Luck is the result of what happens when chance meets opportunity.
Right now, Brendan Guhle's luck is pretty good.
So much so that the 18 year old fleet footed defenseman may just have earned a nine game NHL tryout with the Buffalo Sabres.
The Buffalo D corps has suffered a few injuries in recent days. The Sabres need depth at that position. GM Tim Murray has been actively shopping for D help all summer long. The solution to his blue line mini-crisis just may be a Guhle, who was the 51st overall selection at the 2015 NHL Draft in Florida.
The Sabres host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. Guhle is expected to play a featured role on the Buffalo blue line in the remaining three exhibition games this week. Dan Bylsma announced Monday that his D depth is going to be tested in a big way in the days and weeks to come. Josh Gorges, Zach Bogosian, Jake McCabe, and Chad Ruhwedel are all dealing with injuries. Free agent signee Bobby Sanguinetti is also on the mend from an injury.
It's hero time for Guhle who is being counted on right now to play a complete game at both ends of the ic . I have him graded as an "A" in his first NHL training camp. In my opinion, he is a better skater than Ottawa's Erik Karlsson. I's no slight to Karlsson who is one of the best skating D-men in the NHL. Guhle is a similar skater who is heavier on his edges. Where Karlsson tends to avoid contact, Guhle seeks it out. Guhle's skating stride is explosive and powerful. Think Drew Doughty. Yes, I said Drew Doughty. That's how great a skater Guhle is. If you don't believe me, watch him tonight. It's remarkable how fast and furious this kid is. He covers a lot of ice with his lightning fast feet and his long stick reach. I've noticed in drills and exbition games that Guhle skates faster backwards than some Buffalo D skate forwards. Think about that for a moment. He is faster than the fastest man on the ice and he can changed direction and hip-flip at top speed without losing a step. He is a remarkable skater which allows him to creep down the walls in the O-zone and battle for pucks on the walls and below the dots. Dan Bylsma has liked what he has seen from Guhle and has encouraged the kid to join the rush whenever possible. Guhle has a green light to go at any time and he is making the most of his opportunity.
Guhle has been turning heads with his fast hands, fast feet, and fast on-ice decisions since he arrived as a 17 year old at Buffalo's rookie development camp in July. The 6'2 185 lb. Prince Albert Raiders defenseman hasn't looked out of place one iota. He played extremely well at last month's Prospects Challenge mini-tourney against the top prospects of the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. He has looked even more composed and confident in the two exhibition games that he has played for the Sabres in the past week. He has a heavy, accurate shot which allows him to get rebounds off goalies for his forwards to gobble up in the blue ice and slot area. He is a big kid who doesn't shy away from the physicality and rough stuff in front of his net and in the corners. He plays a full-speed game, with zero hesitation.
If Gorges and Bogosian, your projected opening night D pair are indeed lost for a week(s), Guhle may be a viable option to eat up ice time and to contribute to the Buffalo attack. Be it for his nine game NHL tryout or longer, Guhle is ready for the challenges of the NHL. Guhle joins Rasmus Ristolainen, Cody Franson, Mark Pysyk, Mike Weber, Matt Donovan, Carlo Colaiocovo, and Jerome Leduc as the healthy D left in training camp. Guhle is using this opportunity to turn Bylsma's head and to send a message that Murray that he has earned an extended stay in Buffalo for the first nine games of the NHL season. After that, who knows? '
For Guhle, Blue and Gold make green.
Green light, that is.