What Your Team Is Thankful For: Buffalo Sabres
As the holiday season approaches, PHR will look at what teams are thankful for this year. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We take a look at what’s gone well in the first month and what could improve as the season rolls on.
What are the Buffalo Sabres most thankful for?
The chance at another high draft pick.
They’re the worst team in the Eastern Conference and many aren’t sure they’ve hit bottom yet. They finally notched a win after an 0-4-1 start, and had a nice 3-2 stretch before going 2-7, with another loss coming at the hands of the Red Wings on Friday. Sabres fans are hunkering down for another long season of losses, but if the younger players grow it at least helps stomach the losing a bit. But to what is one of the most loyal and hardcore fanbases in hockey, the Sabres seem stuck in a perpetual rebuild while the Maple Leafs, who went the same route, are enjoying far more success.
The right numerical combination in April could net the Sabres the first or second overall pick but as the Avalanche learned last Spring, nothing is guaranteed. If anything, it would at least cushion what is looking like another brutal season.
Who are the Sabres most thankful for?
Evander Kane‘s stock continues to rise.
It’s no secret that the phone has been ringing in Buffalo with trade offers for the winger. Kane has been strong this season, being a point-per-game player. The better Kane plays–the more value he has as the trade deadline nears. Teams will be hunting for a goal scorer that could tip the scales in their favor, and Kane, being added to a team with playoff talent, would fit that need perfectly. While he is a UFA at the end of the 2017-18 season, his scoring knack would be too much to pass on for a team desperate for scoring. Should the Sabres continue to struggle, Kane could net valuable picks, top prospect or maybe both.
What would the Sabres be more thankful for?
Goalscoring. And lots more of it.
The slumping Sabres have been hurt by their players not putting the puck in the back of the net. Kyle Okposo was brought into score goals and he only has two (though he did rebound from a scary medical incident last season). Sam Reinhart hasn’t scored as expected. And that brings us to Jack Eichel.
Eichel is second on the team with points (5-11-16) but he is not finding the net, either. Worse, not one defenseman this season has scored a goal, through 19 games (through Friday). 
What should be on the Sabres’ Holiday Wish List?
If the season truly is doomed, fetching draft picks and prospects for impact players seems to be at the top of the list. New general manager Jason Botterill has hands full trying to navigate out of some bad contracts and a lack of depth that has handcuffed the Sabres chances of rebuilding successfully. At 5-10-4, hope of anything besides a last place finish seems far-fetched. Jason Pominville (6-7-13) has been a bright spot and could yield a higher pick, as well as cap relief, should his play continue to be strong. Like Kane, put in the right spot with a team seeking a long playoff run, he could be great depth scoring. At this point, anything on the wish list has an eye on the future.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Evan Rodrigues Activated Off SOIR, Assigned To Rochester
- The Sabres have assigned center Evan Rodrigues to Rochester of the AHL, per the AHL’s Transactions page. This means that he has been activated off season-opening injury reserve. He suffered a hand injury early in the preseason against Toronto. Although he has been sent down, there’s a decent change Rodrigues will factor into Buffalo’s plans before too long as he played in 30 games with them last season, averaging just shy of 13 minutes per game.
Morning Notes: Houston, Fedun, Matthews
The new owner of the Houston Rockets met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently, according to a report from Katie Strang of The Athletic. Tilman Fertitta, who purchased the Rockets this summer for $2.2 billion, had previously suggested he’d be interested in bringing the NHL to Houston. One meeting doesn’t prove that anything is set to happen, but it does have to throw Houston into the ring for potential expansion or relocation in the future. Bettman did admit to The Athletic that they would have to consider Houston if there was interest “under the right circumstances.”
There are several teams around the league with uncertain futures, most notably in Calgary, Arizona and New York (Islanders), and now two US locations that seem like legitimate new possibilities. Seattle, with its new arena proposal headed by Oak View Group, and now Houston with interest from an owner who is more than financially capable. While many Canadian hockey fans wish that Quebec City was first on the list, they may remain in the NHL’s back pocket even longer if viable locations are popping up in the United States. There is no clear path for expansion right now, nor is the league actively looking for relocation at the moment.
- Buffalo’s season is getting even worse with the announcement that Taylor Fedun and Matt Tennyson have been put on injured reserve today. An already thin blueline gets even thinner, and head coach Phil Housley announced that Fedun would be out six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury. In the meantime the team has recalled Casey Nelson because Zach Redmond is also nursing an injury in the minor leagues. The Sabres need defensive help even when all of their starters are healthy, and risk falling out of the playoff race altogether if they don’t find an answer on the back end.
- Auston Matthews is out once again for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, despite practicing for much of the week. The 20-year old superstar hasn’t played in ten days, though the team is 3-0 in his absence. Nikita Soshnikov will enter the lineup in his absence, though it likely means Patrick Marleau will regain his position at center ice. Marleau has been a winger for the last several years, but was forced into the center role in Toronto due to their lack of depth behind Matthews. Beyond the NHL, the Maple Leafs don’t have a ton of other options down the middle, a concern that could lead to some interesting decisions this summer. Tyler Bozak is a pending unrestricted free agent, but could be too expensive to bring back on anything other than a short-term deal. The team may have to look elsewhere to fill the third-line center role next year.
Minor Transactions: 11/16/17
Last night was an entertaining one in the hockey world, with the Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames taking us back to a different era of hockey. The two teams got into a line brawl that will likely result in several suspensions. While we wait on word from the Department of Player Safety, keep your eyes right here for all the minor moves around the league.
- The Buffalo Sabres have made some changes, recalling Kyle Criscuolo and Casey Nelson from the AHL. To make room, the team placed Matt Tennyson and Taylor Fedun on injured reserve. It’s interesting that young defenseman Brendan Guhle wasn’t the call-up, as he continues to star for the Rochester Americans. Instead, the more veteran Nelson will re-join the team. Nelson played 11 games for the Sabres last year, registering zero points.
- Montreal has recalled Nicolas Deslauriers from the Laval Rocket in preparation for their game tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. Deslauriers was acquired by Montreal earlier this season in exchange for Zach Redmond, but has yet to make his debut with the Canadiens. The 26-year old forward is a big body that the team could insert into the lineup to provide some energy and physicality.
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled forward Nick Paul, bringing him back after just a few days. Paul was sent down on Monday in likely a move to save some cap space, and will now rejoin the squad to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Paul has suited up for just one game this season in the NHL, in which he was held scoreless.
- The New York Islanders have ended the emergency conditions of Josh Ho-Sang‘s recall, instead changing it to a regular recall now that Anthony Beauvillier is healthy. Ho-Sang is still expected to be in the lineup tonight for the Islanders when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes, with Alan Quine sitting out.
- According to Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider, Jonny Brodzinski has been called up to the NHL. To make room, Michael Amadio has been sent back down. As Rosen points out, the Kings are currently in need of a winger at the NHL level—partly due to the recent trade of Mike Cammalleri—instead of a center, hence the move to Brodzinski.
- Later in the day, the Sabres also announced they have sent Nicholas Baptiste to the minor leagues after seeing very little ice time in the last few games. Baptiste has suited up for four games for Buffalo this season, registering zero points.
- The Calgary Flames have assigned goaltender Jon Gillies to the AHL after coming up to fill in for the injured Mike Smith last night. Gillies got some excitement when the two teams started a line brawl, and even got into the game in relief of Eddie Lack. Smith is with the team and expected to play in their next game.
Snapshots: Bruins, Sabres, Flames
Some assorted notes from around the NHL this evening…
- The Bruins are going to be missing a pair of weapons for the next several games. Head coach Bruce Cassidy said today that Brad Marchand and Anders Bjork will miss at least the next two games (via Flip Livingstone of The Score). The duo were both injured during the team’s loss to the Maple Leafs on Saturday, although details of the injuries haven’t been disclosed. The pair have combined for 11 goals and 13 assists this season.
- After missing five games with a lower-body injury, right winger Justin Bailey is headed to Rochester. John Vogl of The Buffalo News writes that the Sabres are hoping the 22-year-old can find some consistency in the AHL. The former second-rounder started the season on fire, compiling two goals and three assists in his first four games. However, he had no points in the following three games. “I thought he started out really well the first couple games,” said coach Phil Housley. “I thought his played dipped a little from that, that urgency he had on the forecheck, using his speed and even in providing a physical element…[h]e’s going to go down, work on that, get his timing back.”
- We heard yesterday that the Flames were back to full health, but the injury bug has hit once again. According to Sportsnet 960 The Fan (via Ryan Pike of FlamesNation.ca), goaltender Mike Smith did not travel with the team to Detroit. While Smith hasn’t been placed on injured reserve and may be able to return before the end of the team’s road trip, the Flames are still expected to promote a goalie. Pike points to Jon Gillies or David Rittich as the main candidates to be promoted.
Pacific Notes: Nugent-Hopkins, Gaborik, Subban, Engelland
With the Matt Duchene trade in the books for a week now, The Hockey News’ Lyle Richardson writes that the Edmonton Oilers are one of three teams to watch over the next couple of months when it comes to making a big move. Citing the league’s need for playmaking centers, the scribe suggests the team could try and move center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and his large contract ($6MM AAV through the 2020-21 season) and try to get a much-needed wing.
Richardson cites Edmonton as well as the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Buffalo Sabres as the three teams most likely to make the next big trade in the league. In fact, he suggested the Oilers attempt to move Nugent-Hopkins to Columbus, who were the losers in getting either Duchene or Kyle Turris via trade. However, could the Blue Jackets fit Nugent-Hopkins under their salary cap without Edmonton retaining some of that salary? The suggestion was the Oilers would either require Cam Atkinson or Josh Anderson in return to make that deal work.
Nugent-Hopkins has been playing well this year as he’s put up six goals and six assists this season. Known as a defensive forward, the former No. 1 overall pick could be a key asset for Columbus or any other team needing a center.
- Los Angeles Times’ Curtis Zupke writes that veteran forward Marian Gaborik got his first full practice under his belt Saturday after having knee surgery back in April. The 35-year-old is not expected to be activated soon as the Kings are taking a cautious approach with the injury-prone winger, who has had knee and foot issues over the last two years, which has seen him play 110 games in the past two-plus seasons. “I felt pretty good,” he said. “Things have been getting into flow. Obviously I’ve missed a lot of time so [I need to] get used to everything — my legs, just the whole body as a hockey player, to get back into things, and to just keep going and ramping things up, and get my timing back. It’s pretty much the whole package I have to get back.”
- Vegas Golden Knights’ goaltender Malcolm Subban was spotted skating at City National Arena today, tweeted SinBin. Subban, who went down with a lower-body injury, was deemed out for four weeks on Oct. 22, so it looks like he might be on target for a return within the next couple of weeks. The team has been forced to use their fourth-string goaltender, Maxime Lagace, for the past two weeks as the team has been decimated by injuries to Marc-Andre Fleury, Subban and Oscar Dansk.
- Sticking with the Golden Knights, The Canadian Press’ Darren Haynes points out that Vegas defenseman Deryk Engelland has more points (2-7-9) than quite a few defensemen, including San Jose Brent Burns, Nashville’s Roman Josi and Calgary Mark Giordano. Engelland, who played for the old Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL earlier in his career and made Las Vegas his home from that point on, has never put up more than 17 points in a season. Always known as a defensive player, the 35-year-old has been reborn in Las Vegas, who is just eight points away from a career-year.
Benoit Pouliot Will Not Be Suspended For Hit On Yandle
- Sabres winger Benoit Pouliot will not be suspended for an incident that occurred late in Friday’s game on Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle, the Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link). He had a hearing with the league earlier today but after reviewing the angles of the hit, it was determined that his hit on Yandle did not involve the head being the principal point of contact.
Nathan Beaulieu Activated Off IR
- The Sabres have given blueliners Nathan Beaulieu and Josh Gorges a clean bill of health as the team announced that both are ready to return to the lineup. Beaulieu will return to Buffalo’s lineup tonight after missing seven straight games with an upper-body injury. However, Gorges is expected to be a healthy scratch but could make his return to the lineup on Saturday.
Evander Kane & Unrestricted Free Agency
Darren Dreger took to the airwaves for WGR 550 in Buffalo for his weekly appearance, and the conversation inevitably turned to Evander Kane. With the trade of Matt Duchene, Kane has jumped to the top of the rumor mill all over again. Dreger reports that last he checked there hasn’t been work on a contract extension between Kane and the Sabres, but that he wouldn’t rule out one being completed before he becomes a free agent this summer. Still, in a frank account of where his market would land should he get to unrestricted free agency, Dreger puts a cap on how long Kane would be signed for.
I’m not saying that there isn’t going to be another team that is going to give Evander Kane seven years. But if there is, I haven’t come across that team yet. I haven’t come across it.
Dreger immediately goes on to admit how well Kane has played this year and that if that play continues all year the skepticism from around the league will disappear.
Heading into the winter months, Kane looks like a lock to be one of the most sought-after free agents in the summer of 2018, despite whatever off-ice baggage he’s had in the past. The simple fact of being a 26-year old free agent is a huge positive for his case, not to mention his 30-goal ability. Kane had 28 last season in just 70 games, and he’s currently on a 49-goal pace for this season. While that’s likely not what he’ll end up with, it’s clear that he’s one of the most dynamic goal scoring wingers in the league.
With all respect given to Dreger, without a major injury or another off-ice incident it seems impossible that Kane wouldn’t be able to secure a seven-year deal. He’d be just 33 when the contract expired, and there are always teams after goal-scoring up front. While seven years is not even necessarily what Kane is looking for, he’ll be one of the most interesting players to watch come July 1.
Because of that interest, the idea of a trade is going to linger. If Buffalo doesn’t turn things around from their early season struggles—and with the current state of their defense it will be difficult—the Sabres will likely be sellers again at this year’s deadline. With their superstar center locked up long-term for huge dollars, the team has to continue to collect young players to surround him. Eichel will jump to $10MM per season next year, and with big contracts already given out to Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo there may not even be room to re-sign Kane, let alone interest from both sides. As every team is learning, you must find success while at least some key players are still on their entry-level contracts in the salary-capped NHL, not after they all hit unrestricted free agency.
Just like interest on the open market, Kane would bring in a solid return if the Sabres were to shop him. While he’s obviously not quite Duchene, if the Sabres were to net even just one blue-chip defense prospect (as opposed to three prospects and three picks) it would be hard to turn down. Again, that’s predicated on the idea that Buffalo doesn’t turn it around and Kane looks like he’s going to re-sign for a reasonable amount, but both things are starting to fade further into the distance as the season progresses.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Injury Notes: Devils, Sabres, Maple Leafs
The New Jersey Devils have activated Kyle Palmieri from injured reserve, and could get him back in the lineup for the first time since October 20th. Palmieri had been dealing with a lower-body injury, which derailed what was an excellent start to the season. The 26-year old had seven points in his first seven games, and looked well on his way to a third straight 50-point season.
To make room, the Devils have moved Marcus Johansson to IR with his concussion issues. His stint is retroactive to November 1st when he last played, meaning he is eligible to come off as soon as he’s ready to play. Johansson left after crashing hard into the boards on his first shift of a game against the Vancouver Canucks, and hasn’t played since.
- Buffalo Sabres head coach Phil Housley has updated Rasmus Ristolainen‘s injury, now calling the defender week-to-week in his recovery. The team should get Nathan Beaulieu and Josh Gorges back soon, but missing Ristolainen for any length of time is a big hit to the Sabres defense corps. The 23-year old was originally day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but it’s unclear now when he’ll return to the team. With Buffalo sitting at 5-8-2 on the season, a loss of their best defenseman for very long could put them in an impossible hole.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t have Auston Matthews at practice again as he continues to deal with his upper-body injury, but there were also two conspicuous absences. Jake Gardiner and Frederik Andersen were both given what have been called maintenance days according to Kristen Shilton of TSN. Andersen took a blow to his blocking hand in last night’s game that was reminiscent of the injury to Roberto Luongo earlier this year, but stayed in the game to earn the Maple Leafs the win. For a team that was so injury-free last season, any lengthy absence from a single member of that trio would be something new to overcome. They’ll be careful not to aggravate any minor injury.