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Kulik-Off IR

January 23, 2017, 1:49 PM ET [3 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Buffalo Sabres have had a patchwork blue line playing on most nights this season.

That's what happens when go-to defensemen suffer serious injuries and the organization isn't boastful of its defense prospects in the AHL.

In their first 45 games this season, Buffalo has had to play for long stretches of the schedule without the services of D Zach Bogosian, Josh Gorges, Dmitry Kulikov and now Jake McCabe.

Losing top for defenseman has left noticeble scar tissue on Buffalo's bluer than blue line.

It's truly impressive to me that despite the glut of injuries to their D corps the Sabres are only 5 points out of an Eastern wild card spot.


On Saturday night in Montreal, Buffalo played three AHLers in the win over the Canadiens. Jake McCabe was the latest blue liner to be knocked out of the lineup when he was greasily tripped by Detroit winger Gustav Nyquist. McCabe tumbled into the boards and suffered a serious shoulder injury.

Saturday night in Montreal, Casey Nelson, Justin Falk and Taylor Fedun played well in the Buffalo overtime win.

On Monday, Dmitry Kulikov skated with his team, in a yellow practice sweater. A great breath of fresh air for Buffalo's depleted D corps.


Kulikov participated in his first full practice in Monday. I told you on Friday night that's Kulikov was set to begin battle testing on Saturday. It appears as though the big Russian passed his battle tests because he will now accompany his teammates on their two game road trip to Nashville and Dallas.


“We’ll see how he responds from that, but it bodes well for seeing him sometime this week,” coach Dan Bylsma said after watching Kulikov practice alongside Taylor Fedun.


Kulikov was placed on IR on December 29 due to his recurring back injury that he suffered in a September exhibition game.





The human spine nor it's vertebrae were not meant to be smashed into metal and hard plastic at 20 miles per hour.


Kulikov has missed the past 11 games. He has missed 25 games this season which is difficult for him to impress Sabres brass while he is playing in an expiring contract.


Kulikov has not played in a game since December 27.

If Kulikov isn't ready to play Tuesday night in Nashville, he will make his return to the lineup in Dallas on Thursday night.


The NHL All Star Break begins Friday and will run through next Monday.



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If you read me on a regular basis, you obviously know that I have a lot of respect for the person and NHL hockey player Tyler Ennis is.

A nicer, more humble man you won't find.



I love that Enzo is healthy again. I also love that Ennis scored a goal, on home ice, just 19 seconds into his first game, against Dallas, after a 30 game layoff due to groin surgery.

Never, ever question Ennis' desire to be the best player and person that he can be.



Thanks, Buffalo Sabres




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The Buffalo Sabres and United States Hockey League announced in a joint release the inaugural USHL Buffalo Showcase for March 23-25, 2017 at the HarborCenter in downtown Buffalo, New York.

The USHL Buffalo Showcase will feature the top 40 players in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 birth years from Western New York and Southern Ontario as determined by USHL scouts.



“The USHL is excited to partner with the Buffalo Sabres for the inaugural Buffalo Showcase,” said Doug Christiansen, USHL Director of Player Development. “This event provides elite young hockey players the opportunity to not only be scouted by USHL teams and Division 1 colleges, it also provides players and their families the unique opportunity to learn more about the USHL in their own backyard. The USHL looks forward to a number of the 2001 participants being drafted and eventually matriculating to the USHL on the way toward their hockey goals.”



“One of the main pillars of our organization is the growth and development of local youth hockey players,” Sabres VP of Administration/General Manager of HarborCenter Mike Gilbert said. “We take great pride in seeing local athletes advance their careers and this is a perfect opportunity for us to allow players to showcase their talent to USHL and college teams.”



The showcase will be operated and coached by NHL alumni, and will give players the opportunity to play a minimum of four games and participate in both on-ice and off-ice testing as well as educational seminars to learn more about the USHL.



The players will be scouted by Division 1 college hockey coaches as well as USHL staff. USHL Central Scouting will select players and send invitations to the best candidates in early 2017.


Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 15th season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2016-17. 30 or more players from the USHL have been selected in four consecutive NHL Drafts, and more than 400 players on team rosters last season committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing the USHL as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent.
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