'But the Sabres feel scouts Graham Beamish and Lukas Sutter really did the job in getting to know what makes Rudolph tick on and off the ice. Rudolph's hockey sense and character were a sick combination in the Sabres' eyes. Beamish and Sutter (of the famous Alberta Sutter clan and the son of longtime NHLer Rich Sutter) watched practices and games, in season and in summer … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Draft was a snoozer but Sabres’ first pick was a key talking point
Archives for June 2026
Russian prospect Prokhor Poltapov could join Sabres next year
'The Sabres selected Poltapov in the second round in 2021, 33rd overall. His contract with CSKA Moscow, a Kontinental Hockey League team, runs through 2026-27, according to multiple reports. He hasn’t signed a contract with Buffalo.' … [Read more...] about Russian prospect Prokhor Poltapov could join Sabres next year
Sabres prospects set to start development camp
'The team's Development Camp will start Monday at LECOM Harborcenter and runs through Thursday. Young prospects will go through a combination of on-ice sessions, off-ice workouts, educational workshops, and team-building activities.' … [Read more...] about Sabres prospects set to start development camp
Sabres complete five-player NHL Draft class with three second-day picks
'“You have to continue to feed the pipeline, all the time,” assistant general manager Jerry Forton said. “If you don’t draft well, your organization is going to suffer pretty quickly, whether it’s from an asset perspective, or just continuing to fill in the pipeline from underneath."' … [Read more...] about Sabres complete five-player NHL Draft class with three second-day picks
Mike Harrington: Despite two intriguing draft picks, Sabres still looking for the big trade
'"We made it clear we were looking at all options," Kekalainen said in his meeting with reporters late Friday night at One Bills Drive, where the Sabres' brass is holed up for the weekend. "... I contacted all the other teams in the league to make sure they knew all our options were open, but nothing was attractive enough for us to do anything else but pick."' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Despite two intriguing draft picks, Sabres still looking for the big trade
NHL Draft Tracker: Sabres select Olivers Murnieks, Doman Szongoth and Dylan Dumont
'NHL Central Scouting ranked the Latvian 98th among draft-eligible North American skaters. “I’m a two-way player that is very reliable, and the coach can put me on any situation he wants to,” Murnieks said on a Zoom call.' … [Read more...] about NHL Draft Tracker: Sabres select Olivers Murnieks, Doman Szongoth and Dylan Dumont
Trading for Olen Zellweger gives Sabres defenseman with qualities similar to Bowen Byram
'“Really good skater, speed, puck play, the ability to move up the ice whether to pass or carry the puck out of the zone,” the general manager said Friday at One Bills Drive hours after trading for Zellweger. “We see a lot of potential in him.”' … [Read more...] about Trading for Olen Zellweger gives Sabres defenseman with qualities similar to Bowen Byram
Sabres' Devon Levi trade cost given obvious comparison with Sebastian Cossa deal from Red Wings to Mammoth
'The problem for the Sabres and Levi is that he was worse in 2025-26 at the AHL level than he was the season prior. That's not ideal, particularly in trying to assess his trade value.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Devon Levi trade cost given obvious comparison with Sebastian Cossa deal from Red Wings to Mammoth
Why Sabres drafted Daxon Rudolph over Chase Reid, Carson Carels with Zach Werenski comparison
'The Sabres evidently loved Rudolph's right-shot, offensive-minded game.' … [Read more...] about Why Sabres drafted Daxon Rudolph over Chase Reid, Carson Carels with Zach Werenski comparison
Kekalainen: Teams didn't make trading fourth pick worthwhile
'Let's face it, when you trade away Alex Tuch, Bo Byram and Jordan Greenway and only add Louis Crevier and Olen Zellweger, you have regressed by quite a bit, but that's what the roster looks like on June 27. Buffalo has a large stable full of very good young players and prospects. It seemed like Kekalainen would've liked to get some top flight talent to replace Tuch and Byram … [Read more...] about Kekalainen: Teams didn’t make trading fourth pick worthwhile
Forton has high hopes for the Sabres top two picks
'“It was talked about quite a bit how strong this draft was for D-men, we had a good group of the D-men ranked close together, but everyone on our staff had Rudolph in the top three or four on their list, our analytics department had him in their top four, we think very highly of him as a person, the hockey sense comboed with the compete and character, made an impression on us … [Read more...] about Forton has high hopes for the Sabres top two picks
Sabres select Olivers Murnieks with the 124th Pick
'"Didn't expect to get drafted with Buffalo. The first time I spoke to them was like two weeks ago, so I am actually pretty excited now, very pumped to be drafted by Buffalo, I don't have to travel anywhere. And the crowd was amazing... I'm very proud to be drafted at Buffalo, because the fans, the city, it seems amazing the last couple days I've been here, so can't wait to … [Read more...] about Sabres select Olivers Murnieks with the 124th Pick
Sabres select forward Doman Szongoth 156th in the Draft
'Szongoth, in 44 games last season with the KooKoo in the U20 SM-Sarja, tallied 10 goals, 18 assists, and totaling 28 points, ranking fourth in all KooKoo U20 Skaters in assists and points. Overall, he's played 81 games with the KooKoo from 2024 to 2026 and totaled 44 points throughout.' … [Read more...] about Sabres select forward Doman Szongoth 156th in the Draft
Sabres select Dylan Dumont with the 188th pick in the draft
'Dumont has spent one season in the QMJHL with Drummondville where he tallied 44 points in 62 games. He ranked first in goals with 28, and sixth in points at 44 total.' … [Read more...] about Sabres select Dylan Dumont with the 188th pick in the draft
NHL Draft: Here's what the Sabres did on Day 2
'After taking 18-year-old defenseman Daxon Rudolph at No. 4 overall and 17-year-old forward Ilia Morozov 20th overall in the first round on Friday night, the Sabres had to wait until the fourth round on Saturday to make their next selection.' … [Read more...] about NHL Draft: Here’s what the Sabres did on Day 2