'The second half of 2020-21 was an exercise in Dahlin rediscovering the confidence he exhibited upon entering the NHL as the No. 1 overall pick. Fans in Buffalo had been tantalized by viral videos of the defenseman skating through entire defenses in Sweden, and Dahlin delivered as an 18-year-old by executing difficult plays with a Griffey-esque smoothness.' … [Read more...] about Dahlin returned to form while shouldering top-pair minutes
Archives for May 2021
Sabres at Worlds | Olofsson scores in Sweden's win over Switzerland
'Arttu Ruotsalainen also notched his first point with an assist in Finland's 5-2 win over Norway while Tage Thompson sat out of the United States' 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan due to an upper-body injury.' … [Read more...] about Sabres at Worlds | Olofsson scores in Sweden’s win over Switzerland
Confident Rasmus Asplund feels ready for regular duty with Sabres
'Considering Asplund was a spare part until April, his emergence ranks as one of the season’s biggest surprises.' … [Read more...] about Confident Rasmus Asplund feels ready for regular duty with Sabres
Yukon's Dylan Cozens on his 1st year in the NHL, and testing positive for COVID-19
'"I want to be part of the solution here. I want to win in Buffalo. And I want to be, you know, one of the guys that helps bring this team to success. So you know, I would love to be here for a long time."' … [Read more...] about Yukon’s Dylan Cozens on his 1st year in the NHL, and testing positive for COVID-19
Sabres' Dahlin knows why his play improved
'Granato tried a lot of new things in the last half of the season. Some of it worked, some of it didn’t, but the experiment he stayed with was playing Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju against the other team’s best players, “It was a great experience,” Dahlin said. “I’ve never really played against the other team’s top lines before, so I felt that I took the next step defensively and … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Dahlin knows why his play improved
Sabres at Worlds | Rieder tallies assist as Germany remains unbeaten
'Rieder earned the secondary assist on Stefan Loibl's opening goal during the first period, sending a pass from behind the goal line and then parking himself around the net as the shot came in. The point was his second of the tournament (1+1).' … [Read more...] about Sabres at Worlds | Rieder tallies assist as Germany remains unbeaten
From 'suffering' to 'tanking,' Sabres' shifting visions imperiled roster build
'Five months after Regier's "suffering" statement, Pegula determined he was not fit to lead the Sabres through their transformation. Ownership made the same determination about general managers Tim Murray in 2017 and Jason Botterill in 2020. Regier’s declaration preceded back-to-back tank seasons that allowed the Sabres to draft Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart second overall in … [Read more...] about From ‘suffering’ to ‘tanking,’ Sabres’ shifting visions imperiled roster build
Regime changes, impatience impede Sabres' player development efforts
'Development does not end once a player reaches the NHL. Though the Sabres employ coaches to work with their prospects from the moment they are drafted, these players must continue to improve upon reaching Buffalo.' … [Read more...] about Regime changes, impatience impede Sabres’ player development efforts
Sabres at Worlds | Thompson tallies 5 shots in loss to Finland
'Thompson had a game-high five shots in 14:56 but was unable to convert in the loss.' … [Read more...] about Sabres at Worlds | Thompson tallies 5 shots in loss to Finland
How have the Pegulas gotten things right with the Bills, but so, so wrong with the Sabres?
'The hands-on management structure and leadership style are the Pegulas’ prerogatives as owners, but that opens them up to credit and, more often, criticism, depending on how each team performs.' … [Read more...] about How have the Pegulas gotten things right with the Bills, but so, so wrong with the Sabres?
How 'drill another well' morphed into just a deep hole for Sabres
'Since then? Six coaches (it will be seven if they don't retain Don Granato) and three GMs. Four last-place finishes overall and no playoff appearances. The stability they've built with coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane of the Bills is a pipe dream for their hockey team.' … [Read more...] about How ‘drill another well’ morphed into just a deep hole for Sabres
Sabres' bad luck extends beyond just poor hiring
'Botterill let the 2018-19 season go to waste, rendering the Sabres the second team in history to miss the playoffs in a year they had a 10-game winning streak. He told ownership he trusted his players and they believed him. Big mistakes on both sides.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ bad luck extends beyond just poor hiring
How Bills and Sabres have fared under the Pegulas' ownership
'The Sabres are 291-381-99 in the regular season with no division titles and one playoff appearance under the Pegulas. That includes the portion of the 2010-11 season after the Pegulas bought the team in February.' … [Read more...] about How Bills and Sabres have fared under the Pegulas’ ownership
Couch: Born to be a goalie, facing retirement, Ryan Miller reflects on a life in net
'Sixteen goalies were taken before the Sabres selected Miller in the 1999 NHL draft. Miller doesn’t remember them all by name the way Tom Brady does the quarterbacks taken ahead of him in the NFL draft, but he remembers some of them from camps they played at together. Dean told the Sabres’ general manager on draft day, “You don't know it yet, but you got the right guy.”' … [Read more...] about Couch: Born to be a goalie, facing retirement, Ryan Miller reflects on a life in net
Thompson expects confidence to carry into next season
'"For me personally, some of the things he was preaching was just being consistent every single night and being able to take over games," Thompson said. "I know we both believed that I'm capable of that and now it's just getting to that. I think we started to see that a little bit there towards the end of the season."' … [Read more...] about Thompson expects confidence to carry into next season