Ruff - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Bowen Byram aware of trade rumors during summer; Mason Geertsen Buffalo’s new ‘enforcer’

BUFFALO – You bet Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram heard his name repeatedly materialize in trade rumors during the offseason.

“I feel like I’ve been in trade rumors since I first came into the league,” Byram said Monday morning in KeyBank Center. “It’s not anything new for me. I definitely see them and whatever. But at the end of that day, I have a job to do in the summer, which is prepare for the upcoming ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Radim Mrtka set to debut, Alexandar Georgiev to start

BUFFALO – Bo, meet Radim. Radim, meet Bo. Now go out and play together.

In the opening days of training camp, the Sabres kept the players expected to comprise their NHL roster in one practice group. So defenseman Bowen Byram said he hadn’t met rookie Radim Mrtka until this morning.

Tonight, Byram will be tasked with skating alongside Mrtka, 18, in his NHL preseason debut on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets.... Read the full article

After trade to Sabres, Conor Timmins could have career-changing chance

BUFFALO – OK, time for a quick pop quiz, Sabres fans. Does defenseman Conor Timmins’ career goal total eclipse the number of teams he has played for since breaking into the NHL in 2019-20?

The answer, of course, is yes, although by a slim margin. Timmins, a native of nearby St. Catharines, Ontario, has scored six goals in his 159-game career and played for five teams. He has been traded four times, including twice earlier ... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff, Sabres want to set bar high with competitive training camp

BUFFALO – On Thursday, a day after watching the Sabres perform well in fitness testing, coach Lindy Ruff left his house by about 5 a.m. to lead the first sessions of training camp.

“I was excited where all our off-ice fitness was in a good place yesterday, and really wanted to see the on-ice, what it would look like with some of our guys,” he said in KeyBank Center.

Ruff has promised camp will be ... Read the full article

As new season begins, Kevyn Adams, Lindy Ruff like look of Sabres

BUFFALO – General manager Kevyn Adams understands that unless the Sabres win games, his words mean, well, nothing.

As training camp began Wednesday and another five-month offseason ended, Adams, who’s under internal and external pressure to end an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, expressed his belief in the newest edition of the Sabres.

“I can’t stand up here and talk to our fan base and say anything other than I am genuinely excited about this team. ... Read the full article

Sabres hopeful Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen won’t be injured long; Jordan Greenway begins training camp sidelined

BUFFALO – As training camp approached and Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen began ramping up his workouts to get into game mode, general manager Kevyn Adams said the Finn started experiencing some pain.

“He was just not able to … be strong and push and (do) the stuff that he needs to do,” Adams said Wednesday in LECOM Harborcenter as players reported to camp for physicals and testing.

Adams said Luukkonen, 26, is day to day ... Read the full article

Sabres begin season facing questions about UPL’s injury and Alex Tuch’s contract extension

BUFFALO – Maybe the Sabres’ fan base is too busy reveling in the Bills’ early-season success to pay much attention. Or perhaps, more likely, many of their supporters have lost interest in a team that owns an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.

Whatever the case, there’s little buzz around the Sabres as they begin another season.

Players report today to KeyBank Center for physicals and testing. The first on-ice sessions will be held Thursday at LECOM ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris gives designer bags to Zach Benson in exchange for No. 9

BUFFALO – In late July, Sabres center Josh Norris texted his teammate, Zach Benson, and asked what it would take for him to give up No. 9.

Benson said he thought Norris, who wore No. 13 in his first three games with the Sabres before a torn oblique muscle ended his season, was joking.

“I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not,” Benson said Saturday after throwing out the first pitch before the ... Read the full article

Sabres likely to renew KeyBank Center lease with Erie County; Firm examining arena for possible renovations

BUFFALO – The Sabres will likely allow their KeyBank Center lease agreement with Erie County to automatically be extended for five years on Sept. 30, Pete Guelli, the chief operating officer of the Sabres and Buffalo Bills, said Wednesday.

“We can also opt out, and then there’s another year on the lease after that, but the way conversations are trending, it’s likely just to continue the way it is,” Guelli said after the Sabres and ... Read the full article

While changes are possible, it appears Sabres will keep assistant coaches

ORCHARD PARK – Kevyn Adams said he has given Lindy Ruff the green light to change his staff. The general manager even noted the coach has spoken to people about joining the Buffalo Sabres.

But right now, it appears Ruff, 65, will bring back the assistant coaches he worked with last season, when the Sabres mustered 79 points and finished 14th in the Eastern Conference.

Most teams, of course, likely wouldn’t run back the same ... Read the full article