Top 100 Fantasy Hockey Rankings for 2018-2019

Over course of the offseason, RotoBaller contributed a six-piece feature breaking down the top 100 fantasy hockey player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 season. This article (the final edition) features some movement up and down the rankings as a result of trades, signings, injuries, etc. When the puck drops and the 2018-2019 season is officially […]

Banger League Beauties - Productive Players That Pile Up Hits

Most of the focus in fantasy hockey goes to the marquee names that show up in highlight reels. The goal scorers, the playmakers, the kinds of players that keep opposing goalies up at night. These are the types of players that will go in the early rounds of drafts, and rightfully so, but with all […]

Sam Reinhart Signs Two-Year Deal With Buffalo

The Buffalo Sabres signed restricted free-agent forward Sam Reinhart to a two-year, $7.3 million ($3.65 million annual average value) contract on Wednesday. The 2014, second overall draft pick posted a career-best 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) last season. In addition, Reinhart also set career-highs in penalty minutes (26), power play points (21), power play […]

Top 100 Fantasy Hockey Rankings for 2018-2019 (40-21)

Over the next few weeks, RotoBaller will be kicking off the NHL offseason with a feature breaking down the top 100 player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 fantasy hockey season. The top 100 rankings will be released in six segments, starting from the bottom (100-81) and concluding with a two-piece set featuring our top 20 […]

Sabres Acquire Jeff Skinner From Carolina

The Buffalo Sabres have completed a trade that will bring left winger Jeff Skinner to Buffalo in exchange for prospect Cliff Pu and three draft picks. Scheduled to be a free agent next year, Skinner will join a retooled Sabres top six with an eye on returning to be a 30-goal scorer after scoring at […]

Sabres Ink Carter Hutton To Three-Year Deal

One of their more promising signings on day one of free agency, the Buffalo Sabres agreed to a three-year deal with free agent goaltender Carter Hutton. Hutton had a career year last season with St. Louis, posting a league-best 2.09 goals against average. He finished with a 17-7-3 record sharing the crease with Jake Allen, […]

Opportunity May Present Itself For Casey Mittelstadt

With the news of Ryan O’Reilly’s departure from Buffalo, there may be an opportunity for rookie Casey Mittelstadt to crack the lineup on a full-time basis. Drafted eighth overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Mittelstadt has been turning heads with his quick hands and puck control, most recently at the Sabres’ development camp. Mittelstadt […]

Buffalo Acquires Depth Forwards, Picks For Ryan O'Reilly

On Sunday, center Ryan O'Reilly was traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a hefty return. Coming back to Buffalo are forwards Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka and Tage Thompson, a first-round pick in 2019 and a second-round pick in 2021. Berglund, Sobotka and Thompson should settle in to middle-six roles in Buffalo. Berglund […]

Sabres Acquire Conor Sheary, Matt Hunwick From Penguins

The Buffalo Sabres acquired winger Conor Sheary and defenseman Matt Hunwick in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft on Wednesday. After posting 53 points (23 goals, 30 assists) in 2016-2017, Sheary slipped down the Penguins lineup last season and his production consequently dropped as well (18 goals, 12 assists). Hunwick, […]

Mattias Samuelsson Heads To Buffalo

Kicking off the second round in Dallas, the Buffalo Sabres drafted Mattias Samuelsson, a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program. The towering left-shooting defenseman stands at 6-foot-4 and 217 pounds and is the son of Kjell Samuelsson, who played nearly 1,000 NHL games. Drafted by Sarnia of the OHL, Samuelsson elected to stay […]

Buffalo Select Rasmus Dahlin With First Overall Pick

The Buffalo Sabres made official the rumors that Rasmus Dahlin would be drafted first overall at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Dahlin had been touted to be the best of the class for much of this past season, where he played with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring 20 points in 41 games. Dahlin […]

Buffalo Sabres Win Draft Lottery, Likely To Draft Rasmus Dahlin

The 2018 Draft Lottery happened on Saturday, with the Buffalo Sabres retaining their first overall selection in the draft. The top defensive prospect of the 2018 NHL Draft class, Rasmus Dahlin is the unanimous top choice of the draft, pretty much guaranteeing that the Sabres will land him in the draft. With many comparisons to […]

Chad Johnson Set to Start Against Senators

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson will be making his third consecutive start on Wednesday night against the visiting Ottawa Senators. Johnson has won two of his last four appearances, but has given up at least three goals in all but one of them, posting a subpar .888 save percentage. Unfortunately, that is about what you […]

Alex Nylander Recalled From Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward prospect Alex Nylander from the Rochester Americans. Nylander will have a chance in the last week of the regular season to get a few more NHL games under his belt and show that he’s ready for a spot on Buffalo's roster. In four NHL games last season, Nylander tallied […]

Casey Mittelstadt Picks Up Assist in First Career Game

Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt played in his first NHL game on Thursday night in a 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Mittelstadt assisted on a goal by Evan Rodrigues in the third period, but only recorded one shot on net in his debut. Mittelstadt primarily played on a line with Rodrigues and Sam […]

Robin Lehner to Face Red Wings Thursday

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner will start Thursday at home against the Detroit Red Wings. Lehner has only played once in Buffalo's last six games, and he was pulled after giving up four goals on 12 shots against the Rangers in that game. Given that Lehner has won only one of his last five starts […]

Jack Eichel Extends Pointless Streak To Four Games

Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel has now extended his pointless streak to four games after not recording a single point in the 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers. Eichel currently has 54 points in 60 games this year, which, when extrapolated, is looking to be a slight downgrade from his previous season in which […]

Robin Lehner Pulled Against Rangers

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner was pulled in the 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers, allowing four goals on 12 shots for a .667 save percentage. It appears that Lehner is not the future in net that they were hoping he would be when they traded a first-round pick in 2015 (Colin White) to […]

Linus Ullmark Between the Pipes Monday Night

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark was recalled from the AHL last week and is now set to make his first start since then. In Ullmark’s only other start this season, he stopped 44 of 45 shots he faced and earned the win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is unlikely to repeat that success Monday […]

Kyle Okposo Returns to the Lineup

Buffalo Sabres right wing Kyle Okposo (concussion) will return to action in Monday’s game against the Nashville Predators. Okposo has missed the last four games while recovering from a concussion suffered against the Ottawa Senators. This is the second consecutive season that Okposo has missed time due to a concussion, though he has said that […]

Jack Eichel Returns for Sabres

Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel is set to return to the lineup Saturday against Chicago. Coach Phil Housley announced the return Saturday morning, giving fantasy players only a few hours before the 1pm EST game start. Eichel has been practicing on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Jason Pominville, which based on recent usage would […]

Sam Reinhart Finds His Consistency

Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Reinhart scored in the Sabres’ 5-2 loss at the hands of the Maple Leafs on Thursday. The goal was his fourth in his last six games, as he has found a way to remain productive amidst Buffalo’s poor season. The 22-year-old now has 26 points in his last 26 games. Reinhart […]

Robin Lehner Solid In Shootout Loss To Vegas

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner posted a strong performance and earned the second star of the game in a 2-1 shooutout loss at the hands of the offensive-powerhouse Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Buffalo’s offense didn’t provide much help, scoring just one goal in regulation. Lehner did his part, making 33 saves during the match […]

Robin Lehner Solid Against Golden Knights

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner (46 percent owned) made 33 saves on 34 shots in the 2-1 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Many thought Chad Johnson had taken over the crease in Buffalo for the meantime, however, Lehner's play as of late has shown that he deserves to play right now. In his […]

Robin Lehner to Start Against Vegas For Third Game in a Row

Buffalo Sabres goalie Robin Lehner will start in net against the Vegas Golden Nights on Saturday afternoon. Last week it looked like backup Chad Johnson was starting to take over the starter's duties, but now that Lehner is starting his third straight game, it looks like his role is safe. Starter or not, Buffalo's crease […]

Sam Reinhart Stays On Fire With Two Points

Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Reinhart (40% owned) scored a goal and added an assist in the 4-3 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators. Reinhart has been red hot as of late, scoring 11 points in his last 12 games, and is finding nice chemistry with center Ryan O'Reilly. He will look to end the year […]

Chad Johnson Pulled In Loss To Calgary Flames

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson (13 percent owned on Yahoo) was shelled for four goals on 22 shots in the 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. Robin Lehner came in for relief after Johnson conceded the fourth goal of the game and stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced for a .947 save percentage. […]

Chad Johnson Gets Start Against Former Team

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson will get the start  on Wednesday night against a Calgary Flames team that has lost four straight. Johnson is looking for his fourth straight win and to potentially take over the reins from starting goalie Robin Lehner in the process. His .898 save percentage on the year does not inspire […]

Rasmus Ristolainen Continues Solid Production With Two Assists

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen created two assists in the 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ristolainen continues to not only be one of the best defenseman for solid production in shots, hits and blocks, but he also has been putting up points on the board as of late. With six points in his […]

Sam Reinhart Scores Two Points In Win Against Toronto

Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Reinhart (36 percent owned in Yahoo leagues) scored a goal and added an assist in the 5-3 win versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. Reinhart has been playing on the first line and the first power-play unit, producing at a great rate since the promotion. In his last seven games, Reinhart has […]