to be here at all.”

Johnson, 22, played that night ... Read the full article

Sabres want to add pace, reunite Dylan Cozens line as forwards get healthy

BUFFALO – Pace. Coach Don Granato mentioned it over and over – 16 times, to be exact – after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. His reeling team doesn’t showcase enough of it.

“If I compare … seeing a game from last season and a game from this season, it’s the pace,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “The pace is the difference. … We compete better ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Eric Robinson’s brother, Buddy, set strong example; Jeff Skinner recovering from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres newcomer Eric Robinson acknowledged that, yes, Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Jackets, his former team, possessed “a little extra meaning.”

The Blue Jackets, after all, gave Robinson his big chance, signing him as a free agent out of Princeton in 2018. The New Jersey native grew up in their organization, playing 266 NHL games before the Sabres traded a conditional seventh-round pick in 2025 on Dec. 6 in exchange for the winger.... Read the full article

Jacob Bryson clears waivers, assigned to Amerks by Sabres

BUFFALO – Now that defenseman Jacob Bryson has cleared waivers and been assigned to the Rochester Americans, the Sabres hope he can start playing games again.

Bryson, 26, had spent all season as the Sabres’ seventh or eighth defenseman, playing just three times before they placed him on waivers Monday.

Tuesday’s assignment to the Amerks, his first stint in the AHL since 2020-21, offers him an opportunity to find a groove again. He hasn’t played ... Read the full article

After stint with Sabres, goalie Dustin Tokarski happy back with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Their first stint together lasted maybe six weeks. Dustin Tokarski participated in Seth Appert’s first training camp as an AHL coach and started two early-season games for the Americans. That’s it.

By late February in 2021, the veteran goalie was in Buffalo, where he would play 42 contests for the Sabres over the next season and a half.

Despite their limited time together, Appert and Tokarski, one of the most decorated goalies in ... Read the full article

Sabres place Jeff Skinner on injured reserve, make recall from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday placed winger Jeff Skinner on injured reserve and recalled Brett Murray from the Rochester Americans.

Skinner, 31, suffered an upper-body in Wednesday’s 5-1 road loss when Nathan MacKinnon hit him hard as he skated into the Colorado Avalanche zone, sending him backward toward the boards.

He left the game and briefly returned before departing again.

The veteran joins wingers Zemgus Girgensons (lower body) and Jordan Greenway (upper body) on the ... Read the full article

Two Sabres prospects named to Team Canada’s World Juniors roster

Buffalo Sabres prospects Matt Savoie and Scott Ratzlaff have earned spots on Team Canada’s 22-man roster for the 2024 World Junior Championship.

General manager Kevyn Adams recently said Canada showed interest in adding rookie winger Zach Benson, 18, to the roster, but as an NHL regular, the Sabres don’t seem interested in letting him go.

Savoie, 19, played his first NHL game Nov. 10 before the Sabres sent him back to junior. The forward ... Read the full article

‘Persistence’ helps Brett Murray earn recall from Sabres: ‘Lots of initiative’

BUFFALO – Sometimes, Sabres coach Don Granato explained, young players return to the minors and don’t get any better. As they wait for that next recall, they’re not focused on improving for when another chance materializes.

Then there are players like winger Brett Murray, who on Monday was recalled from the Rochester Americans.

“I’ve tried to keep myself ready and prepared for this moment,” he said prior Monday’s 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes, his ... Read the full article