Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Riley Stillman embracing demotion to Amerks; Sabres prospect Nikita Novikov impressive in debut

ROCHESTER – Instead of pouting over a surprising demotion, Americans defenseman Riley Stillman has chosen to embrace his first stint in the minors in three seasons.

Stillman, 25, believes the AHL offers an opportunity to evolve and play extra minutes he wouldn’t have received as the Buffalo Sabres’ sixth or seventh defenseman.

“For sure, it was a little shocking to me,” he told the Times Herald of getting waived, following Friday’s 4-3 season-opening overtime loss ... Read the full article

In locking up Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres put two ‘pillars in place’

BUFFALO – Scan through each NHL roster and try to pick out every so-called franchise defenseman. Most teams don’t have one.

In Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres possess two.

This week, Power and Dahlin each signed long-term contract extensions, ensuring two foundational pieces can remain teammates through the 2030-31 season.... Read the full article

Three players clear waivers; Amerks have roster Sabres envisioned

With very few spots available in Buffalo, the Sabres waived some intriguing players during training camp. Considering the dearth of talent on a few NHL teams, it felt like one or two might be claimed.

But on Sunday, defensemen Riley Stillman and Kale Clague and forward Brandon Biro cleared and joined the Rochester Americans.

Every player Buffalo waived during the preseason made it the AHL, giving the Amerks, fresh off a run to the Eastern ... Read the full article

Sabres waive three more players, close to finalizing 23-man roster

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday moved closer to finalizing their regular-season roster, waiving defensemen Riley Stillman and Kale Clague and forward Brandon Biro for the purpose of assigning them to the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres also sent defenseman Ryan Johnson, 22, and winger Lukas Rousek, 24, to Rochester.

They have 25 players – 15 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies – left on their training camp roster. They must finalize their 23-man regular-season roster by ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Matt Savoie thrilled to return to practice following injury

BUFFALO – As training camp approached, Sabres prospect Matt Savoie looked like a top candidate to fill the open forward spot created by Jack Quinn’s Achilles tendon injury.

Savoie, 19, stood out early in the Prospects Challenge last month, only strengthening the belief he could jump from junior hockey to the NHL.

Then in his first shift of the tournament finale Sept. 18, he injured his right elbow and shoulder trying to break up a ... Read the full article

Prospect Zach Benson’s performance gives Sabres intriguing roster option

BUFFALO – As Sabres prospect Zach Benson quickly became the talk of training camp and began pushing for a roster spot, his exploits hardly surprised center Peyton Krebs.

Krebs, after all, has watched him do it before. Three seasons ago, the Winnipeg Ice expected Benson, then a 15-year-old rookie, would mostly practice when he joined the junior team for its truncated bubble schedule in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Instead, the diminutive winger impressed the Ice so ... Read the full article

Sabres roster: Brett Murray waived, two prospects sent to Amerks

The Sabres on Wednesday trimmed their roster, waiving winger Brett Murray for the purpose of sending him to the Rochester Americans and assigning forwards Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen to the AHL club.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Murray, 25, could attract interest on the waiver wire, having scored a career-high 23 goals in 71 games for the Amerks last season. His former agent, Jeff Jackson, recently took over as the Edmonton Oilers’ CEO of hockey operations.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Ryan Johnson making strong impression: ‘Pretty talented kid’

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Ryan Johnson hadn’t experienced a week of hockey so jam-packed since his days of playing four games in two days at youth tournaments.

Last week, Johnson, 22, played four of the Sabres’ five preseason games, including three in a dizzying four-day stretch.

“I feel like I have not done that before in a long time,” the rookie said with a laugh following Monday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “… I like actually ... Read the full article

Sabres cut roster down again by waiving two defensemen

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday waived defensemen Joseph Cecconi and Jeremy Davies for the purpose of loaning them to the Rochester Americans.

Cecconi, a Youngstown native, played in two preseason games for the Sabres, including Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Buffalo has 33 players – 20 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goalies – left on its training camp roster.... Read the full article

Sabres trim roster by loaning goalies to Amerks, pending waivers

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Saturday waived goalies Dustin Tokarski and Devin Cooley for the purpose of loaning them to the AHL.

If they clear, they’ll join the Rochester Americans, who open training camp Monday.

Tokarski and Cooley, both of whom played one period for the Sabres during the preseason, are expected to be the Amerks’ goaltending tandem this season.... Read the full article