Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff is hoping that defenseman Rasmus Dahlin will be able to join the team at practice tomorrow in a non-contact capacity (as per Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald). The former first-overall pick left just a few minutes into the Sabres first practice last week and has not skated with the team since. Dahlin skated this morning before the team did and does appear ready to take the next step in his short recovery.
The Sabres will likely compete for a playoff spot this season and will need a healthy Dahlin in order to have a chance. The 24-year-old has been remarkably durable during his six-year NHL career, only missing seven games over the past four seasons and just 17 games during his entire NHL career.
In other evening notes:
- The Los Angeles Kings could be on the hunt for some help on their fourth line (as per Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period). The Kings don’t currently have a fourth-line center set in stone and have been rotating different options through that spot thus far in training camp. Bernstein wonders if Kings general manager Rob Blake will begin to search the market to see if there is a player that could be brought in. Bernstein doesn’t specify whether that could be the trade market or one of the current free agents on a PTO, but it looks as though the Kings aren’t comfortable with any of their internal options for the role.
- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke to the media today and poured cold water on the rumors that the NHL is looking at expansion (as per Adam Laskaris of Daily Hive Toronto). Bettman called the rumors “categorically false,” and said that the NHL is not looking to expand at the moment. Bettman did concede that he would be updating the NHL’s Board of Governors on the cities that have expressed interest in getting an NHL team, but beyond that, there would be no further action at this time.
Bettman also said it was “categorically false” that the Coyotes were moving just days before they announced the Coyotes were moving so take what he says with a grain of salt.
Bettman talks a lot like a politician. Can’t take him seriously very often.
Expansion announcement next week.
Can’t wait for it, just to watch the ranting, raving, and tantrum tossing that will take place here and all over cyberspace.
He can not find owner for new arizona team. Once He does Back to Atlanta and Arizona. No chance of Quebec city ,hamilton or second team in toronto as long as Gary is the boss.
I don’t see how any of those cities would succeed. I know the Leafs, Sabres, and Canadiens haven’t had much success lately but would enough fans really jump ship to support another team in such close proximity? Especially for a second Toronto team.
You don’t think there are enough hockey fans in the GTA to support two teams?
Obviously there’s a ton of people. But I can’t see fans who stop cheering for the Leafs to instead support another team.
He’s not the boss. He was appointed by the NHL’s Board of Governors. The BOG consists of the owners of the NHL franchises. He is the CEO and is responsible for implementing decisions made by the BOG and overseeing operations. Simple concept. Common knowledge. It is amusing that so many of you don’t know this.
Folks turned out to see the Islanders and Devils play. Rangers attendance didn’t drop an iota (nor would until the 1990s), but all of a sudden tens of thousands of fans a night who didn’t get the chance before did then. I doubt that GTA hockey fans are less passionate about the sport than metro New Yorkers.
Damn I cant believe Dahlin is 24 already.
Kings don’t have the cap space to add a 4th line center. Give Turcotte andThomas a chance and deal with it before the deadline!