Buffalo News

'"Jeff Skinner needs a play-driving center," said an Eastern Conference scout. "It also seems like he plays better when there's pressure to perform, whether it's a contract year or he's coming off a down season. There's also the possibility he was pressing to prove he deserved that contract. If that's the case, someone needs to tell him to just go out and play. He's proven in … [Read more...] about Jeff Skinner positioned to rebound from difficult second year with Sabres

'Uncertainty surrounding a start date for NHL camps will likely prevent the Sabres from immediately returning Ruotsalainen, Laaksonen and Luukkonen from their respective loan agreements. Luukkonen’s loan agreement with TPS is set to expire Dec. 18.' … [Read more...] about Sabres prospects impacted by top Finnish league pausing season

'The best course of action is to begin a 48-game season in late January or early February with a hub city for each division. Hold all games in those respective cities for at least a month and finish the season in home arenas if the pandemic is under control.' … [Read more...] about Sabres roundtable: Burning questions during another offseason of change

'"He had no fear. He had a tremendous amount of knowledge and he wasn't just a hockey guy," former Hockey Night in Canada producer John Shannon said by phone Friday from Toronto. "The key thing for all of us, and I say this tongue-in-cheek, was he could speak Canadian but be American. He knew our strengths and weaknesses, never a time you felt he didn't know what we were all … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Ten years after his death, this will always be Jim Kelley’s space

'Dahlin is ready to play on the top pairing, preferably with Colin Miller as his partner. Ristolainen would be productive with significantly less ice time – the physicality he brings cannot be overlooked given no other defenseman on this roster plays with that edge – but he’s not suited to face an opponent’s top players.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Mailbag: Is it time for Rasmus Dahlin to play on the first defense pair?

'“I know the league is trying to go younger, but I think that you still need those older guys, the veteran guys, the guys that have been there and won. I think you need them in your locker room, first of all, and you need them on the ice. We’ve definitely been young. We’ve been in a transition for a few years now. There’s always young guys coming through the organization and … [Read more...] about Jack Eichel on Sabres’ offseason moves: ‘It’s so hard to win when you’re young’

'We're approaching the time when a deal better be made in the next seven to 10 days if Jan. 1 is going to stay a target. If you figure a two-week training camp – and three weeks for the Sabres and six other teams that didn't take part in the Return to Play – players need to start coming back from Europe to serve their quarantines. And the Not So Magnificent Seven clubs need to … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Are players, cash-strapped owners heading for an ugly faceoff?

'“I play with a chip on my shoulder,” Quinn said during a recent phone interview with The Buffalo News. “That’s a strength of my game. I think I do that because I’m a very competitive guy. … Part of my life I’ve dealt with proving people right or wrong, whether I’ve thought about it or not. It’s natural for me to continue to do that.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres prospect Jack Quinn’s journey from first cut to first round

'Peterka, who the Sabres traded up to select with pick No. 34, has not played recently because his team in Austria, EC Red Bull Salzburg, had its season paused in response to a surge in coronavirus cases in the country.' … [Read more...] about Sabres prospect JJ Peterka selected to Germany’s roster for world juniors

'Quinn was expected to travel Monday to Red Deer, Alberta, where he’ll compete with fellow Sabres prospect Dylan Cozens in Hockey Canada’s selection camp for the IIHF World Junior Championship, which is scheduled for Dec. 25 through Jan. 5 in an Edmonton bubble.' … [Read more...] about Sabres sign first-round pick Jack Quinn to three-year, entry-level contract

'The Sabres’ reverse retro look is a different spin on the alternate jersey worn by the team from 2000-06. The primary crest will again be two crossing sabre swords, fondly referred to by fans as “butter knives,” with Buffalo written on the stripe around the waist. However, unlike the alternate red-and-black uniform of the past, the Sabres’ reverse retro is royal and gold.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ reverse retro jersey a ‘fun sidebar’ to franchise’s uniform history

'I loved how the teams used little Twitter teases the last few days. Great buzz was created when a tiny touch such as the Colorado fleur de lis was revealed, giving the hint a Quebec Nordiques throwback was coming for the Avalanche.' … [Read more...] about Column: Winners and losers of NHL’s neat ‘Reverse Retro’ sweaters

'Instead of multiple games against Florida, Ottawa and Detroit, don't be surprised to see the Sabres stay with Boston and then get grouped with Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the three New York City-area teams that include the rugged Islanders and on-the-rise Rangers.' … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Division realignment will be bad news for the Sabres

'Some Sabres prospects sat idle for weeks while their respective countries tried to control community spread of the virus. Many leagues have tentative start dates that have become a moving target – including the American Hockey League – and a few of the Sabres’ most notable young players face an uncertain development path in 2021, most notably Jack Quinn.' … [Read more...] about Sabres assessing development plans for Jack Quinn, Dylan Cozens, UPL

'Yet, the most notable sign of growth for the 23-year-old doesn’t always appear on Ilves’ highlight videos. Ruotsalainen has added speed and power to his skating stride, which was once a weakness that prevented him from being drafted in the NHL and contributed to his short stay at Sabres training camp last year.' … [Read more...] about ‘Faster, more dynamic’ Arttu Ruotsalainen showing he could earn spot with Sabres