If Sabres trade Craig Anderson, Mark Pysyk, could they return next season?

BUFFALO – When the Sabres signed a slew of cheap free agents to one-year contracts last summer, it appeared their tenures here would be short.

After a season or less, they might become expendable. Some of organization’s prospects would mature and the rebuilding Sabres might also acquire better talent.

Well, so far, some prospects – defenseman Casey Fitzgerald and Mattias Samuelsson, for example – have graduated from the minors and earned regular duty. Others like ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Craig Anderson to start; Buffalo to make lineup change

HAMILTON, Ont. – Having already played in two outdoor games, Buffalo Sabres goalie Craig Anderson understands the unique energy fans often bring to the huge venues.

“I think everyone was 25 beers deep,” Anderson joked following Saturday’s practice at Tim Hortons Field.

As expected, Sabres coach Don Granato said Anderson, 40, will start this afternoon’s Heritage Classic against the Toronto Maple Leafs.... Read the full article

On verge of 300th win, Sabres’ Craig Anderson enjoying ‘remarkable’ career

BUFFALO – It was the late 1980s, and Craig Anderson was sitting at the end of the bench in a chilly rink in Chicago on the verge of tears.

Anderson had finally had enough of playing defense. His team was getting blown out, and he told his coach he did not want to play unless he was the goalie.

The youngster, then 7 or 8, had been rotating between defense and the net. But on ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Craig Anderson ready to face Senators; Casey Mittelstadt out again

BUFFALO – For seven seasons, Sabres goalie Craig Anderson bounced around the NHL and minors, patiently waiting for an opportunity that might never materialize.

Anderson, 40, was property of five NHL teams during that uncertain stretch, six if you count two stints with the Chicago Blackhawks. The American once spent four days with the St. Louis Blues when Sabres coach Don Granato was a first-year assistant in 2005-06.

Then in 2009-10, Anderson seized his first ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Craig Anderson could be coveted before trade deadline

BUFFALO – At 40, an advanced age where most goaltenders have long been retired, Craig Anderson could be coveted before the upcoming NHL trade deadline.

For now, Anderson is the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, an incredible accomplishment in his 19th season. During his limited action this season – an upper-body injury recently sidelined him 32 games – the veteran has been the Sabres’ backbone, giving the rebuilding team a calming, consistent presence in the crease.... Read the full article

Craig Anderson backstops Sabres past Coyotes to cap ‘chaotic day’

By 7 p.m. Saturday, the chaos the Buffalo Sabres had experienced earlier in the day became an afterthought. They could forget about COVID-19 and finally play their game.

As Sabres goalie Craig Anderson, 40, settled into his crease for the first time in 88 days following the national anthem, the energy he felt inside the rink brought back a special feeling.

“That’s kind of the moment where you’re like, ‘All right, this is still enjoyable, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Craig Anderson could be nearing return from upper-body injury

BUFFALO – Craig Anderson has never had a timetable for his recovery from an upper-body injury. The Sabres goalie has experienced good days and bad ones and starts and stops over the past 11 weeks.

Anderson, 40, said he’s still working through the injury, believed to be around the head or neck area, that has sidelined him the last 30 games.

But Anderson might’ve turned a corner Friday when he practiced for the first time ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn suffers lower-body injury; Craig Anderson practices

BUFFALO – If Jack Quinn hadn’t suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Dallas Stars, he likely would’ve kept playing for the Sabres in the coming weeks.

The Sabres, of course, won’t simply award their prospects a spot. But given their rash of injuries and that Quinn, 20, had performed so well – he scored his first NHL goal and assisted on another Thursday – he almost certainly would’ve earned a long ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Craig Anderson starting ‘to turn a corner’ in recovery from injury

Over the last six games, the Buffalo Sabres have received terrific goaltending, with rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and newcomer Malcolm Subban filling the void created by veteran Craig Anderson’s absence.

Still, the Sabres sorely need Anderson, who compiled a 4-2-0 record with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage while starting six of the first nine games this season.

The American, 40, hasn’t played since suffering an upper-body injury Nov. 2. On the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Craig Anderson ‘mystified’ by upper-body injury

Goalie Craig Anderson’s timeline to return from his upper-body injury has been changed to month to month on the Buffalo Sabres’ injury report.

Anderson, 40, had been listed as week to week. The veteran hasn’t played since suffering his injury Nov. 2.

“He has been as mystified as anybody,” Sabres coach Don Granato told reporters following Friday’s practice in Raleigh. “This is an elusive thing. You wake up each day and it could resolve and ... Read the full article