Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Otters hire former Sabres defenseman Jay McKee as assistant coach

Twitter funnyman and former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jay McKee has joined the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters as an assistant coach.

The team introduced the 36-year-old during a news conference this afternoon.

No word on whether he’ll still tweet about Nathan Gerbe’s size.

McKee, who retired from the NHL in 2010, coached one year with the Rochester Americans in 2011-12 before getting fired by former coach Ron Rolston.

Prior to his 802-game NHL ... Read the full article

Sabres’ summer development camp slated for July 14-18

BUFFALO – Approximately 40 prospects will be participating in the Sabres’ annual summer development camp July 14-18 inside the First Niagara Center, the team announced today.

A full roster will be announced in early July. All of the team’s 2014 draft picks are scheduled to attend. All sessions are open to the public.

Here’s a tentative schedule the Sabres released:

July 14 On-ice coach’s practice: 10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

July 15 Pre-scrimmage skates: 10:30 ... Read the full article

Check out Sabres prospect Linus Ullmark’s Bowser mask

As you can see from the photo above, Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark sported a vanilla look during the team’s development camp last summer.

At times throughout his career, Ullmark has worn just a plain white mask. The 20-year-old Swede has a creative side, however. Check out the Bowser (from Super Mario Bros.) mask he just commissioned artist David Gunnarsson to paint.

Ullmark’s a big Nintendo fan, according to Gunnarsson. The youngster plans to ... Read the full article

NHL Draft profile: Dominic Turgeon close to fulfilling promise he made

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – As the child of an NHL star, Dominic Turgeon feels like he was “born into hockey.” He loved tagging along to the rink with his father, former Buffalo Sabres center Pierre Turgeon, the No. 1 overall pick in 1987.

“I was always around the guys,” Turgeon said last month at the NHL Scouting Combine inside the Toronto International Centre. “I always went out to skate with them, and to me, that always ... Read the full article

NHL Draft profile: Daniel Audette has father Donald’s size, different style

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – No one wanted Donald Audette. It was June 17, 1989, and every team kept passing on the diminutive scorer at the NHL Entry Draft in Bloomington, Minn.

Audette, fresh off a monster 76-goal, 161-point junior season, finally lost it as the day dragged on.

“He was throwing chairs in the back of the rink,” Audette’s son, Daniel, said Saturday at the NHL Scouting Combine inside the Toronto International Centre. “He really wanted ... Read the full article

Sabres don’t sign draft pick Logan Nelson

BUFFALO – Unless there’s a late announcement coming, the Sabres didn’t sign forward Logan Nelson before today’s deadline to ink 2012 non-collegiate draft choices.

The Sabres signed all the junior and European players from that class, including goalie Linus Ullmark and defenseman Brady Austin, two prospects picked after they selected Nelson in the fifth round, 133^rd overall.

Nelson had 23 goals and 54 points in 59 games with the Western Hockey League’s Victoria ... Read the full article

Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Sam Reinhart all in mix to be top pick as NHL Draft approaches

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – For the next few weeks, their skills, personality, body type – everything about them – will be dissected. Twenty-six days before the NHL Entry Draft, there’s still no consensus No. 1 overall pick.

To many observers, three coveted youngsters – center Sam Bennett, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and center Sam Reinhart, the top North American prospects, according to NHL Central Scouting – are vying for the pick owned by the Florida Panthers.... Read the full article

Sabres sign slick forward prospect Nicholas Baptiste to 3-year, entry-level deal

The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Nicholas Baptiste to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced today.

The 18-year-old, the 69^th overall pick last year, enjoyed a career season in 2013-14, compiling 45 goals and 89 points in 65 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves.

Baptiste has 74 goals and 164 points in 195 OHL games over three seasons. He’s not old enough to play in Rochester yet.... Read the full article

Top draft prospect Sam Bennett a dynamic talent despite limited strength

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Center Sam Bennett, the No. 1 North American draft prospect, couldn’t do a pull-up during today’s rigorous testing at the NHL Scouting Combine.

“My upper body isn’t really my strong suit,” the 178-pound Bennett said inside the Toronto International Centre. “But I guess that’s something that I’ll be working on in the gym this year.”

Of course, the 17-year-old’s stock for next month’s NHL Entry Draft isn’t exactly plummeting. For all of ... Read the full article

Sabres sign defense prospect Brady Austin to 3-year, entry-level deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed defenseman Brady Austin to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced today.

The 20-year-old, the 193^rd overall pick in 2012, split 2013-14 between the Ontario Hockey League’s Belleville Bulls and London Knights, setting career highs with nine goals, 24 assists, 33 points and a plus-51 rating in 67 games.

Austin, 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, had 29 goals, 110 points and 194 penalty minutes in 322 career OHL games. ... Read the full article