November Edition
Will Butcher could enjoy a leading role in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Adrenaline and excitement buoyed defenseman Will Butcher through his season debut. In his first outing in nearly five months, the Sabres ran the newcomer ragged, skating him more than 28 minutes.
While Butcher, 26, said he felt fine during Tuesday’s 5-4 shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the heavy workload caught up with him later.
“Yeah, it was a lot of minutes,” Butcher said following Wednesday’s sessions of training camp inside KeyBank ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson made his NHL debut in 2017-18. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Tyce Thompson said he was speechless. Not only will the New Jersey Devils forward be making his NHL debut tonight, he gets to do it against his brother, Tage, a Buffalo Sabres winger.
“It’s the best way you could draw up a debut,” Tyce Thompson said on a Zoom call prior to tonight’s game. “To be able to play against my brother just makes it that much more special.”
Tyce Thompson, 21, signed his ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff (pictured) worked with Sabres coach Ralph Krueger at the 2014 Olympics. ©2021, Dan Hickling, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – In Sunday afternoon’s pregame warm-up, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger showcased the same lines he had utilized the previous day against the New Jersey Devils, with one exception.
Casey Mittelstadt, who was replacing Tage Thompson, skated at left wing beside top center Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson.
Then when Sunday’s contest started, Krueger changed three of four Sabres’ lines. Only one trio from warm-ups – center Cody Eakin, left wing ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen (right) celebrates his goal Sunday afternoon with Jack Eichel. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – As a defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen understands how a big body in front of the net can be a weapon during a power play.
“If some other teams, they have some good net-front presence, I know how hard it is to play when there’s guys standing in front of the net screening (the) goalie all the time,” the Sabres veteran said after scoring a power-play goal in Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff instructs his players on the bench Sunday afternoon. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For three years, ex-Sabres coach Lindy Ruff enjoyed no longer being the guy in charge as an assistant with the New York Rangers.
Ruff’s new duties – he hadn’t served in a secondary role since 1997 – offered him an opportunity to regularly interact with players on a much different level.
“Not having to be that guy that has to lay down the law or (be) really upset with different plays but more ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson skated on two lines Saturday afternoon. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – After skating on the fourth line all season, Sabres winger Jeff Skinner found himself in a familiar spot with top center Jack Eichel late in Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils.
After Tage Thompson struggled filling in for injured winger Sam Reinhart, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger promoted Skinner to the first line for the third period at KeyBank Center.
“We just weren’t pleased with five-on-five scoring-chance production so we ... Read the full article
Taylor Hall has recorded seven points in his first eight games with Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Taylor Hall’s eight-game start with the Sabres looks a bit underwhelming.
The ultra-talented winger has recorded just one goal, a power-play score way back on opening night, and was moved to the second line Thursday. He has mustered just one assist in the last five games.
Of course, two weeks is a small sample size. Hall has registered seven points, so he has produced offense at a rate close to his career average ... Read the full article
Chris Taylor spent three seasons leading Rochester. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The New Jersey Devils have hired former Rochester Americans head coach Chris Taylor as an assistant on Lindy Ruff’s staff, the team announced today.
Taylor played for Ruff over parts of four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Ruff, who was hired by New Jersey on July 9, also added Dave Rogalski as goalie coach to complete his staff.
Ruff named Mark Recchi and Alain Nasreddine his first assistants in September.
New Buffalo general manager Kevyn ... Read the full article
Randy Sexton (left) and Jason Botterill spent three years with the Sabres. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
If the NHL could’ve held its draft as scheduled next week, Jason Botterill would likely still be employed as the Buffalo Sabres’ general manager. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to postpone the annual event until the fall.
The extra time gave Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula an opportunity to discuss and plan the team’s future – “Really start digging in,” Kim Pegula said on a Zoom call Tuesday to discuss Botterill’s firing ... Read the full article
Pierre Turgeon talks to the media Jan. 4. ©2020, Heather Engel
BUFFALO – The gaudy numbers former Sabres star Pierre Turgeon racked up during his prolific NHL career could land him in the Hockey Hall of Fame someday.
A strong argument can be made Turgeon, who retired in 2007, ranks among the best candidates still waiting for the call.
“I hear about it, a lot of people are talking,” Turgeon said of the Hall of Fame.
In 1,294 games over 19 seasons, Turgeon scored a whopping ... Read the full article
