Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres notes: Randy Carlyle remembers Phil Housley’s talents

BUFFALO – Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle still remembers a skinny rookie named Phil Housley entering the NHL fresh out of high school in 1982.

“I can remember Phil coming here as an 18-year-old defenseman and looking and saying, ‘Holy crow, how’s this kid going to last?’”

Well, Housley lasted a long time, playing 21 seasons, including eight with the Sabres, in what would be a Hall of Fame career.

But 36 years ago, ... Read the full article

Reports: Rick Jeanneret leaves KeyBank Center on stretcher

BUFFALO – Legendary Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret left KeyBank Center on a stretcher Saturday, according to multiple reports.

Jeanneret, 76, felt light-headed early in the third period of the Sabres’ 3-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks, according to The Buffalo News.

The Sabres had no update on Jeanneret.

Jeanneret, who is scheduled to work 42 games this year, was his usual affable self earlier in the night. He even started Saturday’s broadcast in a Santa ... Read the full article

Randy Carlyle: Sabres’ Phil Housley far ahead of his time as player

BUFFALO – Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle still remembers a skinny rookie named Phil Housley entering the NHL fresh out of high school in 1982.

“I can remember Phil coming here as an 18-year-old defenseman and looking and saying, ‘Holy crow, how’s this kid going to last?’”

Well, Housley lasted a long time, playing 21 seasons, including eight with the Sabres, in what would be a Hall of Fame career.

But 36 years ago, Housley, ... Read the full article

Patrik Berglund clears waivers, Sabres can terminate contract

Forward Patrik Berglund cleared waivers today, meaning the Buffalo Sabres can terminate his contract.

The Sabres placed Berglund, 30, on unconditional waivers Wednesday, four days after they suspended the 11-year veteran for failing to report to the team.

Berglund has three years left on his contract. The Swede will lose $12,579,032 from the termination, according to capfriendly.com. The Sabres are also free from his $2.235 million salary cap hit this season and his $3.85 million ... Read the full article

Sabres waive Patrik Berglund with intent of terminating contract

BUFFALO – As Sabres forward Patrik Berglund began struggling this season, the reality of his hefty contract began to set in.

Not only does Berglund have a $4.7 million salary and a $3.85 million cap hit this year, he has three more seasons remaining.

The Swede, 30, performed so poorly he morphed from the Sabres’ second-line center into a healthy scratch by the seven-game mark. When he played, he often skated short minutes on the ... Read the full article

Sabres blow third-period lead, lose to last-place Panthers

BUFFALO – Having earned 20 of a possible 22 points when leading after two periods entering Tuesday, the odds of the Sabres imploding against the last-place Florida Panthers seemed slim.

Ten weeks into the season, the Sabres had zero regulation losses – a terrific 9-0-2 mark – when up after 40 minutes.

So Tuesday’s 5-2 setback to the Panthers, a game the Sabres led 2-1 at the beginning of the third period, might be their ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Brendan Guhle returns to NHL confident

BUFFALO – During the second intermission Saturday in Cleveland, defenseman Brendan Guhle was informed the Sabres needed his services the next day more than 600 miles away in Boston.

So instead of finishing the Rochester Americans’ 2-1 victory against the Monsters, Guhle, who scored earlier in the game, spent all of the third period and overtime watching from the bench.

“It was pretty weird,” Guhle said prior to Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jake McCabe close to returning; Phil Housley mixes up centers

BUFFALO – After skating with his teammates for the first time this morning since suffering an upper-body injury Nov. 29, Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe figures he can return by the weekend.

McCabe, who will miss his ninth game tonight, has skated eight of the last nine days, only taking Monday off.

While McCabe only has one team session under his belt – a light morning skate as the Sabres prepared for the Florida Panthers – ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel enjoying one of greatest seasons in Sabres history

BUFFALO – Thirty-four games into his fourth NHL campaign, Sabres captain Jack Eichel is enjoying more than just a career year; the ultra-talented center is putting together one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.

Fresh off a four-goal, nine-point week, Eichel is up to 14 goals and 45 points entering tonight’s tilt against the Florida Panthers inside KeyBank Center. At his current pace, he would compile 34 goals and a whopping 109 points over ... Read the full article

Sabres star Jack Eichel named NHL’s third star of week

BUFFALO – Captain Jack Eichel has been named the NHL’s third star of the week after compiling five goals and nine points as the Sabres went 3-0-1.

Eichel had a goal and two points, including an assist on the overtime winner, in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory over Los Angeles. The center followed up with one assist in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Arizona before scoring twice in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Washington.

The fourth-year star capped ... Read the full article