Timmins - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Lindy Ruff confident Josh Doan will start scoring: ‘All the faith’

BUFFALO – For the final 15 minutes of Tuesday’s thrilling 3-2 overtime win, Sabres winger Josh Doan, who began the night skating on the top line, watched from the bench.

Following the game, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged the obvious, that Doan, who went pointless in the first three contests, is “struggling right now.”

So when Ruff shortened his bench and revamped his lines late against the Minnesota Wild, Doan, 24, was one of ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jason Zucker progressing after surgery, has ‘soft date’ for return

BUFFALO – In the back of his mind, winger Jason Zucker said he and the Sabres have a time frame for when he can play again after undergoing sports hernia surgery in early August.

“But it’s a very soft date at this point,” Zucker said this morning in KeyBank Center.

For now, Zucker, 34, is rehabbing skating and joining his teammates for pregame skates. He participated in a gray non-contact jersey this morning as the ... Read the full article

Two injured Sabres close to practicing with team

BUFFALO – Injured Sabres veterans Jason Zucker and Conor Timmins could participate in Tuesday’s pregame skate, coach Lindy Ruff said.

That doesn’t, however, mean they’re close to playing.

“They’ll still be between a team skate and rehab skates,” Ruff said following today’s practice in KeyBank Center. “But they’re right on the line of skating and participating in our practices, (just) not on a daily basis. Just sort of introduce them into more vigorous practices.”... Read the full article

Sabres recall veteran from Rochester Amerks before opener

The Buffalo Sabres this morning recalled veteran defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Rochester Americans.

To create a roster spot, the Sabres, who open their season tonight in Columbus, placed defenseman Olen Zellweger on injured reserve. Zellweger suffered a concussion last week.

The Sabres summoned Gilbert for insurance because they lost three of their top defensemen to injury – Zellweger, Mattias Samuelsson and Conor Timmins – during the preseason.... 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’ initial 2026-27 roster has goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon

The Buffalo Sabres’ initial 23-man roster for the 2026-27 season released Monday features three goalies, six defensemen and 14 forwards.

Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon and defenseman Olen Zellweger, all of whom suffered injuries in preseason games last week, are listed on the roster.

One rookie, forward Konsta Helenius, made the team.... Read the full article

After losing defensemen to injury, Matt Grzelcyk’s signing gives Sabres boost

BUFFALO – The Sabres wasted no time getting newcomer Matt Grzelcyk acclimated. Without the benefit of a practice or pregame skate, they threw the defenseman into the lineup for their preseason finale.

Grzelcyk, who on Friday signed a one-year, $850,000 contract, looked comfortable throughout Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, skating 16 minutes, 48 seconds, mostly alongside Conor Timmins.

“It almost helped, honestly, just having no pregame skate, nothing – just go right ... Read the full article

Sabres D Mattias Samuelsson week to week with injury; Olen Zellweger in concussion protocol

BUFFALO – It took less than one week of training camp for injuries to the hit the Sabres hard.

When the Sabres open the season next Thursday on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they could be without two of their top four defensemen.

Mattias Samuelsson, their top shutdown defender, is week to week with a lower-body injury he suffered blocking a shot in Tuesday’s 5-1 preseason win over Columbus, coach Lindy Ruff said.... 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

Before trade, Sabres’ Louis Crevier beat long odds and developed confidence to stick in NHL

BUFFALO – In his early days with the Chicago Blackhawks, Sabres newcomer Louis Crevier couldn’t settle down. He said he played too nervously, afraid he would make a mistake.

“It was just mental,” the 6-foot-8, 236-pound defenseman said following Friday’s session of training camp in LECOM Harborcenter.

So Crevier, who joined the Sabres on June 23 in the blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Windy City, tackled his problem.... Read the full article