Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres preseason: Buffalo to dress full NHL lineup versus Columbus; Jiri Kulich to keep playing

BUFFALO – With the exception of one goalie, the lineup the Sabres will dress for tonight’s preseason game against the Blue Jackets is likely the one they field for their season opener Oct. 1 in Columbus.

With only four preseason games and veterans who have played 100 NHL games now limited to just two appearances, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff figured he would put his main group together tonight against the Blue Jackets’ B team.

Among ... Read the full article

After long, trying recovery from broken kneecap, Sabres’ Justin Danforth happy to be playing again

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Justin Danforth listened to the question and let out a deep sigh.

“Oh God,” he responded when asked about the most difficult part of the long rehab he endured after breaking his kneecap when he blocked a shot early last season. “It was a tough rehab.”

Danforth, 33, experienced an arduous and frustrating recovery after getting injured just four games into his first season with the Sabres.... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Lindy Ruff will miss opener in Pittsburgh; Buffalo to field young lineup against Penguins

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will miss tonight’s preseason opener in Pittsburgh to attend a Celebration of Life ceremony for his former teammate, Brent Peterson, in Nashville.

Sabres assistant coach Seth Appert will run the bench against the Penguins in Ruff’s absence.

Peterson, who played four seasons with the Sabres in the 1980s, died Sept. 11 after a long battle with Parkinson’s. He was 68.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jiri Kulich thrilled to participate in scrimmage after battling blot clot: ‘It’s pretty special’

BUFFALO – Jiri Kulich couldn’t stop smiling. Who cares if it was just an intrasquad scrimmage a few days into training camp? For the first time in since Nov. 1 – 322 days, to be exact – the Czech forward played alongside his Sabres teammates.

“It’s unreal,” an excited Kulich, who was sidelined by a blood clot last season, said following Saturday’s Blue and Gold scrimmage in KeyBank Center. “I can’t even describe the feeling. ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Connor Hellebuyck trade rumors and sharing the net: ‘I want to be here’

BUFFALO – By now, eight years into his pro career, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has grown accustomed to hearing his name in trade talk.

The Finn earned the label as the Sabres’ goalie of the future in his teens before injuries, struggles and a goalie prospect named Devon Levi, who was traded July 1, took some of the shine off him.

Over the years, rumors have swirled Luukkonen’s time in Buffalo could be ending.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Lindy Ruff, players have special night at Bills game

BUFFALO – Before he chatted with the media Thursday following the first sessions of training camp, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff joked to make it short because “a man’s got to tailgate.”

Ruff and his team were heading to Orchard Park later in the day to watch the Bills and Detroit Lions play the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium.

So, did Ruff have some fun in the parking lot before the Bills’ memorable ... Read the full article

Sabres begin season confident they’re better than last year: ‘We’re not the old Sabres anymore’

BUFFALO – Confidence is powerful thing, center Tage Thompson said. Fresh off a breakout 50-win, 109-point campaign in which nearly every player improved or enjoyed a career season, the Sabres entered the summer feeling pretty darn good about themselves.

Having grinded together for nine months and enjoyed so much success, the Sabres feel like they can tackle any challenge as a group this season.

“We have a lot of that with our group right now,” ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen on start of season, different expectations, Connor Hellebuyck trade speculation and more

BUFFALO – In his remarks to the Sabres as training camp got underway Wednesday, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen stressed they must put last season’s breakout 50-win, 109-point season behind them.

In winning the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division and ending their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, the Sabres morphed into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender and became the league’s darling.

While it was all a blast – the 10-game win streak, the rollicking 39-9-5 run, the first postseason ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Eric Staal takes on new role as coach; Buffalo has early injuries

BUFFALO – In addition to his role as a special assistant to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, former Sabres center Eric Staal will now be doing on-ice work during the season, coach Lindy Ruff said Wednesday.

“He’s going to help us with centermen, and he’s going to help out on the power play,” Ruff said in LECOM Harborcenter, where the Sabres will hold their first on-ice sessions of training camp Thursday. “He’s basically an assistant coach, ... Read the full article

Sabres injury updates: Jason Zucker could miss start of season after surgery

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jason Zucker underwent offseason sports hernia surgery and could miss the first two weeks of the regular season, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Wednesday after players reported to training camp.

“He’s very close to the start of the year,” Kekalainen said in LECOM Harborcenter.

Meanwhile, Kekalainen said defenseman Louis Crevier, who arrived in the offseason trade that sent Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, underwent shoulder surgery and will likely be ... Read the full article