WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Prospects Showcase Edition
Conor Sheary endured long goal droughts last season. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Conor Sheary certainly showcased flashes of his scoring prowess last season.
On Nov. 18, Sheary scored in his third straight game, his sixth goal in just his 16th outing with the Sabres.
Then suddenly, Sheary, 27, went cold.
The speedy UMass product endured a 16-game goal drought. After scoring an empty-netter Dec. 22, he experienced an 11-game dry spell.
On. Jan 29, Sheary finally scored past a goalie again.... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens could be assigned to junior soon. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Coach Ralph Krueger wants center Dylan Cozens to relax during tonight’s preseason opener. Throughout the recent Prospects Challenge rookie tournament, the Sabres’ top pick often tried to do to much.
“He was trying to be a different-maker every time on the ice,” Krueger said after the Sabres prepared for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The seventh overall pick knows he must calm down a little.
“I can’t be out there trying to dangle everyone and ... Read the full article
Ralph Krueger wants Sabres hockey to be recognizable. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – In just three or four weeks, coach Ralph Krueger would like the Sabres’ brand of hockey to be easily identifiable.
“You underline the fact that we’re playing like this, this is Sabres hockey,” Krueger said Friday following the first sessions of training camp inside KeyBank Center.
That, of course, is no easy task for a new coach, let alone one that inherited a laughingstock.
The Sabres haven’t possessed a positive identity in a ... Read the full article
Marcus Johansson played with New Jersey and Boston last season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Marcus Johansson began his NHL career playing center. When the Washington Capitals needed help there three years ago, he briefly moved back.
So, yes, Johansson, 28, certainly has experience at the position. But the Swede has spent the bulk of his nine-year career skating at left wing.
The Sabres, who signed Johansson to a two-year, $9 million contract on Saturday, need more depth down the middle.
So what role might he ... Read the full article
Marcus Johansson began his NHL career as a center. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Marcus Johansson began his NHL career playing center. When the Washington Capitals needed help there three years ago, he briefly moved back.
So, yes, Johansson, 28, certainly has experience at the position. But the Swede has spent the bulk of his nine-year career skating at left wing.
The Sabres, who signed Johansson to a two-year, $9 million contract on Saturday, need more depth down the middle.
So what role might he ... Read the full article
Marcus Johansson spent seven seasons in Washington. ©2019, Hickling Images
In signing Marcus Johansson to a two-year, $9 million contract on Saturday, the Buffalo Sabres addressed a major need, adding a winger capable of filling a top-six role.
Johansson, 28, can also play center, so he offers the Sabres, who need help down the middle, versatility.
The Swede has played 90 NHL playoff games, more than any other Sabre. He just played 22 contests during the Boston Bruins’ run to the Stanley Cup final.
That ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart welcomed Dylan Cozens to the Sabres. ©2019, Hickling Images
VANCOUVER – Shortly before the Sabres’ higher-ups traveled to the NHL Draft, Sam Reinhart told Jason Botterill he wanted to join them during their stay in his hometown.
So one night, Reinhart met the general manager, coach Ralph Krueger and Terry and Kim Pegula for dinner.
Then on Friday, Reinhart, a winger the Sabres selected second overall in 2014, warmly greeted center Dylan Cozens after the team’s top pick left the draft floor inside Rogers ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner will be 34 when his contract ends. ©2019, Hickling Images
Jason Botterill sensed he would be asked a question about 40-goal scorer Jeff Skinner’s new long-term contract, so the Buffalo Sabres general manager decided to answer it himself.
“Probably one of the next questions is going to be about giving an eight-year contract to a 27-year-old,” Botterill said of Skinner’s $72 million deal on a conference call Saturday, a day after awarding the hefty contract. “But there’s always going to be risk sometimes in doing ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner (53) waits for a faceoff against Nashville’s Austin Watson on Tuesday. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – A seething Phil Housley said it over and over – four times in three minutes, to be exact – following Tuesday’s 3-2 loss, the Sabres’ eight straight setback.
“It’s frustrating because we got screwed,” the Sabres coach said.
To Housley, the Sabres “got screwed” against the Nashville Predators because 2:40 into the second period, winger Conor Sheary scored on a delayed penalty, appearing to tie the game at 2.
The Predators never gained ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin never saw a live NHL game until last year. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin grew up far away from the NHL in Trollhattan, Sweden, a city of 46,000 about a three- or four-hour car ride from Stockholm.
“Most of my friends have never seen an NHL game before,” the rookie said Thursday inside KeyBank Center.
So the thought of playing two regular-season games in front of his family and friends next season had Dahlin smiling Thursday. The Sabres will face the Tampa Bay ... Read the full article