WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Matej Pekar broke his collarbone in January. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Matej Pekar couldn’t stop smiling. After eight months anxiously waiting on the sideline, the Sabres prospect was just hours away from playing a game again.
“It definitely feels like forever,” Pekar said prior to Friday’s 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils in the Prospects Challenge opener. “I haven’t played a game since January.”
On Jan. 10, the affable Pekar, 19, broke his collarbone with the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts, ending his ... Read the full article
The Sabres drafted Dylan Cozens seventh overall. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Once the puck dropped Friday, Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens never thought about the left thumb he had surgically repaired in July.
“I forgot about it and just went out and played hockey like I always play,” Cozens said after scoring a goal in Friday’s 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils. “I just put that behind me.”
Cozens, who hurt his thumb during a development camp scrimmage June 29, wasn’t cleared to play ... Read the full article
Matej Pekar always seems to be smiling. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Matej Pekar couldn’t stop smiling. After eight months anxiously waiting on the sideline, the Sabres prospect will finally play a game again tonight.
“It definitely feels like forever,” Pekar said this morning after the Sabres prepared for their Prospects Challenge opener against the New Jersey Devils inside Harborcenter. “I haven’t played a game since January.”
On Jan. 10, the affable Pekar, 19, broke his collarbone with the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts, ending ... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson scored 30 goals in the AHL last season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – A splendid rookie season in which winger Victor Olofsson scored 30 goals in the AHL and earned a promotion to the Sabres raised expectations this year.
How many former seventh-round picks are expected to not only secure an NHL roster spot after one year, but also contribute offense on a scoring line? Not many.
Following four seasons in the Swedish Hockey League, Olofsson, 24, acclimated to North American hockey right away in 2018-19, ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens injured his thumb in development camp. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Instead of wearing a red jersey this afternoon, Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens dressed more appropriately for the first rookie camp practice.
Cozens, who underwent surgery on his left thumb in early July, ditched the non-contact threads and sported a yellow jersey, meaning the seventh overall pick could do everything on the ice.
“I think it’s feeling normal right now, just being with the guys again, going out, practicing, being treated like another normal ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart has never played an NHL playoff game. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Since the Sabres drafted high-scoring winger Sam Reinhart second overall in 2014, the team has employed four coaches, a ridiculous number.
Not surprisingly, Reinhart, who has played 331 regular-season NHL games, has never sniffed the postseason.
But last spring, Reinhart, 23, played some meaningful contests as Team Canada captured a silver medal at the World Championship in Slovakia. In 2016, fresh off his rookie season, he won a gold medal at the tournament.... Read the full article
Brian Gionta spent three seasons with the Sabres. ©2019, Hickling Images
Former Buffalo Sabres captain Brian Gionta has been elected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, USA Hockey announced today.
Gionta, 40, is one of the most decorated American players ever, having won a Stanley Cup, a national championship, captained two NHL teams, an Olympic team and played 1,026 big league games.
The Greece native represented the U.S. in nine international tournaments, including two Olympics. He captained Team USA at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.... Read the full article
The Sabres hired Ralph Krueger in May. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres will open their main training camp Sept. 12, when veterans report for physicals and testing, then hold their first on-ice sessions a day later at KeyBank Center, the team announced today.
The Sabres’ first camp under new coach Ralph Krueger will be a little different than past years. Most of camp will be held at KeyBank Center instead of Harborcenter, the team’s practice facility. Only three sessions – Sept. 15, 16 ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens underwent thumb surgery in July. ©2019, Erica Perreaux, Lethbridge Hurricanes
BUFFALO – Top Sabres draft pick Dylan Cozens, who underwent surgery on his left thumb in early July, isn’t listed on the 25-man roster for the Prospects Challenge rookie tournament the Sabres are hosting next week at Harborcenter.
The center prospect injured his thumb in development camp, just days after the Sabres selected him seventh overall June 21.
After Cozens, 18, had surgery, the Sabres said he would need two to three months to ... Read the full article
Matt Hunwick played only 14 games last season. ©2019, Hickling Images
A neck injury will sideline Buffalo Sabres defenseman Matt Hunwick this season, general manager Jason Botterill announced this afternoon.
“After further medical evaluation this offseason, we unfortunately do not expect that Matt will be physically able to play this upcoming season due to a neck condition,” Botterill said in a statement.
Hunwick, 34, endured a rough 2018-19 campaign, his first with the Sabres. He hurt his neck working out last offseason, an injury that sidelined ... Read the full article