WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Jack Eichel wants to undergo surgery. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Jack Eichel’s agents issued a statement Friday night in which they say the Buffalo Sabres are preventing the 24-year-old from playing by refusing to let him undergo artificial disc replacement surgery in his neck.
Eichel’s camp initially believe the Sabres had approved surgery, the agents wrote.
“Repeated requests (for surgery) have been made to the Sabres since early June to no avail,” wrote the agents, Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli.
Fish and Donatelli gave the ... Read the full article
Will Butcher has represented Team USA. ©2021, Dan Hickling
BUFFALO – As NHL general managers scramble to make offseason moves and fit fat contracts under the $81.5 million flat salary cap, they’ve been gifting talented, high-priced players and draft picks to teams willing to accept big money.
Prior to free agency, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired a combined $12 million cap hit in goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and forward Tyler Johnson.
For the 2020-21 Vezina Trophy winner and a regular on the past two Stanley Cup ... Read the full article
Rasmus Asplund enjoyed regular duty late last season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres have rewarded Rasmus Asplund’s breakout stretch late last season, re-signing the restricted free agent to a two-year, $1.65 million contract, the team announced Friday.
Asplund, 23, had a career-best run after coach Don Granato took over as coach, scoring six of his seven goals and 10 of his 11 points in 23 games. He tied for fifth in goal scoring on the Sabres with winger Jeff Skinner, who played 25 more contests.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel wants to be traded. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – General manager Kevyn Adams’ strong words sounded like a not-so-subtle message to Jack Eichel’s agents, who recently said they expect the Sabres to trade their captain soon.
Adams won’t give in to Eichel’s demands and simply deal his best player because he wants out. The Sabres have an asset under contract.
“What’s critically important to make sure is clear that we’re in control of this process,” Adams said Thursday inside KeyBank Center. “We ... Read the full article
Matt Ellis will move behind the bench permanently. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Don Granato has overhauled the Buffalo Sabres’ coaching staff, retaining Matt Ellis and hiring Jason Christie and Marty Wilford as assistants, the team announced Thursday.
In addition, Justin White has been named video coordinator. Assistant coach Mike Bales, who’s charge of the goalies, and video coach Myles Fee will remain with the Sabres this season, according to the team. Both were hired by ex-coach Ralph Krueger.
Dan Girardi, an interim assistant coach last season, ... Read the full article
John Hayden began his career in Chicago. ©2021, TNS
The Sabres added more depth to their bottom-six forward group today, signing John Hayden to a one-year, $750,000 contract.
Hayden, 26, is the ninth player the Sabres have inked since free agency opened Wednesday.
The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Hayden spent last season with the Arizona Coyotes, recording two goals and five points in 29 games.... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark first joined Buffalo in 2015. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the barely a week, the Buffalo Sabres have said goodbye to four of their most talented players: goalie Linus Ullmark, center Sam Reinhart and defensemen Jake McCabe and Rasmus Ristolainen.
And in the coming days or weeks, they will likely trade captain Jack Eichel, their most dynamic player and the face of the franchise.
Remember, the Sabres finished dead last in the 2020-21 season, winning only 15 of their 56 games, with those players... Read the full article
Mark Pysyk battles Ryan O’Reilly during his days with Florida. ©2021, Dan Hickling
The Buffalo Sabres late this afternoon brought back old friend Mark Pysyk, signing the defenseman to a one-year, $900,000 contract.
Pysyk, 29, played his first 125 NHL games with the Sabres, who drafted him in 23rd overall in 2010.
The Sabres traded Pysyk to the Florida Panthers in 2016 in the deal that netted them defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
The 6-foot-1, 196-pound Pysyk spent four years in Florida before playing last season with the Dallas ... Read the full article
Will Butcher was interested in joining Buffalo in 2017. ©2021, Dan Hickling
After losing goalie Linus Ullmark to the Boston Bruins in free agency this afternoon, the Buffalo Sabres made their second addition of the day, acquiring defenseman Will Butcher and a fifth-round pick in 2022 from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for, well, nothing.
The Devils gave Butcher, 26, to the Sabres because they just signed defenseman Dougie Hamilton to an seven-year, $63 million contract, according to reports, and needed to clear salary cap space.... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark was Buffalo’s MVP last season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Linus Ullmark has chosen to leave his gig as the Buffalo Sabres’ starting goalie to join the Boston Bruins as a free agent, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
The Swede’s departure is a huge loss for the Sabres, who don’t have a replacement in the organization.
Last season, Ullmark was the Sabres’ backbone and MVP, compiling a 9-6-3 record with a 2.63 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 20 games for a last-place ... Read the full article