Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres re-sign Jake McCabe to two-year, $5.7 million contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have avoided arbitration with Jake McCabe, re-signing the defenseman to a two-year, $5.7 million contract.

The deal, announced this morning, gives the Sabres just $265,476 of salary cap space for the upcoming season, according to capfriendly.com. McCabe has a $2.85 million cap hit.

The Sabres still must re-sign goalie Linus Ullmark, who had his arbitration hearing Friday.

The NHL has a second buyout period following a team’s final arbitration ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres, Jake McCabe nearly $2.5 million apart before arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres and defenseman Jake McCabe are nearly $2.5 million apart heading into Sunday’s arbitration hearing, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The Sabres offered McCabe $1.95 million, while he countered with $4.3 million, Friedman tweeted this morning.

McCabe, 25, earned $1.775 million last season.... Read the full article

Former Sabre Chris Butler retires happy after winning Stanley Cup with Blues

It finally hit Chris Butler after the Stanley Cup arrived at his door last week in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Even as Butler lifted hockey’s most coveted prize over his head on the TD Garden ice and kissed it June 12, it didn’t fully sink in he and his hometown St. Louis Blues had captured their first Cup.

“There’s such a wave of emotion going on at the time, almost disbelief of what just transpired,” said ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Remi Elie to one-year, two-way contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed winger Remi Elie to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000, the team announced today.

Elie and the Sabres settled after this morning’s arbitration hearing.

The Sabres utilized Elie sparingly after claiming him off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Oct. 2, playing him only 16 times before sending him to the AHL in the winter. After recording one assist with the Sabres, the former second-round pick compiled eight goals ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres, Linus Ullmark nearly $2 million apart before arbitration hearing

The Buffalo Sabres and goalie Linus Ullmark are nearly $2 million apart heading into Friday’s arbitration hearing, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The Sabres offered Ullmark $800,000, while the Swede countered with $2.65 million, Friedman tweeted this morning.

For some perspective, Sabres starting goalie Carter Hutton has a $2.75 million salary.

Ullmark, who turns 26 today, earned $800,000 in 2018-19, his first full NHL campaign.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues awarded $2 million contract

BUFFALO – An independent arbitrator has awarded Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues a one-year, $2 million contract, the club announced today.

The decision basically split the difference of what the sides had proposed.

Rodrigues, whose hearing was Tuesday, wanted $2.65 million, according to Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman. The Sabres, meanwhile, offered $1.5 million, according to Friedman.

Rodrigues, 25, set career highs across the board last season, compiling nine goals and 29 points in 74 games. His versatility ... Read the full article

Sabres to host Prospects Challenge rookie tournament Sept. 6 to 9

BUFFALO – The Sabres will be hosting the Prospects Challenge rookie tournament again from Sept. 6 to 9 at Harborcenter, the team announced today.

The Sabres, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins will all be competing in a round-robin challenge.

Tickets for the games cost $10 and can be purchased starting at 10 a.m. on Aug. 2 at the KeyBank Center Box Office, Sabres.com or by calling 1-888-223-6000.... Read the full article

Amerks sign Cheektowaga’s Frank Hora to AHL contract

The Rochester Americans have signed defenseman Frank Hora and forward Shaw Boomhower to one-year AHL contracts, the Buffalo Sabres’ affiliate announced today.

Hora, a Cheektowaga native, spent last season with the ECHL’s Reading Royals, compiling two goals, 17 points and 36 penalty minutes in 70 games.

The 6-foot-2, 209-pound Hora, who attended Buffalo’s development camp in 2016, also made one AHL appearance with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.... Read the full article

Former Sabres, Amerks have landed new contracts all over

On a Rochester Americans team loaded with scorers and high-end AHL talent, goalie Scott Wedgewood’s exploits often got overshadowed.

But for much of the 2018-19 campaign, Wedgewood was the Amerks’ backbone, tending some of the league’s best goal.

After Christmas, Wedgewood won 16 of his first 21 appearances. Overall, he enjoyed a career season, compiling 28 victories and five shutouts in 48 games.

Still, it was evident Wedgewood, 26, would be moving on. The seven-year ... Read the full article

Sabres sign top pick Dylan Cozens to entry-level contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed top draft pick Dylan Cozens to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced today.

Cozens could miss rookie camp or training camp in September after undergoing successful surgery on his left thumb earlier this month.

The center, according to the Sabres, needs two to three months to recover.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Cozens hurt his thumb when defenseman Brandon Hickey hip-checked him during a development camp tournament.... Read the full article