Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

2026-27 Sabres schedule features early home stand, rugged stretches on road before Christmas

An early five-game home stand, two road contests against the Montreal Canadiens in a five-day span in October and a rigorous stretch in which they play 10 of 12 games on the road in late November and early December are among the highlights of the Buffalo Sabres’ 2026-27 schedule the NHL released Thursday.

The 84-game schedule – the NHL has added two regular-season contests and cut the preseason from six games to four – means ... Read the full article

Sabres to open 2026-27 season Oct. 1 in Columbus, start home schedule Oct. 3 versus Chicago

The Buffalo Sabres will open the 2026-27 season Oct. 1 on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets and hold their home opener Oct. 3 versus old friend Bowen Byram and the Chicago Blackhawks at KeyBank Center.

The NHL this morning announced the home openers for all 32 teams. The rest of the 84-game schedule will be released Thursday.

The Sabres, of course, recently traded Byram to Chicago in a blockbuster deal, so the home ... Read the full article

Bruins hire former Sabres GM Kevyn Adams as senior advisor

Former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is back in the NHL.

The Boston Bruins on Tuesday named Adams, 51, a senior advisor to GM Don Sweeney.

The Sabres fired Adams on Dec. 15, almost halfway through his sixth season as GM, and replaced him with Jarmo Kekalainen, who had been serving as a senior advisor.... Read the full article

Sabres bring in John Davidson as senior advisor; Buffalo makes minor trade

The Buffalo Sabres have added to their front office by hiring John Davidson, a popular former goalie and broadcaster who has spent most of the past 20 years working as a president of hockey operations, as a senior advisor, the team announced Monday.

Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, 60, and Davidson, 73, know each other well, having worked closely together with the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues.

Shortly taking over as president of ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Peyton Krebs to four-year contract, avoid arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday avoided arbitration with Peyton Krebs, signing the versatile forward to a four-year, $18 million contract.

Krebs, 25, was the Sabres’ last restricted free agent. He filed for arbitration last week.

His $4.5 million salary cap hit is the seventh-highest among Buffalo forwards. He just completed a two-year, $2.9 million contract.... Read the full article

In sixth-rounder Dylan Dumont, Sabres could have underrated prospect

BUFFALO – In his first days in Drummondville, the Voltigeurs initiated winger Dylan Dumont, a prospect the Sabres recently drafted in the sixth round, by throwing him headfirst into the fray.

They wanted Dumont, who possesses a slick skill set, to develop a more complete game as a rookie in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League.

“Being able to contribute as much away from the puck than with the puck,” former Drummondville coach Sylvain ... Read the full article

Following career year, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs files for salary arbitration

Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs has filed for salary arbitration, the NHL Players’ Association announced Sunday.

Krebs, 25, is the Sabres’ only unsigned restricted free agent.

Filing, of course, doesn’t mean a player will go to arbitration. Negotiations can continue. The sides usually reach a deal before the arbitration hearing.... Read the full article

Sabres add goalie depth for Rochester by signing Matt Villalta

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday added goalie depth, signing Matt Villalta to a one-year, two-way contract.

Villalta, 27, gives the Sabres a veteran netminder for the Rochester Americans. He will likely share the net with prospects Topias Leinonen or Scott Ratzlaff, both of whom spent time in the AHL last season.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Villalta has spent most of his career in the AHL, compiling 123-83-20 record with a 2.93 goals-against average, a .903 save ... Read the full article

Prospect Prokhor Poltapov could be ‘Swiss Army knife’ for Sabres

BUFFALO – After his contract in the Kontinental Hockey League expires next year, the Sabres expect prospect Prokhor Poltapov to come to North America and immediately jump into their lineup.

Where could the Russian, a winger the Sabres drafted in the second round in 2021, 33rd overall, fit in?

Tim Kennedy, the Sabres’ new director of player development, worked closely with Poltapov in his previous role as a development coach. He believes the versatile ... Read the full article

After trade, speedy Olen Zellweger sees opportunity with Sabres

When the Stanley Cup Playoffs began in April, Buffalo Sabres newcomer Olen Zellweger found himself watching in the press box as a healthy scratch after enjoying regular duty all season.

Naturally, Zellweger, a defenseman the Sabres acquired in a trade last Friday with the Anaheim Ducks after dealing Bowen Byram, initially felt frustrated. But he said getting benched taught him some lessons.

He started getting back to basics. From his seat high above the ice, ... Read the full article