Updated:
I'm looking forward to a defensive struggle tonight between two teams that are struggling to score goals of late.
With the NHL trade deadline looming five weeks off on the horizon, several NHL clubs have dispatched their heavy hitters to Buffalo for the Sabres and Red Wings game.
For example, he Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes have sent their respective Directors of Pro Scouting to Buffalo.
The Habs have to find goal scorers to help inject offense into their anemic offense.
The Blackhawks can never have enough veteran depth D-men, especially in the playoffs.
The Coyotes are looking to add D depth and a top six forward.
The St. Louis Blues will be represented by their director of player personnel.
The Blues have scouted the Sabres extensively for months much the same way they had before the Ryan Miller-Steve Ott trade was executed in February 2013. The Blues are looking to add a proven goal scorer and a 5-6 blue liner.
The Dallas Stars have sent their head scout to watch Buffalo-Detroit.
Lindy Ruff needs to add a third pair D-man.
Mike Weber, he of the expiring contract is the object of desire of several teams. He is at his best when he is slotted properly at 5-6 role with 14-15 minutes TOI per game. He fights, hits, clears the crease, and is miserable on opponents in the corners. Lindy and Hitch love big, mean D-men like Weber.
Carlo Colaiocovo, he of the dented trachea, has played well in his limited use in Buffalo. I can see him moving at the deadline. He is a pending UFA. He has played for STL in his career.
David Legwand is the grimy, crusty veteran that NHL GMs can't get enough of, especially ones with veteran teams who need an extra leader for the postseason. Legwand can be had for cheap and is on an expiring contract.
Chad Johnson is also a pending UFA and is garnering a lot of attention among GMs and directors of personnel.
Jamie McGinn is Buffalo most coveted pending UFA. He's only 27 and he's already got 10 goals. I know of several NHL teams who like McGinn a lot. Who wouldn't? He's healthy, productive and malleable.. He can play one lines 1-4, kills penalties and PP, blocks shots and fore checks like a German Sheppard on a frisbee. I'm told that Tim Murray and McGinn's agent will finalize a multi-year contract extension in the near future. For now, NHL scouts will continue to pursue him.
Problem being, McGinn isn't going anywhere. I see Tim Murray locking up McGinn to a multi-year contract extension.
Is Matt Moulson in play? Tyler Ennis?
**
The Sabres have placed Zemgus Girgensons on IR.
Cal O'Reilly will act as the Latvian Locomotive's replacement for the next 10 days.
Girgensons has missed three games with an upper-body injury sustained in a 4-1 loss to Boston last week. He is expected to miss at least 10 days, with the Sabres getting a week off over the NHL’s All-Star break next weekend.
O’Reilly had an assist during a two-game stint with the Sabres last month. He has four goals and 19 assists in 35 games with the American Hockey League Rochester Americans.
**
Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma said Friday morning that forward Samson Reinhart will not play tonight versus Detroit. Reinhart will miss the next week due to an upper body injury that he suffered late in the second period of Wednesday night's 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Reinhart collided with Avs center John Mitchell and left the game for the rest of the night with an upper body ailment.
Reinhart is sixth place in NHL Rookie scoring with 12 goals (4 PPG) and 8 assists.
**
Reinhart's loss is Matt Moulson's gain. Injuries have gutted the Buffalo forward ranks and Matty Mo will be paroled from the fourth line. Moulson hasn't scored since his 32nd birthday on November 1. After Friday's game day skate, Bylsma was blunt about how disappointed he is right now with Moulson's lack of goal scoring and production. In 46 games played, Moulson has scored just 4 goals and has only 8 assists. The former 30 goal scorer has been invisible all season long. Bylsma is not happy about it either.
"I don't like where his game has been at."
If Moulson can't score with Evander Kane and Ryan O'Reilly, he isn't trying hard enough. Seriously. He better get on the score sheet tonight or else Bylsma may sit him down for an extended period of time. Moulson is the most overdue offensive player in the NHL today. It's time to put up or shut up.
Cal O'Reilly was recalled from Rochester and will rdie alongside Eichel and McGinn.
Bylsma will ice these line trios tonight:
Kane-R.O'Reilly-Moulson* *C.O'Reilly-Eichel-McGinn Foligno-Larsson-Gionta Varone-Schaller-Legwand
**
Robin Lehner will start his second game in a row.
Josh Gorges will sit out.
Jake McCabe will re-join the lineup.
Duos:
Bogosian-Ristolainen McCabe-Franson Weber-Pysyk