Rosen - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres trade tracker: Buffalo acquires two defensemen, forward

BUFFALO – As the 3 p.m. trade deadline approaches, here’s what the Sabres have done:

So far, they’ve made two deals, acquiring defensemen Luke Schenn, 36, and Logan Stanley, 27, from the Winnipeg Jets and center Sam Carrick, 34, from the New York Rangers.

“All three of them bring us hardness, make us a tougher team to play against,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following this afternoon’s practice in KeyBank Center. “In Carrick’s case, a ... Read the full article

Sabres beat Penguins to move into first place; Buffalo makes trades

PITTSBURGH – Thirty-eight seconds into Thursday’s second period, as Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and Evgeni Malkin began battling at the net and cross-checking each other, the Penguins star slashed his opponent on the neck.

Malkin’s ill-advised decision ended his night – he earned a match penalty and could have a suspension coming – and ignited the Sabres in a game that was tied at 1.

“After that we got it going pretty good,” coach ... Read the full article

Following move to center with Amerks, prospect Anton Wahlberg receives first recall to Sabres

ROCHESTER – After Konsta Helenius’ first NHL recall last month left the Americans thin at center, coach Mike Leone shifted Buffalo Sabres prospect Anton Wahlberg up to pivot the Americans’ top line.

Normally, a neophyte about 100 games into his AHL career wouldn’t have been thrust into such a high-profile role.

“It’s extremely difficult to do what he’s doing right now as a young player,” Leone said last month of the 20-year-old.... Read the full article

Mature, tenacious style helping Sabres prospect Isak Rosen enjoy special year with Rochester Amerks

ROCHESTER – Isak Rosen’s third goal of the night in his return to the Americans, a nifty two-on-one he converted after Konsta Helenius corralled a bouncing puck and fed his linemate, illustrates the special chemistry the Buffalo Sabres prospects share.

Rosen and Helenius, both of whom will play in tonight’s AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois, have morphed into one of the league’s elite duos.

If Helenius, 19, can feed him the puck, there’s a ... Read the full article

After first taste of NHL, Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius can help Rochester

ROCHESTER – In his last outing before the Buffalo Sabres assigned him to the Americans, rookie Konsta Helenius shared the ice with Pittsburgh Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two hockey icons.

“I watched their highlight videos (growing up), so it was pretty cool,” Helenius said prior to Friday’s game against the Springfield Thunderbirds in Blue Cross Arena.

Earlier in his first trip to the NHL, Helenius, 19, faced Los Angeles Kings defenseman defenseman ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson (72) battles with Pittsburgh’s Kevin Hayes on Thursday.

Sabres look sloppy in loss to Penguins; Buffalo makes roster moves

BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ final outing before the Milano Cortina Games, center Tage Thompson showcased why he earned a coveted spot on Team USA’s stacked Olympic squad.

Thompson was often the best player on the ice in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring his 30th goal and narrowly missing a few more prime chances.

The American certainly outplayed the Penguins’ two biggest stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

On most nights, that ... Read the full article

Sabres recall prospect from Rochester, send defenseman to Amerks

BUFFALO – These days, when the Sabres recall winger Isak Rosen, he possesses a strong belief he belongs in the NHL.

That, of course, wasn’t always the case. In his first 15 games prior to this season, he struggled to produce and find a role.

But earlier this season, the Sabres cast Rosen, 22, in scoring role, awarding him duty on a top line and the power play. He responded by registering his first ... Read the full article

Sabres roar back against Wild, lose in OT; Josh Norris misses second game

BUFFALO – It was about to be one heck of a penalty kill for the Sabres. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson cleared the puck down down the ice, seemingly extinguishing the power play the Minnesota Wild carried into Saturday afternoon’s overtime.

But Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson skated out to the left circle and quickly flung the puck up to Kirill Kaprizov at the Buffalo blue line as the Sabres changed. Kaprizov skated in and fed Mats Zuccarello, ... Read the full article

Mature, consistent game as No. 1 center helps Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius earn first recall from Rochester

BRIGHTON – Center prospect Konsta Helenius’ first recall to Buffalo could be brief. Right now, the Sabres are scorching, having won 15 of their last 17 games, and coach Lindy Ruff hasn’t tinkered with his lineup much over the past five weeks.

If Sabres center Josh Norris, who’s day to day with an upper-body injury, heals quickly, Helenius, 19, could be returned to the Rochester Americans without playing a game.

The Sabres, who host the ... Read the full article

Sabres recall prospect Konsta Helenius; Josh Norris day to day with injury

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon recalled center Konsta Helenius, one of their top prospects, from the Rochester Americans.

Center Josh Norris is day to day after suffering an upper-body injury when Nick Seeler cross-checked him in the second period of Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, according to the team.

Helenius, 19, could make his NHL debut tonight against the Montreal Canadiens in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article