Updated:
The Buffalo Sabres will be rolling with a final 23-man roster that is comprised of 13 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 goalies.
First overall pick Rasmus Dahlin has made the opening night roster.
Shocking.
Such a surprise. Right?
Forwards:
Jack Eichel Patrik Berglund Vlad Sobotka Kyle Okposo Samson Reinhart Zemgus Girgensons Jason Pominville Casey Mittelstadt Conor Sheary Jeff Skinner Evan Rodrigues Tage Thompson Remi Elie
Injured Reserve: Scott Wilson, Johan Larsson, Sean Malone, Matt Hunwick.
Defense:
Zach Bogosian Matt Tennyson Marco Scandella Casey Nelson Jake McCabe Rasmus Dahlin Rasmus Ristolainen Nathan Beaulieu
Goalies:
Carter Hutton Linus Ullmark
Tage Thompson will start the season in Buffalo.
Remie Elie, acquired at Noon today, will also play in Buffalo and will wear #81.
Why keep eight defensemen? Zach Bogosoan has been injured and it's likely that Matt Tennyson is being kept in Buffalo as an insurance policy for if Bogosoan cannot play on Thursady night in Buffalo vs. Boston.
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The Buffalo Sabres began the day on Tuesday with only 12 forwards on their roster.
That changed shortly after the Noon hour when Jason Botterill claimed off waivers power left winger Remi Elie, who was selected in the 2nd round (#40) by the Dallas Stars at the 2013 NHL Draft.
Here are the Sabres lines as of today.
L1: Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart L2: Sheary-Berglund-Thompson L3: Sobotka-Mittelstadt-Okposo L4: Girgensons-Rodrigues-Pominville
I can see Elie taking over L4 LW from Zemgus Girgensons.
The Sabres have to submit their final roster at 5pm this afternoon.
Elie will have to switch his sweater number. He wore #40 in Dallas. Carter Hutton is now #40 after Lehner departure. Elie wore #81 @ErieOtters
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 2, 2018
Elie is a puck hound. Once he has possession of the puck, he doesn’t easily lose it. He’s heavy on pucks and is heard to move. He likes to set up shop in the home plate area and is a pain to play against. Elie is the owner of a heavy, accurate shot.
The Sabres traded forward Nick Baptiste to Nashville on Monday night. On Tuesday, the Swords claimed Elie off waivers. Baptiste and Elie were linemates at the Erie Otters.
Elie scored six goals and 8 assists last season in 72 games for the Dallas Stars.
All 14 of Elie’s points last season came by way of even strength. Elie averaged 10:15 TOI per game.
BUF claims Elie from DAL
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 2, 2018
Elie (6'1", 215 lbs.) has combined to record 7 goals and 14 assists in 90 NHL games during the last two seasons. Elie scores 16 goals and 30 assists in 121 career games with the AHL Texas Stars. Elie also scored 2 goals and 7 assists in 19 Calder Cup playoff games last spring.
Elie has championship hockey pedigree. He played a leadership role for the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights in 2013.
Elie and some kids named McDavid, Strome, DeBrincat were prime movers in getting the Erie Otters to Memorial Cup Finals in 2014-15. The Oshawa Generals won the J. Ross Robertson Cup for the 13th time in franchise history, as they defeated the Erie Otters in five games in the final round of the playoffs.
In 195 career OHL games for the Knights, Belleville Bulls and Erie Otters, Elie combined to score 66 goals and 95 assists and added 32 points in 41 OHL playoff games.