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'“Last season was just the first step,” Buffalo assistant general manager Josh Flynn said. “It was awesome to get over that hump. It was a great experience for all of our young core players. Now they know what it takes, they know how to win. They’ve been there, they’ve seen it. Look, the ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, not just make it to Game 7 of the (Eastern … [Read more...] about Inside look at Buffalo Sabres

'“I think once you get a taste of success at that level, you just want more of it,” Sabres assistant general manager Josh Flynn said. “You’re just going to see that continue to drive these guys who are naturally driven athletes anyway. … It’s hard to quantify exactly, but let’s just say it’s one test passed in a series of several that’s going to lead to the ultimate goal.”​' … [Read more...] about 3 questions facing Buffalo Sabres

'Helenius (5-11, 190) led Rochester in scoring in his second American Hockey League season, and the 20-year-old was a standout during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring two goals in four games against the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Second Round. He then had six points (three goals, three assists) for Finland in six games at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, … [Read more...] about Top prospects for Buffalo Sabres

'How about local boy Patrick Kane, for starters? The 37-year-old forward is one of the highest profile players remaining on the free agent market and would help the Sabres make up the 66 points that left the lineup when Tuch was sent to the Capitals. The Buffalo native showed he still has some giddy-up with 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 67 games for the Detroit Red Wings … [Read more...] about Sabres trade for Zellweger to help replace Byram, add Crevier, Sheary

'“I kind of realized it could be a possibility that I'd be selected,” said Rudolph, who was third among Western Hockey League defensemen with 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 games with Prince Albert this season. “The defense in this draft is very elite and talented guys. I'm buddies with a lot of them, so to be selected it's a good feeling, and yeah, something I'll never … [Read more...] about Sabres select Rudolph, Morozov to close out busy week at NHL Draft

'“We want to be a team that’s in the playoffs every year,” he said. “There's the element of confidence in our room now heading into next year. ... Now we know what we are and who we are and what we can be, so there's just a different element heading into the offseason and heading into next year than obviously there was this year. I think that in itself is part of the culture … [Read more...] about Sabres ‘instilled a lot of confidence’ by ending playoff drought this season

'Outside of Game 1, in both the first round and second round, the Sabres did not win at KeyBank Center, going 2-5 at home. It got bad enough that the Sabres stayed at a hotel the night before Game 7 against the Canadiens trying to change up the vibes, trying to make it feel like a road game.' … [Read more...] about Sabres lose East 2nd Round to Canadiens, home struggles among factors

'Rasmus Dahlin and Jordan Greenway scored for the Sabres, who were the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic. Luukkonen made 22 saves.' … [Read more...] about Newhook wins it in OT, Canadiens defeat Sabres in Game 7 to advance to Eastern Final

'“It’s tough, it stings,” Buffalo forward Tage Thompson said. “I thought we played hard all year to get to this point. I don’t think anyone in this room felt like we were done yet. Just disappointed. It sucks.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres gave ‘everything they had’ in Game 7 OT loss to Canadiens

'The disparity between home and road records in these playoffs is eye-popping.' … [Read more...] about Sabres hope to bring road mentality into Game 7 at home against Canadiens

'For the kid who grew up a Buffalo fan in Syracuse, New York, where one of his neighbors was then-Sabres forward Tim Connolly, it doesn’t get any better than this.' … [Read more...] about Tuch says playing Game 7 with childhood favorite Sabres is ‘dream come true’

'Dahlin had a goal and four assists, Tage Thompson had a goal and three assists, and Jack Quinn scored two power-play goals and had an assist for Buffalo, the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Division, which scored seven straight goals to come back after trailing 3-1 in the first period to tie the best-of-7 series 3-3.' … [Read more...] about Sabres score 7 straight, surge past Canadiens to force Game 7 in East 2nd Round

'“Very proud of our guys,” Ruff said. “We talked this morning about how everybody needs to play their best game. The regular season doesn’t mean anything. The Boston series doesn’t mean anything. And the five games to this point really don’t mean anything. Our defining moment is this game tonight and we have to play our best game.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres ’embrace’ opportunity to return home for Game 7 after keeping season alive

'"Offense has been hard to come by for me," Tuch said. "Think I've had a couple opportunities in the last few games. (Game 5) was nothing til really late, honestly. I've got to bear down. I've got to be better. … I can't play the way I'm playing right now. Just going to be will and determination, but I've got to move past it. I've got to move on to the next game, and I've got … [Read more...] about Tuch, Sabres ‘got to be better’ facing elimination in Game 6

'Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed five goals on 23 shots before being replaced at the start of the third period by Alex Lyon, who made two saves.' … [Read more...] about Canadiens defeat Sabres in Game 5, on verge of Eastern Conference Final