Sabres Notes: Ennis, O’Reilly, Eichel
After undergoing surgery last week to repair two sports hernias, Buffalo Sabres forward Tyler Ennis will miss six weeks according to John Vogl of Buffalo News. The three-time 20 goal scorer had been struggling to start the season with only two points in twelve games. This comes after an injury-plagued 2015-16 that saw Ennis suit up only 23 times, scoring 11 points.
Six weeks gives Ennis a timeline right around the Christmas break in the NHL, which happens December 24-26. Before last season, the small forward had proven fairly durable in his career, playing in 335 games from 2010-2015. He’ll now try to get back to that pace with a successful rehab and final three months.
- Ryan O’Reilly is skating again, but is still day-to-day and will likely not play tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Buffalo alternate-captain has been in and out of the lineup all season with a “middle-body injury” or back spasms, and has been limited to just 13 games (out of 16). After avoiding any potential suspensions from his offseason incident, O’Reilly was expected to once again lead the Sabres in scoring. After putting up 60 points in 71 games last season, the big center has put up nine this year.
- The other big scoring threat on the Sabres, Jack Eichel, is also injured at the moment and working his way back. While there is still no exact timetable for his return, head coach Dan Bylsma did say he is skating and progressing today. Eichel was injured at practice in early October, and initial diagnoses had him somewhere between 4-8 weeks for a return. Last year’s second-overall pick put up 56 points in his rookie season but has yet to hit the ice in a game this year.
- The team has sent down Casey Nelson to Rochester today, though according to Vogl is expected to recall him tomorrow after the Americans’ game tonight. With all the injuries to the NHL squad, Nelson is playing somewhat of a taxi-squad role just in case anything happens in warmups or morning skates.
Snapshots: Larsson, Sabres, Minor Moves
It was one of the most controversial moves of the summer, but so far the Adam Larsson–Taylor Hall trade isn’t looking as bad as many in Edmonton expected, writes David Staples of the Edmonton Journal.
Staples notes Devils GM Ray Shero is one of the strongest proponents of the trade, and why wouldn’t he be? His Devils are in a playoff spot and Hall is tied for the Devils scoring lead. But he also believes the Oilers got what they needed, according to Kevin Allen of USA Today.
“The Oilers have taken a lot of grief over this, but has anybody sat down and watched Larsson? He’s actually pretty good.”
Shero pointed to Edmonton’s desperate need for a good, young defenseman to go with their young offensive forwards, while the Devils desperately needed an offensive catalyst like Hall.
“You have to make a team, and that is challenging in a salary cap world… They are off to a great start this season. That says something.”
Staples take on the trade is that he likes Larsson’s game, but doesn’t love it yet. He’s had the occasional struggle, but he’s also playing incredibly tough minutes with a skilled but inexperienced parter in Oscar Klefbom. Staples gives the trade a passing grade, with the note that Hall is clearly the better player but the Oilers got what they needed.
- Meanwhile, only one defense core in the NHL has yet to score a goal this season. Despite having weapons like Rasmus Ristolainen and Cody Franson, none of the Buffalo Sabres defensemen have scored. They have contributed 14 assists, however eight of those belong to Ristolainen. Franson told Bill Hoppe that he couldn’t “care less if I scored one goal in a season,” saying he prefers to get assists. Coach Dan Bylsma isn’t concerned with the lack of production, but would like his defensemen to be more aggressive.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled LW Markus Hannikainen from the Cleveland Monsters. The undrafted Hannikainen has seven points in 11 games for the Monsters so far.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled LW Roman Lyubimov from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He was sent down to the AHL on Wednesday; Sam Carchidi reported it was simply a paper transaction made for salary cap reasons. Lyubimov has one goal in 11 NHL games so far this season. Carchidi also noted that it appears Chris Vande Velde will be a healthy scratch, despite scoring twice in the last four games.
- Rookie center Noel Acciari did not take part in Boston Bruins practice on Thursday morning, according to Joe Haggerty. He hasn’t skated since suffering a lower-body injury on Monday night versus the Sabres.