Evening Notes: Kulich, Burns, Canucks
Buffalo Sabres center Jiri Kulich offered the most encouraging update on Tuesday regarding his health, explaining that he underwent a procedure at the Mayo Clinic to remove a blood clot, as reported by Mike Harrington of TBN Sports. The clot kept him out of the Sabres lineup all but 12 games of his 2025-26 season, but thankfully Kulich said he expects to be back in the lineup next fall. Speaking publicly for the first time since November at the Sabres’ end-of-season media availability, the 22-year-old said doctors in Minnesota fully extracted the clot roughly two months ago. He couldn’t skate for a month afterward and admitted he had put on weight during the layoff, but he is now in his fourth week back on the ice and said he can “do pretty much everything right now.” His message to fans was direct, saying, “I’ll be able to play hockey again.”
The recovery cost him what would have been a major personal milestone. Kulich was widely projected as Czechia’s second-line winger at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Additionally, Kulich missed his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as Buffalo pushed Montreal to a Game 7 overtime in the Eastern Conference semifinals. However, he stayed around the team throughout the run and said his teammates treated him “like family” through the ordeal.
His return matters significantly for Buffalo’s 2026-27 outlook. Kulich scored 15 goals as a rookie in 2024-25 and had three goals and five points in his 12 games this year before he was shut down. He remains on his entry-level deal at an $886,666 cap hit through next season, and slots back into a center group that now includes Zach Benson, Konsta Helenius, Josh Norris, and deadline addition Sam Carrick, giving Buffalo a much-needed depth and skill boost down the middle as the Sabres try to build on the franchise’s most successful season in 15 years.
Additional Notes:
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns was a full participant in Tuesday’s practice, per Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette. He had sat out some on-ice sessions following Colorado’s series-clinching 4-3 OT win over Minnesota in Game 5, and was listed as day-to-day after missing Saturday’s practice. He should be ready for Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against Vegas on Wednesday. Through nine playoff games, he has 3 assists, 14 SOG, 6 blocks, and 13 hits.
- On a day that saw new general manager Ryan Johnson clean house behind the bench, firing head coach Adam Foote and assistants Scott Young, Kevin Dean, and Brett McLean after a 25-49-8 last-place finish, Johnson also confirmed that assistant general managers Cammi Granato and Émilie Castonguay will remain in their roles, per Harman Dayal with the Athletic. The retention provides a measure of continuity inside an organization otherwise gutted at the top this spring, with Jim Rutherford stepping down as president of hockey operations, GM Patrik Allvin dismissed, and now the coaching staff turned over. Castonguay became the first woman to serve as an NHL assistant general manager when the Canucks hired her in January 2022, with Granato, a Hockey Hall of Famer, joining not long after. Both received extensions in March 2024 under the previous front office and have handled significant responsibilities in scouting oversight, player development, and contract and cap management.
Sabres Likely To Explore Moving Devon Levi
For the last little while, there has been growing speculation that the Buffalo Sabres will move on from netminder Devon Levi relatively soon. Those rumors aren’t going away anytime soon. Speaking on Coming In Hot, Jeff Marek of the Daily Faceoff shared that the relationship between the Sabres and Levi is “over”.
Specifically, Marek mentioned that the Ottawa Senators had recently reached out to the Sabres regarding Levi in the hopes that he could play in the backup role behind Linus Ullmark. Marek opined that the Senators could reach out to Buffalo again this summer about the netminder’s availability.
While it’s rare for intradivisional rivals to engage in trading, the Senators and Sabres collaborated on a deal that sent Joshua Norris to Buffalo and Dylan Cozens to Ottawa last year. However, that trade was made when Kevyn Adams was the General Manager of the Sabres, and it’s unknown if Jarmo Kekäläinen will have the same appetite to make intradivisional swaps.
Regardless, it would make sense for Buffalo to make Levi available in trade talks this summer. The Sabres already have the tandem of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon signed through next season, and will presumably retain Colten Ellis as the third-string option unless they decide to expose him to the waiver wire in September.
For the past two years, Levi has almost exclusively played for the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Overall, he has maintained solid production, but can be relatively streaky at times. Throughout the past three years, he has managed a 64-39-22 record in 120 AHL contests with a .914 SV% and 2.52 GAA, including 10 shutouts. Additionally, he has a 17-17-2 record in 39 NHL games with a .894 SV% and 3.29 GAA.
In the podcast, Marek suggested that the relationship between Buffalo and Levi has declined, given the initial excitement the team expressed when signing him and the lack of extended NHL opportunities since then. Since he’s signed through next season at an $813K salary, Levi doesn’t have much say in the matter, but would likely welcome any change of scenery that comes with more NHL playing time.
Obviously, the Edmonton Oilers immediately come to mind as a team that should inquire about Levi should the Sabres make him available. Although the Oilers are desperate, it’s unlikely that Buffalo will force them to part with significant capital, given that not many teams are looking for goaltending improvements this summer. Yes, the Oilers desperately need goaltending help, but the Sabres don’t have much flexibility to start a bidding war with other teams.
Latest On Alex Tuch
Following a heartbreaking Game 7 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres face a monumental question mark regarding one of their core leaders. According to a report from The Hockey News, pending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch may have played his final game in a Sabres uniform.
Tuch, a Syracuse, N.Y. native, has spent the last five seasons in Buffalo after arriving from Vegas in the 2021 Jack Eichel blockbuster. While Tuch may want to remain with his childhood team, the upcoming free agent class lacks superstar talent, positioning the power forward to potentially strike it rich on the open market.
Back in December, newly appointed Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen emphasized the team’s desire to lock Tuch down. “Now we just have to agree on a number that works for both sides,” Kekalainen stated at the time. However, with July 1 rapidly approaching, that number has become a major mystery, largely due to a polarizing postseason performance.
While Tuch performed well with seven points in a first-round victory over Boston, he was completely held off the scoresheet and went a glaring minus-10 during the seven-game defeat against Montreal. While speculation suggests Tuch was playing through a significant injury that hampered his speed, the rough series could impact his ultimate leverage.
Despite the playoff struggles, Tuch’s teammates remain firmly in his corner. “He’s the ultimate teammate. He’s a leader on this team. He drives the bus for us,” star forward Tage Thompson said. “I would love to see him come back, but obviously there’s a business side to it. I don’t know where his head’s at.”
With Tuch hitting the 30-goal mark in three of the past four seasons, his rare combination of size and offensive production will make him a hot commodity if Kekalainen cannot bridge the financial gap before the summer market opens.
Playoff Notes: Luukkonen, Veleno, Stone
The Buffalo Sabres have a major decision to make in the crease ahead of tonight’s winner-take-all Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Following a chaotic Game 6 that saw the Sabres erupt for an 8-3 victory to force a deciding match, all eyes are on the net. Starter Alex Lyon suffered a brutal outing on Saturday, getting pulled midway through the first period after surrendering three goals on just four shots. This came on the heels of a shaky Game 5 performance where Lyon allowed five goals on 23 shots.
The early hook proved to be a turning point. Head coach Lindy Ruff turned to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who completely stabilized the crease. Luukkonen turned aside all 18 shots he faced in relief, working as a brick wall while Buffalo’s offense rallied from a 3-1 deficit. While Ruff has yet to officially name his starter for tonight, Luukkonen’s flawless relief appearance makes him the logical candidate to receive the nod with the season on the line.
Additional playoff notes:
- On the other side of the ice, Montreal forward Joe Veleno appears to be tracking toward a return. Veleno was a participant at morning skate and looks available to re-enter the lineup for tonight’s crucial matchup, providing the Canadiens with some valuable bottom-six depth and versatility.
- Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights have some mixed injury news. Forward William Karlsson was spotted on the ice practicing, a highly encouraging sign for his availability moving forward. However, it wasn’t all good news, as both Mark Stone and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon were absent from the practice. Their ongoing absences remain a significant storyline to watch as the postseason progresses.
Power Available For Game Six
- Facing elimination tonight, the Sabres should have one of their top blueliners available. Owen Power was banged up late on Thursday but head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters today including Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic (Twitter link) that the defenseman should be good to go. In his first taste of playoff action at the NHL level, the 23-year-old has five assists through 11 games and is averaging 20:44 per game of ice time, down just a tad from his season ATOI of 21:39. Ruff wouldn’t comment on any potential lineup changes for Buffalo for tonight’s game.
Sabres Face Goaltending Dilemma In Game Six
- Seeking a spark as they went into the third period down 5-3, the Buffalo Sabres replaced Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with Alex Lyon in net. The former came up big in Game 4 to even up the series, turning away 31 shots on the way to a 3-2 win at the Bell Centre, but was unable to sustain the success at home tonight. Lyon would go on to face three shots, allowing a power play tally from the blade of Ivan Demidov, putting the game out of reach. Head coach Lindy Ruff will have a decision to make for Saturday, their season on the line as they’ll try to force a Game 7 against a raucous crowd in Montreal. Only time will tell, however, based on how things went tonight it’s likely they’ll turn back to Lyon despite his short leash.
Transaction Notes: Ritchie, Panocha, Dubinsky
Former NHL forward Brett Ritchie has signed a contract for the 2026-27 season with Vlci Zilina, a club in the Slovakian Extraliga. The 32-year-old is a veteran of nearly 400 NHL games, playing in the league from 2014-15 through 2022-23. Ritchie last appeared in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes, arriving there in a mid-season trade from the Calgary Flames. It was in that deal that Ritchie was actually traded for his brother, Nick Ritchie.
Since playing out 2022-23 with the Coyotes, Ritchie has continued his professional career in Europe. As most veteran NHLers who elect to try their hand in Europe do, Ritchie began in one of the continent’s top leagues: the KHL. He signed with Dynamo Minsk, but played in just 14 total games and scored just three points. The following year, he signed in Slovakia, but ended up splitting 2024-25 between that league and the German DEL. This past season, Ritchie began the year in Austria before transferring to Sheffield in the British EIHL, where he scored 12 goals and 22 points in 24 games.
Other notes on player movement from around the hockey world:
- Buffalo Sabres prospect Norwin Panocha has changed clubs, signing with the DEL’s Iserlohn Roosters. The 6’2″ defenseman was a seventh-round pick by Buffalo at the 2023 draft, selected out of Eisbären Berlin’s junior ranks. Panocha spent 2023-24 and 2024-25 split between three North American junior leagues, namely the QMJHL, WHL, and USHL. He split this past season between the DEL with Berlin and second-division DEL2 on loan to Lausitzer Füchse. Per PuckPedia, the Sabres hold the exclusive rights to sign Panocha through June 1 of next year, but it appears unlikely at this stage that he’ll earn an entry-level deal.
- The Laval Rocket announced yesterday that defenseman Aiden Dubinsky has been signed to a one-year AHL contract for next season. Dubinsky was playing on a tryout deal with the Rocket before their season ended at the hands of the Toronto Marlies in the AHL playoffs. The Rocket signed Dubinsky, 22, out of the University of Wisconsin. He skated in 39 games for the Badgers this past season, scoring six points.
Buffalo To Start Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen For Second Consecutive Game
- The Buffalo Sabres appear to be sticking with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as their starting netminder for tonight’s crucial game five against the Montreal Canadiens, The Buffalo News’ Rachel Lenzi reported from morning skate today. The Sabres made the decision to swap Alex Lyon for Luukkonen after going down two games to one in Montreal, and Luukkonen rewarded them with a brilliant performance that allowed the team to return to Western New York with a tied series. Luukkonen actually began the postseason as Buffalo’s No. 1 but lost the role after two games in the first round against the Boston Bruins.
Evening Notes: Kraken, Manson, Sabres
The Seattle Kraken have partnered with sports advisory firm Sportsology to perform an assessment of their hockey operations department after parting ways with general manager Ron Francis, per Fox 13 Seattle. The firm will review the team’s organizational structure, communication and decision-making processes, player development, scouting, analytics, and more.
Sportsology has previously worked with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles. They also worked with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards. The Rams, Eagles, and Mavericks have each won championships in the last four years.
Seattle has had a, frankly, slow start to their franchise history. They have made one of a possible four postseasons and are already on their third head coach. More than that, Seattle has failed to lead top prospects Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, or Berkly Catton to their potential early in their careers. It is the perfect time to look for a spark, especially as Seattle sits tied up in a veteran-heavy roster.
Other notes from around the league:
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was fined $5K by the NHL Department of Player Safety for butt-ending Minnesota Wild forward Michael McCarron in Game 4. Manson has missed the last four games with injury. He fills an important lineup role and will dodge any further absences with a fine, rather than a suspension. Manson recorded 31 points, 91 penalty minutes, and 174 shot blocks in 79 games during the regular season. He has added two points in four postseason games.
- The Buffalo Sabres are making some lineup changes after losing Game 3 against the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 2-6. Rookie center Konsta Helenius, defenseman Luke Schenn, and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen are in the lineup per Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic. Helenius could be a scoring spark vacated when Noah Ostlund sustained an injury. The 20-year-old Finn scored four points in the first nine games of his NHL career, and 62 points in 62 AHL games, this season. Luukkonen recorded 22 wins and a .910 save percentage in 35 games this season. Injuries held him back from the starting role, opening the door for a split with Alex Lyon who has started every game of the postseason so far. Their swaps could be difference-makers for the Sabres, while Schenn will look to bring another physical presence to the lineup.
Beck Malenstyn Fined
- Buffalo Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn was fined $3,515.63, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, for goalie interference against Montreal Canadiens netminder Jakub Dobes. The play in question happened midway through the second period of last night’s game three. Malenstyn crashed the net hard and barrelled into Dobes, making seemingly little effort to avoid significant contact with the goalie. He was assessed a minor penalty on the play and Montreal scored on the ensuing power play to make it a 4-1 contest. Malenstyn, a physical fourth-line forward, scored 14 points in the regular season and led all Sabres players with 282 hits.
- Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj was fined $3,385.42, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for roughing Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Carrick. The play in question came at the end of the game, during a scrum. While the players were tussling, Xhekaj delivered a punch straight to Carrick’s head, dropping the veteran forward to the ice. The game was Carrick’s first in the lineup since March 31, as he was sidelined with an arm injury. Like Malenstyn, Xhekaj is one of his team’s most physical players, leading the Canadiens in hits this season with 178 in 65 games.