Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres prospect Tage Thompson could dominate AHL with Amerks

BUFFALO – During his 11-game run in Rochester late last season, Sabres prospect Tage Thompson often looked dominant, utilizing his big body and talents to score eight goals.

Thompson, 21, probably should’ve spent most of the campaign with the Americans. But the Sabres, perhaps to show they had something from the Ryan O’Reilly trade, kept the 6-foot-6 winger in the NHL.

So instead of thriving in the AHL, Thompson stayed in Buffalo until late March, ... Read the full article

Sabres trim roster by waiving four players, sending three to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres waived four players today and sent three others – most notably winger Tage Thompson – to the AHL, moves that give them 21 healthy players.

The players waived – forwards Remi Elie, Curtis Lazar and Scott Wilson and defenseman Casey Nelson – all have at least 93 games of NHL experience.

In addition to Thompson, they assigned center Rasmus Asplund and defenseman Lawrence Pilut to the Rochester Americans. Pilut is still ... Read the full article

Strong training camp might’ve earned Sabres’ John Gilmour roster spot

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman John Gilmour has never experienced anything like this. In his first three NHL training camps, he never pushed for a roster spot.

“It’s new for me,” Gilmour said following this morning’s practice, the final session of camp.

So Gilmour, of course, is a little nervous. He has to wait another day or two – 23-man NHL rosters must be finalized by 5 p.m. Tuesday – to find out if he cracked ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Johan Larsson impressing coach Ralph Krueger

BUFFALO – Five coaches and three general managers later, Sabres forward Johan Larsson is still here.

Earlier in training camp, there was speculation Larsson’s long tenure with the Sabres could be ending.

The Sabres have boosted their depth. They have Ralph Krueger, another new coach.

But it sure sounds like Larsson, a mainstay throughout all the losing and upheaval, has possibly secured a roster spot to start his seventh season.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Curtis Lazar confident after rediscovering scoring touch

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Curtis Lazar said he began thinking about this training camp a year ago, around the time the Calgary Flames banished him to the minors.

Even with a year remaining on his contract, Lazar knew he was finished in Calgary and would have to resume his career elsewhere.

But before Lazar could do that, he needed to embrace his demotion to the AHL, a circuit he bypassed as a hot prospect.

In ... Read the full article

Sabres expect prospect Dylan Cozens to compete for NHL spot next year

BUFFALO – During the first week of training camp, top draft pick Dylan Cozens looked tentative on the ice, according to Sabres coach Ralph Krueger.

“He was watching,” Krueger said this afternoon.

Then Cozens, who was sent back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes today, “really grew up” in the second week, Krueger said.

In addition to his skills, Cozens showcased poise few 18-year-olds possess. In Friday’s 3-0 preseason loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was ... Read the full article

Sabres send Dylan Cozens back to junior after strong training camp

BUFFALO – Following a strong showing in his first NHL training camp, the Sabres sent top draft pick Dylan Cozens back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes this morning.

Cozens, 18, impressed coach Ralph Krueger enough to earn three preseason appearances and last two weeks in camp, longer any junior-age player.

Based on Krueger’s words and the short minutes he played Saturday, it appeared the Yukon native would be returning to the Western Hockey League soon.

After ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt believes he can thrive in Ralph Krueger’s system

BUFFALO – For seven months last season, Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt lived the hectic NHL life. The rookie practiced almost daily, played 77 games and logged thousands of air miles traveling across North America.

Mittelstadt, 20, had never experienced anything like it.

Then in the second week of April, everything stopped. When the season ended, Mittelstadt quickly became bored.

“You go from 100 mph to literally zero,” Mittelstadt said prior to Wednesday’s 4-3 preseason overtime ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jake McCabe to miss rest of preseason

BUFFALO – An upper-body injury will sideline Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe the rest of the preseason, the team announced this morning.

“It was in practice yesterday, just light upper body,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said inside KeyBank Center. “We’re expecting him to be good to go for the first league game.”

McCabe, 25, has battled shoulder problems in the past.

In addition to McCabe, four other Sabres defensemen – Zach Bogosian (hip), Matt Hunwick (neck), ... Read the full article

Colin Miller hopes to bring lessons learned with Golden Knights to Sabres

BUFFALO – Two years ago, Sabres defenseman Colin Miller joined the Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team filled with castoffs hungry for an opportunity.

Within a matter of weeks, a group that had little or no expectations began one of the greatest and most unique seasons in NHL history.

Players who had never spent any time together quickly meshed. The Golden Knights morphed into a powerhouse and would become the unlikeliest Stanley Cup finalist ever.... Read the full article