Updated:
What a difference a day makes.
On Friday afternoon, the Sabres had a healthy D squadron. Tim Murray was saying that just because Rasmus Ristolainen is practicing with his Sabres teammates without a contract doesn't mean he is closer to re-signing.
On Saturday, the complexion has changed.
Now, more than one defenseman is injured according to Sabres bench boss Dan Bylsma , who spoke after Saturday's practice.
Zach Bogosian has suffered a groin strain the full extent of which is not yet known.
Bogosian suffered a growing injury last September which caused him to miss the first two months of the regular season.
Dmitry Kulikov's ailment is now being classified as a "bruise". For now.
Suddenly, Tim Murray needs a healthy Rasmus Ristolainen.
Doesn't he?
Murray and Bylsma do not want a groin strain and a "bruised" back to undermine an otherwise promising start to the 2016-17 regular season.
Advantage: Ristolainen
***
The Sabres have made a massive roster reduction.
Here are the Saturday morning cuts:
F:
Justin Bailey
Will Carrier
Dan Catenacci
Eric Cornel
Jean Dupuy
Vaclav Karabacek
Justin Kea
Matt Lane
Daniel Muzito-Bagenda
Evan Rodrigues
Cole Schneider
Catenacci and Schneider need to clear waivers.
D:
Brady Austin
Mac Bennett
Paul Geiger
Brycen Martin
G:
Jason Kasdorf
John Muse
The Sabres still have 18 forwards, 12 defensemen and 3 goalies in Buffalo.
Dmitry Kulikov was eager to make his Buffalo Sabres debut on Friday night.
Kulikov's excitement ended abruptly after he suffered what appeared to be a serious injury.
Toronto forward Colin Greening check the big Russian defenseman along the wall in front of the Maple Leafs bench. The collision sent Kulikov violently careening into the unlatched bench door causing him to slam his back violently into the solid frame. There is no padding on the area where the blue bench rail attaches to the inside frame of the bench door. It's solid steel, fiberglass and rigid plastic.
For starters, Greening had no business hitting Kulikov who was trailing the play. Do you see a puck on the Buffalo defender's stick or in a 20 foot radius of his body.
Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma had no comment on the extent of the Kulikov injury in his postgame presser. Collisions of this magnitude certainly produce bruising and contusions. That's basis human physiology. However, more serious injuries ocur as well.
I'm not an orthopedic surgeon but I can tell you from my own experience that getting smashed into the bench door frame is not fun. It can actually cause serious structurally damage like micro fractures of the ribs and vertebrae. It can also cause soft tissue damage and injuries to internal organs. Have you ever tried to do yard work or work out at the gym with a wonky back? It's near impossible, right? NHL defensemen need to be balanced at all times. They need perfect posture to back skate, win battles and fight off enemy fore checkers. A jacked up upper or lower lumbar region can sap strength, speed and agility thus rendering that defender ineffective. You show me an NHL with a bad back and I will show you a guy who gets beaten on a consistent basis.
If I'm Tim Murray, I'm making a phone call this morning to the agent for unsigned restricted free agent Rasmus Ristolainen. The young Finn is inBuffalo right now and would add immediate value to teh Buffalo top four. Do it, Murray. Do. It. Now.
Kulikov's injury is the type that doesn't appear to be serious at first blush, however it can have lasting detrimental and chronic lasting affects on the player.
The 25 year old Kulikov played seven seasons with the Florida Panthers before he was traded to Buffalo in July for Mark Pysyk.
The Panthers got picks #38, #89 and Pysyk from the Sabres for pick #33 and Kulikov.
Kulikov became expendable to the Cats after they signed defenseman Keith Yandle to a seven-year contract. Kulikov projects to be a top four lefty for the Sabres this season. Kulikov had 17 points in 74 games last season. Kulikov was acquired by the Sabres to add physicality and stability to their blue line. Kulikov averaged 21:02 TOI while delivering 122 hits and blocking 121 shots last season. Kulikov landed 99 shots on goal.
Losing Kulikov forweeks or months would cause a gaping hole on the Bufalo blue line. Last year at this time, the Sabres lost D-man Zach Bogosian to groin and rib injuries. He would miss the first 18 games of the season. The Savres really struggled in their own end when Bogosian was out of teh lineup. When he returned to the lineup in late November, it took Bogosian a good 3-4 weeks to elevate his play to his high standards.
It's too soon to know the full extent of Kulikov's injury, however, if he is lost for a period of time, rookie Brendan Guhle would be the next left D on the Buffalo D depth chart. I like Guhle as a player, however, I haven't been impressed by his play in recent exhibition games. Would Dan Bylsma start the season with a rookie in his top four? I don't. I think that it's more likely that Tim Murray would look for a left hander on the trade market before playing Guhle in the top four for a long stretch of games.
Even if Kulikov's injury is a simple back bruise, I'm not taking it lightly if I am the GM. The Sabres have needed left side D depth for the past three seasons. Tim Murray should still be searching for a plug and play defender/QB.
If the 2016-17 mision statement truly is "Playoffs Or Bust", the Sabres need to add another dynamic defender. The forwards and goaltending will be rock solid this season. The D corps needs more jam, physicality and puck distribution/production at 5v5 and on the power play.
Jaconb Trouba? Cam Fowler?
**
In case you missed it, I wrote about Ristolainen yesterday.
Hey, Tim Murray.
Is it a tap-in putt to assume that just because Rasmus Ristolainen is in Buffalo skating with his Sabres teammates that he is going to influence the pace of the negotiations?
"No," Murray told The Associated Press on Friday.
"Unless you ask him that when he got here that he got all lovey-dovey and wants to play for what we want to pay him."
Shade thrown?
Or is Murray being his usual acerbic, snarky self?
Murray would not say whether progress is being made with his unsigned restricted free agent.
The Sabres will open the 2016-17 regular season against the Montreal Canadiens on home ice on October 13.
Murray might not want to play hard ball with Ristolainen and his agent. Not over a couple of hundred thousand dollars in salary per season. Ristolainen is a future Norris Trophy candidate and his ceiling is still very high. In three seasons of NHL service, Risto has already proven himself to be a leader of men. Before you poo-poo Ristolainen's value to his team, think back to the past two and a half seasons of tanking that was occurring around him in Buffalo. Never once did the kid whine or complain. Each and every night, losing amd jeering notwithstanding, the kid kept a stiff upper lip and he performed at a remarkable level. Remember those gawd awful lineups that Ted Noan would ice on a nightly basis? The kid was thrown to the NHL wolves and still succeeded despite not having a strong supporting around him. On most nights, if not all of them, Ristolainen and Zemgus Girgensons were the brighest, most noteworthy players on the Buffalo roster. Ristolainen's game advanvced to higher developmental heights last season when Dan Bylsma and Terry Murray arrived to restore order and winning in Buffalo.
So, I say to you, Tim Murray:
Pay Ristolainen the $6 million to $6.5 million AAV he is seeking.
Don't be pig headed and obstinate.
Do the right thing for yoour team and it's present and future success.
Just tear the bandage off in one motion rather than pussy-footimg around with it.
Don't alienate Ristolainen. He is the best defenseman that you have in your organization and he is getting incrementally better by the day.
Your stated goal for this season is playoffs or best. Correct?
Your Sabres will make the playoffs with Ristolainen in your lineup. They won't make the playoffs without Ristolainen in your nightly lineup.
P.S.- Your future restricted free agents Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart are watching carefully how you are addressing the Ristolainen contract negotiation. Playing hard ball with Risto right now could set you up for difficult negotiations with Eichel and Reinhart in the very near future.
Finnish your work, Tim.
Ristolainen created a hockey buzz when he reported to Buffalo on Thursday in what was regarded as a sign of good faith.
Ristolainen has spent the two previous weeks in Nearby Toronto competing for his native Finland at the World Cup of Hockey. Why would Ristolainen fly home to Finland when he can stay in his place in Buffalo while working out?
Though he's not allowed to play because he's not under contract, Ristolainen is practicing with the team and also taking part in meetings.
I've emailed Ristolainen's agent Mike Liut several times in the past seven weeks. No reply at all.
Ristolainen was selected by the Sabres in the first round of the 2013 draft. He is entering his fourth NHL season.
In 2015-16, Ristolainen led the Sabres in averaging 25:17 TOI per game, and led Buffalo defencemen with 41 points (9 goals, 32 assists).
I don't care what Murray says. Ristolainen will be re-signed in the very near future.
Join the Discussion:
»