Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Moving Sam Reinhart to center inevitable for Sabres

BUFFALO – Sam Reinhart’s gig at right wing never felt permanent. Sure, the youngster often thrived during his two seasons playing the position, scoring 40 goals and 90 points while developing into one of the Sabres’ top threats.

But the Sabres drafted Reinhart, 21, second overall in 2014 as a center, a glamour position. Centers are a precious commodity.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nathan Beaulieu emotional over meeting with Canadiens

BUFFALO – So far, Nathan Beaulieu has no complaints. When the Montreal Canadiens traded the defenseman in June, he envisioned joining a slick Sabres team that would grow together.

“It’s been everything I thought it would be with the way we play and how we’re progressing as a young team,” Beaulieu said Tuesday following practice inside HarborCenter.... Read the full article

Reports: Sabres, Jack Eichel close to finalizing massive extension

BUFFALO – The Sabres and center Jack Eichel are close to finalizing the largest contract in franchise history, an eight-year extension worth around $80 million, according to multiple reports.

Update: The Sabres have officially announced an eight-year, $80 million extension for Eichel.

Eichel, 20, has one year left on his entry-level deal that is set to pay him $925,000.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jake McCabe ready to play

BUFFALO – After Jake McCabe practiced for the first time in 11 days this morning, the Sabres defenseman pronounced himself ready to play in Thursday’s season opener.

While Phil Housley had said McCabe was week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the coach sounded optimistic in recent days he would be ready for the regular season. McCabe was hurt late in an exhibition loss Sept. 22 in Toronto.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evander Kane making positive impression on Phil Housley

BUFFALO – Phil Housley’s approach with the Sabres throughout his first training camp has been straightforward: the past doesn’t matter to the rookie coach.

“It’s simple for me,” Housley said Monday inside KeyBank Center. “We want to come in with a clean slate and a fresh start.”

That explains why Sabres winger Evander Kane, a slick scorer dogged by off-ice incidents two years ago, sported an ‘A’ as an alternate captain for some preseason ... Read the full article

Sabres’ decision-makers still discussing vacant captaincy

BUFFALO – It’s starting to look like the Sabres will begin the season without a captain.

Sabres coach Phil Housley said this morning, three days before the season opener, no announcement is set for “the immediate future.”

“We’re still evaluating that part of who’s going to wear a letter,” Housley said inside KeyBank Center. “We have a good leadership group in there. That’s something that the coaches will be talking (about) today and tomorrow.”... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evander Kane sickened by Las Vegas shooting

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Evander Kane often documents his travels on Instagram, and Las Vegas is clearly one of his favorite vacation spots.

So Kane woke up this morning to a slew of texts from family members and friends. He then went on the internet and learned a gunman in a hotel had killed more than 50 people and injured hundreds more.... Read the full article

Sabres hope to have healthy defense corps for opener

BUFFALO – Right now, the revamped Sabres blue line that has received so much attention for its puck-moving abilities is missing some key pieces.

Just three days before the season opener, Zach Bogosian and Jake McCabe are sidelined. The Sabres still have nine defensemen in training camp, a number that might shrink in the coming days.

So, could the Sabres potentially have the defense corps they envisioned all summer together for Thursday’s tilt against the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian day-to-day

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, who left Friday’s preseason finale with a lower-body injury, is day-to-day, coach Phil Housley said this afternoon.

So, could Bogosian play in Thursday’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens? Housley said the veteran’s injury isn’t as serious as the Sabres first believed.

“He seems to be in a good spot, so we’ll know more tomorrow,” Housley said inside HarborCenter.... Read the full article

Sabres send Justin Bailey, Nick Deslauriers to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres trimmed their roster by four today, sending wingers Justin Bailey, Nick Deslauriers and defenseman Taylor Fedun to the AHL and releasing defenseman Cody Goloubef from his tryout.

Deslauriers and Fedun must clear waivers before reporting to the Rochester Americans. The Sabres scratched all four players for Friday’s 3-1 home loss to the New York Islanders, the preseason finale.

The Sabres have 27 players – 16 forwards, nine defensemen and two ... Read the full article