WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Linus Ullmark and Carter Hutton talk during a recent practice. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
After snatching the starting job from Carter Hutton last season, Linus Ullmark figured to have the inside track to be the Buffalo Sabres’ No. 1 goalie this year.
Ullmark, 27, morphed into a workhorse a year ago, playing 26 out of 32 games at one point as Hutton struggled.
But not surprisingly, coach Ralph Krueger said he wants to foster internal competition and “keep the picture small.” Right now, the Sabres don’t have a No. ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner (pictured) was recently moved beside center Curtis Lazar. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Two days after moving Jeff Skinner down the lineup, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said he’s confident he and his staff can get the veteran winger in what he called “a good place.”
Skinner, 28, began training camp skating at left wing on the second line beside center Eric Staal and Sam Reinhart. But Krueger recently moved him down the lineup with center Curtis Lazar and newcomer Riley Sheahan.
Skinner struggled last year in ... Read the full article
C.J. Smith could be one of Rochester’s top offensive weapons. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The Buffalo Sabres sent eight players to the Rochester Americans this afternoon.
Joining the AHL affiliate following the first assignments of training camp are: defensemen Casey Fitzgerald and Ryan Jones; forwards Brandon Biro, Steven Fogarty, Brett Murray and C.J. Smith; and goalies Michael Houser and Dustin Tokarski.
Fogarty, Smith and Tokarski cleared waivers today. Defenseman Brandon Davidson also cleared waivers but is still with the Sabres, who had today off.... Read the full article
Arttu Ruotsalainen could spent time in Buffalo on the taxi squad and in Rochester. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the COVID-19 world, the Sabres start each day by having a logistics meeting.
NHL teams can utilize a four- to-six man taxi squad this season, meaning in addition to figuring out the big league and AHL rosters, the Sabres have another group they must prepare to handle.
“This is so much a new world, trying to figure out exactly how we’re going to integrate the taxi squad,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said on a ... Read the full article
Ralph Krueger has no problem wearing a mask on the bench. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
So far, 10 days into training camp, the Sabres haven’t experienced any setbacks because of COVID-19.
But on Friday, the NHL announced six Dallas Stars players and two staff members had tested positive for the virus. The outbreak forced the team to close its facility and three games to be postponed.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, meanwhile, held out 17 players from Friday’s practice because of what they called “an abundance of caution and in accordance ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens has spent a year and a half in Buffalo’s organization. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Over the last two months – through Hockey Canada’s selection camp, a 14-day quarantine, the heartbreak of losing a gold medal and now in Buffalo – Sabres prospects Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn have grown close.
Shortly after Canada fell to Team USA in Tuesday’s World Junior Championship final, Cozens and Quinn boarded a private plane in Edmonton and flew to Buffalo, where they quarantined for two days before joining training camp Friday at KeyBank ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner (pictured) practiced with Curtis Lazar and Riley Sheahan on Friday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
After a 10-month layoff, the Buffalo Sabres play 10 games in an 18-day stretch, starting with Thursday’s season opener against the Washington Capitals.
That includes three back-to-back sets. The early stretch will be rigorous and likely test the Sabres’ depth. They’re going to have to roll four lines.
“Right now, we need to be a good four-line team early in the season,” Krueger said on a Zoom call Friday.
So Krueger, who pretty much kept ... Read the full article
Riley Sheahan has quickly found a home in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When the Sabres promoted forward Riley Sheahan earlier this week after Zemgus Girgensons suffered a season-ending hamstring injury, it appeared the veteran would be sticking around Buffalo.
Sure enough, on Friday, the Sabres signed Sheahan, who came to training camp on a professional tryout, to a one-year contract worth $700,000.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said “the specialist that he is” helped Sheahan earn a deal.
“(He’s) strong on faceoffs, (an) excellent penalty killer, ... Read the full article
Riley Sheahan joined Buffalo on a professional tryout contract last week. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Sabres forward Riley Sheahan grew up about 30 miles from Buffalo in St. Catharines, Ontario, so he has carried what he called a “soft spot” for his new team.
Growing up, Sheahan would make the trip across the border to watch the Sabres or see them when they visited his hometown for training camp.
“I’ll be honest, I was a little bit of a (Toronto Maple) Leafs fan but Sabres tickets were more affordable and ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens enjoyed a standout World Junior Championship for Team Canada.
Coach Ralph Krueger said this afternoon that prospects Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, both of whom represented Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, could join the Sabres’ second practice group Friday.
Cozens and Quinn have been quarantining in a hotel since arriving from Edmonton following Canada’s loss 2-0 loss to Team USA in Tuesday’s gold medal game. They took a private plane to Buffalo, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
“I hope they’re enjoying ... Read the full article