WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Jack Eichel was injured March 7. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck last month, doctors told him to rehab, general manager Kevyn Adams said.
Perhaps the disc would move enough over time and Eichel could be cleared to play. But when the center was examined last week, Adams said the injury showed only “slight improvements.”
“There still wasn’t a comfort from anyone it was the right time to jump back into the ... Read the full article
Dustin Tokarski enjoyed an impressive relief performance Tuesday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
A lower-body injury will force Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to miss tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals, meaning Dustin Tokarski will receive his fifth start this season.
Taxi-squad goalie Michael Houser, who has never played an NHL game, will back up Tokarski. Houser, 28, hasn’t played a contest at any level in more than 13 months.
Top goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would be the only available recall, but Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert... Read the full article
Buffalo invited Drake Caggulia to its development camp in 2014. ©2021, Dan Hickling
When forward Drake Caggiula visited NHL teams as a free agent in 2016, he said he felt some loyalty to the Buffalo Sabres.
Two years earlier, the Sabres had given the undrafted Caggiula a chance to attend their summer development camp following his sophomore season at North Dakota.
“They gave me my first opportunity,” said Caggiula, who was claimed on waivers Friday by the Sabres.
Caggiula, 26, nearly chose the Sabres five years ago – ... Read the full article
Jason Karmanos has won three Stanley Cups. ©2021, Rochester Americans
After Kevyn Adams took over as Buffalo Sabres general manager last June, he said he wanted to catch his breath and develop an understanding of what he needed for his front office.
Adams, who had never worked in a hockey department, inherited a skeleton crew with no assistant GMs after the Sabres fired GM Jason Botterill and 21 members of his department.
On Wednesday, Adams added a major piece, hiring Jason Karmanos as associate GM.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has missed the last 19 games. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
As late as Monday, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams held out a sliver hope injured captain Jack Eichel could return and play some late-season games.
But on Wednesday, the Sabres announced Eichel, 24, will miss the rest of the season recovering from a herniated disc in his neck.
The Sabres expect Eichel will be healthy and ready for the start of next season. Interim coach Don Granato said he doesn’t know if Eichel needs ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin loved playing in Tuesday’s game. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In his three-year career, Rasmus Dahlin has never experienced the NHL postseason. But in Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Sabres defenseman received a taste of what heavy playoff hockey feels like.
“I haven’t been in a playoff game, but it didn’t feel like a regular-season game,” said Dahlin, whose goal 11:53 into the third period tied the game at 2.
Tuesday’s game inside TD Garden was the Sabres’ most physical ... Read the full article
Anders Bjork spent his entire career in Boston’s organization before Monday’s trade. ©2021, Providence Bruins
Four seasons into his NHL career, Buffalo Sabres newcomer Anders Bjork said he is still trying to establish an identity.
Two shoulder surgeries and a brutal concussion stymied the 6-foot, 197-pound winger’s development with the Boston Bruins. This year, he fell out of the lineup, becoming a healthy scratch.
So when the Bruins traded Bjork, 24, to the Sabres on Monday in the Taylor Hall deal, he welcomed a change of scenery.
“I was ... Read the full article
Don Granato has quickly made an impact on the Sabres. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Even before Don Granato started winning games and unlocking talent from struggling players, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said he wanted the interim coach to be in the mix when he began pursuing a regular coach.
“From the beginning, I always thought that Donnie should be part of this conversation regardless of what happens exactly on the wins and losses of our team,” Adams said on a Zoom call Tuesday after the trade deadline.... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark has been Buffalo’s MVP. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In his third full NHL season, goalie Linus Ullmark has emerged as the Buffalo Sabres’ MVP and backbone. When a lower-body injury sidelined him almost a month earlier this year, they lost 15 straight games.
Their three other goalies this season – Carter Hutton, Jonas Johansson and Dustin Tokarski – have a combined record of 1-19-3!
The Sabres sorely need to re-sign Ullmark, who can become an unrestricted free agent following the season.
“A ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has missed the last 18 games. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said this afternoon that captain Jack Eichel will miss more time recovering from his upper-body injury.
Eichel, 24, has missed 18 games since suffering what appeared to be a neck injury when the New York Islanders’ Casey Cizikas hit him behind the net March 7.
Adams did not rule out Eichel returning for some late-season games.... Read the full article