Ziemer was the 71st overall pick by the Sabres in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
A native of Minnesota and product of the famed Shattuck St. Mary's program, Ziemer saw his draft stock rise throughout the season. He played a key role (26 goals, 65 points in 59 games) for the US NTDP and served as Team USA's captain at the World U18's, a tournament in which he was brilliant (12 points in seven games). Ziemer has an excellent shot and seemingly always finds himself in the middle of the action. The main drawback on Ziemer is that there isn't a ton of creativity to his game. He's an ideal multi-year college draft-and-stash prospect. Ziemer will stay home and join the Minnesota Golden Gophers this coming fall.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Adam Kleber: Nabbed by Buffalo in Round 2
Rotowire
Kleber was the 42nd overall pick by the Sabres in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Playing for Lincoln of the USHL, Kleber had a nice season. His point production won't impress anyone (five goals, 21 points in 56 games), but that's not his game. Kleber is a hulking (6-foot-5) stay-at-home defender who plays hard, uses his big frame to his advantage, and has just enough offense to his game. Kleber has a realistic chance to develop into a No. 5 or No. 6 defender at the NHL level without needing much improvement in his game. Should he make offensive improvements, his ceiling will go up. Kleber is off to the University of Minnesota-Duluth this coming fall.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Beck Malenstyn: Shuffles off to Buffalo
Rotowire
Buffalo acquired Malenstyn from Washington on Saturday in exchange for the No. 43 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Malenstyn played his first full season in the NHL in 2023-24, scoring six times while adding 15 assists and 241 hits in 81 regular-season games. The 26-year-old should see bottom-six time with the Sabres in 2024-25.
Helenius was the 14th overall pick by the Sabres at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Helenius is a high-floor, two-way pivot who plays a detailed 200-foot game. His hockey smarts put him in the right place at the right time, every time. He plays with an edge, he forechecks, his playmaking is strong and he's a right-shot pivot. So why wasn't Helenius taken in the top five or even top 10? He's under 6-feet, the magic mark for NHLers. Helenius profiles as a quality second-line NHL pivot whose east-west game could get him time as a 1C alongside Buffalo's top wingers. He's so good that he almost immediately hops over some of the team's prospects.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Kale Clague: Back with Buffalo
Rotowire
Clague signed a one-year, two-way contract with Buffalo on Friday, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.
Clague played only three games at the NHL level in 2023-24, picking up one assist. The 26-year-old spent most of the year with AHL Rochester, scoring three times while adding 20 assists in 42 contests.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Mattias Samuelsson: Starts skating
Rotowire
Samuelsson (shoulder) has been cleared to resume skating, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports Thursday.
Samuelsson had a goal, seven points, 26 PIM, 106 hits and 86 blocks in 41 outings in 2023-24. He underwent shoulder surgery and consequently didn't play past Jan. 23. The 24-year-old hopes to adjust his offseason training to minimize the chances of future injuries. Provided he's healthy for next season, Samuelsson will be a candidate to serve in a top-four capacity, although the acquisition of Bowen Byram from Colorado in March might push Samuelsson down to the third pairing.
Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Concedes three goals in loss
Rotowire
Luukkonen gave up three goals on 42 shots in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to Florida.
Luukkonen played in his final game of the season, posting a 27-22-4 record to go with a career-best 2.57 GAA, .910 save percentage and five shutouts in 54 appearances on the year. The netminder will be a restricted free agent in the offseason, so expect him to see a significant pay raise from this season's $837,500 cap hit.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Noah Ostlund: Headed for AHL
Rotowire
Ostlund was reassigned to AHL Rochester on Wednesday.
Ostlund will make the move to North America for the first time having finished his season with Swedish club Vaxjo, for which he generated 12 goals and 11 helpers in 38 contests. Selected by the Sabres with the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, the 20-year-old center may spend some time marinating in the minors before being in the mix for an NHL roster spot.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Tage Thompson: Injury won't impact summer training
Rotowire
Thompson (lower body) is expected to be available for training camp in the fall after being injured in Monday's season finale against Tampa Bay, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.
Thompson won't be an option for Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, but the injury won't impact his offseason training. The 26-year-old forward accounted for 29 goals, 56 points, 246 shots on net and 79 hits in 71 games during the 2023-24 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Jack Quinn: Two helpers in victory
Rotowire
Quinn notched a pair of assists in Monday's 4-2 win over the Lightning.
Quinn set up Dylan Cozens' opening goal early in the first period before adding a second helper on Zach Benson's tally in the third. While injuries limited the 22-year-old Quinn to just 27 games this year, he finished strong with seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last seven contests. He'll wrap up his sophomore campaign with nine goals and 19 points.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Dylan Cozens: Two goals, three points in win
Rotowire
Cozens tallied two goals and added an assist in Monday's 4-2 win over Tampa Bay.
Cozens opened the scoring 1:26 into the first period, firing a loose puck over the shoulder of Andrei Vasilevskiy before adding a shorthanded marker in the second. The 23-year-old Cozens would grab a third point with an assist on Zach Benson's tally in the third. Cozens entered Monday's contest with just one goal and four points over his previous 14 games. He'll wrap up the season with 18 goals and 47 points in 79 games, a significant step back from his 31-goal/68-point campaign in 2022-23.
Comrie stopped 31 of 33 shots in Monday's 4-2 win over Tampa Bay.
Comrie was solid in his first appearance since March 7, holding the Lightning to a pair of goals en route to his second win of the season, his first since Oct. 21. Overall, the 28-year-old Comrie will finish the year 2-7-0 with an .874 save percentage and 3.69 GAA.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Lukas Rousek: Returned to minors
Rotowire
Rousek was reassigned to AHL Rochester on Tuesday.
Rousek will finish his 2023-24 campaign in the minors with the Americans, who have already secured their spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. With the Sabres this season, the 24-year-old winger failed to find the back of the net in 15 appearances while registering just two assists, four shots and five hits. Looking ahead to next season, Rousek will likely see more game action, but fantasy players probably should still expect him to spend some time in the minors again.
Thompson (lower body) will not return to Monday's game against Tampa Bay.
Thompson recorded just one shot in 3:11 of ice time before leaving Monday's game. It was the Sabres final game of the 2023-24 campaign, so the 26-year-old will end the season with 29 goals and 56 points through 71 appearances. The team should have an update on the severity of his injury, but he'll have the whole offseason to heal.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Eric Comrie: Starting in Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Comrie will defend the road net Monday versus the Lightning, per Jourdon LaBarber of the Sabres' official site.
Comrie's first appearance since March 7 will come in Buffalo's season finale. In nine NHL appearances this campaign, he has posted a 1-7-0 record with a 3.91 GAA and an .864 save percentage. Tampa Bay sits fifth in the league this season with 3.50 goals per contest.
