Buffalo News

'The Panthers are trying to join the Lightning as a rare team to make three straight finals and thus get the preseason mantle as No. 1 in our power ratings. But they’ve had a lot of roster defections, notably defensemen Brandon Montour (Seattle) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Toronto), forward Vladimir Tarasenko (Detroit) and much of their bottom-six core. So it won’t be easy.' … [Read more...] about NHL Power Rankings: Can the Florida Panthers make a third straight run to the Stanley Cup final?

'Stanley Cup champion Rangers/Avalanche/Stars.' … [Read more...] about Staff selections: Picking the winners for the 2024-25 NHL season

'“It’s crazy,” DeSimone told The Buffalo News following the Devils’ practice Wednesday in Prague. “We’re best buddies going to different teams and, all of sudden, we’re starting the season with our teams facing each other overseas.”' … [Read more...] about WNYers Dennis Gilbert, Nick DeSimone reunite on opposite sides of Sabres, Devils matchup

'Every situation is different. If you look back to where we were three years ago, we identified some of the core, and we needed to be aggressive. We had to make sure we were setting the foundation, and build off that. You have a precedent you set in certain ways with contracts you’ve done in the past, but you have to approach each one differently because one player’s … [Read more...] about Sabres Q&A: GM Kevyn Adams on rising salary cap, captaincy, gearing up for opener

'Instead of returning home with a plan to replicate his previous summer routines, he worked tirelessly in the gym with his strength coach, Dominik Kondras, and got pushed to another level by Duda, who scored more than 200 goals as a net-front presence in Czechia’s top professional league.' … [Read more...] about Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich, a Czech native, is with the team in Prague. Here’s how he earned his way home

'The Buffalo prospect team finished its four-game run with a 3-1 record after Monday's 4-3 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings in KeyBank Center. Konsta Helenius, Buffalo's first-round choice in June, won this one on a one-time slapper from the left circle off a power play with 12.6 seconds to go in OT.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Takeaways: Prospects conclude 3-1 stretch with OT win over Detroit

'The sage advice is only one reason why Zucker was signed to a one-year, $5 million contract in July. His resume includes 697 regular-season games across 13 years, 52 playoff games, six seasons of 20-plus goals and, as important, a laundry list of former teammates who speak highly of him. Anyone in the Sabres’ dressing room unfamiliar with Zucker could ask Alex Tuch and Jordan … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Jason Zucker motivated to produce after difficult year: ‘I want to be scoring’

'“It will be a little bit strange, but at the same time, it was such a great group to be around,” Ruff said. “It’s hard, but it’s part of the business. I don’t know if (there are) a lot of times (when) a coach changes teams and his first two games are going to be against the team he just left.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres notes: Lindy Ruff facing his former team, players this week in Prague

'“The good thing for us is we’re going out several days before our NHL games, so we have opportunities to practice, look at how players are reacting and then adjust them, really, for those two games,” Gannon explained to The News. “That’s what it’s all about. If they’re going into the Munich game still carrying some jet lag, which they will be, that’s fine. We can keep … [Read more...] about How the Sabres’ strength, equipment staffs prepared for Europe and return home

'Czech hockey fans will be cheering for the Sabres when their season opens with their game against the Devils on Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern time. Not only are two players on Buffalo’s roster from Czechia, but the Sabres are beloved by a group of rowdy supporters who made the trip to Western New York last season.' … [Read more...] about Sabres touch down in Prague, shift focus to series-opening series against Devils

'You want your big-money guys to be leaders, and the Sabres have gone down that road. But while it is clear they forced the issue with Eichel when he was likely too young to handle it, it feels like they’ve hit the sweet spot with Dahlin.' … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: It feels like this is a perfect time for Rasmus Dahlin to take role as Sabres captain

'“It was a very emotional moment for me. Honestly, I think I had thousands of emotions when they called my name,” Dahlin said Friday morning on a video call with Buffalo media from the team hotel in Munich. “To get to do it with this team and where we’re at, where I am in my career, what we are capable of and what we can do, just to be a part of that is special."' … [Read more...] about Rasmus Dahlin on being named Sabres captain: ‘It was a very emotional moment for me’

'“Probably his hunger for success,” Ruff said of what he’s learned about Dahlin as a person. “The fact that he wants this team to be a winner. He wants to be part of this team. I think sometimes it’s easy to say, ‘Well, I don’t want to be part of it anymore.’ He wants this group to be successful, and he wants to be the guy who helps lead.”' … [Read more...] about Rasmus Dahlin named captain of the Buffalo Sabres for 2024-25

'“I’m going to be hard on them again,” a smiling Appert said last week during a break in camp. “They know my goal is to make them elite NHL players and help us win.”' … [Read more...] about From Amerks boss to Sabres assistant, Seth Appert fosters trust and hard truths with players

'Friday’s game is a 2:30 p.m. Eastern time start (8:30 in Munich), and will be televised live on MSG in the Sabres’ home markets.' … [Read more...] about Sabres notebook: Main team opens practice in Germany, prospects prep for exhibition in Ottawa