Buffalo Sabres Recall Tage Thompson
The Buffalo Sabres will try to fill their forward depth chart from within once again, this time recalling Tage Thompson from the minor leagues. The team lost Kyle Okposo from last night’s game and already have Vladimir Sobotka, Marcus Johansson and Johan Larsson on the shelf at the moment.
The 22-year old Thompson came to the Sabres from the St. Louis Blues in the Ryan O’Reilly trade and ended up playing 65 games for Buffalo last season. He was frustratingly inconsistent during those games however and with the team’s added depth was sent to the AHL’s Rochester Americans to start the 2019-20 season.
In the minor leagues, Thompson has shown an improved skating ability and bigger overall impact, scoring 12 points in 16 games as one of the team’s most consistent players. He comes to the Sabres amid reports the team is looking for another forward in trade, but could potentially fill that role himself.
Selected 26th overall in 2016, Thompson has a huge frame and can score from all over the offensive zone. In 106 career NHL games he has just 10 goals however, a rate that will have to improve significantly before he is considered the impact player many thought he would become.
Minor Transactions: 11/15/19
It was the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl show again last night as the pair combined for 11 points against rookie goaltender Adam Werner and the Colorado Avalanche. The Edmonton Oilers sit in first place in the Pacific Division and seem unstoppable when their big line is on the ice. As teams try to figure out a way to slow them down, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves around the league.
- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Rasmus Asplund from the minor leagues (yes, another Rasmus), giving him his first opportunity in the NHL. The 21-year old forward has eight points in 13 games for the Rochester Americans and could be the answer the team is looking for as a top-nine addition.
- Colton White has been recalled by the New Jersey Devils, after they placed Sami Vatanen on injured reserve (retroactive to November 8th). White, 22, played in three games for the Devils last season but is still looking for his first NHL point.
- Tyler Lewington has been recalled once again by the Washington Capitals, given his extremely low cap hit. The Capitals don’t have a lot of breathing room at the moment and Lewington’s $675K cap hit is what they can afford, even if it means they’ll have to play with just 11 forwards tonight.
- The Detroit Red Wings are close to getting Luke Glendening back into the lineup, so Givani Smith has been returned to the AHL. Smith has played in five games, but is still without his first point.
Marcus Johansson To Miss At Least Three Games
Getting consistent secondary scoring has been a concern for the Sabres as of late and they’ll be without one of the few players who had been providing it for a little bit. Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports that forward Marcus Johansson will miss at least the next three games due to an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old currently sits tied for fifth in teams scoring with 10 points through his first 17 games, his highest point-per-game pace since 2016-17. Head coach Ralph Krueger indicated that it’s a minor issue for Johansson and that he could return as soon as Tuesday night. Considering they’ve been off since Saturday, Buffalo could backdate an IR placement for Johansson if they decide to recall someone from AHL Rochester.
Vladimir Sobotka Out Four To Six Weeks
The Buffalo Sabres Have made several announcements in regards to their injury situations today, including one on Vladimir Sobotka. The veteran forward will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury following the low hit from Nikita Kucherov that occurred in Sweden at the Global Series games. The team will however get Zach Bogosian and Marco Scandella back at practice today as they get closer to a return, and have recalled Curtis Lazar from the AHL.
While Sobotka’s absence was expected after he was helped off the ice, the return of Bogosian and Scandella is an important step if the Sabres want to move out some of their defensive depth for help up front. When both return the team has at least nine NHL-caliber defensemen, with other names like Lawrence Pilut and William Borgen waiting for their next chance in the minor leagues.
Lazar may get some time in Sobotka’s spot, but it’s obvious why the Sabres are looking to add another forward to the mix. The team has lost five straight after their hot start and have scored just eight goals during that stretch, obviously not enough to compete in the high-flying Atlantic Division.
Buffalo Sabres Looking For Forward Help
The Buffalo Sabres have been looking to move some of their defensive depth for some time, and now on the latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading Pierre LeBrun reports that they are after a top-nine forward. LeBrun suggests the recent injury to Vladimir Sobotka could make the Sabres act even more quickly to acquire that forward.
The Sabres are enduring a familiar crash in the standings recently, losing their last five games after starting the season on fire. Almost the exact same thing happened a year ago when the team plummeted in the standings after winning ten in a row, something the organization obviously doesn’t want to experience again.
Buffalo has scored just 50 goals through 17 games, 30 of them from the same four forwards. That offense needs to be spread out a little more if they want to contend for the playoffs this season, but who exactly they could target is unclear.
The Los Angeles Kings have made Tyler Toffoli a healthy scratch and today removed Ilya Kovalchuk from the lineup, but both of them come with hefty cap hits that the Sabres may not be able to take on once Zach Bogosian comes off long-term injured reserve (unless of course the move salary out the other way). Speculation has already begun in New Jersey with regards to Taylor Hall, but if he’s ever made available Buffalo would be one of many suitors bidding on him.
Perhaps less decorated options like Nic Petan or Joshua Ho-Sang could be an option, given how both have clearly been available this season and don’t carry big salaries. The team may be looking for a more proven player first however, given they already have a young core in place with room to grow.
Minor Transactions: 11/11/19
A new week begins by celebrating Veterans or Remembrance Day (depending on your place of origin), a cause linked closely to the hockey world for some time. There are two games on tap around the NHL, including the teams from the capitals of both Canada and the United States. Washington will try to keep their recent hot streak rolling against the Arizona Coyotes, while Ottawa travels to Carolina in search of their third consecutive win. As those and the rest of the league’s teams prepare for action, we’ll be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have sent Alexander Volkov back to the minor leagues after the young forward played in four games with the team. Volkov, 22, was given an opportunity with some of Tampa Bay’s best forwards, but failed to record his first NHL point. There is plenty of time for that though as he looks to be quite high in the prospect depth chart for the Lightning.
- After giving him a chance to travel with the Buffalo Sabres to Sweden for the Global Series games, Lawrence Pilut has been returned to the minor leagues. The Swedish defenseman didn’t actually play in the overseas games, but still got to experience the trip as a member of an NHL club. Pilut hasn’t played for the Sabres yet this season, but does have six points in eight minor league appearances.
- Though there has been no update yet on Torey Krug‘s status after he left last night’s game, the Boston Bruins have recalled Urho Vaakanainen from the minor leagues under emergency conditions. That would suggest that Krug is out for at least one game, but we’ll have to wait and see later today.
- The Detroit Red Wings are on a heater since acquiring Robby Fabbri, and now bring back another exciting young forward. Givani Smith has been recalled by the team for the second time this season. Smith has played in three games for the Red Wings so far but is still looking for his first NHL point.
- The Vegas Golden Knights don’t play until Wednesday and have completed their usual off-day assignment of Nicolas Roy and Nicolas Hague, but the pair have a third member on the bus to the AHL. Cody Glass has also been sent to the Chicago Wolves today, a curious move given his success so far this season. Glass has seen his ice time reduced significantly over the last two games, playing fewer than 12 minutes in each.
- Gavin Bayreuther didn’t leave Winnipeg with the Dallas Stars and instead was reassigned to the Texas Stars who play the Manitoba Moose this afternoon. The 25-year old defenseman hasn’t played in a game for Dallas yet this season.
- Brendan Guhle has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks, while the team reassigned Simon Benoit to the AHL. Guhle was sent down at the end of October and has played well with the San Diego Gulls, registering four points in four games.
Offensive Struggles Could Force Buffalo To Move Defenseman Earlier Than They Prefer
While the Sabres would ideally like to wait until both Zach Bogosian and Marco Scandella return from their injuries before dealing from their surplus of defensemen, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News suggests that GM Jason Botterill may need to expedite that timetable. Buffalo has reached the three-goal mark just once in their last seven games and not surprisingly, they’ve won just one in that span and have dropped out of the top three in the Atlantic Division. With a lack of secondary scoring threats at the moment, they may not be able to afford to wait to see if things turn around. The Sabres have a tough stretch coming up with 10 games in 17 days starting on Thursday and if their offensive struggles continue, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Buffalo turn some of their defensive depth into scoring help.
Poll: Should Kucherov Have Been Disciplined For Hit On Sobotka?
With the eyes of the hockey world on Stockholm this week for the NHL Global Series, the first game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres featured a questionable no-call, followed by an equally suspicious lack of response by the league. Sabres forward Vladimir Sobotka was forced from the game early after receiving a low-bridge hit from Lightning star Nikita Kucherov. There was no penalty called on the play and The Athletic’s Joe Smith reported that no supplemental discipline will come from the NHL Department of Player Safety. Especially after responding quickly to the Nick Foligno hit on Friday and given the visibility of the Global Series game, should the league have done more about this incident?
The hit in question is questionable indeed (video). Sobotka throws the puck on goal from out near the blue line, while continuing to coast to his left with his focus staying on the puck, now behind the Tampa net. A defenseless and unexpecting Sobotka runs into Kucherov, who has bent down and lowered his body to deliver a hip check that decks Sobotka, sending him end-over-end. This type of low bridge hit has been punished in the past by the league, but there was no call on the ice – likely as attention was on the puck – and the league did not feel it warranted further review. Yet, it seemingly meets many of the criteria that would raise the hit to the level of supplemental discipline. It was late, away from the puck, with intent, and did in fact cause injury. Sobotka was seen after the game with a cast and is expected to miss time for Buffalo.
With that said, this style of low check used to be a non-issue in the NHL. The fact that it was late and away from the play should have resulted in an interference or roughing penalty on the ice, but the hit itself would not have been finable or suspendable years ago. While the league should have at least admitted the error by the referees, there is some understanding as well as to why there was no further review. The issue now is whether the league will be consistent in not issuing discipline for low bridge hits, which the likes of Brad Marchand and Nazem Kadri have been nailed for in the past. Kucherov’s status as a superstar and the fact that the league wanted him available for game two of their international event should not have been a factor in the decision, but very well could have been.
What do you think? Should Kucherov have been disciplined for the low-bridge hit that injured Sobotka? Vote below and share your thoughts in the comments.
Should Kucherov Have Been Disciplined For Hit On Sobotka?
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Yes, suspended 65% (471)
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No 19% (140)
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Yes, fined 16% (113)
Total votes: 724
Snapshots: Sobotka, Archibald, Hall
Buffalo Sabres forward Vladimir Sobotka was removed from today’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being hit low by Nikita Kucherov, and did not return. John Vogl of The Athletic saw Sobotka after the game in an air cast, but Sabres’ head coach Ralph Krueger wouldn’t speculate on how long he will be out.
Though he has been the whipping boy for many Sabres fans frustrated with the team’s lack of secondary scoring, Sobotka still seems to be a favorite of the coaching staff that continues to give him regular ice time. In his first season with Buffalo last year he failed to make much of an impact scoring just 13 points in 69 games, and has just three so far this season. The Sabres will likely insert Evan Rodrigues into the lineup for the other Global Series game tomorrow afternoon.
- The Edmonton Oilers have activated Josh Archibald from injured reserve, and will also have Riley Sheahan back in the lineup when they take on the New Jersey Devils tonight. The team is looking to get back in the win column after two straight losses to Western Conference opponents, but still sit atop the Pacific Division with a 10-5-2 record.
- Taylor Hall will be front and center in that matchup as he returns to Edmonton in the midst of plenty of contract speculation, including some suggesting that the Oilers would have some interest in bringing him back. Mark Spector of Sportsnet examines the Hall situation, explaining how the player has expressed clearly his desire to return to the playoffs before his time as a star in the league runs out. The Devils sit at 4-6-4 on the season, in last place in the Metropolitan Division.
Hurricanes, Sabres Shopping Defensemen
The Carolina Hurricanes were seeking a top-nine forward when they traded away long-time defenseman Justin Faulk this summer. However, the best return they could find was a prospect forward, Dominik Bokk, and another established defenseman in Joel Edmundson from the St. Louis Blues. Now, the Hurricanes are more or less back in the same situation, trying to deal from their blue line depth for help up front. Even after moving Faulk and Calvin de Haan in the off-season, the additions of Edmundson, Jake Gardiner, and Gustav Forsling has created yet another logjam on defense. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Carolina is calling around to other teams and shopping veteran Trevor van Riemsdyk, as well as 23-year-old Haydn Fleury, who is no longer waiver-exempt, in hopes of landing a scoring forward in return.
However, they aren’t alone. LeBrun’s colleague Darren Dreger reports that the Buffalo Sabres are also making calls to dangle defenders in anticipation of their team getting healthy. Dreger states that Zach Bogosian and Marco Scandella will make their returns “right around the corner”, but first Buffalo will need to clear space. The red-hot Sabres likely want to avoid a major shake-up, such as moving the now-content Rasmus Ristolainen, but also likely aren’t keen to move recent additions like Brandon Montour and Colin Miller. The team can demote Lawrence Pilut and even Henri Jokiharju, but will still need to make room on the blue line. Dreger states that Buffalo is hoping to land both a top-six and bottom-six forward, so trading away a John Gilmour won’t get the job done. Bogosian, Scandella, and Jake McCabe seem like the most likely to be dealt at this point.
So who could take advantage of a market flush with capable defenders? Top contenders like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and San Jose Sharks are all struggling defensively this season and have the depth of forwards to swing a deal. The Minnesota Wild are known to be open to moving several forward and could pursue a defenseman that they see as a long-term fit. The same could be said for other struggling teams, especially those with intriguing impending free agents, such as the Los Angeles Kings (Tyler Toffoli) and New York Rangers (Chris Kreider). The Hurricanes’ and Sabres’ competition to make a deal may even lower the acquisition costs for any interested teams. The trade market appears to be heating up early this season and the odds of a deal – or several – before the holiday trade freeze are high.