Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres’ Brandon Montour to represent Canada at World Championship

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour was among 22 players Hockey Canada named to its roster today for the upcoming World Championship in Slovakia.

Montour, 25, will be joining Sabres winger Sam Reinhart, 23, on Team Canada. Reinhart said earlier this month he planned to represent his country.

Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, who must hire a coach to replace Phil Housley, is running Canada’s entry with Ron Francis and Ron Hextall. Montour has never represented ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin named finalist for Calder Trophy

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is among three finalists for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year, the league announced today.

St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson were also named with Dahlin.

Dahlin, 19, enjoyed a terrific season, leading all rookie defensemen with 44 points. The Swede’s 35 assists ranked second among all first-year players. So did the 21 minutes, 9 seconds of ice time ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen named OHL’s top goalie

Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been named the Ontario Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Year, the junior league announced today.

The Finn, 20, quickly morphed into a star in his first North American season, compiling a sparkling 38-11-2 record with a 2.50 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and six shutouts in 53 games.

The Sudbury Wolves, meanwhile, enjoyed their best season since 1994-95.... Read the full article

Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen undergoes hip surgery

Top Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has undergone successful hip surgery and is expected to make a full recovery within six months, Rochester Americans general manager Randy Sexton announced this morning.

The could, of course, put the start of Luukkonen’s 2019-20 season in jeopardy. The Finn, 20, will likely be the Amerks’ starting goalie next year.

Luukkonen joined the Amerks earlier this month after a stellar junior season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury ... Read the full article

Promising season over for Amerks after sweep by Marlies

TORONTO – Fresh off a 99-point regular season, the Rochester Americans looked poised to start a long playoff run deep into the spring.

The Buffalo Sabres’ top affiliate possessed a strong mix of prospects and veterans, terrific scoring balance and perhaps the AHL’s best depth.

It was hard to find a weakness on the Amerks, a team constructed to win the Calder Cup.

For an organization that hasn’t won anything on any level in a ... Read the full article

Report: Jacques Martin a leading candidate to coach Sabres

Jacques Martin is a leading candidate to become the Buffalo Sabres’ next head coach, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

Martin has strong ties to Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, having served as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins since 2013. They won Stanley Cups together in 2016 and 2017 when Botterill was an assistant GM in Pittsburgh.

The Sabres and Ottawa Senators have asked the Penguins permission to talk to Martin, according to Sportsnet’s John ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen learning pro game

TORONTO – On April 14 in Belleville, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen played his 68th and likely final game this season, stopping 32 shots in the Rochester Americans’ 4-2 win over the Senators.

“It was a big thing for me, builds your confidence up a lot, especially looking to next season when you want to play in the pros,” the Buffalo Sabres’ top goalie prospect said of his pro debut.

Luukkonen, 20, has taken a backseat to ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian undergoes hip surgery, out five to six months

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian has undergone successful hip surgery and will be sidelined five to six months, the team announced this morning.

That could put the start of Bogosian’s 2019-20 season in jeopardy.

Injuries, of course, have ravaged Bogosian throughout his career. The Massena native underwent season-ending hip surgery during the 2017-18 campaign.... Read the full article

Amerks lose in overtime, fall behind 2-0 to Marlies

ROCHESTER – Chris Taylor was seething following Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 overtime loss. Can you blame the Americans coach? Through 122 minutes of hockey, his team has thoroughly outplayed the Toronto Marlies.

But the Amerks have nothing to show for it. Just like that, they’re on the brink, down 2-0 in the best-of-five series AHL North Division semifinal playoff series.

The Marlies can eliminate them Wednesday in Toronto.

“I’m upset, I’m mad,” Taylor said after the ... Read the full article

College free agent Kurt Gosselin impressing Amerks

ROCHESTER – The Americans’ defense corps goes 11 deep, meaning coach Chris Taylor has plenty of options at his disposal.

So among his five defense scratches for Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Toronto Marlies were NHL veteran Nathan Paetsch, a two-time Calder Cup champion; prospect Jack Dougherty, who compiled a plus-15 rating this season; and prospect Brandon Hickey, who earned a coveted spot on Team Canada’s 2016 World Junior Championship squad.

Meanwhile, rookie ... Read the full article