Thompson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Year after waiver claim brought him to Buffalo, goalie Colten Ellis entrenched with Sabres, ready for first start

BUFFALO – It was one year ago – Oct. 6, 2025 – when the Sabres claimed a little-known goalie named Colten Ellis with no NHL experience off waivers.

These days, Ellis, who’s expected to make his first start this season Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center, is a big piece of the Sabres, having established himself as a strong option throughout a surprising rookie campaign.

“Looking back a year ago today, it’s pretty ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jiri Kulich scores game-winning goal versus Blackhawks after return from blood clot: ‘Lot of emotions’

BUFFALO – The other guys, Sabres center Jiri Kulich noted, did the heavy lifting to create his first goal in 343 days, the late winner in Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

Seconds before he gave the Sabres their first lead in the home opener, Kulich misfired after center Tage Thompson sent him in alone on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight during a four-on-four.

“I was pretty pissed after the first one,” said Kulich, who was ... Read the full article

Jack Quinn, the Sabres’ power play and other things to watch this season

BUFFALO – Friendly reminder, gang, while Seth Appert is the assistant coach in charge of the Sabres’ power play, it’s Lindy Ruff’s show. He’s the head coach.

Oh, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a .909 save percentage last season. Yes, the Finn struggled at times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But he still enjoyed a strong campaign.

Why do these things bear repeating just one game into the season? Well, the Sabres lost Thursday’s opener ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson might be ready for opener; Sabres make roster move

BUFFALO – Injured Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could play in Thursday’s season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury blocking a shot in the second preseason game, skated on his own Tuesday and could practice with the Sabres on Wednesday, coach Lindy Ruff said.

If the Sabres’ top shutdown defender can’t play in Columbus, Ruff expects him to return in the near future.... Read the full article

Sabres lose Mattias Samuelsson, Olen Zellweger to injuries in preseason win

BUFFALO – Uh-oh. Tuesday’s 5-1 preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets’ junior varsity squad proved to be costly, as defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger both left the game with injuries.

Samuelsson, 26, blocked Luca Pinelli’s shot 4:36 into the second period before leaving the game around the halfway mark.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Samuelsson, the Sabres’ top shutdown defender, will be further evaluated today.... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Buffalo to dress full NHL lineup versus Columbus; Jiri Kulich to keep playing

BUFFALO – With the exception of one goalie, the lineup the Sabres will dress for tonight’s preseason game against the Blue Jackets is likely the one they field for their season opener Oct. 1 in Columbus.

With only four preseason games and veterans who have played 100 NHL games now limited to just two appearances, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff figured he would put his main group together tonight against the Blue Jackets’ B team.

Among ... Read the full article

Sabres begin season confident they’re better than last year: ‘We’re not the old Sabres anymore’

BUFFALO – Confidence is powerful thing, center Tage Thompson said. Fresh off a breakout 50-win, 109-point campaign in which nearly every player improved or enjoyed a career season, the Sabres entered the summer feeling pretty darn good about themselves.

Having grinded together for nine months and enjoyed so much success, the Sabres feel like they can tackle any challenge as a group this season.

“We have a lot of that with our group right now,” ... Read the full article

If the Sabres sign Patrick Kane, would he fit into their identity?

Three weeks after free agency opened and long after the feeding frenzy ended, South Buffalo native Patrick Kane is reportedly considering joining the Sabres or returning to Chicago, where he became an icon while starring for 16 seasons and leading the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships.

That info, courtesy of ESPN analyst Chris Chelios, makes sense. Following three seasons and zero playoff appearances with the Detroit Red Wings, Kane, 37, could take a run ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Peyton Krebs to four-year contract, avoid arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday avoided arbitration with Peyton Krebs, signing the versatile forward to a four-year, $18 million contract.

Krebs, 25, was the Sabres’ last restricted free agent. He filed for arbitration last week.

His $4.5 million salary cap hit is the seventh-highest among Buffalo forwards. He just completed a two-year, $2.9 million contract.... Read the full article

Alex Tuch explains why he left Sabres for Capitals in sign-and-trade deal: ‘One of the toughest moments of my life’

Alex Tuch wants to keep the details of his departure from Buffalo private. The winger just made an agonizing decision, choosing to leave the Sabres in a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Capitals a week before he could’ve become an unrestricted free agent.

“It was one of the toughest decisions of my life,” Tuch, who inked an eight-year, $84 million contract, said Friday on a Zoom call.

Before the Sabres heated up and roared to ... Read the full article