Buffalo Sabres Daily Press Clips September 22, 2017

Sabres giving Griffith opportunity to jump from minor-league star to NHLer The Buffalo News By John Vogl September 21, 2017

Few things are more deflating for bubble players than not getting a chance. Whether they make the roster or not, they want an opportunity to show what they can do.

Seth Griffith has no complaints.

The winger is one of just two Sabres to play in both exhibition games, joining forward Justin Bailey. It wouldn't be a surprise if Griffith is in the lineup again Friday when Buffalo visits Toronto in Ricoh Coliseum (7:30 p.m., 550 AM).

"They're obviously looking at me," Griffith said Thursday. "I just want to make sure I'm bringing my game to the table every night, working hard every night, giving 100 percent and not having any regrets."

So far, things have been going well. They might get even better.

Griffith scored in the opening game and picked up a primary assist during the second. Those points came while playing left wing in the bottom six. He practiced as the top-line right winger Thursday, skating with center Ryan O'Reilly and left wing Benoit Pouliot.

"I'm not looking too much into it, but if I get the chance to play with them it'd be great," the 24-year-old said in HarborCenter. "Hopefully, I can show them what I have."

What the Sabres have at the moment is a "tweener." Griffith has been too good for the but unproductive in the NHL.

He has 202 points in 203 AHL games, including 66 goals. In 58 NHL games, he has six goals and 16 points.

Entering his fifth professional , it's time to show he can make the leap.

"It's just consistency every night, especially going from the American Hockey League to the NHL," Griffith said. "In the AHL, it seems like you can get 20 chances a night. In the NHL, you've really got to bear down when it's your chance because really good scoring opportunities only come maybe once every couple games.

"I think it's really about creating those opportunities yourself, bringing pucks to the net and just going hard every night."

The two plays that put Griffith on the score sheet were impressive. He finished a two-on-one with Evan Rodrigues against Carolina, getting into perfect shooting position to bury the pass.

Griffith helped the Sabres tie Pittsburgh with less than three minutes left Tuesday, knocking defenseman Olli Maatta out of the way during a race for the puck and putting his pass on the tape of driving Matt Tennyson.

Despite being a small forward at 5-foot-9 and 191 pounds, Griffith needs to keep making those plays to stick with Buffalo.

"When the battle requires a competitive nature, he's got to get in there," coach Phil Housley said. "Everybody battles in their own way. Heavier guys can play a heavy game. Smaller guys have got to find a way to compete for loose pucks and win battles. We'll see that moving forward in the next couple games. "I just want to see his speed and tenaciousness on the puck. He made a nice play on that tying at Penn State. He's got good vision. He's got to use it more."

While making the Sabres is Griffith's main goal – he signed a one-year deal that pays $650,000 whether he's in Buffalo or Rochester – the secondary objective is finding a home. He had way too many last year.

He started his fourth season in the Bruins' organization, but Boston waived him after four games. Toronto claimed him, then waived him a month later. picked him up. He skated in 21 games with the Panthers, including time on a line with Jaromir Jagr and Aleksander Barkov, but he got waived again after no goals and five assists.

The Maple Leafs reclaimed him and sent him to the minor-league Marlies, where he finished the season with 10 goals and 44 points in 38 games. Griffith had another two goals and nine points in 11 playoff appearances.

"It wears on you," Griffith said of the moves. "You want to feel comfortable. I was in the hotel the whole year. Even a hotel, it's not really your own space, right? You've got maids coming in and out, and you're seeing new people every day.

"It's a tough situation, but I think I've grown as a player and a person from it. … Hopefully, I can get my own place this year."

Sabres Notebook: Wilcox’s fight does No. 32 proud; Scandella sits again; Pu in The Buffalo News By John Vogl September 21, 2017

Since 1989, the No. 32 has symbolized fighting prowess in Buffalo. Rob Ray wore it for 14 years. John Scott intimidated people for two seasons.

The number is being worn during training camp by Adam Wilcox. Believe it or not, he's dropped the glove (and blocker) before. The fight would have done his No. 32 predecessors proud.

While playing for Green Bay of the United States Hockey League in February 2011, Wilcox joined a full line brawl during a game against Omaha. He skated the length of the ice to fight Lancers goalie Todd Mathews. Wilcox earned a unanimous decision, throwing seven rights and two lefts while tossing Mathews to the ice.

"I think I got a four-game suspension for it because it was under five minutes and I crossed the red line," Wilcox said Thursday. "It was definitely worth it. It was fun. A good memory."

The Sabres, of course, didn't sign Wilcox to a one-year deal to fight. He'll split the crease with in Rochester. Those are the two goalies expected to be in Buffalo's lineup Friday night in Toronto.

Wilcox, who was a fan of the Sabres' Dominik Hasek, joined Buffalo after spending time with the minor league teams for Tampa Bay and Florida last year. The 24-year-old went 25-13-2 overall, and he had a .932 save percentage in 13 appearances with Florida's affiliate. He saw an opening in Buffalo's organization.

"I thought it was a good fit for me," the 24-year-old said. "It was kind of one of those spots that I always wanted to go growing up for some reason. I think a lot of it was because of Hasek, but it was just one of my favorite teams, so it was pretty cool signing with a team that I always wanted to play for."

Wilcox played the third period and overtime of Buffalo's 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The University of Minnesota product made 10 saves on 12 shots as the Penguins scored two power play goals.

"It was really fun," Wilcox said in HarborCenter. "I was going back to the old stomping grounds of the Big Ten. I used to play there with the Gophs, so it was pretty cool to go back to that rink.

"I was fortunate to get a period. It was fun. I went in there on the kill, and I didn't mind it because it gets you in the game right away. They kind of bailed me out toward the end there."

Buffalo won on Jack Eichel's overtime goal. Wilcox earned kudos from coach Phil Housley because the goalie came in cold as Pittsburgh came in hot. The Pens took 10 of the opening 12 shots during the third period.

"To come in in the third period and face the rubber he did, he did a terrific job," Housley said.

* * *

After giving Marco Scandella a day off to rest his surgically repaired hip, Housley expected the defenseman to practice Thursday. Once again, Scandella stayed off the ice.

Still, Housley isn't worried about the health of the key offseason acquisition.

"No, I'm not concerned at all," Housley said. "This is all precautionary. "He's in a great place right now. I thought he was going to be out today, but he wasn't. He'll probably be out tomorrow, but it's just a day-to-day maintenance thing for him. We want him to feel comfortable when we start getting up for the regular season."

Scandella had arthroscopic surgery in May after Minnesota was eliminated from the . He's sat out three of the Sabres' seven training camp sessions.

"He'll get his practices in," Housley said. "I'm not worried at all."

* * *

Cliff Pu, the lone junior player left in camp, is going to get another game. Housley didn't say whether it would be Friday in Toronto or Saturday when the Maple Leafs visit Buffalo.

"We like his grit," Housley said. "We want to see him in another game. It's intriguing trying to see where he can fit in. I think he's had an excellent camp up to this point, and he's getting rewarded for it.

"He's really working hard. He can see the pace of the game when he's out there. A lot of the guys, the veterans, have long batteries, and you can tell. That's something he's got to work on, his endurance, but I think he's fit right in."

Sabres’ Pu is making the most of his opportunity WGR 550 By Paul Hamilton September 21, 2017

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - Cliff Pu survived the first cuts back to junior hockey. Devante Stephens is also still here, but he likely will wind up in Rochester. That is not an option for Pu.

Pu has played center most of his life and has played both between Development Camp and Training Camp. On Thursday, he was on right wing with Kevin Porter and Nick Deslauriers. Pu is pleased to still be here, “It’s exciting to still be here and I’m just looking forward to every day I get here.”

As far as moving to the wing here in camp, Pu said, “Obviously there’s a little bit of an adjustment, but once you get older you want to play all three positions, so the coach can use you in any situation. I played wing in my first year of junior, so its been pretty smooth.”

Of course things are going to be so much different for the 19-year-old than it is in junior. He said, “It’s the pace and the size. Everyone here is pretty big and strong and everyone here is fast. In junior, I’m one of the faster guys there, but here I blend in pretty well and hopefully I can use my speed to my advantage.”

It’s always nice when a talented young player comes into camp knowing to absorb everything he can. Pu has a real good philosophy, “I think I’m just working as hard as I can, keep my mouth shut and ears open. The coaches have been great with me teaching me all the systems, so I’m just keeping my head down, work hard and hopefully earn a couple of more days here.”

After he’s done in junior, Pu has a real chance to be in Buffalo thanks to Phil Housley’s system. Pu’s speed will serve him well. “It’s definitely exciting to see the systems and I think it fits well with my skillset. He likes to play a fast game and I’m looking forward to trying to fit into that one day.”

Housley has kept a close eye on Pu and likes many things, "I love the attitude, but his work ethic is great and he's really working hard. He can see the pace of the game when he's out there and that's something he has to work on, his endurance, but he's had a good camp up to this point."

Pu has played three seasons with the and and has seen huge improvement every season. In his first year, he had nine points in 41 games. In season two, it was 31 points in 63 games and last year he had 35 goals and 51 assists for 86 points.

Phil Housley has talked about how impressed he’s been with him both in the Prospects Tournament and his preseason game against Carolina. The favorable impression has earned him more time in Buffalo while others are back in junior.

Marco Scandella missed his second straight day and won’t play this weekend against Toronto. Phil Housley is still not concerned, "No, I'm not concerned at all, this is all precautionary. He's in a great place right now."

"We want him to feel comfortable when we start getting up for the regular season and he'll get his practices in, I'm not worried at all."

Thursday’s lines:

Group 1:

Moulson - Eichel - Okposo

Kane - Reinhart - Pominville Karabacek - Criscuolo - Bailey

Smith - Cornel - Fasching

Beaulieu - Ristolainen

Guhle - Stephens

Gorges - Nelson (Martin)

Group 2:

Pouliot - O’Reilly - Griffith

Rodrigues - Girgensons - Moses

Larsson - Josefson - Baptiste

Deslauriers - Porter - Pu

McCabe - Tennyson

Bogosian - Antipin (Goloubef)

Falk - Fedun

The Sabres travel to the Ricoh Coliseum on Friday to play the Leafs.

Pre-sale tickets for the World Junior Tournament outdoor game are on sale now to Sabres season ticket holders.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday at 10 a.m. The prices will follow the dynamic pricing model.

Goalie Chad Johnson happy with Sabres Olean Times Herald By Bill Hoppe September 21, 2017

BUFFALO – Instead of getting a new paint job this year, goalie Chad Johnson simply dusted off the popular blue Sabres mask he sported two years ago throughout his best NHL season.

“It was one of my favorites,” Johnson said Wednesday following practice inside HarborCenter. “I had a lot of good feedback on it. … Some people wanted me to bring it back. I couldn’t come up with anything better, so I stuck with it.”

Returning to the Sabres has been easy for Johnson, who signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract on July 1 following a season with his hometown .

“It’s definitely a weird feeling being back but comfortable in the same sense,” said Johnson, whose Sabres face the Maple Leafs tonight in Toronto, the start of a home-and-home exhibition set.

A lot has changed since Johnson left after playing a career-high 46 games in 2015-16. The Sabres have a new coach, Phil Housley, and a new front office led by general manager Jason Botterill.

Still, Johnson, 31, finds comfort in being reunited with his old goalie coach, Andrew Allen, who Housley retained, and his old partner, starter .

“The familiar faces here and the success I had here, the fans, the organization … made the decision easy to come back here,” Johnson said.

He added: “It was all about having an opportunity and a bigger role.”

Johnson enjoyed a huge role early last season, when he shared time with Brian Elliott. In fact, for three weeks from November into December, Johnson morphed into the NHL’s best goalie, possibly saving Calgary’s season. In 13 games, he went 11-2 with a 1.61 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage.

Johnson turned in decent final numbers – 18-15-1, 2.59 and .910 – in 36 appearances. He eventually cooled off and Elliott won 11 straight games in the winter, snatching the No. 1 job for the playoffs.

“It was a really good year overall, consistent for the most part,” Johnson said. “I had four games that didn’t go my way, which sometimes cost me playing time. Being in a Canadian market, there’s a lot of pressure to make change there.”

While Johnson said playing in his hometown was special, having missed the playoffs with the Sabres in 2015- 16, he believes he has unfinished business here.

Johnson became an unsung hero subbing for an injured Lehner, compiling arguably the best season by a Sabres goalie – 22-16-4, 2.36 and .920 – in years.

If Lehner stays healthy and performs well, Johnson might only receive 20 or 25 games this season, something Allen believes his pupil can handle. Lehner played 59 contests in 2016-17 and backup Anders Nilsson played 26 times.

“(Johnson’s) mindset doesn’t change if he’s playing three games in a row or he hasn’t played in a week or a week in a half,” Allen said. “So I think for him, that level of professionalism, that even-keeled demeanor helps him no matter the situation.” Allen’s presence was a “big part of the reason I came back,” Johnson said.

“Having his eyes in the sky to make sure I’m on my game is important,” he said. “I think the older I get and different organizations I’ve been a part of, I know how important it is to have a good goalie coach, a guy that supports your game.”

Johnson also has Lehner’s support. Any competition between them is friendly. They quickly became friends two years ago.

“We’re both easygoing,” Lehner said of why they get along. “I think … we don’t mind each other’s success. We both want to be good. I think we’re both the type of goalie that doesn’t care about others. We go about our own business … and we’re fine with that. It’s a good relationship.”

Sabres Prospect Cliff Pu impressing Olean Times Herald By Bill Hoppe September 21, 2017

BUFFALO – Sabres forward prospect Cliff Pu has embraced a simple philosophy for his second NHL training camp.

“I’m just trying to work as hard as I can, keep my mouth shut and keep my ears open … and hopefully earn a couple more days here,” Pu said this morning following practice inside HarborCenter.

So far, it has worked. One week into camp, Pu, 19, is the Sabres’ only junior prospect left in camp. Of course, Pu’s talents also have something to do with sticking around instead of returning to the Hockey League’s London Knights.

The youngster has quietly morphed into one of the team’s top forward prospects. The Sabres awarded Pu his first NHL exhibition game Monday, and coach Phil Housley said the speedster will play again this weekend.

“He’s had a great camp,” said Housley, who noted Pu’s work ethic. “It started at development camp, we liked his grit, and we want to see him in another game, hopefully soon, next two.”

The Sabres play a Friday road tilt against the and host the Leafs on Saturday.

Pu compiled 35 goals and 86 points in 63 games last season. He practiced on the right wing this morning with center Kevin Porter and Nick Deslauriers.

In other news, Housley said he’s “not concerned at all” about defenseman Marco Scandella, who rested for the second straight day. Scandella underwent offseason hip surgery.

“This is all precautionary,” Housley said. “He’s in a great place right now. I thought he was going to be out today but he wasn’t. He’ll probably be out tomorrow. It’s just a day-to-day maintenance thing for him.

“We want him to feel comfortable when we start getting up for the regular season. He’ll get his practices in. I’m not worried at all.”

Scandella scrimmaged Monday and Tuesday.

“We don’t like them. They don’t like us”: Sabres’ Eichel embracing Maple Leafs rivalry Toronto Sun By Mike Zeisberger September 21, 2017

When Jack Eichel looks at Auston Matthews, he sees something most of us don’t.

To the piercing eyes of the rest of the hockey world, the Toronto Maple Leafs star is a modest, soft-spoken kid who would much rather talk about his team than himself.

As the face of the franchise, Eichel sees through that image. To him, Matthews is a fierce, take- no-prisoners competitor who oozes self-worth — and is willing to crush anyone and anything in his way in order to prove it.

“I think Auston has a bit of a confidence and a swagger to him,” Eichel told Postmedia in a candid one-on-one interview. “He’s got a bit of that 'f--- you!' mentality in him. And that’s a good thing. He doesn’t think he has to owe anyone anything.”

Truth be told, it’s the same qualities Eichel possesses. Only Eichel is much more up front about it. He’s much more willing to express himself by wearing his emotions on his sleeves.

Or, in the case of a game back on March 25, a clenched fist.

It’s a scene that remains etched in the minds of Leafs and Sabres fans alike. With the Leafs gunning for a playoff spot and thousands of Toronto fans shoehorned into KeyBank Center, Eichel had just scored his second goal of the game in what would be a 5-2 Sabres victory. As part of his gleeful celebration, he slammed the glass with his glove, knowing there was a Leaf supporter draped in a Toronto jersey just on the other side.

Message received.

All these months later, Eichel makes no apologies for the act. In fact, he’s proud of it.

When you are as comfortable in your own skin as Eichel appears to be entering his third NHL season, you don’t worry about people misconstruing what you are trying to say. And in Eichel’s case, he wants people to know: he’s not fond of the Leafs. And vice versa.

“It’s part of the rivalry,” Eichel said. “We don’t like them. They don’t like us.”

Sitting in a room at NHL headquarters in midtown Manhattan during the NHL’s recent players media tour, Eichel is wearing a wry grin when he utters those words.

It’s the look of a young man who is confident in what he says because it’s the way he really feels. There is no PR spin-doctoring here, just an emerging star who is calling it like he sees it.

“Obviously I’m an intense guy and competitive and don’t like to lose,” Eichel said, explaining his pounding-on-the- glass reaction. “Obviously that specific night there were a lot of Leafs fans in the building and I just thought we needed to defend our own building. It was our duty to do that.”

Referring to Toronto and Buffalo being at hockey loggerheads, Eichel noted that “we’re (geographically) close to each other. We play each other a lot. There are some confrontations. And I like to embrace that and I think all our guys do as well.” Chances are, emotions won’t be as heated as normal when the Leafs and Sabres engage in back-to-back games this weekend, Friday at Toronto’s Ricoh Coliseum and Saturday in Buffalo. This is, after all, the pre-season, a time when household names are few and far between in the respective lineups. Then again, you never know.

In terms of Eichel, the constant comparisons to Matthews and Connor McDavid don't seem to bother him as much, even if they won’t go away. You know the ones. In his rookie season, he was constantly reminded by the outside world of Connor versus Jack, the top two picks in the 2015 entry draft. One year later the hype machine turned its attention to Jack versus Auston, both because of the proximity of Buffalo and Toronto, along with the fact that Matthews was drafted by the hated Leafs in Eichel’s home rink.

“I think that’s what everyone likes to do — compare things, right? That’s what media does, that’s what fans do. And you know what? It’s been something I’ve dealt with for a long time now and it’s not something I really worry about.”

But is it fair to always have your achievements constantly be scrutinized alongside those of McDavid and Matthews?

“I guess you could say it’s just a part of it,” he replied. “It’s not something I really think about. And I’m not sure the other guys who are in a similar situation think about much.

“A few years ago, Crosby and Ovechkin were linked together and that’s been going on for a long time now. It’s just something people like to see. They like to see two things compared to each other. It’s not anything I think about much.

"I’m just happy to be the best Jack Eichel I can be.”

As for Matthews, it’s obvious how much respect Eichel has for his friend. After all, winning a Calder Trophy in the hockey fishbowl that is Toronto can be a trying experience.

“It’s not easy to do what he did,” Eichel said. “Just being around him, knowing him a bit, he’s got that confidence in him. And you need that.”

Jack Eichel certainly has it.

SABRES STAR FINALLY HEALTHY

The pain in his ankle is gone.

And so is the need to wrap it.

Some 49 weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain, Jack Eichel pronounced himself 100% healthy entering the 2017-18 season. It’s the first time he’s felt that way in almost a year.

“Obviously, when you are coming off a high ankle sprain, it’s not easy,” he said. “The first weeks, months, you can definitely feel it. It’s not something that just goes away. You can feel it throughout the whole year.

“But I feel great now. Last year, I’d just tape it up for precautionary reasons. But I skated all summer without tape around my ankle. I feel great, I feel strong. And I feel ready.”

As for a potential contract extension, the two sides reportedly are still haggling over the financial terms of a proposed eight-year deal.

“I’m not worried,” he said. “Things will work themselves out.

Housley: Pu being rewarded for ‘excellent camp’ Sabres.com By Jourdan LaBarber September 21, 2017

When the Sabres sent four players back to junior on Wednesday, Cliff Pu was the one notable absence on the list. Vojtech Budik, Vasily Glotov, Brandon Hagel and Austin Osmanski were all sent back to their respective clubs, leaving Pu as the only junior player at training camp.

It made you wonder whether Pu had earned himself a second preseason game. While Phil Housley made no promises, he teased the possibility of seeing the young center in the lineup for one of Buffalo's games against Toronto this weekend.

"I think he's had a great camp and it started with development camp," Housley said. "We like his grit, we want to see him in another game hopefully soon in the next two … It's intriguing, trying to see where he can fit in. I think he's had an excellent camp up to this point and he's getting rewarded for it."

Even if he weren't going to play in another game, the opportunity for more days at camp can be invaluable for a young player. Pu was only around camp for a few practices last season, but said the practice habits he picked up alone helped play a part in his 86-point campaign for London of the OHL.

This year he's had an opportunity to learn Housley's system, for which his skating ability should make him a perfect fit. In his preseason debut on Monday, Pu earned an assist with a neutral-zone pass the freed Evan Rodrigues and Seth Griffith for a 2-on-1 rush.

The game was a step up from the OHL, of course, but he felt he fit in well.

"I think it's just the spacing and the size of the guys," Pu said. "Everyone here is pretty big and pretty strong and everyone here is fast. In junior I think I'm one of the fastest guys but here I think I blend in pretty well."

It's in that sense that Housley said training camp can be of the most value for any prospect. It's a measuring stick for them to see how they compare themselves to the pros. Is their decision making up to par with the speed of the game? Are they strong enough to battle down low? The Sabres try to help them answer these questions before sending them back for their junior seasons.

"In our evaluation to each individual [we told them] what they really have to work on to separate themselves and get them ahead of the game, and just bring a good attitude going back to junior and being a leader on their team," Housley said. "It's nothing new, but it's specific to the individual, what they need to work on as far as fundamentals and part of their game."

Pu will likely have at least one more opportunity to see how he measures up against the Maple Leafs on either Friday or Saturday. In the meantime, he'll continue to take each day with the Sabres for what it is: a learning experience.

"I think I'm just trying to work as hard as I can, keep my mouth shut and keep my ears open," he said. "Everyone here has had NHL experience before and coaches have been great with me, teaching me all the systems and stuff. I'm just trying to keep my head down, work hard and hopefully earn a couple more days here."

Thursday's practice

Marco Scandella was absent for the second straight day, but Housley reaffirmed that his absence is strictly precautionary. Scandella underwent hip surgery at the end of last season, and the Sabres have been careful with him to begin camp. "I'm not concerned at all. This is all precautionary. He's in a great place right now," Housley said. "It's just a day- to-day maintenance thing for him. We want him to feel comfortable when we start getting ready for the regular season."

As for the players that were on the ice, Housley has said throughout camp that he'd like to give certain players looks at multiple positions. On Thursday, that included moving Zemgus Girgensons from left wing to center and Johan Larsson from center to the wing.

It also included a move alongside Ryan O'Reilly for Griffith, who already has a goal and an assist through two games.

"I just want to see his speed and tenacious on the puck," Housley said. "He made a nice play on the tying goal at Penn State. He's got good vision, he's got to use it more, but when the battle requires a competitive nature he's got to get in there."

Here's how the practice groups looked in full:

Group A 67 Benoit Pouliot - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 25 Seth Griffith 22 Johan Larsson - 10 Jacob Josefson - 13 Nicholas Baptiste 71 Evan Rodrigues - 28 Zemgus Girgensons - 52 Stevie Moses 44 Nicolas Deslauriers - 12 Kevin Porter - 59 Cliff Pu

19 Jake McCabe - 5 Matt Tennyson 47 Zach Bogosian/93 Victor Antipin - 38 Cody Goloubef 41 Justin Falk - 27 Taylor Fedun

35 Linus Ullmark 32 Adam Wilcox 33 Jason Kasdorf

Group B 26 Matt Moulson - 15 Jack Eichel - 21 Kyle Okposo 9 Evander Kane - 23 Sam Reinhart - 29 Jason Pominville 49 C.J. Smith - 46 Eric Cornel - 24 Hudson Fasching 64 Vaclav Karabacek - 51 Kyle Criscuolo - 95 Justin Bailey

82 Nathan Beaulieu - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen 45 Brendan Guhle - 53 Devante Stephens 4 Josh Gorges - 8 Casey Nelson 54 Brycen Martin

40 Robin Lehner 31 Chad Johnson 34 Jonas Johansson