Lafferty (lower body) is expected back in the lineup against the Maple Leafs on Friday, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.
Lafferty previously told reporters he would be ready to go if needed, something that did come to fruition after Jordan Greenway (undisclosed) was ruled out long-term. For his part, the 29-year-old Laffeerty has struggled this season with just one point in 22 games while chipping in only 27 hits, 13 shots and 14 PIM. If he doesn't start producing now, Lafferty could be in danger of losing minutes to Ryan McLeod (undisclosed) once McLeod is cleared to play.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Lafferty: Available if called upon
Rotowire
Lafferty (lower body) told reporters he is healthy and could be available against the Maple Leafs on Friday if called upon, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Lafferty remains on injured reserve but could be activated in the coming days if given the all-clear. Considering the 29-year-old forward has registered just one point over his last 22 outings, few fantasy players will be anxiously awaiting his return to the lineup. In order to activate Lafferty off injured reserve, the Sabres will need to make a corresponding roster move by either sending a player down to the minors or placing Jordan Greenway (undisclosed) on injured reserve.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Lafferty: Added to injured reserve
Rotowire
Lafferty was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per the NHL media site.
Lafferty was already considered week-to-week, so this news doesn't alter his timetable. He has a goal, 14 PIM and 27 hits across 22 outings in 2024-25. When healthy, Lafferty might draw back onto the fourth line, which would likely result in Nicolas Aube-Kubel moving to the press box.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Lafferty: Deemed week-to-week
Rotowire
Lafferty (lower body) didn't practice Monday and is week-to-week, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.
Lafferty sat out Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Islanders after being injured in Friday's 4-3 overtime defeat versus Vancouver. He has earned one goal, 13 shots on net and 27 hits through 22 appearances this season. During Lafferty's absence, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Tyson Kozak could see playing time in the bottom six.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Lafferty: Unlikely for Saturday
Rotowire
Lafferty (lower body) is not expected to be available Saturday versus the Islanders, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.
Lafferty sustained the injury Friday versus the Canucks, and it appears it will cost him time. Nicolas Aube-Kubel will likely replace Lafferty in the lineup as a fourth-line option.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Lafferty: Exits Friday's game
Rotowire
Lafferty sustained a lower-body injury during Friday's tilt versus Vancouver and won't return.
Lafferty entered Friday's action with one point (a goal), 14 PIM and 26 hits in 21 appearances with the Sabres in 2024-25. He logged 4:02 of ice time before exiting the game against the Canucks. Unless Lafferty can return Saturday versus the Islanders, Nicolas Aube-Kubel will probably serve on the fourth line.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Lafferty: Finds twine Thursday
Rotowire
Lafferty scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Rangers.
The goal was Lafferty's first point through 13 appearances this season. The Sabres got contributions from all over the lineup Thursday, which has been a bit of a rarity early in 2024-25. Lafferty has added seven shots on net, 18 hits, 10 PIM and a minus-1 rating while averaging 9:49 of ice time per game in a fourth-line role.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Lafferty: Filling fourth-line role
Rotowire
Lafferty has no points through his first 10 appearances of the season.
Lafferty has been scratched only once, though he saw a season-low 6:44 of ice time in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Islanders. The 29-year-old can chip in some depth scoring -- he had 24 points in 74 regular-season outings with the Canucks last year. He's added 15 hits, eight PIM and three shots on goal in 2024-25, but until he displays a scoring touch, he can be overlooked in fantasy.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Lafferty: Signs two-year deal
Rotowire
Lafferty signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Sabres on Monday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Lafferty had 13 goals, 24 points and 192 hits in 79 regular-season contests with the Canucks in 2023-24. He might get a bit more ice time with Buffalo than he did in Vancouver -- he averaged 11:53 last season -- but the 29-year-old shouldn't be counted on to consistently serve in anything more than a third-line role.
... See More... See Less
Sam Lafferty: Rights moved in Mikheyev trade
Rotowire
Lafferty's negotiating rights, along with Ilya Mikheyev and a second-round pick in 2027, were traded to the Blackhawks from the Canucks for a fourth-round pick in 2027 on Wednesday, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic reports.
Lafferty had not agreed to a contract at the time of the trade, but the Blackhawks will have until Sunday night to negotiate with him exclusively before free agency opens Monday. If he signs with Chicago, this would be Lafferty's second stint with the team. He earned 32 points over 97 contests across parts of two seasons with the Blackhawks, and he continued his solid depth scoring with 24 points in 79 outings with the Canucks in 2023-24.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Nets goal in Saturday's win
Rotowire
Lafferty scored a goal, doled out four hits and blocked two shots in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Oilers.
Lafferty opened the scoring late in the first period. The tally snapped his seven-game point drought. The 29-year-old has mainly seen fourth-line usage lately, limiting his ability to get involved on offense. He's at a career-high 13 goals with 11 assists, 76 shots on net, 191 hits and a plus-5 rating through 77 contests overall.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Tallies in loss
Rotowire
Lafferty scored a goal on two shots and doled out eight hits in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Kings.
Lafferty was one of four Canucks with five or more hits in the contest, but their physicality didn't intimidate the Kings. The goal was Lafferty's first since Feb. 22, and he has just two points over his last 13 games. For the season, the 29-year-old winger is at 23 points, 71 shots on net, 155 hits and a plus-8 rating through 69 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Chips in with helper
Rotowire
Lafferty logged an assist, three hits, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canadiens.
Lafferty snapped a 10-game point drought when he assisted on the second of Nikita Zadorov's two goals in the game. The 29-year-old Lafferty has been all over the Canucks' lineup this season, but his recent lack of offense has kept him in a bottom-six role. He's at 22 points, 69 shots on net, 143 hits, 32 PIM and a plus-9 rating through 67 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Tallies in loss
Rotowire
Lafferty scored a goal in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Kraken.
The puck didn't take a very direct route in, bouncing off a Kraken defenseman and Lafferty following Pius Suter's shot. The tally was Lafferty's first since Jan. 13, a span of 12 games in which he logged just a single assist. The 28-year-old spent some time in the top six early in the year, but with the Canucks loading up for the playoffs, he's likely to remain on the fourth line when he plays going forward. Lafferty has 11 goals, 21 points, 54 shots on net, 106 hits and a plus-13 rating through 56 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Scores game-winner for goal No. 10
Rotowire
Lafferty scored the only goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Sabres.
The 28-year-old had a point shot hit him early in the second period while he was parked in front of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Lafferty was able to sweep the loose puck into the net after it fell at his feet. That proved to be all the offense Thatcher Demko would need. Lafferty's bottom-six role doesn't afford him much of a fantasy ceiling, but he's still on pace for a career best season with 10 goals and 19 points in 43 games -- although that goal-scoring pace is buoyed by a 21.7 shooting percentage that likely isn't sustainable.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Records helper Tuesday
Rotowire
Lafferty posted an assist, four hits, three blocked shots and two PIM in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Senators.
Lafferty set up the first of Pius Suter's two goals in the game. Since dropping back into a bottom-six role, Lafferty has two points and three shots on net over his last six outings. For the season, the 28-year-old winger has 17 points, 40 shots, 55 hits, 25 blocked shots, 24 PIM and a plus-15 rating over 37 appearances. He may bounce around the lineup, but Lafferty's just about a lock to play each game.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Finds twine in win
Rotowire
Lafferty scored a goal and added two hits in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Sharks.
Lafferty snapped a six-game point drought with his goal. He started the month on the top line, but Lafferty's slump has seen him slip back to the bottom six now. The 28-year-old is up to nine goals, 16 points, 39 shots on net, 50 hits, 21 blocked shots, 22 PIM and a plus-14 rating over 35 appearances. He's still got a good chance to set career highs across the board, and he's a DFS option for games when he's in the top six.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Grabs pair of points in win
Rotowire
Lafferty scored a goal on two shots, added an assist, levied three hits, blocked two shots and went plus-3 in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Hurricanes.
Lafferty did a little bit of everything except take a penalty in this contest. The 28-year-old opened the scoring in the first period and assisted on Ilya Mikheyev's marker in the second. Lafferty has five points over the last four games since moving up to the top line. For the season, the 28-year-old has 15 points, 36 shots on net, 43 hits, 22 PIM and a plus-15 rating over 28 contests. Fantasy managers may want to stream the winger while he's being featured more prominently, though his newfound usage hasn't included much extra power-play time.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Lights lamp again
Rotowire
Lafferty scored a goal on three shots and added three hits in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Devils.
Lafferty scored for the second game in a row since he joined the top line. He also saw 16:14 of ice time Tuesday, his third-highest mark of the season. The 28-year-old has done everything right in his first year with the Canucks, posting seven goals, six assists, a plus-12 rating, 33 shots on net, 34 hits and 22 PIM over 26 appearances. He'll have some short-term fantasy appeal as long as he's alongside Elias Pettersson at even strength.
... See More... See Less
Canucks' Sam Lafferty: Goal, assist in win
Rotowire
Lafferty scored a goal, dished an assist, added two hits and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Flames.
Lafferty seems to adjust well when moved into a top-line role. His last three points -- over a span of five games -- have come when he's playing alongside Elias Pettersson. Lafferty has been solid this season with six tallies, six assists, 30 shots on net, 31 hits, 22 PIM and a plus-13 rating through 25 outings, though he's mostly been in a bottom-six role.
