Ruff - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Jeff Skinner not interested in waiving no-movement clause

LAS VEGAS – The Buffalo Sabres have been exploring their options for veteran winger Jeff Skinner, including asking him to waive the no-movement clause in his eight-year, $72 million contract.

Not surprisingly, Skinner, who has three seasons remaining on his massive deal, said, uh, no thanks.

“There’s been honest communication, but no indication that that’s something they’re willing to look at,” Adams said Thursday of Skinner and his representatives at Newport Sports. “But all you ... Read the full article

Kevyn Adams aware of rumors Sabres could buy out Jeff Skinner

BUFFALO – General manager Kevyn Adams knows there are rumors the Sabres could buy out winger Jeff Skinner, who has three seasons remaining on his eight-year, $72 million contract.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Tuesday called a buyout “a possibility,” igniting speculation about the 14-year veteran’s future.

Skinner, 32, certainly fits the criteria of a player the Sabres, who have missed the playoffs an NHL-record 13 straight seasons, would consider cutting loose.

He struggled last season, ... Read the full article

‘No Goal’ at 25: Former Sabres standout Derek Plante learned special lessons during Stars’ 1999 Stanley Cup run

In the moments after Brett Hull scored, as Derek Plante celebrated the Dallas Stars’ Stanley Cup victory, on the other side of the ice, he saw his former Buffalo Sabres teammates trying to process the most gut-wrenching loss of their lives.

Twenty-five years ago Wednesday – June 19, 1999 – Brett Hull scored his controversial “No Goal” 14:51 into the third overtime of Game 6, clinching the Stars’ first championship. Plante watched the disputed goal ... Read the full article

Sabres hire Michael Leone as Rochester Amerks’ new coach

The Buffalo Sabres have hired another coach from junior hockey to be the Rochester Americans’ bench boss.

The Sabres on Thursday named Michael Leone, who spent the last two seasons as the general manager and coach of the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers, as head coach of their AHL affiliate.

The 36-year-old replaces Seth Appert, who earned a promotion to Lindy Ruff’s staff in Buffalo last month following four seasons with the Amerks.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund’s hockey sense stands out with Rochester: ‘Basically blows your mind’

ROCHESTER – The Calder Cup Playoffs can be unforgiving to a 5-foot-11, 163-pound neophyte like Buffalo Sabres center prospect Noah Ostlund.

Forget about the talent and supreme hockey sense the Swede, 20, possesses. He was the lightest player on either roster during the Americans’ North Division semifinal series. No one had played fewer games in North America.

So after playing the first three playoff games, Ostlund, the 16th overall pick in 2022, took a ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Isak Rosen showcases strong development in Rochester; Joseph Cecconi seizes role

Over the final two months of the regular season, Buffalo Sabres prospect Isak Rosen busted out of his long offensive slump with the Rochester Americans, compiling nine goals and 22 points in his last 22 games.

In the last four contests, the Swedish winger registered four goals and seven points to finish with 20 goals and 50 points in 67 games. His point total tied center Mason Jobst for the team lead.

Consider that following ... Read the full article

Seth Appert happy to join Sabres, work with Lindy Ruff; Rochester roster could look different next season

In his 27-year career, Seth Appert coached at just four places prior to his promotion to the Buffalo Sabres as an assistant. Instead of jumping at the next opportunity, he always chose to stay and build a program.

“I take a lot of pride in trying to create a culture, trying to build things the right way,” Appert, who on Monday was named to Lindy Ruff’s staff, said on a Zoom call Tuesday. “And I’m ... Read the full article

Sabres promote Rochester coach Seth Appert to assistant in Buffalo

In 2020, the Buffalo Sabres made an interesting move, hiring Seth Appert, who had spent his entire career in college and junior, to coach the Rochester Americans, their AHL affiliate.

Appert, who was coaching at the US National Team Development Program, said then he understood any skepticism that accompanied his jump to pro hockey because he had never done it before.

Today, after four seasons leading the Amerks, Appert, 49, is in the NHL.

On ... Read the full article

Rochester Amerks’ ‘unreal group’ will change as players leave, join Sabres

ROCHESTER – Seth Appert believes each year, no matter how special of a group you had the previous season, you must start over. If a team comes together – that’s a big if – it takes time.

“If you think you can start where you left off the year before, you’re setting yourself up for massive failure,” the Americans coach said following Friday’s 5-2 season-ending loss to the Syracuse Crunch in Game 5 of the ... Read the full article

Brett Murray developing in Rochester, sees future in Sabres organization

ROCHESTER – Winger Brett Murray grew up here as a player, developing from an unheralded Buffalo Sabres draft pick into one of the Americans’ top scorers and most versatile presences.

Five seasons ago, Murray, 25, arrived having just signed an AHL contract. While he was certainly an intriguing youngster, Buffalo’s previous regime wanted him to raise his conditioning to pro standards, so he did not receive an NHL deal.

Within a year, he earned his ... Read the full article