Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Sabres Rumors

Buffalo Sabres Sign Matej Pekar To Entry-Level Contract

at CDT | by 3 Comments

The Buffalo Sabres already got their way when convincing 2018 draft pick Matej Pekar to play in the OHL this season, and now the two sides have agreed again on a step in his hockey career. Pekar has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Sabres.

Selected in the fourth round in June, Pekar was expected to stay in the USHL for one season before heading to the college ranks. All that went out the window when the Sabres convinced him to play with the Barrie Colts this season, ending his NCAA eligibility and setting him up for a quicker path to professional hockey. The talented Czech-born forward has made an impact right away scoring 11 points in his first 10 OHL games, and looks like a steal for the Sabres at this point—early as it may be.

It’s obviously difficult to judge a draft just a few months after it happens, but the Sabres look like they have quite a few gems from the last two years. While Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Dahlin are easy choices, others like Pekar, Mattias Samuelsson and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could make it an excellent group. That’s exactly what the Sabres need as they try to climb out of the bottom of the league, and getting these players under contract is just another step along the way.

Zach Bogosian Activated From Injured Reserve

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The Buffalo Sabres are off to a pretty good start this season, and will now get part of their leadership group back on the ice. Zach Bogosian has been activated from injured reserve and will suit up for his season debut tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights. The team has assigned Matt Tennyson to the minor leagues to make room on the roster.

At one point in time, Bogosian was seen as a top two-way defenseman in the NHL and one of the league’s up and coming stars. That point what quite some time ago though, and the 28-year old has struggled to stay healthy over the last several years. Playing in just 18 games last season with the Sabres, he registered a single point and was a complete question mark coming into training camp. Bogosian even responded directly to some of his doubters, indicating that he was working hard to get back to full strength and ready for the season. Now he’ll get a chance to show the entire world that he can still be a top-four defenseman in the NHL and log the big minutes that the Sabres desperately need him to.

Though Rasmus Dahlin has been as advertised and is already averaging nearly 19 minutes a night, the team could really use another option to use on the penalty kill and at even strength. Nathan Beaulieu is currently averaging fewer than 14 minutes of even-strength action, while Casey Nelson isn’t too far ahead of that. It’s Nelson that’s coming out of the lineup tonight, and who could eventually lose his spot completely if Bogosian can prove his health. That’s still certainly a question, but it’s one that the Sabres will eagerly await the answer to later tonight.

2018-19 Season Primer: Buffalo Sabres

at CDT | by 4 Comments

With the NHL season now just underway, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Next up is a look at the Buffalo Sabres.

Last Season: 25-45-12 record (62 points), eighth in the Atlantic Division (missed the playoffs)

Remaining Cap Space: $618K per CapFriendly

Key Additions: F Patrik Berglund (trade with St. Louis), D Rasmus Dahlin (draft), F Remi Elie (waivers, Dallas), G Carter Hutton (free agent, St. Louis), D Matt Hunwick (trade with Pittsburgh), F Conor Sheary (trade with Pittsburgh), F Jeff Skinner (trade with Carolina), F Vladimir Sobotka (trade with St. Louis), F Tage Thompson (trade with St. Louis)

Key Subtractions: D Victor Antipin (free agent, Magnitogorsk, KHL), D Justin Falk (free agent, unsigned), D Josh Gorges (free agent, unsigned), G Chad Johnson (free agent, St. Louis), F Jacob Josefson (free agent, Djurgardens, SHL), G Robin Lehner (free agent, NY Islanders), F Jordan Nolan (free agent, St. Louis), F Benoit Pouliot (free agent, unsigned), F Ryan O’Reilly (trade with St. Louis)

[Related: Sabres Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Player To Watch: F Jeff Skinner – After a summer fueled with trade speculation, Carolina finally gave up on Skinner, moving him to Buffalo for a collection of future assets.  While going to a team that finished in the basement of the league last season wouldn’t normally be viewed as a positive, it was a good landing spot for the 26-year-old as he gets to play with a high-quality center in Jack Eichel.

From Buffalo’s standpoint, Skinner represents a significant upgrade on the left wing compared to recent seasons.  They’re certainly hoping that this will allow Eichel to take a key step forward offensively while it’s reasonable to expect Skinner to build on his 49-point output from last year as well.

That would bode quite well for Skinner as he’s in the final year of his contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season.  He’ll be one of the younger players to hit the open market if he makes it there and a strong showing would certainly boost his negotiating leverage around the league if he doesn’t re-sign with Buffalo.  While the Sabres have a lot to play for as they look to work their way back to respectability, Skinner himself has plenty at stake in the 2018-19 season.

Key Storyline: Last year, Buffalo struggled defensively, to put it lightly.  They allowed nearly 33 shots per game and received below average goaltending from Lehner and Johnson.  While they tried to address their deficiency between the pipes this summer, they turned to Hutton who is coming off of a career year but has yet to play more than 40 games in a single season.  Can he be the answer in goal and if not, will youngster Linus Ullmark be able to pick up the slack?  The early returns are promising but we’re still in the first week of the season.

On the back end, not much work was done as GM Jason Botterill wound up shaking up the forward group instead.  Adding Dahlin is great for their long-term hopes as he’s pegged to be a franchise piece when he develops but how much of an impact can he have this season?  Can he alone turn what was a poor defense corps into a playoff-caliber one?  Even with his upside, that’s a lot to put on a first-year NHL player.

Even with their improved depth up front, that alone isn’t going to change Buffalo’s fortunes overnight.  They’ve made improvements in goal and on the back end but are those enough to get back into the playoff hunt?

Overall Outlook: While Colorado went from dead last two years ago to a playoff spot last season, it’s hard to see Buffalo doing the same.  There is a distinct top-three in the Atlantic and the Sabres aren’t anywhere near that level.  Even a Wild Card push seems iffy at this point.  They will be better and should be able to move safely out of the basement in the division but more work needs to be done before they can truly become a postseason threat.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Johan Larsson Close To Returning

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

  • The Sabres will soon be facing a tough decision with center Johan Larsson soon, suggests Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald. While he didn’t suit up today against Vegas, he’s close to returning from the lower-body injury he sustained in the preseason.  However, Buffalo has a full roster and while they have a pair of waiver-exempt forwards in Tage Thompson and Casey Mittelstadt, it wouldn’t make sense to send one of them down to make room for Larsson.  Accordingly, they’re going to have to decide if there’s still a place for the 26-year-old on the roster or if they’re going to need to try to either trade or waive him in the coming days.  Larsson carries a $1.475MM cap hit and will be a restricted free agent next summer.

Snapshots: Three Stars, Lundestrom, Luukkonen

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The NHL has handed out the Three Stars of the Week for the first time this season, naming Auston Matthews as the top performer through the first few games. Matthews leads the NHL with eight points through three games including five goals, and has been a huge part of the Toronto Maple Leafs getting off to a 2-1 start. The Maple Leafs have looked shaky in their own end to start the year, but with the firepower that Matthews and John Tavares can provide up front it might not matter on most nights.

Jonathan Toews and Ben Bishop were named to the other two spots, noting a bounce back for both players this season. Toews especially had a down year as the Chicago Blackhawks disappointed in 2017-18, but is off to a blistering start with five goals in his first seven periods and six points total through three games. If the Blackhawks are to return to relevancy this year, they’ll need their captain to be among the best players in the league once again.

  • Speaking of captains not living up to expectations, the Anaheim Ducks were without Ryan Getzlaf today at practice while he deals with a lower-body injury. That meant first-round pick Isac Lundestrom was skating between Andrew Cogliano and Kiefer Sherwood according to Eric Stephens of The Athletic, giving the young forward a chance to make his NHL debut later tonight. Lundestrom has been surprisingly polished through training camp, and even at the age of 18 looks like a possible contributor for the Ducks this season. The 23rd-overall pick scored 15 points in 42 games in the Swedish Hockey League last season, and will try to make an even bigger impact in the NHL.
  • The Ducks aren’t the only one with an impressive young prospect though, as Buffalo Sabres draft pick Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has won the OHL Player of the Week award. Luukkonen is playing for the Sudbury Wolves this season as he prepares for life as a professional in North America, and is already 5-0 with a .944 save percentage. Selected 54th overall in 2017, Luukkonen signed his entry-level contract this offseason and is quickly becoming one of the top goaltending prospects in the league. He’ll likely start out next season in the AHL, but the Sabres are hoping for big things from him down the line.

Jack Eichel Named Captain Of Buffalo Sabres

at CDT | by 3 Comments

The Buffalo Sabres are no longer without a captain. The team announced today that star forward Jack Eichel will wear the “C” this season, while Kyle Okposo and Zach Bogosian will be the alternates.

Eichel, 21, is now the undisputed leader among the forward group of the Sabres after Ryan O’Reilly was moved out of town this offseason. With a deeper lineup behind him and on his wings, the second overall pick from 2015 should finally be able to realize some of his immense potential and compete with the best players in the league for a scoring title. Eichel did record 64 points last season in just 67 games, and will have to prove he can stay healthy and productive as he heads into his fourth NHL campaign. That already brings some pressure, but now with the “C” firmly sewn onto his sweater all eyes in Buffalo will be on him as they try to climb the standings and compete for the playoffs.

There’s little doubt that Eichel is an elite talent in the NHL, but his demeanor and leadership skills have been questioned if not critiqued at times. Signed to a huge eight-year $80MM contract extension that kicks in this season, the Sabres obviously don’t feel the same way and are willing to hand the keys to the franchise over to him. If there was any doubt that his teammates had faith in him, the Sabres taped and released the moment he was announced at practice. That team also has Rasmus Dahlin on the roster for opening night, who many believe will quickly ascend the ranks among NHL defensemen, but he’ll be asked to take a backseat—or at least sidecar—to Eichel’s leadership for the next several years.

Sabres fans have a lot to look forward to with the direction the franchise has taken since Jason Botterill took over as General Manager, and now they have a young dynamic captain to cheer for. It’s exciting times in Buffalo, and it all gets started tomorrow night when the Boston Bruins come to town.

Injury Notes: Tuch, Johns, Hayton

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Although the nature of his injury remains a complete mystery, Vegas Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch is headed to the injured reserve. The team announced this evening that the young power forward has been placed on IR, but did not add any further detail to the release. Tuch’s unavailability paired with the recent demotions of Daniel Carr and Curtis McKenzie leaves the Knights with just twelve healthy forwards and an open roster spot heading into their opener, indicating that the team will soon name a replacement to the roster, likely a recall from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. Meanwhile, Tuch is eligible to return on October 8th, when Vegas travels to his hometown Buffalo Sabres. The Golden Knights will try to get Tuch back to full strength as soon as possible, as the 22-year-old recorded 37 points in his first full NHL season last year and appears primed for a breakout campaign in 2018-19.

  • The Dallas Stars clarified the status of defenseman Stephen Johns today, while also shedding light on their recent acquisition of fellow right-handed defenseman Connor Carrick. Sportsday’s Matthew DeFranks writes that Johns has been dealing with post-traumatic headaches over the past few weeks and the condition has landed him on the injured reserve. While head coach Jim Montgomery indicated that Johns could return to practice as soon as Wednesday – he has only practiced once since September 16th – but there is no timeline for his return to game action. The team will likely take it slow while Johns works through a sensitive diagnosis and in the meantime Carrick can help to pick up the slack. Johns was one of Dallas’ more consistent blue liners last season and the team will welcome him back when he is ready to go. Outside of Johns and forward Valeri Nichushkin, out day-to-day with a lower body injury, the Stars have had good luck with injuries in camp and enter the regular season with a solid depth chart of healthy players.
  • Last week, we noted that the Arizona Coyotes had reached the maximum of 50 contracts for the organization and had technically exceeded the limit with entry-level contracts for Barrett Hayton and Pierre-Olivier Joseph. However, the two youngsters were expected to be returned to juniors which would discount their contracts against the limit. While Joseph has returned to the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders, Hayton has in fact been officially named to the opening night roster, the team announced. How does such a move work? Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Hayton will not count against the contract limit until he has played in the minimum ten games for his contract to toll. As such, Hayton’s stay in the desert could be predetermined to just a short nine-game stint. However, if he wins a long-term spot on the roster, the Coyotes will be pressed to trade away one or more players under contract to make space. Why give Hayton this chance considering their roster inflexibility? Arizona is currently dealing with a laundry list of injuries, with Alex Galchenyuk, Christian Dvorak, and Josh Archibald on injured reserve and Nick Merkley additionally sidelined. The recent first-round pick may present the best opportunity in the system to make up for these losses.

Four Players Claimed Off Waivers

at CDT | by 4 Comments

The Toronto Maple Leafs came into today with some enviable goaltending depth, but will leave it with question marks at the minor league level. The team has lost both Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard on waivers, claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers respectively. The Washington Capitals have also claimed Dmitrij Jaskin from the St. Louis Blues, while the Buffalo Sabres, with the first waiver selection and a need for healthy forwards, snatched Remi Elie from the Dallas Stars.

Gustav Olofsson, who was rumored to be available in trade recently, was placed on waivers today by the Minnesota Wild. The rest of the players from yesterday have cleared, and can now be assigned to the minor leagues.

You can bet the Maple Leafs were expecting at least one goaltender to be claimed, given that they chose to protect the younger Garret Sparks over the proven McElhinney when it came to deciding who would backup Frederik Andersen to start the season, but losing both on the same day does weaken their depth at the position quite a bit. That leaves Kasimir Kaskisuo and Eamon McAdam as the only two other goaltenders under contract, though former top pick Justin Peters was in minor league camp with their AHL club recently.

Both Carolina and Philadelphia are dealing with injury to their NHL netminders, with the Hurricanes in particular facing a stretch of “weeks” without Scott Darling. McElhinney will pair with Petr Mrazek for the Hurricanes for the time being, but after Darling is deemed healthy the team will have to deal with a similar situation to the one Toronto had this week. If the Hurricanes or Flyers try to waive McElhinney or Pickard at any point this season, the Maple Leafs could potentially reclaim them and send them directly to the minor leagues—provided they’re the only team making a claim at that time.

Jaskin and Elie may end up being even more important claims, as both provide some excellent depth for their new clubs for a reasonable price. Jaskin was an effective bottom-six checker for the Blues but didn’t have a chair when the music stopped this time around, given the glut of newcomers finding roles in St. Louis. His 17 points in 76 games last season don’t look like a lot, but given the role that he played and the one he’ll be asked to fill in Washington there’s no reason to believe he can’t still be successful.

Elie on the other hand is just 23 years old still and scraping the surface on his potential. The Sabres will hope they can coax out a legitimate third-line winger out of him down the road, but have once again improved their depth at forward without sacrificing much. Elie is signed for just $735K this season and will still be a restricted free agent next summer, and was picked 40th overall just five years ago. With Scott Wilson facing a long rehab after recent surgery, Elie will likely find himself in the lineup before long and given a chance to contribute on the remade Sabres.

Sabres Acquire Jack Dougherty From Predators For Nicholas Baptiste

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Sabres and Predators have swapped minor leaguers.  Buffalo has acquired defenseman Jack Dougherty from Nashville in exchange for winger Nicholas Baptiste.  Both teams have announced the trade.

Dougherty was a second-round pick of the Predators back in 2014 (51st overall) but has yet to make it to the NHL level over his first two professional seasons.  Last year, he suited up in 63 games with their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, collecting 13 points (1-12-13).  The 22-year-old is in the final year of his entry-level contract and carries a cap hit of $695K.  He is also waiver-exempt for the entire season so if Buffalo needs him during the season, they can bring him up and send him down without having to expose him to the wire.

Meanwhile, Baptiste split last season between the Sabres and AHL Rochester.  In 33 games with Buffalo, he picked up four goals and two assists while averaging 9:58 per night of ice time in largely a fourth line role.  He was a bit more productive at the minor league level, tallying 18 points (7-11-18) in 36 contests with the Americans.

The 23-year-old has a total of 47 career NHL games under his belt, all with the Sabres.  Unlike Daugherty, he is eligible for waivers but passed through unclaimed on Sunday and will likely report to Milwaukee.  Baptiste is on a one-year deal that pays just under $788K in the NHL and will be a restricted free agent next summer.

Scott Wilson Undergoes Ankle Surgery, Out Two Months

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Buffalo Sabres sent several players to the minor leagues today, and have now also announced that Scott Wilson won’t be with them when they open the season this week. That’s because Wilson has undergone surgery to repair a fracture in his ankle, and will be out eight to ten weeks.

Wilson, 26, wasn’t expected to make a huge impact on the Sabres this season but was penciled into their opening night roster as a bottom-six forward. The energy forward played for three teams last season, eventually finding a home in Buffalo and registering 14 points in 49 games. His absence, combined with the recent injuries to Conor Sheary and Johan Larsson which could still put them at risk for the opener, make the Sabres a very interesting team to watch tomorrow afternoon. Buffalo still holds the top waiver priority given there finish last season, and could potentially grab one of the forwards that were waived today by teams around the league. Sam Gagner, Remi Elie, Darren Archibald, Dmitrij Jaskin and others all stand out as NHL-caliber forwards that could be snagged, though they all come with their various baggage as well.

There is a lot of hope in Buffalo right now that the Sabres can follow the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche in going from last place to the playoffs this season, but they’ll need to stay healthy to do it. Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Eichel and others certainly give them a nice core to rely on every night, but depth players like Wilson are still important. We’ll have to wait and see if he can jump back into the lineup down the road and contribute this season, or if his spot has been taken by another player by then. Wilson is signed for $1.05MM this year and next.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top