Archives for May 2026

'He scored key goals in 13 games against the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. He fought for pucks. He even found ways to get under an opponent’s skin, and the playoffs magnified his reputation.' … [Read more...] about ‘You want to lock guys like that up’: What makes Zach Benson a long-term priority for the Sabres

'It is instructive to note that since Colorado drafted Nathan MacKinnon at No. 1 overall in 2013 and Cale Makar at No. 4 in 2017, the Avs have won the Stanley Cup only once. That came in 2022 against Tampa Bay and, along with 2026, is one of just two seasons in the MacKinnon-Makar era where Colorado even got to the West final.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: As Avs and others show, Sabres’ Game 7 is common heartbreak in the NHL

'The Sabres got more than a good glimpse of Helenius, the team’s first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, in only 13 regular-season and playoff games. All of what Zucker and Thompson saw from Helenius in that short time should bode well for the Sabres’ depth, skill and experience at center if Helenius makes the roster for 2026-27.' … [Read more...] about How Konsta Helenius can boost Sabres’ depth, skill at center

'“We talked about where we were at this season, where we wanted to get to, how we’re going to do it,” Thompson said. “For us, it was just being brutally honest with each other, just asking, ‘What do you guys need to see from me on a nightly basis?’ Guys would tell that individual what they needed to see. It was all about, 'If you don’t see that, I want you to hold me … [Read more...] about How a Sabres dinner in Calgary opened the doors to a culture change in the lineup

'I started listening to the Sabres on the radio in 1982 after my grandmother, our family’s pillar, passed away. The attraction to the Blue and Gold began during their quest for the Stanley Cup in 1975, when I was in the third grade. After graduating from Canisius College, I left Buffalo to pursue graduate studies in Indiana. Like Goodwin, I became a historian and published a … [Read more...] about My View: An expat reflects on the origins of the Sabres and what they mean to Buffalo

For the first time in a long time, Samuelsson was happy when he came to the rink. He was healthy and productive this season, notching career bests in goals (13), assists (28) game-winning goals (3), blocked shots (154), hits (132) and games played (78). Samuelsson’s production translated to the playoffs. He scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 win in Game 1 against Boston, and … [Read more...] about What the Sabres learned from their first Stanley Cup Playoffs run since 2011

'GM Jarmo Kekalainen again indicated the Sabres want to keep Tuch but talked about locking up Zach Benson and Bowen Byram long term. When speaking about Tuch, Kekalainen flatly said, "You have a thing called salary cap that you have to worry about. You cannot be one cent over that." Antennas went up around the room. And they went even higher when the GM said he can envision … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Alex Tuch has a big decision to make – and so do the Sabres

'"It's a 10 times multiplier when there's a playoff game, at least," he said. "The restaurant does better when the Sabres are doing better."' … [Read more...] about The Sabres’ playoff run was a boon for downtown businesses. And they hope it’s just the beginning