WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Training Camp Edition
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left Saturday’s game in the third period. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When the Sabres open the regular season Thursday in Columbus, Colten Ellis could be their starting goalie.
A trying preseason in which they lost five significant players to injury in four games, including top goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, has mercifully ended.
In Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ruff said Luukkonen, who has a history of injuries, left 3:47 into the third period when he tweaked something on ... Read the full article
Matt Grzelcyk battles Buffalo’s Zach Benson as a member of Pittsburgh. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When the Sabres announced Friday they had signed veteran Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $850,000 contract, it felt like they might also reveal they expected at least one of their two injured defensemen, Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger, to be sidelined longer than they expected.
But Samuelsson and Zellweger, both of whom went down in Tuesday’s 5-1 preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, are doing well.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Samuelsson, ... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Ryan Johnson 31st overall in 2019. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres on Friday placed eight players on waivers, including defenseman Ryan Johnson, a first-round pick in 2019, for the purpose of assigning them to the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres also waived goalie Matt Villalta, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and forwards Mason Geertsen, Trevor Kuntar, Aidan McDonough, Carson Meyer and Jason Polin.
Update: Everyone on waivers cleared.
In addition, the Sabres also assigned the following players to the Amerks, their AHL affiliate: goalies Talyn ... Read the full article
Matt Grzelcyk (right) celebrates a goal with Sidney Crosby (center) as a member of Pittsburgh. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres, who lost two of their top defensemen to injury in Tuesday’s preseason game, added depth to their blue line this morning by signing veteran Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $850,000 contract.
Inking the left-shot Grzelcyk, a puck-moving defender, indicates Mattias Samuelsson, who’s week to week with a lower-body injury, and Olen Zellweger, who has a concussion, could be sidelined into the regular season.
The Sabres open their campaign Thursday on the ... Read the full article
Ryan Johnson spent most of last season in Rochester. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Ryan Johnson’s legs are his greatest gift. The Sabres prospect is a sublime, world-class skater who possesses the talent to move alongside anyone.
“We know he can skate with the best players,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of the defenseman following a recent session of training camp in KeyBank Center. “He can skate with the top players in the league.”
Pure skill isn’t an issue. To stick in the NHL, Johnson, the 31st ... Read the full article
Alex Lyon left Thursday’s game late in the first period. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
For the second straight preseason game, the Buffalo Sabres lost two key players to injuries.
Goalie Alex Lyon and center Jiri Kulich both exited Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Update: Ruff said Lyon is being evaluated today. The team will know more about his injury Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kulich stayed off the ice today for maintenance. Ruff said the Czech could skate Saturday or play in the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh ... Read the full article
Jiri Kulich has received a lot of action this preseason. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ plan for Jiri Kulich this preseason includes moving him around the lineup at different positions.
So the Czech forward, who missed most of last season recovering from a blood clot, is expected to center the top line alongside Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund for at least some of tonight’s preseason road game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Kulich, who will likely play all four exhibition contests, has spent some of training ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson enjoyed a career-best season in 2025-26. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – It took less than one week of training camp for injuries to the hit the Sabres hard.
When the Sabres open the season next Thursday on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they could be without two of their top four defensemen.
Mattias Samuelsson, their top shutdown defender, is week to week with a lower-body injury he suffered blocking a shot in Tuesday’s 5-1 preseason win over Columbus, coach Lindy Ruff said.... Read the full article
Tage Thompson sported the “Goathead” jersey last season. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres will be wearing their black and red “Goathead” jersey 10 times and their new “Hometown Remix” jersey eight times during the upcoming season at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres brought back their popular “Goathead” jersey, which they sported from 1996-97 to 2005-06, as their alternate in 2022.
The “Hometown Remix” jersey, which celebrates the fans, city and local culture, according to the Sabres, will be unveiled at a later date. Each team will ... Read the full article
Olen Zellweger is attended to after getting hit in Tuesday’s game. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Uh-oh. Tuesday’s 5-1 preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets’ junior varsity squad proved to be costly, as defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger both left the game with injuries.
Samuelsson, 26, blocked Luca Pinelli’s shot 4:36 into the second period before leaving the game around the halfway mark.
Coach Lindy Ruff said Samuelsson, the Sabres’ top shutdown defender, will be further evaluated today.... Read the full article