Batavia Daily News

'Across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Liiga campaigns, Helenius compiled 47 points as a member of Mikkelin Jukurit, which is second all-time among Liiga players under the age of 18. Stanley Cup champion Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers holds the record with 48 points before turning 18.' … [Read more...] about Sabres select C Konsta Helenius with No. 14 overall pick in first round

'"I feel strongly after (picks) six or seven, it's really a wide range of where the names are going to go," Adams said. "We felt it's a real good value for us to make that deal. We really like the group of players we see ourselves potentially targeting at No. 14. We pick up an extra asset, which is good value at pick No. 42."' … [Read more...] about Sabres trade No. 11 pick to Sharks, gain draft capital

'Buffalo holds an impressive pool of young talent, inclduing Jiri Kulich (2022, No. 28), Matt Savoie (2022, No. 9), Noah Ostlund (2022, No. 16) and Isak Rosen (2021, No. 14), defensemen Ryan Johnson (2019, No. 31) and goalies Devon Levi (trade, Florida Panthers) and Topias Leinonen (2022, No. 41). Add that to the star-level talent within the forwards and a blue line consisting … [Read more...] about Questions surround Sabres ahead of 2024 NHL Draft

'Buffalo is amid a critical offseason, with the hiring of Lindy Ruff and a pool of young talent, the expectation is to take the next step and make the playoffs.' … [Read more...] about Sabres GM Adams open to anything with 2024 NHL Draft looming

'“We’re going to be connected. If you’re going to be a successful hockey club now, there’s got to be alignment between players, coaches and an understanding of how we need to play. And the last part of that is being consistent with that play night in, night out.”' … [Read more...] about Ruff returns as Sabres HC with hope for better days ahead

'During Ruff’s previous tenure in Buffalo, he guided the Sabres to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in just his second season at the helm and later led the team to back-to-back appearances in the Eastern Conference Final during the 2006 and 2007 campaigns. Fast-forward to 2024, and Ruff re-joins an organization that has not made a playoff appearance in 13 seasons, the longest … [Read more...] about Sabres bring back Ruff for second stint as team’s head coach

'“I can tell you, there’s no doubt in my mind that our locker room, our team, our organization, is in a better place today than we were three and a half years ago when Donny took over as head coach, and I’m very appreciative of that,” said Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams from KeyBank Center on Tuesday. “As far as our team, I’m sure you’ll get deeper, more definitive answers … [Read more...] about Sabres fire HC Granato as playoff drought extends to 13 seasons

'It took 79 games for Buffalo to be eliminated as a playoff contender — just two fewer than last season when the Sabres finished 42-33-7 and within a whisker of punching its postseason ticket. While once again they were in the hunt down the stretch, this year’s ill-fated mission seemed to produce a far different tone than that which we saw from the team’s 2023 run to a playoff … [Read more...] about Sabres at a crossroads as postseason drought extends to 13 seasons

'Guelli, 59, spent the previous five years with the New York Giants as their Chief Business Officer. Before his stint with the Giants, Guelli, an Aquinas High School alumnus, served as the COO of the Charlotte Hornets, leading the name change from the Bobcats to the Hornets back in 2014, among many other responsibilities. He also was the President of the Hornets Foundation in … [Read more...] about Rochester native Guelli named COO of Bills and Sabres

'"It really show how much it means to everybody — how much we want to win, how much we want to make the playoffs and make the push here," said Luukonen about Buffalo's recent spurt. "It's been a long year, there's been ups and downs. But I feel like, as a group, we're trying to focus on one game at a time now and try to make the most out of (the games we have left)."' … [Read more...] about Brasky: Sabres win third straight, the boys are buzzin’

'Tickets for the pair of regular-season games against the Devils will go on sale March 21 at 5 a.m. ET. Tickets for the game in Munich will go on sale May 7.' … [Read more...] about Sabres to participate in 2024 NHL Global Series

'“He’s an unbelievable person and I have a lot of respect for people that are selfless in this game,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said of the former Sabres forward. “I want to thank him, (his wife) Danielle and his kids — these are amazing people. I wish him the best. I know he’ll be missed but I know he has an amazing opportunity.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres move two more veterans ahead of trade deadline

'Mittelstadt, 25, is set to become a restricted free agent at season’s end and has 14 goals and 33 assists in 62 games during his seventh NHL season. The former Buffalo forward has recorded 62 goals and 124 assists in 339 career games.' … [Read more...] about Sabres deal former No. 8 overall pick Mittelstadt to Avalanche for former No. 4 overall pick Byram

'“Less than a couple months is what’s expected,” said Granato Wednesday afternoon on the timetable for Thompson’s return. “It’s more week-to-week. I don’t have a target date for him yet. But I think I mentioned this morning we don’t expect it to be two months. But I don’t have the specific from the doctors on exact recovery day on it.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres star Thompson to miss ‘significant time’ with wrist injury sustained during loss to Bruins

'The Sabres got one back with 1:30 left in the second when J.J. Peterka lit the lamp to cut the deficit to 3-1. Owen Power and Henri Jokiharju assisted on Peterka's goal, but that was all she wrote for Buffalo, which was outshot 30-24 during the opening-night defeat. Sabres fans were sent sprinting for the exits with 8:26 remaining when Kreider scored a shorthanded goal, … [Read more...] about Sabres honor RJ before being trounced by Rangers on opening night