Locked On Sabres - Daily Podcast On The Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres have finally made the move fans were waiting for, firing GM Kevyn Adams after five and a half seasons leading the team's hockey department to zero playoff appearances. Jarmo Kekalainen has been promoted as his replacement from the seat of Senior Advisor. Adams from the outset appeared to be an underqualified man for the job and that definitely showed to be the case, with countless mistakes both in public and with hockey moves. Sneaky Joe looks back on the direction of the organization under Adams, which went from too much patience as a developing team, to...

Noah Ostlund has had a very strong rookie season with a combination of strong defensive play, and an improving offensive game playing third line center. With the Sabres getting healthier, Ostlund has been sent to Rochester due to a numbers crunch. Should the Sabres have tried harder to find Ostlund a spot in the lineup? Sneaky Joe says Jordan Greenway should've been the odd man out, instead of putting Greenway on the top line. Plus, the Sabres are putting Tage Thompson back at center, and the lineup immediately looks better. And UPL gets another crack at the net heading...

The Buffalo Sabres lost yet another game in which they outshot their opponent, this time to the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 4-1. What explains the Sabres playing so well and not getting the results? Sneaky Joe points to Lindy Ruff's system showing that it works, but not for the players Kevyn Adams has put on the team. 

Josh Norris has his worst game as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, but there shouldn't be cause for concern. And is it finally time the Sabres cut down to two goaltenders for the rest of the season? W...

The Buffalo Sabres had an incredibly frustrating night against the Philadelphia Flyers that featured it's best two players both dropping the ball. Tage Thompson had maybe the worst effort play of his entire career, while Rasmus Dahlin was ejected for a dirty hit from behind on Trevor Zegras. How much criticism do the Sabres' best two players deserve, not just for this game, but for the entire season? Will Dahlin get suspended for his hit on Zegras? And we may have reached the end of the Colten Ellis experiment after allowing five more goals in a loss.

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The Buffalo Sabres are within shouting distance of both second place and third place in the Atlantic Division, despite winning just six of their last ten games. As the Sabres have picked up 12 of a possible 20 points, that has been good enough to gain ground on everyone in the division, except Tampa.

Sneaky Joe dives in on the standings, how bad the Bruins, Red Wings, and Canadiens have looked, and figures out that the Sabres likely need 30 wins from here until the end of the year to make the playoffs. Are they capable of that? P...

Duration: 00:25:58

Josh Norris made his return to the Buffalo Sabres lineup against the Winnipeg Jets and put on a show with two goals and an assist, including a sick breakaway goal. Norris' return was a display of what the Sabres could be getting in their highest paid forward, IF he stays healthy going forward. The Zach Benson - Josh Norris - Tage Thompson line played exactly the way Lindy Ruff had been envisioning when he put them together in the preseason. Norris and Tage are the perfect partners for Benson on a line, making it less important that he has...

The Buffalo Sabres are getting their #1 center, at least on paper, back into the lineup in time to play the Winnipeg Jets. Josh Norris has played just four games for the Sabres, but is stepping right into a big role at the top of the lineup as he comes back from injury. What Norris returning does though, is moves Tage Thompson back to the wing, which Sneaky Joe does not believe is his best position. Can Norris help the powerplay? Will he play penalty kill? Plus, what we saw from Noah Ostlund, Colten Ellis, and others in the win...

The Buffalo Sabres were embarrassed at home with Terry Pegula in attendance by a score of 5-0 to the New Jersey Devils. A sellout KeyBank Center crowd was left to chant to "sell the team" and "fire Adams" as the team was getting routed. Despite severely outshooting New Jersey and having the better of the chances, Jake Allen outplayed Alex Lyon by a lot and the Sabres couldn't get the goals they needed.

There is simply nothing left to do with this team other than Kevyn Adams getting fired. Everyone is playing the waiting game until that...

The Buffalo Sabres went into Sidney Crosby's house and outplayed the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, thanks to another poor performance from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the Sabres lost the game. UPL getting himself out of control on a couple of different plays cost the Sabres two goals that they could not afford to give up. Sneaky Joe campaigns for this being the final straw for UPL's Sabres career. However, there is a trade rumor that implies Kevyn Adams is not thinking the same way.

Plus, another great performance from the Jack Quinn - Ryan McLeod - Jason Zucker line, but...

The Buffalo Sabres are looking to gain ground in the Eastern Conference and they're going to have to do it on the road, with 8 of their next 10 away from KeyBank Center. First up, a matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins who are finding success this season behind a rejuvenated Evgeni Malkin and a still great Sidney Crosby.

Sneaky Joe lays out why he believes if the Sabres simply avoid taking penalties, they should beat the Penguins. Also, why he likes Jack Quinn to find the scoresheet in this game. And does Alex Lyon have a future on this...

The Buffalo Sabres have now won four of their last five games after a win over the top-seed Carolina Hurricanes, led by a tremendous performance from the line of Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn. Plus, a strong performance from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was critical in the Sabres win. However, we'd be crazy to not gush over Beck Malenstyn's highlight reel goal which gave the Sabres a 3-1 lead in the second period. Also, a look at the standings shows the Sabres are right in the thick of it in a bad Atlantic Division.

  Duration: 00:25:28

The Buffalo Sabres bounced back from their worst game of the season with their best game of the season, scoring NINE GOALS against the Chicago Blackhawks. Big games from Josh Doan, Alex Tuch, Mattias Samuelsson, and many others showed up with big performances. Sneaky Joe explains why he does not believe the Sabres are unique in looking terrible on one night, and looking amazing the next. In this game, the Sabres also saw how valuable the return of Jason Zucker is. Plus, a look at the standings, with the Sabres still in last, but not that many points back...

The Buffalo Sabres found a way, not just to lose, but to be blown out by the worst team in the NHL, the Calgary Flames, who had played the night before. In the most embarrassing effort of the season, Sneaky Joe says this is a day to fire GM Kevyn Adams, even though we don't expect it to happen. Plus, what Mattias Samuelsson had to say calling out some teammates for being passengers. Samuelsson had another two-point night, and is finding himself in a leadership role. Also, did Colten Ellis blow his opportunity to be the team's starting goalie?<...

The Buffalo Sabres have been searching for a #1 goalie since Ryan Miller was traded over a decade ago. Is it possible they have one in Colten Ellis? Lindy Ruff is presently treating Ellis like a #1, as he gets his fourth start in five games against the Calgary Flames. The matchup with Calgary is a must-win, as the Sabres get the worst team in the NHL, at home, against a backup goalie, with Calgary on the second of a back to back. Cannot lose.

Sneaky Joe previews the matchup against the Flames, who have way better underlying numbers...

In what was probably the most complete effort of the season, the Buffalo Sabres blowout the Edmonton Oilers with a 5-1 win at Key Bank Center, led by a two-goal night from Noah Ostlund. Are Ostlund and Isak Rosen playing well enough to warrant keeping them in the lineup permanently? Lindy Ruff will have tough decisions to make when Jason Zucker, Zach Benson, and Josh Norris return.

Plus, how the Sabres completely shutdown Connor McDavid and the Oilers' top line, deploying Tyson Kozak, Jordan Greenway, and Peyton Krebs in that matchup. And Colten Ellis gives the Sabres...

The Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers made a big trade last year in which Ryan McLeod was sent to Buffalo for Matthew Savoie, who has not done much in 24 games with the Oilers so far. A look at what has happened so far shows the Sabres are getting everything they wanted when they acquired McLeod, and the Oilers are trying everything to get something out of Savoie, including playing him a lot with Connor McDavid.

Is Savoie ever going to become an impact NHL player? Some of the numbers show he's not flashing that type of potential...

The Buffalo Sabres were down 4-1 in the 2nd period in Detroit on Saturday night. With the season getting away from them, the Sabres got a much needed comeback win, scoring four unanswered and winning 5-4 in overtime over the Red Wings. Tage Thompson was dominant in the game, having a role in four of the five goals, including throwing Alex DeBrincat to the side as he set up Mattias Samuelsson for the overtime winner.

Sneaky Joe talks Rasmus Dahlin's return and how massive that could be for the Sabres in saving their season. And should Colten...

The Buffalo Sabres lost again, this time to the Colorado Avalanche, and they're now six points out of a playoff spot. With the season going off the rails fast, should we be on the lookout for Terry Pegula to fire Kevyn Adams? There are a couple of signals that point to the answer could be yes. Should we expect a new GM or coach to do any more with this team right now than the current regime is? Plus, what went wrong against the Avs, and why Joe actually is interested in a bet on the Sabres to make...

The Buffalo Sabres fans were largely being gentle with the team with so many players missing in action, but that changed after losing to the Utah Mammoth. As young guys like Noah Ostlund and Isak Rosen stepped up on the team's second line, the team's first line of Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Ryan McLeod was no where to be found. Something that cannot happen when you're getting guys to step up that aren't typically in the lineup. After leading 2-0, and giving up five unanswered goals to JJ Peterka and the Mammoth, Sneaky Joe believes fans have every...

The Buffalo Sabres are in Utah looking for redemption on their early November loss to the Mammoth, and are trying to dig their way out of last place. Colten Ellis is expected to start in goal for just his second start of the season. Why should we be excited about the potential of Ellis? What happens with Ellis if he has a great start? What if he has a terrible start?

Plus, why the Mammoth have been struggling as of late, other than their win in Buffalo earlier this month. Should we expect the Sabres skeleton-squad lineup...

Through 15 games of the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres are in last place, but some of the numbers show that they are a middle of the road hockey team, especially offensively. Sneaky Joe looks at the story of what the numbers say this year, including that Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin have let the team down a bit offensively, while the team has actually allowed more defensively this season than you might expect. Is Lindy Ruff's system working defensively? Can they keep it going with Rasmus Dahlin?

Plus, why the powerplay is struggling again, as Jason Zucker...

The Buffalo Sabres have won just one game in their last seven and sit in last place in the Eastern Conference. On top of that Rasmus Dahlin has left for Europe due to a personal reason, Jason Zucker has a severe illness, and Jiri Kulich is dealing with blood clots on top of all the other injured players. How are the Sabres going to dig out of this whole?

Sneaky Joe points to the likes of Noah Ostlund, Isak Rosen, and Owen Power as players that have to perform or the Sabres are doomed for another lost...

As the Utah Mammoth are in Buffalo, it's an opportunity to take a look at the big offseason trade between the Sabres and Mammoth that included JJ Peterka, Josh Doan, and Michael Kesselring. At the moment, both teams are getting exactly what they wanted out of that deal, making it the rare 'win-win'. How good has Peterka been for Utah so far? Will Josh Doan continue to perform at a top-six level? When will Kesselring's role expand? Plus, the Sabres are dealing with limited forward options without Jason Zucker and Jiri Kulich.

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Duration: 00:26:32

The Buffalo Sabres have a little point streak they've put together, following a win over the Washington Capitals in a shootout, which has the Sabres close to the top and the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen shows up for his best game of the season, carrying the Sabres in both overtime and the shootout of the Washington game, until Bowen Byram finally won it. The Sabres may have to throw a lineup together when they play Utah, as Jason Zucker and Jiri Kulich's statuses are in doubt. Who should start in goal tomorrow? 
 

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Duration: 00:25:00

The Buffalo Sabres have had three results in a row that are exactly the same result. A 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins has fans asking what is wrong with this team once they get to overtime? Sneaky Joe looks at mistakes by Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson which led to Thursday's loss, as well as the worst performance of the season by Alex Lyon. Should the Sabres change up anything in overtime? Plus, what Joe believes Lindy Ruff should do with his goaltending trio, a make-it-take-it strategy involving Lyon, Colten Ellis, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

The Buffalo Sabres had another lead, late in the third period, and again squandered it, this time to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sneaky Joe looks at Owen Power's performance from Wednesday night, which featured turnovers, a mistake on the game winning goal, and a question of whether he's even 100% healthy right now. Plus, Jiri Kulich's mistakes on the final goal, a great performance from Josh Dunne and the fourth line, and Michael Kesselring shining in his Sabres debut.

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The Buffalo Sabres are getting back their biggest acquisition of the offseason with Michael Kesselring making his debut after missing nine games with an injury. Sneaky Joe talks what to expect from maybe playing with Bowen Byram, to Kesselring's slapshot, to his defensive ability. Plus, Alex Lyon is going back in as the team's starting goaltender. Columbus, meanwhile, is one of the top defensive teams in the league this year so far, but not when the other team goes to the powerplay. Why the Sabres will need the man-advantage to step up for them in this game.

  Duration: 00:23:55

The Buffalo Sabres looked very impressive against the Toronto Maple Leafs in two games this weekend. A weekend that should've featured four points, while not allowing the Leafs to get a single point, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had other plans. A soft goal allowed by UPL on Saturday in Toronto ends up costing the Sabres, bringing Sneaky Joe to campaign for UPL to be the Sabres #3 goaltender until further notice. Will the Sabres play Colten Ellis over UPL at their next chance? Joe also plays out where Alex Lyon and Ellis should get starts over the next two weeks.

The Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs have a home and home that starts in Buffalo on Friday night. The Leafs are not off to a good start this season as they try to adjust to life without Mitch Marner. Toronto so far are seeing a depleted powerplay, a lack of goaltending, and a top-six that doesn't look nearly as strong as it used to. Plus, what the Sabres should do with a goalie trio of Alex Lyon, Colten Ellis, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen now that everyone is here. Joe argues why Lyon and Ellis should split the net...

The Buffalo Sabres get the win over the Detroit Red Wings at home, led by Colten Ellis in his first start of his NHL career. Sneaky Joe breaks down Ellis' special night, in which he was the game's #1 star, featuring a couple of big breakaway saves. If Ellis can string a few good games together in a row, could he push Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen out of the rotation? Also, Jack Quinn's three-point night is what Sabres fans have been dying for, ever since he was drafted in the top-ten. Quinn had both an incredible assist and incredible goal against Detroit.<...

After falling to the Canadiens in Montreal, the Buffalo Sabres are looking for a bounce back at home against the Detroit Red Wings, with a couple new pieces in the lineup. Colten Ellis will get his first career NHL start, a player Sneaky Joe likes the potential for in the Sabres' net. Also, Noah Ostlund gets his first real crack at showing something on a line with Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn.

Plus, a look back at what went wrong for the Sabres in Montreal, a game that could've easily gone either way. And after hitting on...

The Buffalo Sabres finally got a win over the Ottawa Senators, so everyone's in a good mood. This comes just days after lots of rumors and reports about the futures of Kevyn Adams, Alex Tuch, Rasmus Dahlin, and Tage Thompson. As we dive into the futures of the Sabres most important figures, how quickly could the Sabres fire Adams and promote Jarmo Kekalainen? Joe shares why we should not be expecting an Alex Tuch extension anytime soon. And maybe we should be optimistic about Dahlin and Thompson's loyalty to Buffalo? 

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Duration: 00:25:13

The Buffalo Sabres get their first win of the season and it finally featured some offense! Eight goals of offense! Huge games from Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Ryan McLeod, Alex Tuch, and plenty of others finally got Sabres fans juiced up and into the game. Sneaky Joe breaks down the win, from the reviewed goal by Ottawa early on, to McLeod's massive shorthanded goal, to Lindy Ruff's timeout in the third period.

What signs did we see from this win that could carry into future games? Benson's inclusion in the lineup could be the biggest thing to...

The Buffalo Sabres, again, showed an inability to generate offense against the Colorado Avalanche, as they, again, lose by a 3-1 score. Lindy Ruff is looking to make changes to the lineup already, and Jiri Kulich is the man that could be on the outside looking in after a slow start. With Josh Norris out and Jiri Kulich potentially being scratched, who is going to play center? Sneaky Joe looks at the lineup and what went wrong against the Avalanche.

Plus, why the next six games are big for the Sabres, starting with a matchup with the...

Through two games the Buffalo Sabres are showing an inability to score goals and generate any consistent scoring threat. Against the Bruins, the Sabres came out flat, again, and had Lindy Ruff calling their effort one of the worst he's ever seen. Sneaky Joe looks at the offensive issues, that starts with their lack of talent up front, and ends with their terrible start to the season on the powerplay. How have we arrived already at Justin Danforth on the ice in the final minute to try and tie a hockey game? Plus, Alex Tuch's struggles through two games...

The Buffalo Sabres could not have had a worse season opener against the New York Rangers, on a night where the team did not score a goal, and their number one center, Josh Norris, was already injured. Just how much of a disaster is it to have Norris already hurt? Sneaky Joe talks the short-term and also long-term downside of this Norris injury. With the Rangers shutting out the Sabres, why we should likely expect a lot of games this season to look like a struggle scoring, as last night did. What should we expect from Sabres vs. Bruins...

The Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 regular season is here! The Sabres, while dealing with some injuries to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Michael Kesselring, open the year against the New York Rangers who were shut out in their first game of the season. Sneaky Joe looks at tonight's lineup, including who Owen Power will play with, and whether Mason Geersten will work his way into the lineup to possibly fight Matt Rempe.

Plus, why Joe likes the under on tonight's game featuring Lindy Ruff's defensive style against an elite goalie in Igor Shesterkin. Also, why the Rangers forward group is...

There's more and more optimism surrounding the Buffalo Sabres as we approach the regular season opener against the New York Rangers. Sneaky Joe DiBiase has his final projections on where the Sabres will finish based on what looks like an improved defensive roster, confidence in Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich, and a massive season from Rasmus Dahlin. However, how worried should we really be about a goalie situation entering the year of Alex Lyon and a guy who's never played in the NHL in Colten Ellis?

Plus, why Joe believes Ottawa is about to have a huge...

Owen Power, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Michael Kesselring, Jordan Greenway, Zach Benson, and others are all banged up going into the Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 regular season. With a game coming in just days, just how depleted are the Sabres going to be? Of the injuries, the Sabres could really use Owen Power who is going to be close to playing on Thursday against the New York Rangers. Can the Sabres survive without their second defense pairing available to them?

UPL's injury means another new goalie on the scene as the Sabres have claimed Colten Ellis off waivers. Sneaky Joe...

We are one week away from the start of the Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 regular season and the Sabres are dealing with a ton of injuries to the likes of Michael Kesselring, Jordan Greenway, Bowen Byram, Mattias Samuelsson, and another injury to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. How concerned should we be about UPL's injury, who has a history of hip injuries. Not to make the matter worse, but Alex Georgiev continues to struggle in the preseason. Should the Sabres give James Reimer a call?

Plus, what all the injuries on the blueline mean for opening night against the Rangers, and...

Can the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings FINALLY snap their historically long playoff droughts? Can the Boston Bruins return to their usual winning ways after a disaster season? And are the Montreal Canadiens the class of this crop of four squads? In a special Atlantic Divison Hopefuls season preview, Joe DiBiase (Locked On Sabres), Brian Fisher (Locked On Red Wings), Ian McLaren (Locked On Bruins) and Ian Boisvert (Locked On Canadiens) link up to talk about life in the bottom half of the loaded Atlantic Division, and what the path to the playoffs looks like for each of...

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is back practicing and will play in the preseason. So, with UPL back, what is going to happen with the Buffalo Sabres at the goalie position? Is UPL definitely going to start opening night? What is going to happen to Alex Georgiev? Waivers? The AHL? Stay in the NHL as the third string guy? Plus, Ryan Johnson is having a strong camp and is earning a shot at the opening night lineup with the Sabres injuries on the blueline. Is Johnson ahead of Jacob Bryson on the depth chart?

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Duration: 00:24:07

As we approach the Buffalo Sabres season, we're seeing more and more belief that this could actually be the year they finally make the playoffs. Why the cause of optimism and what are the reasons some analysts think the Sabres could be a team that gets 90 points or more this season? Many are pointing to their added defensive talent, but also overall depth compared to other teams.

Sneaky Joe looks at the Sabres preseason with over the Red Wings which was another dominant performance by the Tage Thompson - Josh Norris - Zach Benson line. Have we...

Alex Tuch and the Buffalo Sabres are reportedly in different ball parks when it comes to his next contract. Pierre LeBrun indicates Tuch could be looking for $10 million per year or more on a long-term deal. While that number might have a lot of sticker-shock, Sneaky Joe argues for it being a perfectly reasonable contract with the increases coming to the salary cap. Will the Buffalo Sabres agree? Also, why we should be more confident a deal will get done than ever before.

Plus, a look at Alex Georgiev's start against the Red Wings in the preseason...

Zach Benson is getting a look on the first line with Tage Thompson and Josh Norris to start the preseason and he impressed versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. Benson had the highlight of the night with a great behind the back pass and his line dominated every time they were on the ice. Is Benson going to run with this chance to play up top in a much bigger role? How many minutes might he play in the regular season?

Plus, Konsta Helenius is impressing this preseason, but is there any way the Sabres would put another...

The Buffalo Sabres went into their first preseason game and left Columbus with a shutout 4-0 win over the Blue Jackets! Michael Kesselring gave Sabres fans a lot to look forward to with a strong performance in his first look with Owen Power. Sneaky Joe looks at Kesselring's chemistry with Power, his passing ability, and skating all being on display in his first game. Radim Mirtka looks good in his first preseason game on a pair with Bowen Byram, Konsta Helenius gets a nice goal, and Alex Georgiev shows off in his first game as well.

Plus...

The Buffalo Sabres hit the ice for day one of training camp on the ice and Alex Tuch reported without a contract extension. After Tuch spoke about the market shifting and being patient about a new deal, Sneaky Joe makes the case from Tuch's angle for a short-term contract extension that sets up a bigger extension in the future, while also giving the Sabres an extra year to prove to Tuch they can win.

Would the Sabres go for a short-term deal? Also, a look at what percentage of the salary cap Tage Thompson and others signed...

The Buffalo Sabres are reporting to training camp and will be on the ice this week! Ahead of practice, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff met with the media to discuss the upcoming 2025-26 season. Adams explains why he believes the team accomplished it's offseason goal of building up the defensive part of their roster. Is Adams' non-concern about the team's ability to score goals concerning? Sneaky Joe is worried the team isn't giving enough credibility to the possibility they won't be able to score. Plus, Lindy Ruff talks Josh Norris, the team's powerplay, and his...

The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of goals to replace in their top-six with the departure of JJ Peterka. Sneaky Joe sees two open spots that will be battled for at training camp and the preseason. There are several candidates to win the two spots including Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, Jason Zucker, Jordan Greenway, Josh Doan, and even Noah Ostlund? How likely is each player to give the Sabres what they want at the top of the lineup? Plus, the Sabres go winless at the Prospects Challenge.

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Duration: 00:28:36

The Buffalo Sabres have signed another NHL goalie, bringing in former Avalanche goalie Alex Georgiev on a one year deal. Georgiev has led the NHL in wins twice in the last three years, but is coming off a terrible season. With the signing, there is also news of a Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen injury before training camp begins. What does the Georgiev signing likely mean for how bad UPL's injury is. Sneaky Joe and Locked On Avalanche host Zach Pearson go through Georgiev's recent career and a comparison of his numbers to UPLs.

Could the plan for Georgiev be...

Jiri Kulich had a nice rookie season with the Buffalo Sabres scoring 15 goals, but the team will need him to elevate to a higher level in 2025-26. How many goals can Kulich score for the Sabres this season? Sneaky Joe focuses on what Kulich's game is missing like playmaking, defense, and powerplay production.

Why didn't Kulich register a single point on the powerplay in 2024-25? A look at his skillset shows a player that could co-exist on the same unit as Tage Thompson and Josh Norris to give the Sabres three snipers all on one powerplay unit...

The Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge opens this week, giving the likes of Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, and others their first crack at impressing the Sabres coaching staff to make the NHL roster at some point in 2025-26. Can any of the Sabres prospects surprise at the NHL level this season? Sneaky Joe runs through Helenius, Ostlund, Anton Wahlberg, Nikita Novikov, and other prospects that are possibilities.

Plus, who listeners would pick amongst the prospects to make an impact on the team this year, and why many are picking Devon Levi. Without Levi at the Prospects Challenge, can...

The Buffalo Sabres blueline is one of the most talented groups in the NHL, but that talent has yet to manifest itself into results for the team. Who will have to step up this season to end the playoff drought? Sneaky Joe looks at where Owen Power can take steps, how the team can fit Bowen Byram back into the picture, and what Michael Kesselring is going to be for them.

Plus, what Rasmus Dahlin has to do to win the Norris, and why the Sabres made a mistake not buying out Mattias Samuelsson this offseason. Even...

The Buffalo Sabres brought in goaltender Alex Lyon this offseason, who has had better production than Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen over the last three seasons. Will he unseat UPL as the team's #1 goalie and play the most games in 2025-26? Sneaky Joe looks at how the Sabres may treat the situation early in the season, what happens to UPL if he loses his job, and how Devon Levi effects this mix.

Plus, new jersey numbers for the Sabres, including Zach Benson and Josh Norris. And what a recent report about Connor McDavid says about his future plans, going into...

The Buffalo Sabres don't have the best group of centers heading into 2025-26 season and Josh Norris is the most accomplished of them. Can Norris stay healthy? How many goals would you take from Norris?
 

Sneaky Joe breaks down why he believes Norris will help a lot on the powerplay, but also why he is not a good fit to play with Tage Thompson to start the season. What about the contract? If Norris can't stay healthy this season, could the Sabres look to move on before a no-trade clause kicks in in 2026? Also, whether just b...

If the Buffalo Sabres end their 14-year playoff drought this season, it'll most likely come from a Wild Card position. Which means, fighting with teams from the Metro Division like the Rangers, Blue Jackets, Islanders, and Devils. How likely are the Sabres to beat out all but three of the teams in the Metro?

A quiet offseason from everyone, except the Hurricanes, gives the Sabres an opportunity. Also, did the Capitals have a lucky season fueled by Alex Ovechkin's goal chase? How likely are they to make the playoffs, again.

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Duration: 00:31:00

Everyone in the NHL struggles against the back-to-back Stanley Cup Florida Panthers, but no one struggles more than the Buffalo Sabres. Sneaky Joe looks at the Sabres over the last four seasons against Florida, how many Sabres' matchups Matthew Tkachuk is in line to miss, and whether Sergei Bobrovsky is the one part of the Panthers that could take a step back. Are the Panthers a superteam? How many more Cups are they going to win? What's a good result for the Sabres in four matchups with Florida this season?

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Duration: 00:35:18

The Toronto Maple Leafs have finished top-three in the Atlantic Division every season since 2017, but now will have to do it again, this time without Mitch Marner, who has left for Vegas. Do the Maple Leafs have the depth up front to replace a 100 point player? Sneaky Joe points to some of the Leafs 5v5 numbers in 2024-25 that indicate a team that is going to have trouble matching what they did last season. 

No one expects the Buffalo Sabres to finish anywhere near the Leafs in the standings this season, but there's one path to the t...

Next up in our look through the Atlantic Division, the Tampa Bay Lightning, who showed signs of decline last season, but are still built to be a playoff team every single season. A group of superstars at the top of the lineup featuring Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel, and Andrei Vasilevskiy is enough to lift up a horrible group of depth players. Can just six great players carry Tampa deep into the playoffs at this age?

While Tampa shows signs of decline, Sneaky Joe believes future increases in the salary cap will...

The Sabres and Senators struck a big trade last season sending Dylan Cozens to Ottawa. In 21 games, Cozens put up good numbers with the Sens... or did he? Sneaky Joe argues that Cozens is the same lost player we saw in Buffalo the last two years, and he is not in line for success in Ottawa. HOWEVER, the Senators should have more than enough talent with the likes of Tim Stuzle, Jake Sanderson, and Linus Ullmark to be not just a playoff team, but a team that could finish top three in the division, and even win a playoff...

The Buffalo Sabres have been passed by the Montreal Canadiens in the Atlantic Division after Montreal found a way to make the playoffs last season, despite not being great at 5-on-5, powerplay, or goaltending. Despite having, what was maybe, a lucky season, the Habs added this offseason with Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc to offset any possible regression. Will Montreal come back to the pack? Or are they building towards being a playoff winner?

Sneaky Joe compares the Sabres and Canadiens and how much of a lift it would be for Buffalo to catch Montreal this season...

Last season, the Boston Bruins finished dead last in the Atlantic Division, behind even the Buffalo Sabres for the first time since 2010. Was this just a fluke year for Boston, or is this a sign of an era of bad Bruins hockey? Sneaky Joe believes the latter is more likely. A look into a thin roster, a GM that has been unable to replace Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, and David Krejci, and a goalie coming off a horrible year makes it seem that the Bruins are just a flawed hockey team.

Plus, the Bruins are looking to...

It's been over a month since Alex Tuch was eligible to sign a contract extension with the Buffalo Sabres, and so far... no deal. Should we be worried no deal has been struck? At what point should we be? Sneaky Joe goes through Tuch's past comments about a deal, what he's worth to the Sabres, and what could be motivating him going forward. Plus, a new comparison for Zach Benson.

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Duration: 00:25:53

What would the Buffalo Sabres have accomplished if Daniel Briere and Chris Drury never left the team? What happens if the team didn't have all it's defensemen get hurt in 2006? What about if the Sabres never tanked in 2015? Sneaky Joe asks AI some of the biggest 'what ifs' in Buffalo Sabres history, including a long ripple effect that would've started with a Stanley Cup in 2006. Plus, what AI thinks the Sabres will do in 2025-26, a much more positive prediction than what Joe thinks of this team.

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Duration: 00:25:13

Can Tage Thompson rise to MVP status and claim the Hart Trophy in 2025-26?

Once considered a long-term project, Thompson has evolved into one of the league’s most dynamic offensive forces. We explore his journey, assess his impact on the Buffalo Sabres, and ask whether individual brilliance is enough without deep team success. The conversation touches on his scoring consistency, power-play dominance, and how he stacks up against perennial MVP contenders like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon.

We also take a look at what the Hart Trophy truly represents — value to one’s team...

Terry Pegula and the Buffalo Sabres had a big press conference to announce extended naming writes with KeyBank for the arena. Why did the Sabres make such a big deal out of such a small story? And why can't the Sabres stay out of their own way with memeability? Sneaky Joe talks how negative and sarcastic Sabres' fans are towards their team, but also why fans have earned the right to be that way after 14 seasons of missing the playoffs. Plus, whether the Sabres should even think about brining in Carter Hart (no, they shouldn't).

S...

Duration: 00:30:40

For the Buffalo Sabres to snap their playoff drought, they will likely need several players to have career seasons. At the forward group, Jiri Kulich and Zach Benson lead the list, but is Jack Quinn still capable of taking a huge step forward? How many points is acceptable for Kulich to realistically be the team's first line center?

Plus, why Owen Power HAS TO be one of the breakout players for the Sabres this season. Going from a very good defenseman to a star defenseman, and what Michael Kesselring's role is in Power's potential. Finally, whether this...

The Buffalo Sabres playoff drought enters it's 15th season, but there have been a lot of really good players to play for the team during those fifteen years. Who are the best of them? Sneaky Joe builds a lineup with the likes of Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Jack Eichel, and many others. Did Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek play enough games to make the team?

Has anyone played enough to unseat Ryan Miller? And how have the Sabres not had six good defensemen play for the team in this amount of time?

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Duration: 00:28:07

The Buffalo Sabres are riding the longest playoff drought in NHL history and the league is reportedly concerned about the state of the franchise. What could that concern rise to? What could Gary Bettman and the league really do about a team that doesn't have a stadium problem, or a financial problem, just a 'they're really bad all the time' problem? Sneaky Joe looks at attendance numbers, the state of the Buffalo hockey market, and Bettman's history with Buffalo.

Plus, what we learned from the Sabres 'Embedded' series that featured Terry Pegula and Jarmo Kekalainen front and...

The Buffalo Sabres and defenseman Bowen Byram have come to an agreement on a two-year, $6.25M extension, that walks him to unrestricted free agency. Is the two-year deal a risk for Kevyn Adams and the Sabres? Does the extension kill the possibility of a trade? Sneaky Joe goes through the possible scenarios for Byram this offseason and the next two seasons.

Plus, the 2025-26 NHL schedule is out! A look at the Sabres schedule sees a lot of home games early in the season, a home-and-home with the Maple Leafs in October, and a looooot of road...

Brendan Shanahan reportedly showed interest in being the Sabres President of Hockey Operations, but Terry Pegula said 'thanks, but no thanks', due to Pegula viewing himself as that person. Should we be surprised Shanahan was interested in the first place? And why this basically means the team will never have someone in that role again, as long as Terry is the team's owner. Plus, why Jack Roslovic is maybe the only remaining free agent that the Sabres should be interested in at all. And Zach Benson is posting social media videos working hard this offseason.

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Duration: 00:27:03

The Buffalo Sabres opt to take defenseman Bowen Byram to arbitration, which eliminates the possibility of an offer-sheet. Was this the right call? With the decision, Byram gets the chance to choose a two-year deal, which would take him to unrestricted free agency. Sneaky Joe explains why he does not believe that there is much downside for the Sabres making this call.

Plus, with Devon Levi being a restricted free agent and the Sabres signing Alex Lyon, is it an automatic that Levi and the Sabres will come to an easy agreement on a new contract? And...

Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Eddie Garcia (Locked On Kings, David Morassutti (Locked On Leafs) and Seth Toupal (Locked On Wild are here to talk about the big moves of free agency so far, including the Mitch Marner saga finally coming to an end, what the heck the LA Kings are doing, and where Nikolaj Ehlers is going to end up!

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The Buffalo Sabres have only made a couple of signings in free agency and still haven't traded defenseman Bowen Byram, but is their offseason over already? Whether Byram signs a contract or gets dealt could take a little bit, as Kevyn Adams says the team will match any offer sheet he might get. Sneaky Joe puts together an opening night lineup for the Sabres if Byram is still on the team. Also, where did the Sabres get the impression that their broadcast is "too critical"? 
 

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Duration: 00:32:20

The Buffalo Sabres made a big commitment to one of their own on free agency day, signing center Ryan McLeod to a four year extension, following his career year in Buffalo. Was McLeod worth $5 million per year? Plus, what the Sabres are getting in new goaltender Alex Lyon and depth forward Justin Danforth. With Lyon in the mix, is there room for Devon Levi in Buffalo? Also, what's interesting about Ryan Johnson's new contract with the Sabres.

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The Buffalo Sabres select defenseman Radim Mrtka with the ninth pick of the NHL Draft. A big 6'6" right shot defenseman is a perfectly defendable pick by Kevyn Adams and the Sabres front office, but was it a need for the team? Sneaky Joe argues that the Sabres actually were lacking on the blueline in their organizational pipeline, and Mrtka instantly becomes their best prospect defenseman.

What are Mrtka's best attributes? What's his background? And how long until Mrtka will likely be in the NHL? Plus, should we be worried Bo Byram hasn't been traded yet?

Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Eddie Garcia (Locked On Kings, David Morassutti (Locked On Leafs) and Armando Velez (Locked On Panthers) are here to talk about the upcoming NHL draft, any potential free agency surprises, and about Alexander Mogilny finally making it into the Hall of Fame!

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The Buffalo Sabres have dealt JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth after months of trade speculation in exchange for defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan. A package that has most Sabres fans feeling underwhelmed, if not angry, getting back two players that were just role players last season in Utah. The motivation for why Peterka wanted out is also in question now, as he was willing to sign a long-term extension in a smaller market, on a team that also misses the playoffs constantly. Did Peterka have a problem with Lindy Ruff? Were the Sabres not willing to...

There are more rumors involving the Buffalo Sabres and the JJ Peterka trade market, so it's time to figure out what we'd actually trade him for. Sneaky Joe gives five trades he'd be willing to move Peterka for, if he were Kevyn Adams, involving the likes of Elias Pettersson, Jeremy Swayman, Rasmus Andersson, Marco Rossi, and several others.

Plus, why a Swayman trade from Boston makes sense as the only big thing the Sabres haven't tried during the playoff drought.

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Duration: 00:30:33

Owen Power needs a partner, and there a bunch of defenseman in free agency that fit for what the Buffalo Sabres need, maybe no one better than Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. Sneaky Joe talks Gavrikov and also breaks down the likes of Ivan Provorov, Brent Burns, Brian Dumoulin, Dmitry Orlov, and others for how they'd fit on the Sabres second pair.

Could Jarmo Kekalainen use his connection to Gavrikov from Columbus to help facilitate a contract?

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Duration: 00:27:56

Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Seth Toupal (Locked On Wild), David Morassutti (Locked On Leafs) and Zach Martin (Locked On Hurricanes) are here to talk about why the playoffs are lasting so long, how to fix that, whether the NHL will finally close the LTIR loophole some teams have been using, and what to make of the early Olympics roster announcements!

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There have been rumors about the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers going back years and years, but no deal has ever materialized. Now that Ehlers is about to become a free agent, will the Sabres finally land Ehlers? Sneaky Joe makes the case for why the Sabres should make an aggressive offer for a player that is super consistent, a great even-strength goal scorer, and a great skater.

Plus, why Ehlers fills a need in the Sabres lineup, and is a potential JJ Peterka replacement if he is traded. What reporters are saying about...

JJ Peterka is the latest Buffalo Sabre that reportedly wants out of Buffalo. With four years of rights, but no contract at the moment, should the Sabres be willing to trade Peterka or should they only look to get him to sign a short-term contract? Sneaky Joe believes the Sabres need to have a strong backbone in this situation and this is the first test of Jarmo Kekalainen's influence on Kevyn Adams. 

What about if Peterka signs an offer-sheet with another team? Joe looks at what their options would be. Plus, a look at free agency at t...

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will likely become a free agent in a couple weeks, headlining the available defensemen in the NHL. A veteran of 11 years, and a Stanley Cup Champion, should the Sabres go all-in on Ekblad to make him the Owen Power-partner they've been looking for? Sneaky Joe looks at Ekblad's play over recent years, his injury history, and what a contract would look like to evaluate how good of an idea he is for the Sabres.

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Duration: 00:26:54

Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Seth Toupal (Locked On Wild) and Tom Callahan (Locked On Mammoth) are here to talk about how the Panthers are outclassing the Oilers, as well as the coaching drama happening in Dallas!

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Sam Bennett presently leads the NHL playoffs in goals and is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe. He's also going to be free agent in less than a month. Why shouldn't the Buffalo Sabres go all-in for a player like that?

A look at Bennett's overall game and what it will cost to get him, presents a dangerous free agent to show desperation for. Is Bennett as good defensively as his reputation says? Will it cost $10M to get him to even consider Buffalo? And why the Maple Leafs will likely be the team a...

Duration: 00:28:49

Zach Benson has been super impressive through two seasons as a teenager who isn't big enough or fast enough for the NHL, yet has found a way to make the Sabres the better team when he's out there on the ice. What makes Benson so valuable as a defender and how his hockey IQ creates so much potential offensively, combined with a lack of ability to score goals makes Benson a very tough player to evaluate.

When will Benson start to put the points up? Where should he play in the Sabres lineup this season if he...

Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Eddie Garcia (Locked On Kings) and David Morassutti (Locked On Leafs) are here to talk about the Stanley Cup Final beginning and where Mitch Marner is going to go in free agency, as well as some other key free agents!

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Alex Tuch is going into the final year of his contract with the Buffalo Sabres, but is eligible to sign an extension on July 1st. Will he? How big a contract should the Sabres offer Tuch? What do you do if Tuch doesn't want to sign a long-term deal right now? Trade or ride it out? Plus, Sneaky Joe gets into the weeds on how good a player Tuch really is, and why so many teams in the NHL are interested in his services. And finally, why Joe believes the Oilers are going to win the Stanley Cup.

Dallas Stars stud Jason Robertson's name is reportedly out there in trade discussions. A player that has averaged 37 goals per year over the last four seasons, is great defensively, and is only 25 years old sounds like the ideal trade idea for any team, especially the Buffalo Sabres. Is Robertson an elite forward in the NHL? Why would the Stars look to trade him? What would the Sabres have to offer to outbid all the other teams? Sneaky Joe explores whether the likes of JJ Peterka, Zach Benson, and more should be thrown into the mix to try to get...

Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Quinn was one of the most disappointing players for the Buffalo Sabres in 2024-25, but does he have an ability to turn it around next season? Sneaky Joe goes through what the numbers say on Quinn, what type of goals he scored last season, and if his injuries can be blamed for the poor play.

Plus, what Quinn's contract will look like as he is a restricted free agent next month. 

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Duration: 00:29:03

The Sabres have hired former Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen as the team's Senior Advisor to GM Kevyn Adams, the experienced hockey man they've been looking for. Kekäläinen gives the Sabres someone that was aggressive as a GM during his time in Columbus, and the most qualified person they've hired in the front office in a very long time. Sneaky Joe talks Kekäläinen, not only being a great influence on Adams now, but why he's a great option to become GM if Terry Pegula ever decides to fire Adams.

Joe takes a look...

Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Eddie Garcia (Locked On Kings) and Zach Martin (Locked On Hurricanes) are here to talk about what really matters in the playoffs: goaltending. Also, we discuss how to improve the regular season AND the playoff format, before swinging back to the playoffs to talk about the importance of physical players like Sam Bennett in the postseason!

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Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson had a tough season and has drawn tons of criticism from fans. If the Sabres want to move on from Samuelsson this summer, what's a better idea, buyout or trade? Joe makes the argument for a buyout considering a trade doesn't seem very likely. Can the Sabres stomach a 10 year buyout at a low cost?

Plus, with the Carolina Hurricanes being eliminated, what is stopping them from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final, despite winning playoff rounds every single year? Are they competition to sign Mitch Marner?

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Duration: 00:30:17

JJ Peterka is not a player that Buffalo Sabres fans want to see traded, but with rumors about his availability, Sneaky Joe has a hockey trade that might convince people there's a Peterka-trade out there that works for the Sabres. However, it includes trading away Bowen Byram in a separate deal. Insert K'Andre Miller and Quinton Byfield into the conversation. Joe puts together a deal with the Rangers and a deal with the Kings, in which the Sabres get bigger, better defensively, and retain a lot of skill.

Plus, why a Connor Clifton buyout is a great...

There are trade rumors about Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, which naturally has led to trade ideas from out of town fans, media, and blogs. Sneaky Joe looks at a couple of trade ideas involving the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New Jersey Devils, and has a Byram trade of his own involving the Boston Bruins. What type of veteran defenseman could the Sabres land for Byram? Could the Sabres land the likes of Morgan Rielly?

Plus, what's going on with Jeff Skinner in Edmonton, and why he could be an injury away from getting back in the Oilers...

Team USA wins gold at the World Championships for the first time in over 90 years all thanks to Tage Thompson, who lights the lamp in overtime of the championship game vs. Switzerland. Sneaky Joe talks Thompson's stellar IIHF World Championships and whether it solidifies his place on the US Olympic team. Plus, the Rochester Americans season comes to an end in Laval. What does a tough series for Devon Levi mean for the start of his 2025-26 season? Will he be back in Rochester? Also, why Joe thinks the Florida Panthers are the most complete team he's ever seen...

Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Eddie Garcia (Locked On Kings), Haley Taylor Simon (Locked On Blues), Ann Kimmel (Locked On Preds) and Seth Toupal (Locked On Wild) are here to check in on the start of the conference finals, talk through each team’s changes, make some predictions on the Stanley Cup Final, dissect the latest playoff disappointment from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and check in on the teams that still need a coach.

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Did Mitch Marner play his final game for the Maple Leafs in Game 7 against the Panthers? It's time to start talking about the possibility of Marner coming to the Buffalo Sabres in free agency. Should Sabres fans waste time thinking about Marner? How likely is it he'll actually leave?

Plus, the Rochester Americans win a pivotal Game 2 against  the Laval Rocket, led by a huge Jiri Kulich game-winning goal in the 3rd period. Sneaky Joe shares why the Amerks have a chance, but doesn't love the team's chances of winning this round, with three straight games now i...

JJ Peterka has turned into one of the better 5-on-5 offensive players in the NHL over the last two seasons. With a contract needed to be signed, is Peterka going to sign a long-term extension with the Buffalo Sabres? Or are the rumors that popped up at the NHL trade deadline connected to something real. Sneaky Joe talks Peterka's game and what the most likely outcome is for him this offseason.

Plus, the Rochester Americans drop Game 1 to the Laval Rocket, in a game where the best team in the AHL showed why they're so dangerous. Does...