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Newcomer Matt Villalta gives Rochester Amerks No. 1 goalie, Sabres depth
ROCHESTER – Having grinded in the minors for years and occasionally earned trips to the NHL, goalie Matt Villalta symbolizes the new-look Americans. The Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate still has some strong young talent, most notably defenseman Radim Mrtka, the ninth overall pick in 2025. But the Amerks have become a veteran club this season. Their most dynamic youngsters in 2025-25 – forwards Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund – have graduated to Buffalo. Many of ... Read the full article...
Sabres hear boos, get blanked by Stars in ugly loss: ‘Didn’t have our game’
BUFFALO – How’s this for a throwback to, uh, early last season? The Sabres performed so poorly in Thursday’s ugly 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars that surly fans booed throughout night. They booed as the Sabres frittered away three power plays. They booed when they left the ice down four goals at the end of the second period. When the final horn sounded, what remained of what was a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans ... Read the full article The post Sabres hear boos, get blanked by Stars in ugl...
Sabres’ Lindy Ruff confident Josh Doan will start scoring: ‘All the faith’
BUFFALO – For the final 15 minutes of Tuesday’s thrilling 3-2 overtime win, Sabres winger Josh Doan , who began the night skating on the top line, watched from the bench. Following the game, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged the obvious, that Doan, who went pointless in the first three contests, is “struggling right now.” So when Ruff shortened his bench and revamped his lines late against the Minnesota Wild, Doan, 24, was one of ... Read the full article The post Sabres’ Lindy Ruff c...
Sabres’ Jason Zucker progressing after surgery, has ‘soft date’ for return
BUFFALO – In the back of his mind, winger Jason Zucker said he and the Sabres have a time frame for when he can play again after undergoing sports hernia surgery in early August. “But it’s a very soft date at this point,” Zucker said this morning in KeyBank Center. For now, Zucker, 34, is rehabbing skating and joining his teammates for pregame skates. He participated in a gray non-contact jersey this morning as the ... Read the full article The post Sabres’ Jason Zucker progressing after...
Peyton Krebs, the Sabres’ ‘Swiss Army knife,’ has grown under Lindy Ruff: ‘He’s trusted me’
BUFFALO – As a first-line winger, a role he assumed for the Sabres late in Tuesday’s come-from-behind win, the versatile Peyton Krebs transforms his mentality. Alongside center Tage Thompson and another scoring threat, Krebs knows he must forecheck, meaning he will have the puck less than he does skating on the third or fourth line. “Kind of just contribute to those guys making sure they’re getting the puck,” Krebs told the Times Herald during training ... Read the full article The post ...
Owen Power, Tage Thompson star as Sabres roar back to beat Wild in OT: ‘Like a playoff game’
BUFFALO – Less than a week into the season, the Sabres have kept showcasing more of the maturity that helped buoy them to a thrilling 109-point campaign last year. To wit: in each of the last two games, they’ve erased 2-0 deficits, roaring back for wins. In Tuesday’s exciting 3-2 victory, which defenseman Owen Power won with 37.4 seconds left in overtime, they plowed forward after an iffy penalty and an awful non-call helped put ... Read the full article The post Owen Power, Tage Thompso...
Undersized Sabres D Zach Metsa earns respect for fight with Mathieu Olivier: ‘Extremely courageous’
BUFFALO – No one expected it. After all, Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa doesn’t fight much. As a pro, he said he had only scrapped once before taking on heavyweight Mathieu Olivier in Thursday’s season opener in Columbus. As a rookie with the Rochester Americans, the 5-foot-9, 201-pound Metsa said he fought a member of the Syracuse Crunch whose name he doesn’t remember. “I think he was No. 18,” Metsa said Saturday in KeyBank Center. In ... Read the full article The post Undersized Sabres...
Injured Sabres Alex Lyon, Jason Zucker skate with teammates; Buffalo likely to make lineup change
BUFFALO – In the coming days or weeks, the Sabres could be faced with a good problem: they might have too many players. Goalie Alex Lyon (left shoulder) and winger Jason Zucker (offseason sports hernia surgery) both joined their teammates for this morning’s optional pregame skate as the they prepared for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said there’s no timetable for Lyon’s return to the lineup, while Zucker could still ... Read the full article The post ...
Year after waiver claim brought him to Buffalo, goalie Colten Ellis entrenched with Sabres, ready for first start
BUFFALO – It was exactly one year ago today – Oct. 6, 2025 – when the Sabres claimed a little-known goalie named Colten Ellis with no NHL experience off waivers. These days, Ellis, who’s expected to make his first start this season tonight against the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center, is a big piece of the Sabres, having established himself as a strong option throughout a surprising rookie campaign. “Looking back a year ago today, ... Read the full article The post Year after waiver clai...
Two injured Sabres close to practicing with team
BUFFALO – Injured Sabres veterans Jason Zucker and Conor Timmins could participate in Tuesday’s pregame skate, coach Lindy Ruff said. That doesn’t, however, mean they’re close to playing. “They’ll still be between a team skate and rehab skates,” Ruff said following today’s practice in KeyBank Center. “But they’re right on the line of skating and participating in our practices, (just) not on a daily basis. Just sort of introduce them into more vigorous practices.” The ... Read the full ...
In free agency, Patrick Kane narrowed choices to Blackhawks and Sabres
BUFFALO – In the end, Patrick Kane signed with Chicago, choosing to return to the city where he’s a legend to help lead the Blackhawks back to glory. The Sabres, Kane explained prior to Saturday’s game in KeyBank Center, aggressively pursued his services. When free agency opened July 1, one of the first calls he received was from general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “It was tough,” the South Buffalo native said of his decision. “It pretty ... Read the full article The post In free agency, P...
Sabres’ Jiri Kulich scores game-winning goal versus Blackhawks after return from blood clot: ‘Lot of emotions’
BUFFALO – The other guys, Sabres center Jiri Kulich noted, did the heavy lifting to create his first goal in 343 days, the late winner in Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind victory. Seconds before he gave the Sabres their first lead in the home opener, Kulich misfired after center Tage Thompson sent him in alone on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight during a four-on-four. “I was pretty pissed after the first one,” said Kulich, who was ... Read the full article The post Sabre...
Blackhawks’ Bowen Byram to miss first game versus Sabres after trade; Jordan Greenway begins ‘new chapter’
BUFFALO – Bowen Byram’s first game here as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks will have to wait until next season. Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said Byram, 25, is attending to a personal matter and will miss tonight’s game against the Sabres at KeyBank Center. The Sabres traded Byram , who wanted an opportunity to become a No. 1 defenseman, to Chicago on June 23 in a blockbuster deal that brought the fourth overall pick ... Read the full article The post Blackhawks’ Bowen Byram to miss...
Jack Quinn, the Sabres’ power play and other things to watch this season
BUFFALO – Friendly reminder, gang, while Seth Appert is the assistant coach in charge of the Sabres’ power play, it’s Lindy Ruff’s show. He’s the head coach. Oh, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a .909 save percentage last season. Yes, the Finn struggled at times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But he still enjoyed a strong campaign. Why do these things bear repeating just one game into the season? Well, the Sabres lost Thursday’s opener ... Read the full article The post Jack Quinn, ...
Sabres newcomer Olen Zellweger ready to play after suffering concussion
BUFFALO – Naturally, newcomer Olen Zellweger , the Sabres’ biggest offseason acquisition, wanted to play in Thursday’s season opener in Columbus. But just nine days had passed since Zellweger, 23, suffered a concussion in a preseason game. While he was feeling better, he did not want to rush back. So the defenseman decided to wait two more days. He returned to practice today and is expected to made his debut in Saturday’s home opener against ... Read the full article The post Sabres newc...
Months after trade, Sabres sign Louis Crevier to contract extension
Throughout training camp, whenever reporters asked coach Lindy Ruff about defenseman Louis Crevier, one of the Sabres’ offseason additions, he lauded his smart, efficient style. Crevier, who arrived in Buffalo in the blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, clearly made a strong first impression on Ruff and the Sabres. On Thursday morning, hours before their season opener in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, the Sabres illustrated just how much they .....
Sabres recall veteran from Rochester Amerks before opener
The Buffalo Sabres this morning recalled veteran defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Rochester Americans. To create a roster spot, the Sabres, who open their season tonight in Columbus, placed defenseman Olen Zellweger on injured reserve. Zellweger suffered a concussion last week. The Sabres summoned Gilbert for insurance because they lost three of their top defensemen to injury – Zellweger, Mattias Samuelsson and Conor Timmins – during the preseason. Only six defensemen, including Samu...
Confidence, special ability to meet big moments make Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius unique talent
BUFFALO – When he hopped inside Sami Pajari’s Toyota Yaris in July, Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius figured the Finnish rally car driver would navigate a bit slower than usual through the rough terrain of the forest with a guest aboard. Instead, Pajari, one of the world’s top-ranked racers, shocked Helenius by speeding through the course in Ylivieska, Finland. “He did like better time than with his own passenger who’s reading the map,” Helenius recently told ... Read the full article The p...
With Olen Zellweger out, Sabres could recall defenseman for opener
BUFFALO – Mattias Samuelsson practiced Wednesday and could play in tonight’s season opener in Columbus. Meanwhile, newcomer Olen Zellweger missed the session and won’t face the Blue Jackets, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. With only six defensemen – Samuelsson is on injured reserve, while Zellweger is on the 23-man roster despite having recently suffered a concussion – Ruff said the Sabres could recall another one before tonight’s contest. Update: The Sabres this morning recalled defenseman ...
Mattias Samuelsson might be ready for opener; Sabres make roster move
BUFFALO – Injured Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could play in Thursday’s season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury blocking a shot in the second preseason game, skated on his own Tuesday and could practice with the Sabres on Wednesday, coach Lindy Ruff said. If the Sabres’ top shutdown defender can’t play in Columbus, Ruff expects him to return in the near future. “Very close,” Ruff said of Samuelsson’s status ... Read the full...
Sabres waive forward for assignment to Rochester
BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon placed winger Conor Sheary on waivers and will assign him to the Rochester Americans if he clears, the team announced. Sheary, 34, returned to practice today after suffering an upper-body injury last week. Update: Sheary has cleared. The Sabres brought back Sheary, who spent 2018-19 and most of 2019-20 in Buffalo, during the offseason, signing him to a one-year, one-way contract worth $850,000. Sheary, who won the Stanley Cup ... Read the full arti...
Mattias Samuelsson might be ready for opener; Sabres could make roster move
BUFFALO – Injured Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could play in Thursday’s season opener in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury blocking a shot last week, skated on his own Tuesday and could practice with the Sabres Wednesday, coach Lindy Ruff said. If Samuelsson, the Sabres’ top shutdown defender, can’t play Thursday, Ruff expects him to return in the near future. “Very close,” Ruff said of Samuelsson’s status following Tuesday’s practi...
Sabres’ initial 2026-27 roster has goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon
The Buffalo Sabres’ initial 23-man roster for the 2026-27 season released Monday features three goalies, six defensemen and 14 forwards. Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon and defenseman Olen Zellweger, all of whom suffered injuries in preseason games last week, are listed on the roster. One rookie, forward Konsta Helenius, made the team. The Sabres reached the 23-man limit by placing six players, including defensemen Mattias Samuelsson, who is week to week after suffering a .....
After losing defensemen to injury, Matt Grzelcyk’s signing gives Sabres boost
BUFFALO – The Sabres wasted no time getting newcomer Matt Grzelcyk acclimated. Without the benefit of a practice or pregame skate, they threw the defenseman into the lineup for their preseason finale. Grzelcyk, who on Friday signed a one-year, $850,000 contract, looked comfortable throughout Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, skating 16 minutes, 48 seconds, mostly alongside Conor Timmins. “It almost helped, honestly, just having no pregame skate, nothing – just go ri...
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen leaves game injured as Sabres end preseason
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 The po...
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