Vanek - Buffalo Hockey Beat

As Sabres struggle, so is goalie Craig Anderson: ‘We owe him a lot more’

BUFFALO – In his two-year career with the Sabres, veteran goalie Craig Anderson had never been pulled from a game before Tuesday’s ugly 7-3 loss to the Nashville Predators.

Despite being the NHL’s oldest player, the 41-year-old’s play hasn’t declined much. Sure, he can’t handle a heavy workload anymore. Age has relegated him to backup status. Throughout his 20th season, he has started about once a week.

Anderson has performed so well at times ... Read the full article

Amerks Hall of Fame: Before starring role in Buffalo, Sabres could’ve lost Jason Pominville on waivers

ROCHESTER – No one, it seems, except for perhaps Jason Pominville himself, could believe the Buffalo Sabres did it.

Sure, the team was stacked up front in 2005 as the NHL emerged from the lockout. But why would they waive Pominville, one of their top prospects? He was out of options, and if they wanted to assign him to the Americans again, he would have to clear.

Every other team would have a chance to ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan Miller on why he choose No. 30; Rasmus Dahlin joins elite company

BUFFALO – Growing up, Sabres legend Ryan Miller said he usually wore No. 30. Mike Gilmore, a Michigan State goalie he liked, sported it. So did some of the NHL’s best netminders at the time.

But when Miller reached junior hockey in 1997, an older goalie for the Soo Indians had the digits.

“There’s not a chance I’m getting that number,” Miller said Thursday after the Sabres retired his No. 30 and inducted him into ... Read the full article

Sabres unveil revamped black and red ‘Goathead’ third jersey

Having grown up a rabid Buffalo Sabres fan in the early 2000s, the team’s black and red “Goathead” jersey holds special meaning for winger Alex Tuch.

“Definitely my favorite jersey (of all-time),” a smiling Tuch said Monday after the Sabres unveiled a new black and red jersey modeled after the uniforms they wore from 1996 to 2006.

The Sabres, of course, also recently introduced a blue and gold Reverse Retro alternate white jersey with the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin named NHL’s First Star after record-setting week

A record-setting stretch in which Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin extended his season-opening goal streak to five games has earned him NHL First Star honors for the week ending Sunday.

Dahlin, 22, scored in all three games last week and compiled five points and a plus-5 rating, helping the Sabres open their four-game road trip 3-0-0.

In last Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, Dahlin became the first NHL defenseman since the Tampa Bay ... Read the full article

Sabres bringing back popular black and red ‘Goathead’ as third jersey

The Buffalo Sabres are bringing back the popular black and red “Goathead” jersey for 12 home games this season, the team announced Wednesday.

Fans, of course, feel nostalgic about that logo and color scheme, which the Sabres wore from 1996 until 2006, when they switched back to a blue and gold motif.... Read the full article

Talent, maturity helped Sabres’ Tage Thompson earn massive contract

Talent is just one part of the equation that convinced the Buffalo Sabres to award Tage Thompson a seven-year, $50 million contract extension.

The deal, announced early Tuesday evening, raised some eyebrows. Yes, Thompson, 24, is coming off a breakout 38-goal season in which he morphed into the Sabres’ top scoring threat and No. 1 center. Still, he hadn’t scored more than eight goals in a campaign prior to last year.

The 6-foot-7 Thompson also ... Read the full article

Sabres star Tage Thompson chasing 40 goals, taking place among game’s elite

BUFFALO – After Sabres center Tage Thompson hit the 30-goal mark for the first time April 1, coach Don Granato told the burgeoning star that, hey, while that’s a nice number, there’s a heck of a lot more you can do.

“I know you’re going to score more, you know you’re going to score more, so we can celebrate this, but onward and upward, let’s go,” Granato said he told Thompson.

Granato’s words served as ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch thrilled to join Sabres: ‘Buffalo, it’s gonna be like none other’

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alex Tuch couldn’t stop smiling as he recalled those dynamic post-lockout teams of 2006 and 2007. He kept rattling off players, seemingly trying to name the entire roster.

As a child growing up in Baldwinsville, Tuch, who was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in Thursday’s blockbuster Jack Eichel trade, loved the Sabres.

“I grew up next to Tim Connolly, who played here for years,” Tuch said prior to Saturday’s ... Read the full article

Ex-Sabres star Derek Roy retires from hockey after 18 seasons

Center Derek Roy, the Buffalo Sabres’ leading scorer three consecutive years early in his career, has retired from hockey after 18 seasons, he announced today on Instagram.

Roy, 38, spent the 2020-21 campaign playing with Red Bull Munich, a Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

After the Sabres drafted the diminutive Roy in the second round in 2001, 32nd overall, he quickly morphed into one of their top prospects. He spent just over two years with the ... Read the full article