Seattle Kraken - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres place Casey Fitzgerald on waivers, create roster spot

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon waived defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, a move that creates a roster spot for them to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans.

Update: Defenseman Henri Jokiharju, out since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 9, has been activated from injured reserve and taken Fitzgerald’s roster spot, according to the team’s website.

Update: General manager Kevyn Adams said on today’s “Jeff Marek Show” on 590 The Fan that Luukkonen ... Read the full article

Williamsville’s Andrew Poturalski hopes to stick with Kraken after elite season

At 28, having played just four NHL games, Andrew Poturalski understands some teams view him as a tweener – too good for the minors but not quite big league material.

As he begins his seventh pro season, Poturalski, who signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Seattle Kraken on July 13, has developed into one of the most talented and decorated players in the minors or Europe.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Williamsville native enjoyed one of ... Read the full article

Ex-Sabres coach Dan Bylsma energized by new job as Kraken’s assistant in AHL

ROCHESTER – Dan Bylsma laughed and processed the question a little longer. He started to answer it but stopped again to collect his thoughts.

After three lean years as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings, did the ex-Buffalo Sabres head coach need a new adventure?

“We were in a different spot in Detroit with the team and the players,” Bylsma told the Times Herald on Wednesday following the Charlotte Checkers’ 5-1 loss to ... Read the full article

Sabres fall behind early, lose to Kraken; Jeff Skinner looking like old self

BUFFALO – With the Sabres enjoying a first-period power play Monday, center Tage Thompson dug the puck out from the wall and fed defenseman Rasmus Dahlin at the left point.

During a power play earlier in the period, Dahlin fell down behind his own net, helping Carson Soucy score the first short-handed goal in the Seattle Kraken’s 22-game history.

Surely, it couldn’t happen again, right? The Sabres’ hadn’t allowed a short-handed goal all season.... Read the full article

Mark Jankowski grateful for time with Amerks, excited to join Sabres

BUFFALO – After spending nearly four straight seasons in the NHL, Sabres center Mark Jankowski found limited opportunities as a free agent during the summer. Eventually, he settled for an invitation to the New Jersey Devils’ training camp.

After the tryout expired and the Devils passed on signing him, a chance to join the Rochester Americans materialized.

Jankowski said he and the Amerks’ coaching staff talked a lot. He liked what he heard and felt ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt takes another step toward return; Alex Tuch joins Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that, yes, he has thought about what his lineup might look like when some of his injured players get healthy.

So Granato knows where he could put center Casey Mittelstadt and winger Alex Tuch, both of whom skated with the Sabres this morning, when they’re healthy. It was the first session with the Sabres for Tuch, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery.

Mittelstadt, who had his first contact ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski bounces back with two strong outings

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato needed to wait to make a decision. If goalie Dustin Tokarski experienced a heavy workload Friday, then he likely couldn’t have utilized him back-to-back nights.

But Tokarski faced just 11 shots over the final 40 minutes of the Sabres’ 4-1 home win. So Granato felt comfortable starting him again Saturday in Detroit.

“The workload late in that game was not too extensive for Dustin, and that factored in,” ... Read the full article

Sabres excited about adding Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs to young core

In trading ex-captain Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Buffalo Sabres acquired no immediate help for their lineup.

Winger Alex Tuch, who grew up in Baldwinsville rooting for the Sabres, is recovering from shoulder surgery. General manager Kevyn Adams said Tuch will likely be sidelined two more months.

Meanwhile, shortly after the deal was announced, the Sabres assigned center prospect Peyton Krebs, who has 13 games of NHL experience, to the Rochester ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Jack Eichel to Golden Knights for players, picks

The Jack Eichel saga ended this morning after nearly six months, with the Buffalo Sabres trading their disgruntled former captain to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for two players and two picks.

The Sabres received forwards Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch, a first-round pick in 2022 and a second-round pick in 2023 for the dynamic center. They also sent the Golden Knights a third-round pick in 2023. The first-rounder is top-10 protected.

The ... Read the full article

Former Sabres coach Dan Bylsma lands new job in minors

Ex-Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma on Tuesday landed a new job as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate the expansion Seattle Kraken will temporarily share with the Florida Panthers.

Bylsma, 50, left the Detroit Red Wings in May to pursue other opportunities after spending three years as an assistant on head coach Jeff Blashill’s staff.

As part of the agreement between Seattle and Florida, the Kraken provided an assistant coach ... Read the full article