WGR

‘It was expected that Ruotsalainen would come to North America this upcoming season and compete for a roster spot with the Sabres. If he failed to make the NHL club, he would then be assigned to the Rochester Americans and continue to develop at the AHL level.’

‘Despite his exclusive rights expiring with the Sabres this offseason, the 22-year-old was still able to do enough to earn his first NHL contract with the Sabres.’

‘This year’s winner will be announced during the Conference Finals in August. That individual will receive a $25,000 donation from the NHL to a charity or charities of their choice. The two runners up will receive $5,000 to a charity of their choice.’

‘According to Russian sports newspaper Sport Express, forward Michael Frolik has been offered a one-year deal to play the 2020-21 season in the Kontinental Hockey League with Avangard Omsk.’

‘To me, that cost is a young No. 1 center and something of significance.’

‘”Knowing next season wasn’t going to start on time, and that even the draft, usually held in June, was now going to be delayed, we decided to take this as an opportunity to change course,” Pegula wrote. “A change in the GM position is never easy; continuity is often an advantage, particularly during these tumultuous times. But when the hockey gods give you the rare gift of time — to be thoughtful and truly evaluate what is and isn’t working — you can’t waste that gift…”‘

‘Nightingale has served as the team’s Director of Analytics for the past two seasons, and has been with the organization for the past seven seasons working in the analytics department.’

‘It really starts in 2012. Darcy Regier, who was already on thin ice, took a chance on a polarizing Russian center named Mikhail Grigorenko. Big stats in juniors and filthy hands made fans excited, thinking they had gotten the steal of the draft. Then he showed up and everyone realized he couldn’t skate. The Sabres selected a center that never had any business being selected 12th overall with his skating ability.’

‘The next time this team hits the ice, if they’re rolling along with terrible special teams again, the wins aren’t coming, and the head coach is talking about how much everyone is getting along, who steps in to say “this isn’t working”?’

‘”It would not surprise me within 24 months that Ralph Krueger is the President of Hockey Operations. It would not. He has a strong suit in that management. I also think, he has the ability to maybe solve a bit of those morale issues that the organization has right now. I do think there’s a bigger role for Krueger than just being the head coach.”‘