The Buffalo Sabres are back to work this morning. Filip Forsberg and the Nashville Predators will play in Buffalo tonight on the eve of the NHL trade deadline. The Sabres had a mandatory day off on Monday.
Buffalo suffered two crippling back to back losses to basement dwellers Colorado and Arizona on the weekend. The Sabres are now seven points out of the final Eastern wild card and are likely is sell mode at the trade deadline.
Captain Brian Gionta, 38, reiterated after the skate that he wishes to remain with the Buffalo Sabres after the NHL trade deadline passes on March 1 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Gionta, a native of nearby Rochester, NY, has had his name mentioned prominently in trade rumors. The chatter will continue to buzz until 3:00 p.m. On March 1.
Several Stanley Cup contending teams including Montreal, San Jose, Anaheim, Calgary, Philadelphia and NY Rangers are seeking depth forwards who can score timely goals at 5v5 and on the PP. Gionta kills penalties and can add solid depth and defensive discipline to the bottom nine roster cluster.
In 62 games this season, Gionta has scored 12 goals and 15 assists.
Gionta continues to say that as the Buffalo captain he wants to see the rebuild through to its positive end. Gionta wants to play for a Buffalo playoff team.
Gionta, a pending unrestricted free agent, said after Tuesday's game day skate that he will have to see what happens after July 1.
Gionta is earning $4.25 million this season.
Tim Murray can likely score a second round draft choice in exchange for Gionta.
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Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma told reporters that he is not sitting pending UFAs Gionta, Cody Franson, Dmitry Kulikov and Anders Nilsson.
Speaking of Nilsson, eyebrows were raised when Linus Ullmark manned the Buffalo net at the game day skate. Nilsson was expected to occupy that same net as a result of Robin Lehner not participating in the full session due to a neck ailment suffered Saturday night when Colorado Avs D Tyson Barrie barreled over Lehner with a elbow to the head. Lehner told reporters after his brief skate that he passed concussion protocol.
Ullmark was called up from Rochester on Tuesday morning and will likely start against Nashville. Nilsson would serve as the backup. Lehner would remain off the ice due to his neck issue.
Bylsma said the starting goalie and lineup will be game time decisions tonight.