SabreSpace

'“It’s cool to be starting as the opening goalie, but the game Friday matters as much, hopefully, as the last game of the season and mentally it’s the same,” Luukkonen told The Buffalo News following practice Thursday in O2 Arena. “You need to perform. Nothing is given, everything is earned. It doesn’t matter what game it is. You’ve got to be ready.”' … [Read more...] about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finally broke through. Now, he’s driven to be even better for Sabres

'General manager Kevyn Adams and owner Terry Pegula rehired Ruff to bring structure and accountability to the Sabres after the club took a step backward. There’s a different level of intensity and competition to training camp with Ruff in charge. A different voice and approach behind the bench won’t matter, though, if the building blocks of the team – Dahlin, Tage Thompson, … [Read more...] about Sabres’ franchise pillars fueled by disappointing season, determined to finally succeed

'So now here we are with a new season, with a Ruff reunion feeling like a bit of a Hail Mary by owner Terry Pegula and embattled general manager Kevyn Adams. In Lindy We Trust feels like an organizational mantra. It might work but we’re not expecting it. At this point, you just can’t. The message to this team is simple: Show me on the ice.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: You won’t see a playoff prediction here until Sabres prove they can do it

'How have the Sabres done on the trade market since Adams became general manager in 2020? Here’s a glimpse at his deals and how they’ve panned out, using Evolving-Hockey.com’s Goals Above Replacement and Wins Above Replacement metrics...'. … [Read more...] about Sabres rewind: Looking back at GM Kevyn Adams’ consequential trades

'It’s hard for an NHL team to miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for 13 straight seasons. As we know, the Buffalo Sabres found a way to do it. With Lindy Ruff back in charge, returning to the postseason is not just priority No. 1 for the organization; it’s a desperate need. Here’s a year-by-year look at the Sabres’ postseason drought, with overall records, point totals, winning … [Read more...] about You probably know the Sabres’ playoff drought is at 13 years. Here’s a quick look at how they got there

'“Our self-belief and confidence can’t waver on a night-to-night basis,” said Sabres center Tage Thompson. “That’s one of the things we learned through the course of last season, where we let one turn into two and three, and you think you’re out of it. You’re really not, though. It’s a long season. It’s 82 games. We’re going to get everyone’s best. Nobody’s going to … [Read more...] about Sabres’ revamped roster built with Lindy Ruff’s plan in mind

'1. Jiri Kulich, center/winger, 2022 first-round draft pick, 28th overall: Kulich used his exceptional left-handed shot to score 51 regular-season goals in the AHL, and his dominant performance at Prospects Challenge showed that he’s a better all-around player and ready to push for a spot in Buffalo.' … [Read more...] about Sabres top 10: Ranking the prospects in Buffalo, Rochester and elsewhere

'“It’s on the top of our list in terms of potential events that we want to promote and make sure don’t slip under the radar screen,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly told reporters at the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas prior to training camp. “And some people have kind of suggested that because Alex is Russian that somehow this should be marginalized in some way. We couldn’t … [Read more...] about Around the boards: Will the Great Eight pass the Great One?

'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