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'"A competitor," Staal said of Hall. "I mean, the guy skates like the wind, really can drive the play. I think the offensive confidence just didn't develop this year with not only him, with a lot of our guys there. But you can find that quickly. As an offensive guy, I know what that's like and that can come quickly."' … [Read more...] about NHL Trade Buzz: Hall could help contender, ex-Sabres teammate Staal says

'"There's no question that it is important to put the streak behind so everybody can move on, but we absolutely had to block it out," Granato said. "I had to block it out. On the coaching side, of course I want to win, but again, we had to control what we could control and focus on making this group better and getting better as a team. I feel we are. We're in a much better … [Read more...] about Sabres defeat Flyers, end record skid at 18

'"Obviously, we're in a position where we need our young players to be learning and growing and getting better, but we just have to figure out a way to balance all that," Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams said Wednesday. "The veterans know that when you're in the situation that we are, there may be guys on the move and we'll see where it goes in the next couple of weeks."' … [Read more...] about Sabres may have ‘guys on the move’ prior to NHL Trade Deadline, GM says

'"Not really any words, to be honest," Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour said. "You go through a stretch like this, you can blame the system, blame coaches, blame other lines, you blame all those things, but I think in the end, you've got to be an NHL player. You go up 3-0 like that, especially as desperate as we are to just get two points, it's embarrassing."' … [Read more...] about Sabres fall to Flyers in OT, record skid hits 18

'"We obviously played a good game, a good hockey game," Sabres forward Kyle Okposo said. "A couple bounces end up in the back of our net and I just didn't think we had enough looks in the third period there to really try and put them away and end the game. We've just got to find a way to keep pushing for offense.' … [Read more...] about Sabres fall to Bruins, extend record skid to 17

'"It hasn't been good enough. I haven't been good enough," Staal said March 18. "Clearly, in my mind, I had envisioned things differently coming here and it just hasn't come to fruition and it hasn't lived up to those thoughts. I think that's for sure been challenging, that's been difficult, but that's still no excuse. It doesn't matter. I have more pride in myself, what I can … [Read more...] about Eric Staal traded to Canadiens by Sabres for two picks in 2021 NHL Draft

'"Obviously, we've experienced it a few times now with positive cases," defenseman Brandon Montour said. "Obviously those newer faces on the bench, newer roles, with Donnie we're all hoping for the best news for his sake and his health. ... All we're thinking about is the health of them and hopefully they're safe. We're glad everything's on track with that and we'll see them … [Read more...] about Granato will coach Sabres vs. Bruins after clearing NHL COVID-19 protocol

'"It's terrible to lose in any way," Adams said. "Suite level, press box, ice level. Player, coach. It doesn't matter. It's tough. It wears on you. You want better. What I said to the guys after the game is we're all in it. We're in it together."' … [Read more...] about Sabres blanked by Penguins with coach out, extend record skid to 16

'Asked about his level of comfort coaching on short notice, he said, "A lot of the prep work was done previously overnight and into this morning. As you prepare a team, we obviously played them last night (a 5-2 loss), so the prescout's a little different. For me, I'm comfortable. Obviously, I've been watching every game. I've been with the team all season. I know our team … [Read more...] about Sabres coach Granato misses loss to Penguins due to COVID-19 protocol

'"I guess anybody's confidence would be affected with the scenario," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "They did continue to push through to the end. They skated hard, so there's no question everybody's confidence goes up and down."' … [Read more...] about Sabres set shootout-era record with 15th straight loss against Penguins

'"We don't want to dwell," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "We can't think of a streak. We can't think of a streak when you're on a winning streak. You don't. It's a competitive industry, you have to be a competitor, and you have to plow through and let it go."' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ skid reaches 14, lose Hutton early to injury against Rangers

'"We spoke of it," Granato said. "I asked what the comfort level was to continue [practice] because when this happened weeks ago, everybody had great concern, 'Is this within our group now and where's it going?' The players collectively wanted to continue practicing and they continued to practice at a very intense level, so that was a great response from the standpoint of if … [Read more...] about Sabres return to practice after game postponed for COVID-19 protocol

'"It was definitely nice to see that one go in," Okposo said. "The longer the zero sits there in that column, the more it weighs on you. But, yeah, I mean, it's nice, but same time, we have a lot of stuff to correct and we've got to take a deep dive into what's going on here from everybody. It's systemic. Like, the whole way through. We have some work to do."' … [Read more...] about Sabres lose to Bruins in first game since Krueger fired as coach

'"Everybody has a lot of respect for Ralph," Sabres right wing Kyle Okposo said. "I think you guys [the media] have respect for Ralph. We do in the room. It's just a tough day. It's a tough day for everybody, but it's our job to go out and compete and go out and play, and we're going to do that for our organization, for the city of Buffalo. We're trusting Don to lead us out … [Read more...] about Sabres share blame after firing of Krueger as coach

'Asked about changing the culture, Adams spoke of each member of the organization "stacking wins" in his or her role. He said he made a tough decision in firing Krueger, a smart, worldly man the players liked and in whom they believed, amid a season filled with injuries and COVID-19 disruptions. Assistant Don Granato replaces Krueger for now."' … [Read more...] about Sabres firing Krueger as coach only first step toward turning them around