Buffalo News

'"Pretty excited," Skinner beamed inside Steam Whistle Brewing in downtown Toronto. "We got some good players. It’s been an exciting summer. Obviously, starting with the head coach and sort of getting that settled. Then made some pretty good moves in free agency and through trades. Just excited to get going. You get to this point in the summer and things start to ramp up … [Read more...] about Jeff Skinner ready for ‘exciting summer’ to end, Sabres’ season to begin

'Hughes, the first overall pick in the most recent NHL draft, and the New Jersey Devils will face Buffalo in the opening game of the Sabres' fifth annual prospects challenge Sept. 6 in Harborcenter. The four-team round-robin tournament — which also includes Pittsburgh and Boston — will be held Sept. 6-9, with each playing three games.' … [Read more...] about Sabres to host New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Boston for prospects challenge

'In an ideal world, the Sabres would acquire Ehlers in a trade with Winnipeg, and the Jets are in desperate need of a right-shot defenseman. The 23-year-old has scored at least 21 goals in each of the past three seasons – he had a career-high 29 in 2017-18 – and is under contract for six more years at an average annual value of $6 million. Aside from the Jets being stuck in a … [Read more...] about Sabres Mailbag: What are trade options for Rasmus Ristolainen?

'Rodrigues had nine goals and 20 assists in 74 games last season to set career highs in each category. He is asking for a huge raise, from $650,000 to $2.65 million. The Sabres are still offering a sizable bump in salary, but only to $1.5 million. The figures were reported Sunday by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.' … [Read more...] about Sabres, Evan Rodrigues more than $1 million apart heading into arbitration hearing

'As an 18-year-old with junior eligibility remaining, the deal would not kick in until Cozens plays 10 NHL games and could slide to instead start in the 2020-21 season.' … [Read more...] about Sabres sign No. 1 pick Dylan Cozens to three-year, entry-level deal

'Each addresses a specific need for the Sabres; however, they now have a surplus at left wing and right-shot defense. Botterill is likely to trade from the latter to add talent at right wing or center, but who is the most likely to go?' … [Read more...] about Analyzing the Sabres’ organizational depth chart

'"It sounded like something special is brewing in Buffalo, and I feel like at this stage in my career, it is something I want to be a part of," Gilmour, who signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Sabres last week, told The Buffalo News in a phone interview Tuesday. "It’s a team I want to make. At the end of the day, based on what they were telling me, I feel like it will … [Read more...] about Defenseman John Gilmour: ‘Something special is brewing in Buffalo’

'Larsson, 26, will count $1.55 million against the salary cap in 2019-20 after he scored six goals among 14 points with a minus-8 rating in 73 games last season. He joins winger Zemgus Girgensons as the second restricted free agent to sign a qualifying offer this offseason.' … [Read more...] about Johan Larsson returning to Sabres on one-year, $1.55 million contract

'"I don’t know," Jokiharju said when asked why his playing time dipped under Colliton. "I think it might be how coaches see things different and how they feel about other stuff. I don’t know. It’s kind of tough for me to answer that kind of question. You should probably ask the coaching staff, but I don’t think anything really went down with me during the season."' … [Read more...] about Henri Jokiharju out to prove he can ‘play a whole season’ with Sabres

'Botterill has a long way to go to make up for the massive miscalculation of the Ryan O'Reilly trade, and he's forever going to stand as the first GM to trade a player who became the Conn Smythe Trophy winner the next season.' … [Read more...] about As Jason Botterill’s moves keep flying in, it looks like Sabres’ big deal is still to come

'The trade eliminates one forward option for Sabres coach Ralph Krueger, while adding to the team's surplus of right-shot defensemen.' … [Read more...] about Sabres acquire ‘mobile’ defenseman Henri Jokiharju from Chicago for Alexander Nylander

'"Talking to him, first of all he seems like a really, really good person and seems like a good coach, a players’ coach," Johansson said of Krueger during a conference call Monday. "Very welcoming right from the start. I think the ideas he has and the way he wants to play hockey, too, for the younger guys is exciting. It’s something I’m excited to be a part of, too."' … [Read more...] about Ralph Krueger’s vision, young talent attracted Marcus Johansson to Sabres

'That could depend on the role the Sabres envision for Johansson. While he began his career as a center, Johansson hasn't taken more than 74 faceoffs in any of the past three seasons, which likely means Botterill is in the market for a second-line center or top-six right wing.' … [Read more...] about Possible trade targets for the Sabres after signing Marcus Johansson

'The question is how the Sabres plan to use Johansson. The former first-round draft pick could potentially fill the team's need for a center, however, he has not taken more than 74 faceoffs in a season since 2015-16 with the Washington Capitals.' … [Read more...] about Sabres address need for depth scoring, sign Marcus Johansson to two-year contract

'There are parallels between Southampton and Buffalo. The two have similar populations — Buffalo had approximately 8,000 more people, according to the most recent census — and both have passionate fans.' … [Read more...] about How Ralph Krueger’s time in English soccer could help Sabres