Tuch - Buffalo Hockey Beat

JJ Peterka scores hat trick, shows star qualities as Sabres throttle Penguins

BUFFALO – Let’s temper any excitement over the Sabres’ 7-3 win and winger JJ Peterka’s hat trick in Saturday’s preseason opener by noting the Pittsburgh Penguins brought their B or C squad to KeyBank Center.

The Sabres, meanwhile, dressed what resembled a regular-season lineup featuring perhaps their top two lines and No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

An emphatic victory was almost expected. Following a slow start, the Sabres began annihilating the visitors, scoring five times ... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff begins challenging Sabres to raise standards: ‘Everyone brought it’

BUFFALO – Right away, coach Lindy Ruff stopped the drill. The Sabres had gone offside, and even in the first session of training camp, that’s a no-no.

So Ruff told his players to get it right and gathered them for a quick chat. Later in Wednesday’s practice, he called for more puck support and halted another drill.

General manager Kevyn Adams and players have been preaching accountability, and on the first day of his second ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Dahlin injured; Matt Savoie trade filled big need

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s first practice under new coach Lindy Ruff lasted just a few minutes.

Dahlin, 24, departed Wednesday’s opening session of training camp early after suffering what Ruff called a “mid-range” injury.

Ruff had no update on Dahlin, who will be examined.

“It’s just one of those things he was passing the puck and something happened,” Ruff said in KeyBank Center. “So (as a) precaution, (we) got him off.”... Read the full article

Time spent with Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau special for Sabres’ Alex Tuch

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alex Tuch sounded nostalgic recalling those visits Johnny Gaudreau made to the Boston College campus about a decade ago. When the budding NHL star dropped by late in the summer to see his brother, Matthew, a forward with the Eagles, he always treated the rest of the hockey team.

“I knew Johnny because he came back and he would visit Matty in school before the season started every year,” Tuch said ... Read the full article

Sabres make big commitment to goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with hefty five-year contract

Barely nine months ago, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s future with the Buffalo Sabres seemed in doubt.

When goalie Devon Levi arrived from college late in 2022-23, the Finn became a spare part. After watching the final seven games that season, he backed up or was scratched for the first six contests of 2023-24.

So on one hand, yes, the five-year, $23.75 million contract Luukkonen signed on Wednesday is a bit surprising. The Sabres clearly wanted Levi, ... Read the full article

Nomadic Nicolas Aube-Kubel excited to give Sabres’ fourth line grit, speed

As free agency approached and winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel began looking for his fifth NHL team in the last three and a half years, he told his agent he wanted to join a younger group.

Having started last season in the AHL – he played 11 games for the Hershey Bears before earning regular duty with the Washington Capitals – Aube-Kubel knew he likely wouldn’t receive a multi-year deal.

But the idea of growing with a ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Will Lindy Ruff have input in trades, other roster decisions?

BUFFALO – It’s no secret Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams leaned heavily on former coach Don Granato for roster decisions.

Adams regularly signed or traded for players Granato had connections to, often from his days coaching junior with the US National Team Development Program.

When the Sabres acquired winger Jordan Greenway prior to the trade deadline in 2023, Adams said Granato pounded the table for him. Adams made similar comments after they signed defenseman Connor ... Read the full article

Sabres want more accountability from new coach: ‘A little too comfortable’

BUFFALO – Well, now we know. As expected, Sabres players praised Don Granato, their former coach, crediting him for boosting their careers and acknowledging they could’ve done more to help him.

Still, they clearly wanted a different type of leader.

In discussing Granato’s dismissal, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said his players “are craving accountability, structure,” a sentiment they echoed Wednesday as they held exit meetings in KeyBank Center following a disappointing 84-point finish.

While ... Read the full article

Sabres beat Capitals, finish strong at home: ‘Need to do that next season’

BUFFALO – In a season filled with disappointment, the Sabres improved in at least one critical area down the stretch, becoming a tough team to beat at home.

To wit: Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals in the home finale was their third straight victory at KeyBank Center and boosted their record to 9-3-0 in their last 12 outings.

Overall, the Sabres finished 21-19-1 in their building this season, the first time they finished ... Read the full article

Missing playoffs hasn’t shaken Rasmus Dahlin’s belief in Sabres: ‘We’re close’

BUFFALO – While the cold reality of missing the playoffs again has smacked the Sabres – “It sucks, honestly,” defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said – they haven’t lost belief they can end an NHL-record 13-year drought.

“I want the Buffalo Sabres in the playoffs, and I’m never going to give up, and I think we’re close,” Dahlin said prior to Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals in the home finale at KeyBank Center. “I think ... Read the full article