Buffalo drafted Tyson Kozak in 2021. ©2022, Megan Connelly, Portland Winterhawks

Sabres sign prospect Tyson Kozak to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Friday signed forward Tyson Kozak, a seventh-round pick in 2021, 193rd overall, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Kozak, 19, spent all of last season with the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks, setting career highs with 32 goals, 37 assists and 69 points in 66 contests while serving as captain. He also registered a team-high seven game-winning goals.

The 5-foot-11, 173-pound Kozak has compiled 48 goals and 109 points in 152 career ... Read the full article

Sabres fans can get their first glimpse of prospect Noah Ostlund this week. ©2022

Sabres’ development camp roster loaded with top prospects

Eight first-round picks, including all three the Buffalo Sabres selected last week – centers Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich – are on the 43-man development camp roster the team released Monday.

The most anticipated camp in a long time – the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Sabres to cancel it the last two years – begins Wednesday at LECOM Harborcenter.

The roster is loaded with top prospects. Forwards Peyton Krebs, Jack Quinn, Isak Rosen ... Read the full article

Matthew Savoie was all smiles Thursday. ©2022

Sabres draft centers Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich

MONTREAL – Centers are perhaps the most precious commodity in hockey, and the Buffalo Sabres had built up an impressive stockpile of them before they selected Matthew Savoie ninth overall, Noah Ostlund 16th and Jiri Kulich 28th at the NHL Draft on Thursday.

In 18-year-old youngsters, the Sabres picked three of the most talented pivots in the draft and added to perhaps the league’s deepest group.

In the NHL, the Sabres have skilled centers Dylan ... Read the full article

Buffalo drafted Isak Rosen 14th overall in 2021. ©2022, Leksands IF

Sabres sign prospect Isak Rosen to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Isak Rosen, a first-round pick in 2021, 14th overall, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Tuesday.

Rosen, 19, spent most of the 2021-22 season with Leksands IF, a Swedish Hockey League team, compiling two goals and four points in 28 games. He also registered four goals and nine points in eight outings for Leksands’ junior club.

The 5-foot-11, 159-pound Rosen played two games for Team Sweden’s ... Read the full article

Rasmus Ristolainen is in his first season in Philadelphia. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Rasmus Ristolainen has warm memories of Buffalo

BUFFALO – In his first nine seasons, ex-Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has endured more chaos and losing than any NHL player.

The Sabres employed six coaches and four general managers during Ristolainen’s eight-year tenure, finishing dead last four times.

When the Sabres traded Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers on July 23, it appeared he might finally have an opportunity to play for a contender and experience postseason hockey.

Instead, the Finn joined a team that ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt has played just four games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

With Casey Mittelstadt injured, could Sabres utilize JJ Peterka or Jack Quinn?

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that, yes, sometimes it can be hard to resist the temptation to recall one of the organization’s top prospects.

“There is a big temptation, yes, yes,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice inside KeyBank Center. “When you go to Rochester and you see the skill level of those kids … there’s a big temptation that’s tough to fight at times.”

Having lost center Casey Mittelstadt to another upper-body injury ... Read the full article

Isak Rosen has competed against men in pro hockey as a teenager. ©2021, Leksands IF

Sabres prospect Isak Rosen possesses array of special talents: ‘Perfect vision’

Winger Isak Rosen’s selection by the Buffalo Sabres last month turned out to be a blip during a hectic NHL Draft weekend.

Consider that barely an hour before the Sabres drafted Rosen 14th overall July 23, they added a potentially franchise-altering asset by taking defenseman Owen Power with the first pick. Earlier that day, the Sabres traded defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers in the deal that netted them the pick they used to ... Read the full article

Owen Power talks to the media Friday. ©2021

Owen Power thrilled to be drafted by Sabres: ‘I was kind of hoping’

BUFFALO – On Friday night, 60 family members and friends gathered in the backyard at Owen Power’s aunt’s house in Burlington, Ontario, to celebrate and support the 18-year-old.

Since the Sabres won the draft lottery seven weeks ago, it was assumed they would select Power first overall at Friday’s NHL Draft.

Still, Power, a Michigan defenseman, said he did not know the Sabres would take him until general manager Kevyn Adams announced the pick from ... Read the full article

Isak Rosen played pro and junior hockey last season. ©2021, NHL

Sabres select Swedish winger Isak Rosen 14th overall at NHL Draft

BUFFALO – The Sabres selected Swedish winger Isak Rosen 14th overall tonight at the NHL Draft.

The 5-foot-11, 156-pound Rosen, 18, ranked eighth on NHL Central Scouting’s final list of 2021 European skaters.

Rosen spent the 2020-21 season with Leksands IF in the Swedish Hockey League and their junior team, registering zero goals and one assist in 22 games with the big club and seven goals and 12 points in 12 contests in junior.... Read the full article