Happy Oktoberfest!
Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Kreuger has an affinity for the country of Germany.
Before he became a head coach, Kreuger played 350 games in the German Bundesliga, accumulating 187 goals and 186 assists. In the 1980–81 season, as a member of Düsseldorfer EG, he led the league in scoring during the playoffs, with 22 points. He also played 45 games for the West German national ice hockey team.
Kreuger's passion for the people of Germany now extends to Buffalo, where Team Sweden is now becoming Team Germany.
On the first day of unrestricted free agency, the Sabres have signed bottom six forward Tobias Rieder to a one-year, $700,000 contract.
Ried, I mean, read between the lines.
The signing of Rieder has Kreuger's fingerprints all over it.
Kreuger is not just Buffalo's head coach. He is seemingly clearly having a direct say in which players his rookie GM Kevyn Adams is selecting to play for the Sabres. Earlier this week, the Sabres selected German winger J.J. Peterka with their second round pick at the NHL Draft. Last season, German winger Dominik Kahun joined the Sabres and is currently working on a contract extension to remain in Royal Blue and Gold. I'm told that the Sabres are still very much interested in signing free agent goalie and Team Germany star Thomas Greiss.
Kahun. Peterka. Rieder.
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 9, 2020
Go get Thomas Greiss #TeamGermany #Buffalo #Oktoberfest @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/4Yr9Wz41Ay
You best believe that former Sabres GM Jason Botterill likely would not have made the selections of Rieder and Peterka.
Rieder was also a teammate of Krueger’s son, Justin, for Team Germany at the previous world championships.
Rieder played for Krueger on Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Rieder (23rd pick, 2011 NHL Draft by Edmonton) has been a role player for the Arizona Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
In 2019, as a member of the Calgary Flames, Rieder scored four goals, six assists in 55 games. Reused is a mucker, grinder, penalty killer. No flash, no dash.
Reider scored three shorthanded goals for the Flames duirng the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Rieder has his best points production in 2015 when he tucked 14 goals, 23 assists in 82 games for the Coyotes.
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The Buffalo Sabres have left shot veteran signed defenseman Matt Irwin.
Irwin, 32, will look good in a Rochester Amerks sweater.
Irwin has played 359 career NHL games. He played for Nashville and Anaheim last season.
In his eight-year NHL career, Irwin has averaged 15:56 TOI game. He’s also played with Boston and San Jose.
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The Sabres also signed defenseman Brandon Davidson, who played just 12 games last season with the Sharks and Flames.
Davidson scored three goals and 20 points in 34 AHL contests with the Stockton Heat.
Davidson has scored nine goals and 23 points in 173 career NHL games.
Davidson will play with the Rochester Americans.