WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
November Edition
Konsta Helenius talks Friday after Buffalo drafted him in The Sphere. ©2024
LAS VEGAS – Konsta Helenius, the prospect the Buffalo Sabres selected 14th overall tonight at the NHL Draft, turned 18 on May 11. Still, the Finnish center has already played 84 games over two seasons for Jukurit, a team in Liiga, a men’s league.
Facing stronger and more experienced talent, the 5-foot-11, 189-pound Helenius has stood out. Last season, he scored 14 goals and 36 points in 51 games and added two goals and six ... Read the full article
Kale Clague spent most of last season in Rochester. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
LAS VEGAS – The Buffalo Sabres today re-signed defenseman Kale Clague to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL.
Clague, 26, recorded one assist in three games for the Sabres last season and three goals and 23 points in 42 contests for the Rochester Americans.
He has spent months at a time in Buffalo over the past two seasons, often serving as an extra defenseman.... Read the full article
Kevyn Adams knows he must make moves. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
LAS VEGAS – In trading the 11th overall pick in tonight’s NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 14th and 42nd selections, general manager Kevyn Adams acquired more assets that could help him aggressively reshape the Sabres in the coming days.
After Thursday’s deal, the Sabres have nine picks this weekend at The Sphere, including two second-round selections (42nd and 43rd). They’ve also assembled a stable of strong prospects over the ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner struggled the second half of last season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
LAS VEGAS – The Buffalo Sabres have been exploring their options for veteran winger Jeff Skinner, including asking him to waive the no-movement clause in his eight-year, $72 million contract.
Not surprisingly, Skinner, who has three seasons remaining on his massive deal, said, uh, no thanks.
“There’s been honest communication, but no indication that that’s something they’re willing to look at,” Adams said Thursday of Skinner and his representatives at Newport Sports. “But all you ... Read the full article
Kevyn Adams said last week he was willing to move the 11th pick. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
LAS VEGAS – The Buffalo Sabres today traded the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 14th and 42nd selections.
General manager Kevyn Adams said last week he was willing to deal the Sabres’ first pick.
The Sabres now have nine picks in this weekend’s draft, including the 42nd and 43rd picks in the second round.... Read the full article
Tij Iginla goes through fitness testing June 8 at the NHL Scouting Combine in LECOM Harborcenter. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
LAS VEGAS – As the son of a legend, 2024 NHL Draft prospect Tij Iginla deals with extra attention, expectations and pressure – at least from the outside.
Iginla’s father, Jarome, a former Calgary Flames star, scored 625 goals during his 20-year Hall of Fame career. The elder Iginla, who always seems to have a smile etched on his face, is regarded as one of hockey’s all-time good guys.
There’s a lot that accompanies being ... Read the full article
Max Plantes chats during fitness testing June 8 at the NHL Scouting Combine in LECOM Harborcenter. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In his first days in organized hockey, Max Plante showcased the IQ that makes him such an intriguing prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft.
Plante was just 4 or 5, yet he understood the sport so well he passed the puck to his teammates. At that age, if a kid gets the puck, they usually keep it. But Plante even distributed it around the net.
His father, Derek, a three-time 20-goal scorer for ... Read the full article
Devon Levi began his rookie season as Buffalo’s No. 1 goalie. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When the Sabres look for goaltending this summer, they want to add depth for their minor league affiliates, not any immediate help for the NHL.
General manager Kevyn Adams said the team’s net belongs to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 25, and Devon Levi, 22, next season.
“My plan is … we are going to have two real talented goaltenders playing on a nightly basis,” Adams said Thursday in KeyBank Center during media availability to discuss ... Read the full article
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen should receive plenty of preseason action. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres will play six preseason games next season, including three at KeyBank Center, the team announced Monday.
Broadcast and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The schedule is below. Home games are in bold.... Read the full article
Cole Eiserman scored 58 goals in 57 games in 2023-24. ©2024, Rena Levarty, Team USA NTDP
BUFFALO – Nick Fohr, Cole Eiserman’s coach at the Team USA National Team Development Program, has tried to dissect what makes the 2024 NHL Draft prospect’s shot so lethal.
“Like, is it release? Is it just how hard it is?” Fohr wondered. “I don’t have a 100 percent answer to it, but I definitely think the pace that it comes off his stick is elite.”
Eiserman’s shot is so dynamic that at the recent World ... Read the full article