Die by the Blade

1 week ago | diebytheblade.com | Melissa Burgess

Total Season Stats: 1G, 15A | 16 PTS | -6 | 45 PIM Age: 30Contract Status: Signed through 2025-26, $3.33 million AAVThe biggest piece of what defenseman Connor Clifton brought to the Buffalo Sabres this season was his physical presence on the ice. We need only to look at the number of hits he threw (208) to realize how much of an impact he (literally) had on the opponent. He had the sixth-most hits among NHL defensemen this season, and 17 more than any other Sabres player (Beck Malenstyn had 191).

1 week ago | diebytheblade.com | Melissa Burgess

Jul 1, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen speaks after hiring Mike Babcock as the new head coach during a press conference at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Robertson-USA TODAY NETWORK On Friday morning, the Buffalo Sabres announced the hiring of Jarmo Kekalainen as a senior advisor.

3 weeks ago | diebytheblade.com | Melissa Burgess

Before the 2024-2025 NHL season began, Die By The Blade staff predicted how the season would go. Now, with the regular season in the books and the playoffs well underway, it’s a good time to look back and see how close we were… or not. Melissa: Rasmus DahlinCalvin: Rasmus DahlinKerra: Rasmus DahlinSteven:¬†Alex TuchHard to argue with Dahlin or Tuch here, as both were among the top-four in points on the team.

3 weeks ago | diebytheblade.com | Melissa Burgess

Total Season Stats: 7G, 31A | 38 PTS | +11 | 46 PIM Age: 23Contract Status: RFA, arbitration eligibleBowen Byram had a perfectly good season in his first full year with the Buffalo Sabres, often forming the team’s top defensive pairing alongside captain Rasmus Dahlin. His future with the team, however, seems uncertain, as Byram’s name has been in trade talks for quite some time and he is set to become an RFA this summer.

3 weeks ago | diebytheblade.com | Melissa Burgess

Total Season Stats: 10G, 18A | 28 PTS | +1 | 60 PIM Age: 24Contract Status: Signed through 2025-26, $1.45 million AAVPeyton Krebs started his third full season in Buffalo where he likely didn’t want to: up in the press box. It can’t be easy being the odd man out on opening night, but he found his way onto the roster, then did what he needed to make sure he didn’t return to the press box again all season.