Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

By scoring and agitating in postseason, Sabres’ Zach Benson grabbed attention of NHL: ‘A true core piece’

BUFFALO – Long before he gave the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens fits in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Zach Benson’s high-octane game rankled opponents.

The diminutive winger’s ultra-aggressive style helped him crack the NHL at just 18 and later establish himself as one of the Sabres’ most valuable forwards.

“I’ve kind of played like this forever,” Benson said last week in KeyBank Center. “I’ve kind of always played with that edge.”... Read the full article

Sabres sign prospect Jake Richard to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday signed forward prospect Jake Richard, a sixth-round pick in 2022, to a two-year, entry level-contract.

Richard, 21, played three seasons at the University of Connecticut, compiling 32 goals, 88 points, a plus-30 rating and 88 penalty minutes in 108 career games.

The Jacksonville native enjoyed his best season as a sophomore in 2024-25, registering 15 goals, 43 points and a plus-26 rating in 34 contests and earning NCAA Hockey ... Read the full article

Following injury-plagued year, Sabres express belief in Michael Kesselring: ‘We’ve seen the potential’

“Honestly, I think it’s been pretty good for me, and whenever the next opportunity comes, I’ll be probably the most ready I’ve been all year.” – Michael Kesselring on March 25 prior to sitting out his sixth straight game as a healthy scratch

BUFFALO – As he morphed into a spare part down the stretch, Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring tried to make the most of a difficult situation.

If the arrival of defensemen Logan ... Read the full article

After keeping Colten Ellis, Sabres open to using three goalies again: ‘It worked’

BUFFALO – It felt like goalie Colten Ellis’ stay here would be brief. Perhaps after filling the backup role for a couple of weeks as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovered from an injury, the Sabres would place the rookie back on waivers or trade him.

But Ellis looked sharp in his first NHL action and fit in well, giving the Sabres extra depth at a critical position and the ability to try different things.

Shortly after Luukkonen ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jarmo Kekalainen, Lindy Ruff established strong relationship before new contract

BUFFALO – Jarmo Kekalainen established a strong relationship with coach Lindy Ruff long before the Sabres promoted him to general manager.

Following his arrival one year ago as a senior advisor to former GM Kevyn Adams, Kekalainen spent every day with the Sabres, even participating in coaches meetings.

In their early days together, two hockey lifers developed mutual respect for each other.... Read the full article

End-of-season injury updates on Owen Power, Tage Thompson, Sam Carrick, Justin Danforth and other Sabres

BUFFALO – When Owen Power crashed feet first into the boards last Thursday, it appeared the Sabres might lose the stud defenseman for the rest of their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Power briefly left Game 5 before returning to the bench and testing the injury during breaks. Late in the contest, he played two shifts.

He kept gutting out the injury in the Sabres’ final two games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Monday’s ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch loves playing for Buffalo, but can the Sabres re-sign him to a long-term contract?

BUFFALO – As the Sabres took their place among the NHL’s heavyweights this season, their success bled into winger Alex Tuch’s family life.

Tuch said his oldest son, Tripp, “is just obsessed with hockey.”

So Tuch and his wife, Kylie, found a mini rink for Tripp’s playroom, where he puts on his roller blades, hears his father introduce him as “No. 89 for the Buffalo Sabres, Trippy Tuch” and skates a couple of laps with ... Read the full article

Coach Lindy Ruff believed Sabres would win Game 7, get crack at Hurricanes

BUFFALO – Before Lindy Ruff could accept a two-year contract extension from the Sabres, he had to consult with someone he called his assistant coach – his wife, Gaye.

The wife of an NHL coach has many duties, including being a sounding board when her husband returns home on those difficult nights.

Gaye has been doing it since 1997, when Ruff, 66, began his first stint with the Sabres.

“She’s the one that I would ... Read the full article

Following special season, Sabres sign Lindy Ruff to contract extension

BUFFALO – Following a breakout 109-point season, the Sabres have signed coach Lindy Ruff to a two-year contract extension, the team announced this afternoon.

The Sabres just enjoyed one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history, ending their NHL-record 14-year postseason drought, winning the Atlantic Division and defeating the Boston Bruins in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Sabres on Monday in Game 7 of their second-round ... Read the full article

After special season, Sabres understand success isn’t guaranteed next year

BUFFALO – The Sabres boast one of the NHL’s deepest, most talented and youngest rosters.

On paper at least, they look poised to enjoy success in the coming years following a breakout season in which they ended their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, won the Atlantic Division and came within one goal of reaching the Eastern Conference final.

“Just because you have success one year doesn’t mean that it guarantees that it translates to the next ... Read the full article