‘Craig Anderson, Dustin Tokarski and Malcolm Subban are unrestricted free agents. Injuries have prevented Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from seizing a full-time job in Buffalo. Devon Levi and Erik Portillo opted to return to college rather than signing with the Sabres.’
Archives for May 4, 2022
Mike Harrington: The Sabres’ culture is transformed, but GM Kevyn Adams has plenty more work to do
‘But now it’s time to get real after the season-ending kumbayas. Never has there been more happiness around a 75-point, non-playoff season, but it’s fair and important to say there’s no satisfaction in it either. This was a classic bridge year, from the disgrace of the Ralph Krueger teams and the end of the Eichel-Reinhart era to a new feel.’
Alan Pergament: Despite Jeanneret’s late-season assist, Sabres’ ratings down 10% from year ago
‘The ratings for the Sabres picked up for the season’s final eight games as the play of Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch and other young players gave fans renewed hope that next year’s team will break the 11-year playoff drought. Six of the team’s last seven games averaged a 4.5 rating or higher.’
What will Sabres do with captaincy next season?
‘“When you look at this season, we wanted to be careful to put too much on one guy, especially as we were building and transitioning into this phase,” Adams said Tuesday during his end-of-season news conference at KeyBank Center. “But we wanted to make sure we gave the young guys a voice and let them have their time to learn and be comfortable in the locker room.’
Sabres prospect Ryan Johnson ‘leaning’ toward returning to Minnesota
‘“It’s open-ended a little bit,” Adams said of Johnson’s status Tuesday during his end-of-season news conference at KeyBank Center. “But he’s indicated where he’s at right now, the team they have, the ice time he gets there, he thinks at this point he’s leaning that direction.”’
Kevyn Adams has many items on offseason to-do list, including figuring out goaltending
‘When looking at, what Adams calls, “the big picture,” the Sabres have three young goalies that they are developing in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Erik Portillo and Devon Levi.’
Listen: Granato: ‘We have so much further to go’
‘“We just have so much further to go, that to congregate us is almost ridiculous in my mind,” Granato said with Jeremy White and Nate Geary.’
‘The players believe and that’s a big deal’, Granato, Adams share optimism as Sabres enter offseason
‘”What I feel good about is you look at our team now and the continuity within the staff and the players, and you’re building. We want really good players and really good people that love being here,” Adams said. “When that comes together, and I think we feel it’s starting to, it can be special. It can be powerful and the players now believe and that’s a big deal.”‘
Sabres’ Kevyn Adams, Don Granato hold season-ending press conferences
‘Goaltending remains an area for improvement. None of the three goalies who played in at least 10 games had a save percentage over .900. However, turnover is expected: None of the six goalies who appeared for the team this year are under contract for next year, and only Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a restricted free agent.’
Who will be the Sabres next captain and goaltender?
‘With Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons named alternate captains ahead of last season, it might be time for one of them to wear the “C.”‘