Taylor Hall
Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato gives instructions during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 8, 2021. The Penguins won 1-0. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Sabres' high expectations unravel with last-place finish

By John Wawrow May. 09, 2021 01:25 PM EDT

Columbus Blue Jackets' Cam Atkinson, left, controls the puck as Chicago Blackhawks' Carl Soderberg defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
No cap crunch for Capitals, who land Mantha at deadline

By John Wawrow Apr. 12, 2021 03:31 PM EDT

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith, center, stops Buffalo Sabres' Eric Staal (12) from scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Sabres begin overhaul by trading Eric Staal to Canadiens

By John Wawrow Mar. 26, 2021 04:56 PM EDT

Buffalo Sabres' Taylor Hall (4) shoots at Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith (1) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Hall did not score. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Penguins extend Sabres' winless streak to 16 straight

By Will Graves Mar. 25, 2021 09:49 PM EDT

FILE - Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Kruege looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Buffalo, N.Y., in this Saturday, March 13, 2021, file photo. The Sabres fired coach Ralph Krueger on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)
Sabres fire coach Krueger while in midst of 12-game skid

By John Wawrow Mar. 17, 2021 10:48 AM EDT

FILE - Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger looks on in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Denver. Krueger marked his return to practice Sunday, feb. 14, 2021 with an upbeat but cautionary message following a 10-day bout with what he called “moderately severe symptoms” of COVID-19. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)
NHL adapts COVID-19 approach through 1st month of season

By John Wawrow Feb. 14, 2021 05:55 PM EST

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo controls the puck during a scrimmage during NHL hockey training camp in Las Vegas, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
NHL offseason moves influenced by coronavirus' impact on cap

By John Wawrow Jan. 12, 2021 02:34 AM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, file photo, Arizona Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet motions to one of his players during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings in Glendale, Ariz. Bolstered by a taste of playoff success, the Coyotes are aiming to go even deeper in a unique 2021 season with roster additions who are expected to add a level of toughness and tenacity. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Coyotes add grit after first postseason trip in 8 years

By John Marshall Jan. 05, 2021 03:21 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2020, file photo, Arizona Coyotes left wing Taylor Hall (91) is shown during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, in Glendale, Ariz. Forward Taylor Hall surprised many in turning down numerous contending NHL teams which courted him, and instead sign with the Buffalo Sabres in free agency. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Taylor Hall saw only positives in signing with Sabres

By John Wawrow Oct. 12, 2020 05:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2020, file photo, Calgary Flames goalie Cam Talbot deflects a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues in Calgary, Alberta. The former Flames goalie signed an $11 million, three-year deal with the Minnesota Wild. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Lightning among losers, Flames with winners in free agency

By Larry Lage Oct. 10, 2020 02:41 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, April 24, 2015, file photo, New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) celebrates after Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in New York. The Rangers won 2-1. The New York Rangers have bought out the contract of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers parted with one of the greatest netminders in franchise history on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, when they paid off the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Goalies get shuffled in NHL free agency; Lightning depleted

By John Wawrow Oct. 09, 2020 01:04 PM EDT

Colorado Avalanche's Nikita Zadorov (16) is checked by Arizona Coyotes' Vinnie Hinostroza (13) during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Coyotes looking to build off first playoff run in 8 years

By John Marshall Aug. 20, 2020 05:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 5, 2016, file photo, Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka speaks at a news conference in Glendale, Ariz. Chayka has stepped down, one week before the Coyotes open the Stanley Cup qualifiers against Nashville. The Coyotes announced Sunday, July 26, 2020, former player and current assistant GM Steve Sullivan will serve as interim general manager. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Chayka steps down as Arizona GM a week before qualifier

By John Marshall Jul. 26, 2020 04:28 PM EDT

St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (27) and center Brayden Schenn (10) battle for the puck during the first period of an intraquad NHL hockey scrimmage at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo., Saturday, July. 18, 2020. (Colter Peterson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
Pending free agents confront injury risk in NHL playoffs

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 23, 2020 04:40 PM EDT