Buffalo Press Box

In-depth Buffalo sports talk from people on the scene

About the show

Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato are credentialed sportswriters for the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills. Bill has covered the Sabres for two decades and has managed his website, The Buffalo Hockey Beat, since 2012. Nick has covered the Bills since 2022 and is currently the sports editor for the Niagara Gazette and Lockport Union-Sun & Journal newspapers. We provide in-depth news and analysis on the Buffalo sports scene. Get information directly from the locker rooms and everything else you need to know from the Bills and Sabres weekly. For questions are comments, email us at [email protected].

Episodes

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    Episode 80: No fireworks to start free agency

    July 4th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 58 mins
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hockey, nfl, nhl, sabres

    The Buffalo Sabres had quiet start to free agency. Where do they go from here? Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato also pick the Bills quarter-century 53-man roster.

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    Episode 79: Craziness with Kevyn

    June 26th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  46 mins 22 secs
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hockey, kevyn adams, nfl, nhl, sabres

    Kevyn Adams had another gaffe in a press conference and the early return for JJ Peterka's trade was underwhelming. Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato discuss where the Buffalo Sabres general manager goes with the draft and free agency approaching.

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    Episode 78: Minicamp craze

    June 13th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 10 mins
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hockey, james cook, josh allen, keon coleman, nfl, nhl, sabres, shaq thompson

    James Cook reported to Buffalo Bills minicamp, but what does his future look like? Keon Coleman's improvement, training camp battles to watch, Shaq Thompson's role with the team and Buffalo's massive roster.

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    Episode 77: Ramping up

    June 6th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  32 mins 3 secs
    bills, bobby babich, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hockey, joe brady, josh allen, nfl, nhl, sabres

    Buffalo Bills coordinators Joe Brady and Bobby Babich spoke for the first time since the AFC championship loss to the Chiefs. And the Buffalo Sabres added Jarmo Kekäläinen to assist Kevyn Adams in the front office.

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    Episode 76: So it begins

    May 29th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  42 mins 53 secs
    allen, bills, bosa, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hbo, hockey, josh allen, nfl, nhl, sabres

    The Buffalo Bills are going to be on Hard Knocks, Joey Bosa is hurt already and James Cook was a no-show for voluntary minicamp. Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato also dive into position battles to watch throughout the spring and summer.

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    Episode 75: Schedule season

    May 15th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  52 mins 50 secs
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hockey, nfl, nhl, sabres, schedule

    Assessing the Buffalo Bills' 2025 schedule and their lack of holiday games, the first look at the rookies in action and what the Buffalo Sabres should do with the ninth overall pick.

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    Episode 74: Draft Drama

    April 30th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  48 mins 31 secs
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo news, football, nfl, nfl draft, ryan o'halloran

    Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane sounded off on NFL draft criticisms, the Bills went heavy on defense and didn't take a wide receiver. Buffalo News columnist Ryan O'Halloran joins the show to talk Buffalo's draft decisions and Beane's outburst.

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    Episode 73: Draft dive

    April 23rd, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 13 mins
    bills, brandon beane, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, draft, football, hockey, james cook, josh allen, kevyn adams, nfl, nfl draft, nhl, sabres, tre'davious white

    Where do the Buffalo Bills go in the first round? Why did the Bills bring back Tre'Davious White and how does it impact their draft plan? James Cook a workout no-show? And will Kevyn Adams return as Sabres GM? Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato discuss.

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    Episode 72: Another Sabre-less spring

    April 10th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  53 mins 41 secs
    alex ovechkin, bills, bruce smith, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hockey, lindy ruff, nfl, nhl, sabres, tage thompson

    Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL's all-time goals record. What are some sports records that won't be broken? And the Buffalo Sabres are out of playoff contention for the 14th consecutive season as Lindy Ruff nears 900 career wins.

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    Episode 71: Benford hits bank

    April 4th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  58 mins 25 secs
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, christian benford, cook, football, gretzky, hockey, james cook, nfl, nhl, ovechkin, sabres

    Buffalo sportswriters Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato discuss the Buffalo Bills' extension for Christian Benford and the decision to table talks with James Cook. The Buffalo Sabres are also on their annual April hot streak and Alexander Ovechkin is nearing Wayne Gretzky's goals record.

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    Episode 70: Lindy's 600th

    March 27th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  54 mins 15 secs
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, diggs, football, hockey, lindy ruff, nfl, nhl, ruff, sabres, stefon diggs

    Stefon Diggs is back in the AFC East and several NFL rule changes are on the table. Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato discuss that, plus Lindy Ruff's 600th win with the Sabres, whether he's a Hall of Famer and how much longer he could coach.

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    Episode 69: On the Gas

    March 19th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 7 mins
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hockey, hoecht, luukkonen, nfl, nhl, ogunjobi, power, sabres

    Buffalo sportswriters Bill Hoppe, Nick Sabato and Joe Yerdon discuss the Buffalo Bills signing two players set to be suspended for PEDs, the cornerback situation, Buffalo Sabres goaltenders and Owen Power's development.

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    Episode 68: Free Agent Frenzy

    March 14th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 25 mins
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, dylan cozaens, free agent, joey bosa, josh allen, josh norris, nfl, nhl, sabres

    Buffalo sportswriters Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato dive into all of the Buffalo Bills' extensions, including Josh Allen's record-setting deal, plus the addition of Joey Bosa and other free agent signings. Joe Yerdon also rejoins the program to discuss the Sabres' trade deadline moves.

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    Episode 67: The Combine Craze

    March 3rd, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 17 mins
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, combine, football, hockey, josh allen, nfl, nhl, sabres, trade

    Khalil Shakir became the first of the Buffalo Bills' young players to sign an extension, plus NFL combine talk and Joe Yerdon joins the show to bring sanity to the Buffalo Sabres discussion.

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    Episode 66: All-Star break

    February 19th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  50 mins 32 secs
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, connor mcdavid, football, hockey, james cook, nfl, nhl, sabres, terrel bernard

    The Buffalo Bills have five key players on expiring rookie contracts. Who do they keep? Plus, a look at the 4 Nations Face-Off, whether it lacks star power and sustainability.

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    Episode 65: Super Bowl surprise

    February 12th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  51 mins 40 secs
    bills, buffalo, buffalo bills, buffalo sabres, football, hockey, mahomes, nfl, nhl, patrick mahomes, sabres, super bowl

    Bill Hoppe and Nick Sabato dive into the Super Bowl, how the Bills should mirror the Eagles' roster building and a look at the 4 Nations Face-Off.