Updated:
In his post game presser, Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma said that Evander Kane was sent to a Buffalo hospital for further evaluation. Bylsma said Kane is being evaluated for several issues, including internal injuries.
More will be known on friday about Kane and his prognosis. We will get an update on Kyle Okposo and Dmitry Kulikov as well.
The Sabres lost 4-1 to Montreal.
The bruised and beat up Sabres now stab westward for three games in western Canada beginning Sunday night in Edmonton.
The team will skate on Friday in Buffalo. I am expecting Tim Murray to call up speedy winger Justin Bailey to travel out west with the team.
**
If I were a betting man, I would bet on Montreal agitator Andrew Shaw being suspended for 5-10 games for this cowardly, dangerous slew foot that he dropped on Buffalo cenbter Johan Larsson.
The Shaw slewfoot at the end of the game: pic.twitter.com/7ZutCs4xZb
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 14, 2016
Larsson chirped with Shaw and Brendan Gallagher the entire game. For some inexplicable reason, Shaw decided to slew foot Larsson as time expired in the 4-1 Montreal win. He was assessed a five minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Nice job, Shaw. Getting tossed from your first career game with the Canadiens.
The Department of Player Safety should suspend Shaw AGAIN for being a jerk when he should have just skated to his bench when the final horn sounded. Larsson was not seriously injured on the play.
It was just two weeks ago when Shaw was suspended for three pre-season games for boarding Washington Capitals prospect Connor Hobbs. That was one helluva first impression with his new teammates and coaches.
When he played in Chicago last season, Shaw was suspended for a homophobic slurs.
Slew foot, Slurs. What's next for Shaw?
Good player but he turns into a gong show when he lets hi stemper flare up and get out of control.
The September suspension is fresh on hi srecord and Shaw will be seen as a repeat offender, which could increase the number of games he’s banned for should the NHL’s Department of Player Safety deem the slewfoot worthy of a suspension.
**
As if the Buffalo Sabres needed more bad luck. Power forward Evander Kane has been injured after a violent collision with the end wall. Kane and Habs D Alexei Emelin were in a foot race for a loose puck at the end of the second period when Kane was sent flying into th eend wall. It appeared as though the sticks of Kane and Emelincame together, then body contact.
Kane is in a lot of pain after the contact with Emelin pic.twitter.com/T5qlTO0eT8
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 14, 2016
It's too soon to know if the injury is serious in nature. It's also too soon to know if the injury is to his back, ribs, or shoulder. Kane underwent left shoulder surgery after the 2013-14 season.
Kane skated 12:43 TOI with 3 SOG and 3 hits in the first game of the Sabres' season.
Buffalo is already reeling from Jack Eichel's high ankle sprain that will sideline 6-8 weeks. Kyle Okposo has a bruised knee and did not play against Montreal.
Dan Bylsma and Tim Murray seemingly are walking around with crossed fingers right now hoping for good news on Kane. The Sabres leave Saturday for a roadie to Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. They will also play in Philadelphia before traveling home to play Minnesota on 10/27.
It's looking like Murray will have to call up forward help from Rochester.
I'll report back when I hear an update. In the meantime, follow me @SabresBuzz on Twitter
.@BuffaloSabres Evander Kane is helped off the ice after being hurt against Mont. @TheBuffaloNews @BNHarrington @BuffNewsVogl @SabresBuzz pic.twitter.com/b4VnKOSgt4
— Harry Scull Jr (@hsjrphoto) October 14, 2016
***
Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula has rewarded his general manager, Tim Murray, with a new contract extension.
Murray has laid the foundation for a winning hockey team. Now, he and Dan Bylsma have to put their noses to the grind stone and earn 92-96 points in the Eastern Conference standings. Acomplishing that goal will qualify the Sabres for their first playoff berth in five seasons.
Tonight that work begins in earnest with the Montreal Canadiens in the house.
Sabres GM Tim Murray has signed a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/cdD9HRfqPR
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 13, 2016
Nice smile, Tim.
More on Murray's new contract later...
**
It's hard to believe that the Anaheim Ducks will drop the puck on the 2016-17 regular season tonight without defensemenHampus Lindholm and forward Rickard Rakell in their starting lineup.
Lindholm and Rakell unsigned restricted free agents as the Ducks open the road tonight against the Dallas Stars.
Ducks GM Bob Murray's dress shirt collar will no doubt tighten is the Stars beat the Ducks tonight. The Ducks can ill afford to start glacially like they did in 2015-16. You'll recall that the Ducks were awful from October until December 27, 2015. They miraculously corrected their course when the calendar flipped to 2016.
The Ducks made an amazing transformation and literally saved their season from ruin. Their playoff fortunes improved when Fowler was injured for six weeks to the time he returned to the starting lineup after his injury had healed. The Ducks took flight with broken wings to an unacceptable 12-15-6 record to begin the 2015-16 season. Whispers of a Fowler trade became screams. After Christmas, the Ducks improved dramatically and finished the season with a sizzling 34-10-5 record.
There was no way that Bob Murray would shake up his Ducks roster while it's players had risen from the NHL outhouse to the penthouse atop of the NHL standings. Therefore, no Fowler trade.
The Ducks advanced to their fourth consecutive Western Conference Finals where they were punted in Game 7 for the fourth straight year. Murray fired Bruce Boudreau and re-hired Randy Carlyle to tighten the reins on the veteran laden Ducks squad.
Failure is not an option for Murray and Carlyle. So, what is the update on Lindholm and Rakell?
TSN's Bob McKenzie shared his opinion on the Duck soup on Vancouver's TSN 1040 on Thursday.
“I don’t know if there’s been any developments today because I haven’t had a chance to check,… McKenzie said.
“But I can tell you as of yesterday, that it was all quiet on the Lindholm front in particular. Which is kind of curious. He’s probably the key guy. Top-notch defenseman..
“And the market is effectively set for him. That Ristolainen deal – he’s not taking less than that. No chance. No how. Because Ristolainen only gave up one year of unrestricted free agency on that six-year deal at 5.4. And if Hampus Lindholm takes a six-year deal at 5.4, he’s giving up two years of unrestricted free agency. So I would say that Ristolainen deal, to me, would be the floor for what Lindholm would want to take. I’m sure he probably wants more, but he also wants to stay in Anaheim – so maybe he’ll take the discount to get it done here."
I'm hearing that Lindholm with get a seven year contract in the $6 million average annual value range. He and his agent cancontinue to play hard ball.
“It also gets complicated too because the Ducks are not a cap team, but they are a very strong budget team. And I think when they get Lindholm signed they are going to be over budget. That means – and we’ve all suspected it for awhile – that they’re going to have to move somebody. We’ve all suspected for awhile – we don’t know if it’s true or not, it’s all speculation – but I think that somebody could very well be Cam Fowler. Pretty notable defenseman. So there’d be a nice return coming back Anaheim’s way. So I think there’s moving pieces there, the timing of which all has to kind of fall together.
“I would suspect that if they do get Lindholm signed it won’t be long before they make a trade and my guess would be Fowler will be moving, probably to an Eastern Conference team. I know Buffalo had great interest in him, and we thought there was a deal done at the draft – that Fowler might be going to Buffalo. Boston would be a team that has interest in Fowler, amongst others. There’ll be all sorts."
I'll continue to beat the drum for Fowler because he has been linked to Buffalo for the past twelve months.
With Jack Eichel on the shelf for the next 4-6 weeks, Sabres GM Tim Murray may finally pull the trigger on a Fowler trade for two reasons: to protect Robin Lehner's fort, and, to create more offense. Fowler, 24, is widely regarded as one of the best puck distributing D-men in the NHL today. In my opinion, Fowler is every bit the dynamic QB as Duncan Keith, Kris Letang and Drew Doughty. Dan Bylsma and Terry Murray would love to add a multi-faceted defender like Fowler, who would easily slot in beside Ristolainen on Buffalo's top D pair. I told you ten days ago that I was concerned about newcomer Dmitry Kulikov's back injury. Kulikov was injured two weeks ago. He will miss tonight's season opener versus Montreal. The Sabres will stab westward this weekend for games in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. They then head to Philly and will return home to host Minnesota in October 27.
Tim Murray should make a move now for Fowler to add an immediate difference maker who can stabilize and increase the overall talent level of his D corps.
Murray has said that he is not opposed to adding a player(s) if it makes his team better. Murray is in the results business and his window of opportunity for winning is wide open.
Bob Murray only has $8.5 million in salary cap space to sign Lindholm to the Ristolainen/Jones contract (6years, $5.4M AAV) and Rakell $4 million average annual value. If Lindholm gets the 7 year, $42 million deal, Bob Murray will need to trade a sizable contract in order to sign Lindholm and Rakell.
Cam Fowler's $4 million (2 seasons) will solve the cap issue. Fowler will be immediately replaced in the Ducks' top four youngsters Shea Theodore or Brandon Montour. Talented rookie Adam Larsson, 19, made the club after an impressive training camp and exhibition season. The Ducks can fill Fiwker's void by promotiongvkidscto the NHL roster from San Diego.
It's important to note that Lindholm's agent knows full well that Bob Murray will have to trade Cam Fowler in order to create the slush fund to pay Lindholm and Rakell the contracts that they are seeking. Trading Fowler gives Lindholm even more leverage because he will then become Anaheim's #1 PP QB and #1 D.
I will be watching intently to see if the Ducks have sent their AGM and director of player personnel to Buffalo to watch Sabres-Montreal tonight.
Thanks Nichols On Hockey