Ullmark - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Matej Pekar thrilled to earn spot in NHL exhibition game

BUFFALO – Matej Pekar acknowledged he had been thinking about this opportunity. Sure, it’s just an NHL preseason game. But for the Sabres prospect, tonight’s exhibition represents another small milestone.

“It’s happening,” Pekar said after he prepared for the Sabres’ road contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, his preseason NHL debut. “I just have to be ready for it.”

While Pekar, 19, is probably a longshot to crack the Sabres, his mix of skill and ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark upbeat following tough season

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark figured he was better equipped to handle the grind of a seven-month, 82-game NHL season.

Ullmark, after all, thrived while carrying the load in his final two AHL seasons, playing 99 games before graduating to the NHL.

“But it’s a totally different thing, totally different beast to tame when you get up here in ‘The Show,’” Ullmark said Friday following the opening sessions of training camp inside KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign goalie Linus Ullmark, go over salary cap

BUFFALO – The Sabres have gone over the NHL’s $81.5 million salary cap, according to capfriendly.com.

It appears re-signing goalie Linus Ullmark to a one-year, $1.325 million contract Saturday put them over. But it had been expected the Sabres would exceed the cap as they inked their restricted free agents.

Earlier Saturday, the Sabres avoided arbitration with Jake McCabe, re-signing the defenseman to a two-year, $5.7 million contract. McCabe’s hearing was scheduled for today.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Jake McCabe to two-year, $5.7 million contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have avoided arbitration with Jake McCabe, re-signing the defenseman to a two-year, $5.7 million contract.

The deal, announced this morning, gives the Sabres just $265,476 of salary cap space for the upcoming season, according to capfriendly.com. McCabe has a $2.85 million cap hit.

The Sabres still must re-sign goalie Linus Ullmark, who had his arbitration hearing Friday.

The NHL has a second buyout period following a team’s final arbitration ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres, Jake McCabe nearly $2.5 million apart before arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres and defenseman Jake McCabe are nearly $2.5 million apart heading into Sunday’s arbitration hearing, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The Sabres offered McCabe $1.95 million, while he countered with $4.3 million, Friedman tweeted this morning.

McCabe, 25, earned $1.775 million last season.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Remi Elie to one-year, two-way contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed winger Remi Elie to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000, the team announced today.

Elie and the Sabres settled after this morning’s arbitration hearing.

The Sabres utilized Elie sparingly after claiming him off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Oct. 2, playing him only 16 times before sending him to the AHL in the winter. After recording one assist with the Sabres, the former second-round pick compiled eight goals ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres, Linus Ullmark nearly $2 million apart before arbitration hearing

The Buffalo Sabres and goalie Linus Ullmark are nearly $2 million apart heading into Friday’s arbitration hearing, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The Sabres offered Ullmark $800,000, while the Swede countered with $2.65 million, Friedman tweeted this morning.

For some perspective, Sabres starting goalie Carter Hutton has a $2.75 million salary.

Ullmark, who turns 26 today, earned $800,000 in 2018-19, his first full NHL campaign.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues awarded $2 million contract

BUFFALO – An independent arbitrator has awarded Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues a one-year, $2 million contract, the club announced today.

The decision basically split the difference of what the sides had proposed.

Rodrigues, whose hearing was Tuesday, wanted $2.65 million, according to Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman. The Sabres, meanwhile, offered $1.5 million, according to Friedman.

Rodrigues, 25, set career highs across the board last season, compiling nine goals and 29 points in 74 games. His versatility ... Read the full article

Former Sabres, Amerks have landed new contracts all over

On a Rochester Americans team loaded with scorers and high-end AHL talent, goalie Scott Wedgewood’s exploits often got overshadowed.

But for much of the 2018-19 campaign, Wedgewood was the Amerks’ backbone, tending some of the league’s best goal.

After Christmas, Wedgewood won 16 of his first 21 appearances. Overall, he enjoyed a career season, compiling 28 victories and five shutouts in 48 games.

Still, it was evident Wedgewood, 26, would be moving on. The seven-year ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Johan Larsson to one-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed center Johan Larsson to a one-year, $1.55 million contract, the team announced today.

The Swede, 26, was a restricted free agent.

Larsson, a veteran of 331 NHL games, is one of three Sabres left from the 2013-14 squad that finished dead last in the NHL. Forward Zemgus Girgensons and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen are the others.... Read the full article