The kids are alright in Sabreland

It's taken a few weeks, but the Buffalo Sabres have gotten rid of the stench left by former head coach Ralph Krueger. The defensive, systemic load that Krueger shoveled for the entirety of his 97 games as Buffalo's bench boss has been sent to the incinerator of extreme ineptitude and has been replaced by a refreshing dose of speed and puck control with an emphasis on driving play and creating offense. 

And Sabreland couldn't be happier.

Where's the bottom for this Buffalo Sabres franchise?

In 1956 the New York Football Giants won the NFL Championship and for five of the next six seasons they made it to the NFL championship game only to lose. Regardless of that fact the Giants were considered a model franchise but after their 14-10 loss to the Chicago Bears in the 1963 championship game, New York went 17 consecutive seasons without making the playoffs and got progressively worse (4-23-1 in 1973 and '74 combined) before stagnating well below the .500 mark until the 80's.

Football fans largely ignored the Giants and in a pre-ESPN era where game highlights were mainly shown via local news broadcasts and in Sunday pre-game or halftime shows (think Monday Night Football with a national audience,) out of sight, out of mind. As the New York football Giants continued floundering through another lost season, just when you thought it couldn't get worse, it did. On November 19, 1978 with New York up 17-12 over the Philadelphia Eagles late in the game, the 'brain'-trust on the sideline scoffed at the thought of kneeling to run out the clock and 'boldly' decided to run a complicated play. Quarterback Joe Pisarcik's handoff to Larry Csonka was flubbed and Eagles cornerback Herm Edwards scooped up the fumble for the winning touchdown.

Why this story in a blog about the Buffalo Sabres?

It's about finding the bottom.

Three-game Sabres recap Jan. 14-18

Buffalo bench-boss Ralph Krueger and the Sabres, via general manager Jason Botterill prior to the Vegas Golden Knights game, said that the goal is to win two of three games for a playoff push. Going back to the beginning of 2020, the Sabres had 41 points in 41 games to start the new year and using the Krueger formula, garnering four points per three games would give them 52 points in 39 games for a 93-point total with two games left to play. One of those games is on the road against the New Jersey Devils with the season finale' coming at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, whom they could be battling for a playoff spot.

So far so good in 2020 as they went won two of three in the first three games and replicated it the next three. 

Sabres get timely saves/goals and some puck-luck in win over STL

Published by hockeybuz.com, 12-11-2019


There was a string of games in November where nothing seemed to be going right for the Buffalo Sabres. It seemed as if the hockey gods were unhappy with them and in addition to struggles with head coach Ralph Krueger's designs, the Sabres seemed to be hitting an inordinate number of posts while pucks from the opposition were bouncing in from everywhere. Add it all up and you had a Sabres team that followed a 9-2-2 October with a 1-7-1 start to November.

Credit to the Buffalo players for straightening things out and taking care of what they could with Krueger's systems. Beginning with a 3-2 loss in Boston against the Bruins, they began to play the type of game that made them successful in October and they slowly began pulling themselves up by the bootstraps. Buffalo was still struggling in the win column but they were playing a consistent brand of hockey that eventually would lead to last night's 5-2 win over the defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues.

Quick notes in light of the Sabres 7-1 win over New Jersey

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 12-3-2019


Notes after Buffalo's 7-1 win last night:

--Jack Eichel remains in beast-mode as he extended his point-streak to 10 games just 2:46 into the game as he snuck one through while camping on Louis Domingue's doorstep. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen pinched in along the boards and sent a quick pass to Eichel who was left all alone in the crease. It was Eichel's ninth goal and 19th point during the streak which is just one shy of his career long from February 14-March 7, 2017. During that run Eichel potted five goals and 11 assists.

--Ristolainen has been playing very well lately and he extended his point-streak to three games with that assist. For years coaches have been saying that they'd like to cut down on Ristolainen's minutes and Sabres bench-boss Ralph Krueger finally began doing so. From 2015-16 up until the start of this season, "The Angry Finn" averaged 25:30 of ice-time/game which was sixth in the NHL during that span. Krueger began cutting into that this season with Ristolainen getting 23:54 ATOI (22nd in the NHL) up until a November 24 game in Florida where he, out of necessity, used 11 forwards and seven defenseman in a 5-2 win against the Panthers. Krueger hasn't deviated from that set-up since and with seven defensemen rotating in, Ristolainen's average time-on ice is 19:24/game which is less than Eichel (21:25) and Sam Reinhart (20:04) on the Sabres. In those six games the Sabres are 3-1-2 and Ristolainen's plus-5 rating is tied for third on the team behind Eichel (plus-9) and Jimmy Vesey (plus-7.)

It's time to ride Linus Ullmark, more. Plus...

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-30-2019


Prior to the Buffalo Sabres road trip in Florida, some of what we'd like to see out of this team to help them turn it around centered around little steps. The Sabres had just come off what might have been their best game of the season in Boston but lost to the Bruins 3-2. Both Buffalo goals were scored by defensemen that game and it continued a bad trend that has been haunting the Sabres all month as secondary scoring from forwards through nine November games had almost dried up. Only three Sabres forwards outside the top line had goals (Jeff Skinner, Johan Larsson and Curtis Lazar, all with one each) in that span.

That has slowly begun to change as Zemgus Girgensons (two goals vs. Florida,) Jimmy Vesey (goals in now three consecutive games beginning in Tampa,) and Casey Mittelstadt (first goal in 17 games last night vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs) have joined the usual suspects of Jack Eichel, Skinner, Victor Olofsson and Sam Reinhart in scoring goals. After beating the Leafs last night, the Sabres are 2-1-1 in their last four games and have lit the lamp 15 times, all by the forwards and all at even strength.

Even though the powerplay has been all but non-existent with only one goal all month (by Rasmus Ristolainen vs. Boston) in 35 opportunities (3.5%,) it is a good sign that the Sabres have been able to tally at even strength these past four games.

That was...interesting. Krueger is mad scientist in win over FLA

Publised by hockeybuzz.com, 11-25-2019


The lineup to begin last night's game in Florida against the Panthers was somewhat of an eyebrow-raiser to begin with as it featured 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Yes, we've seen it before and other teams have used it before, including the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, as mentioned by Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger post-game, but still, that set-up is a little difficult to wrap your hands around. Especially when you're accustomed to Krueger religiously sticking to his lines and pairings this season.

Last night, however, the hockey coach became a mad scientist after forward Evan Rodrigues went down with an injury during his first shift on the ice. Krueger did some juggling on the blueline to start the game as he tried to work in seven defensemen while double-shifting able bodies up front. But after Rodrigues went down he let it all hang out and rolled with various concoctions up front that were full of surprises, including defenseman Brandon Montour taking a regular shift at left wing.

"The way we play," said Krueger to the media after their 5-2 win, "it's about finding your role in the group. Sometimes d-men will be up in the front, forwards will be back and vice-versa. I think it's an easy style of play that you can step into that."

Game-day...finally: BUF/TBL at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Published byhockeybuzz.com, 11-8-2019

Can anyone in Sabreland remember Buffalo's last game? Sure you can go to the scoreboard and see that the NY Islanders defeated the Sabres 1-0 and you might remember that the Islanders scored early before playing lockdown, 90's trap-hockey to secure the win. 

Buffalo hasn't played a game since that Saturday night loss at KeyBank Center and that's OK. The National Hockey League tabbed them to play in their Global Series over in Stockholm, Sweden against the Tampa Bay Lightning which is an honor, especially for six Sabres players who made the trip and are returning to their homeland as a part of an NHL team. Hats off to Sweden-natives:

D, Rasmus Dahlin

F, Marcus Johansson

F, Victor Olofsson

F, Johan Larsson

G, Linus Ullmark

D, Lawrence Pilut

Lessons to learn.

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-8-2019


The Columbus Blue Jackets did to Buffalo what the Sabres had done to the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils in their opening two games. Columbus harassed and pressured Buffalo from start to overtime finish in their 4-3 win and generally made life miserable for the visiting Sabres as they cut of passing lanes and used deft stickwork to throttle a previously high-flying Buffalo team.

Sabres captain Jack Eichel and his linemates Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson were held scoreless until Olofsson slapped home the game-tying goal with just 1:14 left on the clock with the goalie pulled and Buffalo on the powerplay. The 6-on-4 advantage came courtesy of a late faceoff violation on the Jackets' Boone Jenner as he used his hand to move the  puck on the draw. Olofsson set up in his spot on the left circle and slapped home a one-timer off a feed from Rasmus Dahlin for his third goal in as many games.

That was about it for Buffalo's top line as they could only muster a total of six shots on goal--one from Eichel, two from Reinhart and three from Olofsson--which wasn't bad considering the Sabres totaled only 18 shots the entire game. Columbus on the other hand peppered goalie Buffalo goalie Linus Ullmark with 44 shots on goal, which was only two less than the Sabres allowed to the Penguins and Devils combined.

BUF/TOR Part II tonight plus putting the breaks on rushing prospects

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-21-2019


Buffalo's roster for the second of a home-and-home preseason matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs was released and it has the look of what the Sabres may be icing come October 3, their season opener. Last night a Sabres B-squad went out against the likes of the Leafs Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Morgan Reilly, Codi Ceci and goalie Frederik Andersen and played well despite being shutout 3-0 in Toronto. Buffalo head coach Ralph Krueger was more interested in his teams overall play really liked the way his team played.

"They really pressed hard early," said the coach of his team, "they played and aggressive, pressure game. I thought that Toronto had to make adjustments for the pressure we were giving. We're practicing hard, we're practicing without any eye on the game."

With the team down 2-0 in the third Krueger urged his team to press. "We were obviously pushing," he said, "we were asking everybody to push, push. We gave the green-light for risk and one bounced in the other way."

Evaluation time as the Sabres players get a day off

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-18-2019

Whelp, it wasn't the best of performances last night at Columbus against the Blue Jackets. At best it could be described as a group of players still grappling with chemistry and structure while hitting the ice against real competition for the first time. At worst it was a throwback to some pretty dismal times in Sabreland as the team looked outclassed and disjointed and generally looked flat-footed until they found themselves down by two goals late in the third period.

Then again, it's best to remember this was game No. 2 of the preseason.

"It looked a little sluggish at the start," new Sabres bench boss, Ralph Krueger said in his post-game interview, "The first period I thought were a little bit flat but we did like some things that developed in the second period. There were moments where we found our game, we created some nice o-zone time. In the third [period] we put up a good fight but in the end didn't really do enough to deserve to win here."

Plenty of Sabres players to watch as Buffalo visits Columbus tonight

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-17-2019



Last night the Buffalo Sabres displayed some star-power in their opening preseason game at Pegula Ice Arena on the campus of Penn State University. The 'Pegula' mentioned above is the Pegula family lead by patriarch Terry who sold interests in his East Resources Energy company and donated over $100 million dollars to his alma mater to start a NCAA Division I hockey program. The crown jewel of Terry's generous donation is the 6,000-plus seat multi purpose arena that began hosting Sabres preseason games in 2016 with a game versus the Minnesota Wild. For the past three years Buffalo has opened up the home portion of the preseason against the Pittsburgh Penguins, an organization that Pegula also has ties to.

So it's not surprising that the Sabres trotted out captain Jack Eichel, 2018 first-overall pick Rasmus Dahlin, 40-goal scorer Jeff Skinner and 2019 first round pick Dylan Cozens for last nights game in the hopes of some fireworks, especially with a new head coach in Ralph Krueger. The Sabres dominated the first two periods outshooting the Penguins a whopping 37-9 and took a 4-1 lead into the third period. That would dissipate, however, as Pittsburgh scored three unanswered goals to send the game to overtime. Eichel saved the day as he scored the overtime winner with only eight seconds left in the extra session.

Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--G, Linus Ullmark

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-14-2019


In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.

G--Linus Ullmark
26 yrs. old
6'4" 213 lbs.
2012, sixth round (163rd overall)

Career stats: 63 games played | 24-27-7 record | 2.87 GAA | .910 Sv% | 2 shutouts


Sabres backup goalie Linus Ullmark had a rude awakening last season, although you'd never have known it as the player with the twitter handle, "Icebear Dude," is always chill even in the face of the disaster like the one that unfolded during the second half of the season for the team and himself. Ullmark takes it as it comes and maintains his calm demeanor opting for a general philosophy that involves inevitability and acceptance rather than fits of emotion. Just how far this takes the 26 yr. old netminder in the National Hockey League remains to be seen, but goaltenders are a quirky bunch so...whatever works.

Three more Sabres on arbitration list plus, Ullmark's numbers

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 7-31-2019


Tomorrow will be August 1 which means summer's truly on it's way out, training camps are getting closer and...arbitration hearings will continue.

The Buffalo Sabres have three hearings left with players who filed for arbitration:

--F, Remi Elie (Aug. 1)
--G, Linus Ullmark (Aug. 2)
--D, Jake McCabe (Aug. 4)

All three players have issues heading into the hearings (if they go that far) which could mean the independent arbiter's decision will favor Buffalo in some way.

Elie is up tomorrow and although we're not sure as of yet what he's asking, anything north of $800K (which represents a raise of over $100) might be too much. Although it's hard not to love the determination with which the 24 yr. old plays the game, he just doesn't have the numbers to justify his present status of an AHL/NHL tweener who's best suited to a top-nine/six role with the Rochester Americans.

Girgensons signs, four Sabres RFA's are in a group of 40 to file for arbitration

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 7-6-2019


Restricted free agent forward Zemgus Girgensons and the Buffalo Sabres reached an agreement yesterday on a one-year, $1.6 million deal, the same dollar amount he played for last season. The former first round pick (2012, 14th-overall) is the longest tenured Sabres player on the roster and will be entering his seventh season with the Blue and Gold. During his six years the organization has seen major changes which include the dismantling of owner Terry Pegula's inner circle, the dismissal of two team presidents, a six-month stint for a vice president of hockey operations, two general managers and five head coaches.

Both he and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (2013, eighth-overall) have endured a lot of changes since being selected by the Sabres in the NHL Draft yet the full force of fan disenchantment has been directed at these two players. The gist of the consternation,which has also been started by and/or fostered by local media, is that both have a part of a losing culture and that if the team wants to start turning their fortunes around, moving on from either or both would really get the team moving in the right direction.

Such is the life of a whipping boy.

Impressions of, and questions concerning--G, Linus Ullmark

Goalie--Linus Ullmark

DOB:  July 31, 1993 (age, 25)

Draft:  2012 sixth round (163rd-overall)

How acquired:  Drafted by Buffalo

Last contract signed:  June 13, 2017--3yr./$1.5million

Final year of contract: 2018-19

2018-19 Stats:  15-14-5 record | 3.11 GAA | .905 SV% | 2 shutouts

Buffalo Career Stats:  24-27-7 | 2.87 GAA | .910 SV% | 2 shutouts

What we wrote preseason:  Ullmark did not have the best Amerks team in front of him in 2016-17 and lead the league in shots-against with 1,678 yet he still managed a decent .909 Sv% on a Rochester team that finished with the sixth-worst record. Last year he clipped his GAA to 2.44 and upped his Sv% to .922 and helped the Amerks reach the playoffs for the first time in three years. But they were swept in the first round with him sporting a 5.50 GAA and .880 Sv%.

Earlier at training camp Ullmark, ever the thoughtful and level-headed one, was asked about the finish to last season and he told the press that he "was going to go out there and try his very best and hope that works." 

As of now it looks as if he'll be a 1B to Carter Hutton's 1A for the Sabres and at worst he'll be considered a backup getting a good amount of starts. The Sabres will need some solid goaltending if they want to entertain thoughts of going on a playoff run this season. There will a lot of new faces amongst the skaters on the ice opening night while Ullmark will join Hutton as the new faces of Buffalo's goalie tandem.

What we wrote mid-season:  The backup [to Hutton] mentioned above is Ullmark, who's in his fourth season with the Sabres organization. Ullmark was drafted in the sixth round (163rd-overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft and has worked his way up the pipeline. He performed well as a rookie when called into emergency service for the Sabres back in 2015-16 and was the Rochester Americans starter and team MVP the last two seasons. Botterill said Ullmark would be in the mix this season and he certainly has with a 8-1-3 record and a solid .922 Sv%. After posting his second shutout of the season on Saturday night, some are already making the call to the bullpen to have him dubbed as Buffalo's starting goalie. In due time, my friends. Ullmark still has his inconsistencies as evidenced by a 2.71 GAA despite having two shutouts in 13 games, but his strong positional play and how he looks big in the crease, plus the poise he's showed, has given us every indication that he could be a No. 1 goalie.

Impressions on his play this year:  The operative word in the above paragraph is 'could'. Ullmark was real strong at times, especially in and around Buffalo's 10-game winning streak, but he also struggled mightily during the Sabres December-April slide. He had some spectacular moments, including a shutout, during that span, but for the most part he was exactly what his 10-14-3 record, 3.27 GAA and .889 SV% would indicate.

Yet as we move away from last season and begin looking ahead we can't help but wonder how much of the Sabres train wreck was caused by a head coach striving for offense from his blueliners while paying so little attention to the defensive zone. Buffalo had no idea what to do back there and ultimately goaltending took a dive along with the team. Disjointed in the d-zone might be too kind for what we witnessed in 2018-19 and perhaps that's why we saw a lot of overcompensation from Ullmark on plays which left him far past the post at one side of the net while the play was clear away on the other side. It was very troubling seeing that on almost a game-by-game basis and I'd asked Kris Baker (a former goalie) of sabresprospects.com if it was something that was correctable. He said, "yes." So that's good news. 

Other than that, at 6'4" 213 lb. Ullmark has the size and he also has all the tools to be a No. 1. He has good technique, is calm in net and seems to bounce back well which is a good foundation for himself and the team. He also provides honest, quirky post-game interviews which is good for fans and the media. Ullmark has been working up the ranks step by step and developed some consistency at each level along the way. He appeared in 37 games for Buffalo last season which is a career high and one would expect to see him in a few more next season, should his play warrant it.

Questions moving forward:  What will the restricted free agent's new contract look like? How much will new head coach Ralph Krueger help the defense and goaltending overall? Is Sabres GM Jason Botterill content with this tandem? Will Ullmark and Hutton develop a mutual trust with the skaters?  Can Ullmark get his glove working a little quicker? Can he refrain from overcompensating? Can he quicken his side-to-side movement? Will his post-game interviews get better?

Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.

Gamenight, Vancouver. Then a long break

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 1-18-2019


It's too bad the Sabres went into the slump they did following their winning streak. After being atop the league Buffalo fell rung-by-rung down the ladder and eventually out of a playoff spot. At 24-17-6 on the year the Sabres sit fifth in the Atlantic division with 54 points, are two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second Eastern conference wild card spot and three points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the first wild card spot. With Buffalo having played one more game than the Pens and one less game than the Habs, even a win tonight coupled with losses by both those clubs would not change their position.

A win tonight in Vancouver against the Canucks, however, would keep the Sabres within striking distance of both those clubs as well as the Boston Bruins who are third in the division with 59 points. Buffalo has a game in hand on Boston which will be made up tonight.

Plenty of hockey to watch in Sabreland: USA vs. FIN; Buffalo @ Boston

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 1-5-2019


If you're Buffalo GM Jason Botterill it's hard not to think there are some good things happening in the Sabres organization. Botterill took over as general manager in 2017 after leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins organization with their team deep into the playoffs on their Stanley Cup run. The rookie GM had a lot on his plate which included the upcoming Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft, the NHL Draft and the start of free agency. All of that would take place in a time-frame of less than two weeks.

In less than two years Botterill transitioned his Sabres team away from the previous GM and managed to calm a locker room, create cap-space and get that team moving towards a more modern version of the way the NHL game is played today. After a last place finish in 2017-18 his NHL team is presently in a playoff spot and has a very bright future ahead.

Botterill also placed a supreme focus last season on picking his AHL affiliate up off the mat. The collateral damage the Rochester Americans felt as the Sabres tanked and tried to rebuild was widespread and deep leaving the Amerks bereft of any semblance of quality talent with finishes near the bottom of the league for  three consecutive seasons prior to Botterill coming aboard. Last season they made the playoffs and this year they spent most of the season at the top of their division.

Things were so bad in the organization that the Buffalo's ECHL affiliate, the Elmira Jackals, struggled near the bottom of the league for those three seasons and eventually ceased operations in 2017.

Sabres need to move on from yesterday's stinker.

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 12-9-2018


Linus Ullmark suffered his first regulation loss of the season yesterday afternoon in Buffalo's 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Even thought six goals ended up behind him, no blame should be thrown Ullmark's way as the skaters in front of him suffered an extreme case of hubris that caused a meltdown with six unanswered Flyers goals.

Sabres head coach Phil Housley called it a "stinker" yesterday, the stench of which could be smelled to the top row of the 300's and beyond. It was a "Core-like" performance from his club where they got out to an early lead, found themselves in a dog fight and wilted as Philadelphia willed their way to a lopsided win.

It's not a dream, 9-game winning streak propels Sabres to top spot in NHL

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-25-2018


There's a nice symmetry to the Buffalo Sabres nine-game winning streak as they've won three in regulation, three in overtime and three in the shootout. In addition to that, nine different Buffalo players have scored the game-winning/game-deciding goal during the streak.

Last night in Detroit it was Sam Reinhart's turn. But it almost never happened as his giveaway in the neutral zone with only :17 seconds left led to a golden opportunity for the Red Wings that was snuffed out by the quick glove-hand of Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark. After the whistle one could see Reinhart in a gesture of thanks then saying some words that might have included, "I owe you one."

Seven rounds into the shootout both goalies had allowed one goal each and Reinhart skated to center ice with a chance to win it. He roofed a nifty backhand from in tight past Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard for the 3-2 shootout win and the call from Sabres play-by-play man Dan Dunleavy said it all, "Say hello to your first place Buffalo Sabres."

Prior to this winning streak Buffalo sat fifth in the Atlantic division with a 7-6-2 record good for 16 points and had just come off of a 3-1 loss in New York where they were stonewalled by Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. All-in-all their place in the standings at the time wasn't bad considering where they came from the prior year and the difficulties they had coming out of the gate this year.