WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Zemgus Girgensons has been one of Buffalo’s few constants during a tumultuous era. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
As winger Zemgus Girgensons spends the next six months rehabbing after undergoing surgery to repair his hamstring, coach Ralph Krueger wants to keep him around the Sabres.
NHL teams often separate their injured players from the regular group. But Girgensons, 27, is such a popular teammate that Krueger feels the Latvian must have a presence during his long recovery.
“We’re going to keep Zemgus close, because (of) how important he is in the organization, what ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel missed the first four sessions of training camp. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
After months of anticipation and a five-day delay, Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel on Wednesday finally practiced beside Taylor Hall, his new left winger.
Eichel, 24, said he had been battling an upper-body injury he sustained during an on-ice workout a few weeks ago. The Sabres said at the beginning of training camp their top center and leading scorer was day-to-day.
“Today was a good test for me to get out there and be ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons was injured Monday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons is likely out for the season after undergoing surgery today to repair a hamstring injury he suffered in Monday’s scrimmage.
In a statement, the Sabres said Girgensons’ recovery time is approximately six months.
In the second period of the scrimmage, Girgensons eyed up Steven Fogarty as he carried the puck and tried to hit him inside the blue line.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel suffered an upper-body injury before training camp. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel and goalie Linus Ullmark are practicing for the first time this season today at KeyBank Center.
An upper-body injury sidelined Eichel for the first four sessions of training camp. Ullmark, meanwhile, had to quarantine because an immigration issue following his arrival from Sweden.
In addition, winger Victor Olofsson is practicing after suffering an upper-body injury when he crashed into the net Saturday.
In other news, winger Zemgus Girgensons, who ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton is one of the NHL’s best puck-handling goalies. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the waning seconds of Monday’s scrimmage, Buffalo Sabres goalie Carter Hutton said a “perfect situation” materialized for him.
Over the years, Hutton, one of the NHL’s best puck-handling netminders, said he had tried to score an empty-net goal a few times.
“I’ve never been successful other than just shooting a few pucks at the end of practice,” Hutton said on a Zoom call.
But on Monday, as Hutton’s Team Blue enjoyed a 4-1 ... Read the full article
Jason Botterill spent three seasons as Sabres GM. ©2021, Dan Hickling, Hickling Images
Former Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill has landed a new job as assistant GM of the Seattle Kraken, the expansion team announced today.
Botterill, 44, will be working with Kraken GM Ron Francis, a Hall of Fame player.
The Kraken begin play in the 2021-22 season.
“Everyone in hockey is extremely excited about what’s happening in Seattle, and I am thrilled for this unique opportunity,” Botterill said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to ... Read the full article
John Muckler helped the Sabres establish themselves as an NHL power again. ©2021, Janet Schultz
John Muckler, the coach and general manager of the Buffalo Sabres for much of the 1990s, died Monday. He was 86.
Glen Sather, who brought Muckler to the Edmonton Oilers as they began their Stanley Cup dynasty in the early 1980s, told the Edmonton Journal his friend had been in failing health.
“John had a heart attack, then he had heart surgery, then he fell in his recovery, then he got COVID,” Sather told the ... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt finished last season in Rochester. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
On the surface, Casey Mittelstadt’s 36-game run with the Rochester Americans last season looks a little underwhelming.
In his first stint in the minors, Mittelstadt, 22, never morphed into a dominant AHL presence or forced his way back to the Buffalo Sabres. The center compiled nine goals, 25 points and a poor minus-15 rating – hardly numbers you might expect from an eighth overall pick with 114 games of NHL experience.
But Mittelstadt, who was ... Read the full article
Andrew Oglevie could be a big contributor to Rochester. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans, the Buffalo Sabres’ top minor league affiliate, are one of 28 teams that will participate in the upcoming American Hockey League season.
Three AHL teams – the Charlotte Checkers, Milwaukee Admirals and Springfield Thunderbirds – have opted out of this season but will return in 2021-22, the league also announced Monday.
For the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season, the Amerks have been grouped in the new North Division with the Binghamton Devils, Hershey Bears, ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons left Monday’s scrimmage. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
In the second period of Monday’s Buffalo Sabres scrimmage, Zemgus Girgensons eyed up Steven Fogarty as he carried the puck and tried to hit him inside the blue line.
But Fogarty skated around Girgensons, forcing the Latvian to make a last-second adjustment. Girgensons’ legs split awkwardly as he attempted to find Fogarty and he fell to the KeyBank Center ice. Girgensons left the scrimmage and did not return.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Girgensons, who ... Read the full article