The Buffalo Sabres sent forward Cal O'Reilly to the Rochester Amerks on Sunday.
The Sabres now have twenty eight players remaining of their roster.
All NHL teams must have their roster cut down to 23 players by Tuesday October 6.
Sabres GM Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma have some heavy lifting to do in the next couple of days.
Several of the players remaining on the roster are presently injured. Veteran D Zach Bogosian, 18 year old D prospect Brendan Guhle, Swedish goalie prospect Linus Ullmark, energy forward Cody McCormick, and recently signed D-man Bobby Sanguinetti.
Josh Gorges returned to practice full time on Sunday which is a very good sign.
Bylsma said Sunday that he and Tim Murray cannot cut their roster down to the 23 man maximum limit until one or two of the injured players return to the lineup.
Thanks, Sabres.com
Although he didn't name him by name, I'm thinking that Bylsma is hoping that Bogosian will be available to play in Thursday's season against Ottawa. He may also be waiting to see if Guhle will be available to bounce back from the heavy hit from Toronto's Dion Phaneuf the floored the Prince Albert Raider on Wednesday night.
Murray and Bylsma will use Monday and Tuesday to evaluate where the injured players are at in the recovery programs. I see McCormick being placed on long term injured reserve as a result of his blood clot issues. I also anticipate Ullmark and Sanguinetti heading to the Rochester Americans. A healthy Guhle can be an asset for Bylsma and I wouldn't be surprised if he is kept in Buffalo for his nine game NHL tryout. Guhle, who skated on Sunday, was having a tremendous training camp before he suffered his injury. Bylsma and Murray may want to make certain that the kid can answer the bell if giving the opportunity to do so.
On the blue line. I see Bylsma leaning on a seven man unit that consists of Bogosian, Gorges, Ristolainen, Pysyk, Franson, Colaiocovo, and Guhle (for the first nine games).
In the event that Bogosian isn't healthy yet, I see Jake McCabe sticking and staying in Buffalo while Matt Donovan will be sent to Rochester.
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The most intriguing roster battle is on the third line where Bylsma has four men fighting tooth and nail for three roster spots.
Jamie McGinn, Samson Reinhart, Johan Larsson, and Zemgus Girgensons all cycled in on a line in Sunday’s practice. Bylsma said after Sunday's practice that there is indeed battle for the final opening-night roster spot within the quarter.
“I see positives out of having those four guys together and competing for a spot on the opening day roster, so that’s why there were four guys in the white. Sam’s right in the middle of that mix,… Bylsma said.
So, you're saying there's a chance?
Bylsma mentioned how well Reinhart played in training camp. He also said that having Reinhart play in 25% of the games in Buffalo while sitting out 75% of the games in a platoon role would be counter productive to the kid's overall development.
“For him (Reinhart) to play 30 games here (Buffalo) this year and be here the whole year, (it’s) probably not the best for his development as a player,… Bylsma said.
Reinhart is better than a platoon center-winger right now. It's time to peel off the cellophane wrap and play with the new toy.
He is one of the top three prospects in the NHL right now behind Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid. I see Reinhart playing a similar role for Buffalo this season that youngster Sean Monahan played in the Flames' resurgent season in 2014-15. Monahan played a vital role alongside Jiri Hudler and Johnny Gaudreau. That line was the engine that drove the Flames on their way to the Stanley Cup playoffs last season after finishing 27th overall the season before.
Monhan, Hudler and Gaudreau combine for 86 goals and 202 points and were one of the best #1 lines in the NHL last season. Granted, the line skated top line minutes north of 18 minutes per game. I'm not suggesting that Reinhart, McGinn and Girgensons would match that production from the third line. No. My point is that Monahan, the 6th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, was unleashed on NHL opponents and he more than adequately handled the rigors of the NHL with his 31 Gs, and 31 As in 2014-15.
I see Reinhart, the 2nd overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft as being ready for prime time. His play at the 2015 World Junior Championships taught me that Reinhart turns up his compete level when the bright lights are turned on.
Reinhart wouldn't have to clear waivers, to get to Rochester. But, I don't think that he is heading east bound down I-90 to exit 46 and the I-390 to I-490.
In my humble opinion, I see McGinn, Reinhart, and Girgensons as Buffalo's third line. It may well end up being McGinn-Reinhart-Gionta with Girgensons riding shotgun for Jack Eichel and Matt Moulson.
McGinn plays with a lot of bite and is a very effective three zone player. He flushes the walls and throws his weight around. In my opinion, his training camp has been a "B" grade.
Reinhart scored five points in five exhibition game. He was effective in all three phases of the game. He has passed his audition. He adds versatility with his ability to play the wing and center. I give him a grade of "B".
Thanks, Sabres.com
Girgensons is a nightmare to play against and will bounce between the third and second lines this season. He is polished, poised, and pugnacious in all three zones. I grade him as a "B".
Larsson had himself a nice training camp. He played center and wing. He was effective in all three zones. I grade him as a "C".
In the end, I see Reinhart sticking and staying and Buffalo because of his offensive arsenal and his improved 200 by 85 game. He will benefit by sitting on the Buffalo bench in between shifts and watching Ryan O'Reilly, Evander Kane, Tyler Ennis, Matt Moulson, Jack Eichel, Brian Gionta and the other Buffalo work.
If you disagree with me, look at it through the GM prism. Tim Murray drafted Reinhart second overall. In fact, the Kootenay Kid is Murray's first ever draft choice as an NHL GM. It really rattled Murray that he had to send Reinhart back to juniors last November.
Larsson on the other hand is a Darcy Regier acquisition. The young Swede arrived in Buffalo along with Matt Hackett and draft choices in the Jason Pominville trade. That's not to say that Murray doesn't see the value in Larsson. Not at all. What I'm suggesting is that if he has to choose Reinhart or Larsson that he will side with the player that he has an emotional attachment to. That player is Reinhart.
Take a look at what has happened to Regier draft selections in the past year. Joel Armia. Gone. Brendan Lemieux. Gone. Nikita Zadorov. Gone. Mikhail Grigorenko. Gone. JT Compher. Gone.
Larsson will have to clear waivers to get back to Rochester. More than likely, Larsson will get snagged off waivers. That's why I've been telling you to keep your eyes on a trade opportunity. Tampa and Detroit have suffered injuries to veteran forwards in recent days. The Wings are without Pavel Datsyuk and Darren Helm while the Bolts lost Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov, and Alex Killorn in their past two exhibition games. Larsson would add immediate grit and some scoring to an NHL roster other than Buffalo's lineup.
Line Trios and D Pairings From Sunday's Practice:
Moulson – O’Reilly – Ennis Kane – Eichel – Gionta McGinn – Larsson – Reinhart – Girgensons Foligno –Legwand – Deslauriers
Gorges – Ristolainen Weber – Franson Donovan – Colaiacovo McCabe -- Pysyk
Lehner Johnson
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NHL playoff berths are not won in the month of October. However, they can be lost in the month of October. Injuries and inconsistent play are the two biggest reasons for slow starts in the NHL.
Time and time again, we see teams playing playoff-style hockey in February, March and April in order to counter balance the horrible start to their season.
The Detroit Red Wings have competed in the Stanley Cup playoffs for twenty four consecutive seasons. Will they make it for a twenty fifth season in a row?
The Wings are a team in transition right now.
Mike Babcock's ten year tenure as head coach of the Wings ended in June. Babcock is now the head coach of the tear-it-down-to-build-it-back-up project in Toronto. Jeff Blashill is the rookie head coached who is tasked with having to replace the legendary Babcock.
Blashill learned some bad news on Sunday. Future Hall Of Famer Pavel Datsyuk will be out of the lineup for the next month (or more). "The Magician" Datsyuk, speedy forward Darren Helm (retroactive to 9/18), top four D Danny DeKeyser (retroactive to 9/30) and D prospect Alexey Marchenko (retroactive to 9/28) have all been placed on injured reserve.
Four new men will now have to take the place of the four dinged Wings.
Datsyuk has been sidelined with and ankle injury and is expected to be out until November.
DeKeyser is dealing with a foot issue and is going to miss three, four or maybe more weeks.
Helm is suffering from a concussion and Marchenko's lower body injury are of concern to Blashill and Wings management.
The Wings reduced their training camp roster to 27 players on Sunday.
Team USA and University at Michigan star Dylan Larkin remains in Detroit training camp.
The 19 year old former 21st overall pick has had himself a productive and successful training camp.
Were Mike Babcock still the head coach in Daytwa, Larkin would be relegated to AHL Grand Rapids just because that was the only way to develop prospect properly. Babcock was all about scouting the hell out of a kid, drafting him then sending him to Blashill in Grand Rapids for 3-4 years of seasoning and ripening.
Now that Babcock is gone, one wonders if Larkin will earn a roster spot with the big club. Or, will he be sent to the AHL in lieu of more playing time. Should he stick and stay in Detroit, I can see Larkin lighting the lamp while playing a sound 200 foot game at the NHL level. Will Larkin be the second coming of Pavel Datsyuk? Absolutely not. However, he will add offensive punch that the Wings are going to need in the early stages of the 2015-16 season.
If Larkin is sent to Grand Rapids it's because grizzled veteran forward Dan Cleary beat him out for a roster spot.
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“Guys were dropping like flies,… Tampa Lightning captain Steven Stamkos told the team's website after Saturday night's 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers.
In that game, the Lightning lost forwards Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn to injury. Earlier this week, forward Nikita Kucherov (lower body) was banged up.
Suddenly, Jon Cooper's top six forward group is very vulnerable, and we aren't talking injured grinders here. These are injuries to players that propelled the Bolts to the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals.
Losing Johnson for any length of time would be a sucker punch to the head of the reigning Eastern Conference champions. The 25-year-old pivot shared the team scoring lead with Steven Stamkos last season, finishing with a career-high 72 points in 77 games.
Johnson has also poured in 13 goals and 10 assists in 26 Stanley Cup playoff games. His NHL coming out party came at the most ideal time when he erupted for 23 points and four game winning goals in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Johnson and Patrick Kane tied for the playoff scoring lead with 23 points. Kane's Hawks disposed of Johnson's Bolts in the Cup Finals.
Expectations are sky high right now for the Bolts whose ownership, management, and fan base are looking for a return to the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals and the Cup Finals
Signed by the Lightning as an undrafted free agent in March 2011, Johnson was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2014 and appeared in his first All-Star Game last year. The native of Spokane, Washington has recorded 56 goals and 72 assists in 173 career games.
Killorn scored 38 points last season (15 goals, 23 assists). The 26-year-old center netted five game-winning goals, finishing one behind Johnson and Stamkos for the team lead.
Killorn is a valuable playoff performer with his nine goals and added nine assists in 26 playoffs games.
The 22 year old Kucherov scored 28 goals and added 26 assists for the Bolts in 2014-15. He then added another 10 goals and 12 assists in 26 playoff games in 2015.
The exact diagnosis of the Johnson, Killorn and Kucherov injuries are not yet known. Welcome to the NHL where getting reliable, honest injury updates is like getting teeth pulled without novacaine.
Pucks drop on the NHL season this Thursday and Friday.
Spotted in Buffalo earlier this week was Pat Verbeek, assistant general manager Tampa Lightning. Perhaps Steve Yzerman and Verbeek are looking for forward depth to off set any and all potential injuries in their top six forward group.