Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres to honor Rick Jeanneret with special uniform patch

BUFFALO – The Sabres will be wearing special “RJ” patches on their jersey this season to honor legendary broadcaster Rick Jeanneret, the team announced Wednesday.

Jeanneret, who called games for 51 years before retiring in 2022, died Aug. 17 at 81.

In addition, the Sabres and Buffalo Common Council will be dedicating a trailblazing sign to Jeanneret at 4 p.m. outside Alumni Plaza prior to tonight’s season opener against the New York Rangers at ... Read the full article

Defense helped Sabres’ Zach Benson grab roster spot: ‘He earned it’

BUFFALO – Zach Benson’s offensive production did not earn him a roster spot. Sure, leading the Sabres in preseason scoring helped the rookie stand out. But to crack the NHL at 18, he needed to grasp a different side of hockey.

“He could be as prolific as anybody offensively, but if he didn’t have … defensive instincts, (was) positionally pretty sound, he wouldn’t be on the roster, he just wouldn’t,” Sabres coach Don Granato said ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin always wanted long-term contract to stay in Buffalo: ‘This is the city I love’

BUFFALO – Rasmus Dahlin’s phone rang Saturday night and on the other end, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams informed the budding superstar defenseman his eight-year, $88 million contract had been completed.

Dahlin, 23, remembers feeling a sense of relief – “I was so happy,” he said – and, well, not much else.

“I barely remember what I said,” a smiling Dahlin said following Monday’s practice in KeyBank Center, hours after the Sabres announced the biggest ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Rasmus Dahlin to huge contract extension

The Buffalo Sabres this morning awarded defenseman Rasmus Dahlin the richest contract in franchise history, an eight-year, $88 million deal.

The extension will kick in for the 2024-25 season. Dahlin, 23, has one year remaining on his three-year, $18 million deal.

Only one defenseman, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Erik Karlsson, has a higher salary cap hit in 2024-25 – $11.5 million – than Dahlin’s $11 million. The Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty also has an $11 ... Read the full article

Three players clear waivers; Amerks have roster Sabres envisioned

With very few spots available in Buffalo, the Sabres waived some intriguing players during training camp. Considering the dearth of talent on a few NHL teams, it felt like one or two might be claimed.

But on Sunday, defensemen Riley Stillman and Kale Clague and forward Brandon Biro cleared and joined the Rochester Americans.

Every player Buffalo waived during the preseason made it the AHL, giving the Amerks, fresh off a run to the Eastern ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs never expected to fight Sidney Crosby: ‘It was fun’

BUFFALO – When Sabres center Peyton Krebs checked his phone after fighting Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby in Friday’s preseason finale, he had a whole lot of text messages waiting for him.

Meanwhile, Krebs said his proud father, Greg, posted on Instagram “he never thought I’d be fighting Sid.”

“He’s been my favorite player growing up since I can remember, so definitely something I didn’t expect,” Krebs said following Saturday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter. “But ... Read the full article

Sabres waive three more players, close to finalizing 23-man roster

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday moved closer to finalizing their regular-season roster, waiving defensemen Riley Stillman and Kale Clague and forward Brandon Biro for the purpose of assigning them to the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres also sent defenseman Ryan Johnson, 22, and winger Lukas Rousek, 24, to Rochester.

They have 25 players – 15 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies – left on their training camp roster. They must finalize their 23-man regular-season roster by ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jacob Bryson enjoying strong training camp after ‘tough season’

BUFFALO – After playing four preseason games, Jacob Bryson sat out Friday’s finale. The Sabres used it as a dress rehearsal, and the six defensemen they likely plan to utilize opening night faced the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bryson, 25, has enjoyed a strong training camp, showcasing more assertiveness than last season and earning coach Don Granato’s praise.

Still, his future here is unclear. The Sabres have their deepest blue line since the post-lockout days of the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Benson scores again, caps terrific preseason: ‘Done very well’

BUFFALO – By Monday at 5 p.m., Sabres prospect Zach Benson will know if his impressive preseason – he scored a team-high four goals and seven points – earned him an NHL roster spot.

The rookie scored again and recorded an assist in Friday’s finale, a 7-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center in which the Sabres blew a 3-1 second-period lead.

Sabres prospect Matt Savoie thrilled to return to practice following injury

BUFFALO – As training camp approached, Sabres prospect Matt Savoie looked like a top candidate to fill the open forward spot created by Jack Quinn’s Achilles tendon injury.

Savoie, 19, stood out early in the Prospects Challenge last month, only strengthening the belief he could jump from junior hockey to the NHL.

Then in his first shift of the tournament finale Sept. 18, he injured his right elbow and shoulder trying to break up a ... Read the full article