Matthew Fairburn
@matthewfairburn.bsky.social
Writing about the Buffalo Sabres and NHL for The Athletic. Occasionally writing about the Buffalo Bills as well.
Pinned
Terry Pegula’s ownership, Kevyn Adams’ rise and the ‘hamster wheel’ of Sabres’ record playoff drought
Buffalo's 14-season playoff drought is tied with the New York Jets for the longest postseason famine in major North American sports.
www.nytimes.com
How did Kevyn Adams earn Terry Pegula’s trust and how has he kept it?
After conversations with 10 people in and around the Sabres the last decade-plus and a lengthy sit down with Adams, a story on a record playoff drought.
“They’re on a hamster wheel.”
www.nytimes.com/athl...
After conversations with 10 people in and around the Sabres the last decade-plus and a lengthy sit down with Adams, a story on a record playoff drought.
“They’re on a hamster wheel.”
www.nytimes.com/athl...
Jiri Kulich is dealing with a blood clot issue and is going to miss a significant amount of time, Lindy Ruff said. Ruff said he expects him to return this season but everything depends on how things go in the next three or four weeks.
November 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Jiri Kulich is dealing with a blood clot issue and is going to miss a significant amount of time, Lindy Ruff said. Ruff said he expects him to return this season but everything depends on how things go in the next three or four weeks.
Sabres lines at practice featuring some new defensive pairs.
Thompson-McLeod-Tuch
Rosén-Östlund-Quinn
Greenway-Kozak-Doan
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
Zac Jones - Owen Power
Bowen Byram - Conor Timmins
Jacob Bryson - Michael Kesselring
Thompson-McLeod-Tuch
Rosén-Östlund-Quinn
Greenway-Kozak-Doan
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
Zac Jones - Owen Power
Bowen Byram - Conor Timmins
Jacob Bryson - Michael Kesselring
November 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Sabres lines at practice featuring some new defensive pairs.
Thompson-McLeod-Tuch
Rosén-Östlund-Quinn
Greenway-Kozak-Doan
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
Zac Jones - Owen Power
Bowen Byram - Conor Timmins
Jacob Bryson - Michael Kesselring
Thompson-McLeod-Tuch
Rosén-Östlund-Quinn
Greenway-Kozak-Doan
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
Zac Jones - Owen Power
Bowen Byram - Conor Timmins
Jacob Bryson - Michael Kesselring
The Sabres are back at practice this morning. Jiri Kulich, Jason Zucker and Zach Benson all not practicing. Mattias Samuelsson isn’t out there, either.
November 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The Sabres are back at practice this morning. Jiri Kulich, Jason Zucker and Zach Benson all not practicing. Mattias Samuelsson isn’t out there, either.
The Sabres’ season has reached another tipping point after their loss to the Hurricanes. Will they still be in the mix by the time they get healthy? Thoughts on that, how the defense played without Dahlin and more
Sabres’ season reaches another tipping point with loss to Hurricanes: 4 thoughts
Despite a third-period comeback attempt, the Sabres lost 6-3 to Carolina on Saturday and are now 1-2-4 in their last seven games.
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The Sabres’ season has reached another tipping point after their loss to the Hurricanes. Will they still be in the mix by the time they get healthy? Thoughts on that, how the defense played without Dahlin and more
The Sabres lose 6-3. That's their second straight regulation loss. Buffalo is 1-2-4 in its last seven games and without a regulation win since Oct. 24. The Sabres' next three games are at Utah, at Colorado and at Detroit.
November 9, 2025 at 2:44 AM
The Sabres lose 6-3. That's their second straight regulation loss. Buffalo is 1-2-4 in its last seven games and without a regulation win since Oct. 24. The Sabres' next three games are at Utah, at Colorado and at Detroit.
Another empty netter for the Hurricanes, and the Sabres are down 6-3. That should do it for this one.
November 9, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Another empty netter for the Hurricanes, and the Sabres are down 6-3. That should do it for this one.
The Hurricanes get an empty net goal with 2:04 to play, and the Sabres are now down 5-3.
November 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
The Hurricanes get an empty net goal with 2:04 to play, and the Sabres are now down 5-3.
Now Tage Thompson scores, and the Sabres are back in it. Ryan McLeod found Thompson in the slot, and Thompson wired one. Buffalo down 4-3 with about 13 minutes to go in the third period.
November 9, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Now Tage Thompson scores, and the Sabres are back in it. Ryan McLeod found Thompson in the slot, and Thompson wired one. Buffalo down 4-3 with about 13 minutes to go in the third period.
Alex Tuch scores on the rush after a feed from Tage Thompson. Perfectly placed shot. Sabres are down 4-2.
November 9, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Alex Tuch scores on the rush after a feed from Tage Thompson. Perfectly placed shot. Sabres are down 4-2.
Eric Robinson scores 29 seconds into the third period, and the Hurricanes now have a 4-1 lead on the Sabres. Erasing a three-goal deficit on the road against this team seems unlikely.
November 9, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Eric Robinson scores 29 seconds into the third period, and the Hurricanes now have a 4-1 lead on the Sabres. Erasing a three-goal deficit on the road against this team seems unlikely.
Svechnikov scores on the power play, and the Sabres are now down 2-1.
November 9, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Svechnikov scores on the power play, and the Sabres are now down 2-1.
Noah Ostlund sets up Owen Power, and the Sabres and Hurricanes are now tied at 1.
November 9, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Noah Ostlund sets up Owen Power, and the Sabres and Hurricanes are now tied at 1.
Sabres are down 1-0 early in Carolina. Aho from Svechnikov.
November 9, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Sabres are down 1-0 early in Carolina. Aho from Svechnikov.
All of the biggest names in the 2026 NHL free agent class signed contracts loaded with signing bonuses. The Sabres are among the lowest signing bonus spenders in the league.
Why signing bonuses matter and how it could impact Alex Tuch’s contract
Why signing bonuses matter and how it could impact Alex Tuch’s contract
Alex Tuch, the Buffalo Sabres and why signing bonuses could impact his next contract
The market could demand that the Sabres change their typical contract structure or risk losing an important player.
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
All of the biggest names in the 2026 NHL free agent class signed contracts loaded with signing bonuses. The Sabres are among the lowest signing bonus spenders in the league.
Why signing bonuses matter and how it could impact Alex Tuch’s contract
Why signing bonuses matter and how it could impact Alex Tuch’s contract
The Sabres have recalled defenseman Zac Jones from Rochester.
November 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The Sabres have recalled defenseman Zac Jones from Rochester.
Lindy Ruff on Rasmus Dahlin: “I don’t think you can feel what he’s feeling. I’m very passionate about the fact that no one would want to walk in his shoes and have dealt with what he dealt with. He has the support of everybody on this. This is larger than hockey.”
November 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Lindy Ruff on Rasmus Dahlin: “I don’t think you can feel what he’s feeling. I’m very passionate about the fact that no one would want to walk in his shoes and have dealt with what he dealt with. He has the support of everybody on this. This is larger than hockey.”
Rasmus Dahlin will be taking a temporary leave of absence from the Sabres to return to Sweden to be with his fiancée. Lindy Ruff said he has the full support of the organization. Everything is ok with Dahlin’s fiancée right now. No timetable on how long he’ll be gone.
November 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Rasmus Dahlin will be taking a temporary leave of absence from the Sabres to return to Sweden to be with his fiancée. Lindy Ruff said he has the full support of the organization. Everything is ok with Dahlin’s fiancée right now. No timetable on how long he’ll be gone.
Sabres practicing at home before flying to Raleigh for a weekend tilt with the Hurricanes. Michael Kesselring, Jiri Kulich, Zach Benson, Jason Zucker all not practicing.
November 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Sabres practicing at home before flying to Raleigh for a weekend tilt with the Hurricanes. Michael Kesselring, Jiri Kulich, Zach Benson, Jason Zucker all not practicing.
Sabres thoughts: Buffalo’s warts show in shutout loss to slumping Blues. Thoughts on a rough night for Luukkonen, an ineffective power play and an inability to finish
Sabres’ warts show at both ends of the ice in shutout loss to slumping St. Louis
On Hall of Fame weekend, the Sabres managed to turn Joel Hofer into Joel HOFer.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Sabres thoughts: Buffalo’s warts show in shutout loss to slumping Blues. Thoughts on a rough night for Luukkonen, an ineffective power play and an inability to finish
Blues get the empty netter, and the Sabres are down 3-0 with 1:02 to play.
November 7, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Blues get the empty netter, and the Sabres are down 3-0 with 1:02 to play.
Nick Bjugstad beats Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a shot from the top of the circle that Luukkonen had a clear look at. Luukkonen needs to have that one. Blues have a 2-0 lead on the Sabres.
November 7, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Nick Bjugstad beats Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a shot from the top of the circle that Luukkonen had a clear look at. Luukkonen needs to have that one. Blues have a 2-0 lead on the Sabres.
Unbelievable save by Joel Hofer. Robbed Josh Doan with a glove save to prevent a power play goal. And then the Blues get a short-handed goal from Mathieu Joseph. Bad giveaway by Jack Quinn. Sabres down 1-0.
November 7, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Unbelievable save by Joel Hofer. Robbed Josh Doan with a glove save to prevent a power play goal. And then the Blues get a short-handed goal from Mathieu Joseph. Bad giveaway by Jack Quinn. Sabres down 1-0.
Six and a a half minutes into a scoreless game, Josh Dunne drops the gloves with Tyler Tucker. Dunne got the best of him. Landed quite a few shots.
November 7, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Six and a a half minutes into a scoreless game, Josh Dunne drops the gloves with Tyler Tucker. Dunne got the best of him. Landed quite a few shots.
The Sabres lines in warmups. Defensive pairs are the same was they've been.
Rosen-Ostlund-Thompson
Doan-McLeod-Tuch
Greenway-Kozak-Quinn
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
Rosen-Ostlund-Thompson
Doan-McLeod-Tuch
Greenway-Kozak-Quinn
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
November 6, 2025 at 11:47 PM
The Sabres lines in warmups. Defensive pairs are the same was they've been.
Rosen-Ostlund-Thompson
Doan-McLeod-Tuch
Greenway-Kozak-Quinn
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
Rosen-Ostlund-Thompson
Doan-McLeod-Tuch
Greenway-Kozak-Quinn
Dunne-Krebs-Malenstyn
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen leads the Sabres onto the ice for warmups. Colten Ellis backing him up.
November 6, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen leads the Sabres onto the ice for warmups. Colten Ellis backing him up.