Josh Gorges played 21 minutes TOI in Buffalo's dramatic 4-3 win over the NY Rangers on Thursday night in Jack Eichel's first game of the season in front of his home fans. Gorges had three hits and blocked one shot.
Unfortunately, the puck that Gorges blocked did damage to his foot. Gorges missed practice on Friday and was sent for tests on his ailing foot in the afternoon.
Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma don't have an experienced left shot D in Rochester right now and they cannot call up another righty like Casey Nelson.
Long term injuries to Zach Bogosian and Dmitry Kulikov have seriously comprised the Buffalo blue line. If Gorges has suffered a fracture to his foot, it will be another serious blow to an already compromised D corps. Taylor Fedun and Justin Falk have been in the Buffalo lineup on a regular basis to help stabilize the Buffalo back end as best they can.
So, what now?
When the AHL cupboards are bare, you have to be decisive and creative.
Murray has recalled defenseman Brendan Guhle from the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League on an emergency basis.
Guhle (6’1”, 186 lbs., 7/29/1997) has scored three goals in four games since being acquired by Prince George on November 19.
In 19 games for the Cougars and Prince Albert Raiders this season, Guhle has seven points (5G, 2A) and 10 penalty minutes.
Guhle was the 51st overall of the Sabres at the 2015 NHL Draft.
Like former Sabres D Mark Pysyk, Guhle is a Sherwood Park, Alberta native.
Guhle has compiled 77 points (20G, 57A) and 128 PIMs in his impressive 205 career WHL games.
I love this roster move because it sends a big "screw you" to Team Canada. Earlier this week, Guhle was not invited to Team Canada's World Junior Championships camp.
This is Tim Murray's way of pumping the kid's tires and telling him he is worthy of an NHL roster spot in the absence of Gorges.
Murray loives this kid for his moxy, skill, and compete. Guhle is a 6'3" 195 lb. two way defenseman who plays fast and physical. He will hit you and will protect the paint. He will routinely be the fourth man in the rush. He can finish.
Are you wondering why Buffalo can call up a junior defenseman rather than calling up a farm hand from Rochester.
The Guhle call up is considered a second emergency call up of a defenseman, therefore, it is well within Tim Murray's right to do so. Murray can bypass players with the Amerks and promote Guhle.
Guhle was Buffalo's last D man cut at training camp the past two seasons.
Who knows, Guhle may stick and stay long enough to play against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.
How long Guhle plays with the Sabres is up for debate. We know for certain he will be playing in the brunch matinee with the Bosoton Bruins.
I'm sensing that Guhle will be in Buffalo for more than one game and here's why.
Murray said in an interview two weeks ago that he continues to get trade calls from rival GMs who want to pick his pocket. With Kulikov and Bogosian on the shelf and two AHLers playing as his hird pair, Murray said heisn't going to trade a young asset to get "an older defenseman who isn't going to be with us when we are a great team". In other words, he's not interested in trading an asset for a 35 year old D like Johnny Oduya, who is being shopped by Dallas right now. The Stars have Julius Honka playing a top four role and Oduya has been struggling. Murray isn't looking for a Lindy Ruff castoff on an expiring contract in exchange for a premium prospect. That would be a dumb trade for Murray.
Long term injured reserve is still an option for either Kulikov, a lefty, or Bogosian, a righty.
Bogosian sprained his MCL on November 3 and has missed 14 games and counting.
Kulikov has missed 10 games since injuring his lower back on November 11.
Kulikov hasn't been the same since he injured his back in a preseason game against Toronto in late September. Colin Greening smashed Kulikov violently into the open bench gate and according to Murray, the collision between his back and the steel/wood/plastic frame caused damage to Kulikov's back. Murray said Thursday that the Greening hit made "everythung minor taht was wrong with Kulikov turn into something "major". However, the Big Russian has been skating for a week and may be near return by mid-December.
My guess is that the team's training staff has done everything it can to improve Kulikov's back situation for the past eight weeks. Is he headed to the LTIR now? I don't think so.
Bogosian's MCL issue appears to be more of a chronic long term injury. Murray said that Bogosian "sprinted" into his 4-6 week recovery period and was making great progress, however, has since plateaued. My guess is that we will see Kulikov back on the ice before we see Bogosian. Will Bogosian be designated LTIR?
We shall wait and see.
For now, we will get a good glimpe at Guhle's NHL caliber skills, toughness and speed.
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Fast Facts while we count down to puck drop between the Eichel led Sabres and Chara-less Bruins:
The Sabres enter Saturday's brunch matinee with the Bruins with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games and a 3-0-1 record in their last four home games.
Saturday's game is the third of eight afternoon games (3 pm ET or earlier) for the Sabres this season. The Sabres are 2-0-0 in the first two and was 6-3-2 in 11 afternoon games last season.
Buffalo is ranked fourth in the NHL in power play percentage (23.4%) and fifth in team faceoff percentage (51.6%).
Kyle Okposo and Sam Reinhart each have six points (2G, 4A) in the team’s last five games. Both players enter Saturday;s game on a three-game point streak.
Jack Eichel has points in a career-best seven straight games played (4G, 6A) and has 12 points (7G, 5A) in his last 10 games on home ice.
Rasmus Ristolainen has three assists in his last two games.
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