There’s no doubt that the Buffalo Sabres will be sellers once again at this year’s Trade Deadline, but there have been many questions posed about how many desirable assets the Sabres actually have. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta can report, though, that Buffalo is “taking calls” on a good portion of their defense core, including Colin Miller, Mark Pysyk, Robert Hagg, and Will Butcher, who are all pending unrestricted free agents. Miller and Pysyk especially have had good results this season, and could command at least a mid-round pick and pose as solid depth for contending teams. The team has also received interest in power-play specialist and pending restricted free agent Victor Olofsson, per Pagnotta. While it may seem surprising that the Sabres would currently be willing to deal a young forward, it looks like Olofsson’s inconsistency and poor defensive play are making the Sabres front office question his future with the team.
More notes from the league on a sleepy Thursday:
- Matias Maccelli, who’s torn up the AHL this season with the Tucson Roadrunners, is making his NHL debut tonight for the Arizona Coyotes and rightfully so. He’s not exactly a household name, even among prospect aficionados, but the organization is high on him, said general manager Bill Armstrong in a radio appearance today. He’ll come into the team’s training camp next season with the chance to start the season in the team’s top six. He’s getting a look there tonight, as well, lining up alongside Alex Galchenyuk and Phil Kessel for his NHL debut. Maccelli has 14 goals and 41 assists for 55 points in 42 AHL games.
- A relative rarity nowadays, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was ejected near the end of the second period from tonight’s game against Pittsburgh after getting into a verbal spat with referee Wes McCauley. It’s something to watch out for in the coming days, as the incident will likely be followed up with a fine from the NHL.
Canucks send Boeser for Olofsson and Butcher
Opens some cap and keeps Boeser’s offence and a better D option than Hunt
Boeser is a near All Star, those two guys aren’t even worth qualifying.
Prospects & Picks is what the Sabres prefer.
Cooper’s ejection from the Pens-Bolts game seemed to be the result of poor judgement and game management by McCauley. And to be honest, Cooper’s comments in the postgame make sense. Was Cooper ticked off at the time? Sure. But why did the referee explain the questionable penalties on the play to the Pens bench but did not show the Lightning bench the same courtesy? That simple action by the refs screams favoritism. I doubt an ejection would have happened if the ref had shown the Lightning the same courtesy and explained the on-ice calls. Poor game management by the officials in my opinion.