Updated:
Samson Reinhart will have to keep his luggage and carry on bag in his hotel room closet for the next two weeks. He be playing in Buffalo's opening night roster against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Consider it the first of his nine game extended tryout with the Sabres. His entry level contract will not kick in until he has played nine games with his NHL club so Tim Murray and Ted Nolan will be watching the youngster like a hawk for the next two weeks.
True to his word, Nolan featured the second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft in five exhibition games. Reinhart has acquitted himself well in exhibition games. He hasn't been dominant. He hasn't looked overwhelmed. He looked ok. Not great. Then again, he is only 18 years old and this is his first exposure to playing with NHL players.
On September 21, against Washington, Reinhart skated 16:53 TOI with 3 shots, 1 hit, 1 block, and he was 60% on draws.
On 9/23 against Carolina. he was even in his 15:08 TOI with 1 shot, 1 hit, and he was 44% on draws.
On 9/26 against Toronto. he was an even player in 16:46 TOI with 1 shots, and he was 44% on draws.
On 10/1 against Washington, he scored his first NHL goals and was +2 in 21:39 TOI with 2 shots, 1 block. He was 25% on draws.
Reinhart said after Friday night's loss in Raleigh that he feels like he has done enough in training camp to earn himself a regular roster spot with the big boys.
On Monday, he skated with Cody Hodgson and Brian Gionta.
Thanks, Sabres.com
For now, Mikhail Grigorenko's loss will be Reinhart's gain. After he plays nine games, he will be headed back to Kootenay to embark on a his quest for a 100 point season. Team Canada is also salivating at the thought of having the slick, cerebral center play their #1 pivot alongside Sam Bennett at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships which will be hosted by Toronto and Montreal.
________________________________________________________________________
D Jake McCabe was given a maintenance day according to Ted Nolan
Zac Dalpe has been sent to Rochester. He showed well as a depth forward in camp and will have to pass through waivers.
***
In a surprising move, the Buffalo Sabres have sent center Mikhail Grigorenko to AHL Rochester.
Grigorenko had ben Buffalo's most consistent forward in the preseason.
His agent Jay Grossman tweeted the information this morning.
#Sabres Mikhail Grigorenko sent to #AHL Rochester #amerks
— Jay Grossman (@Jay_Grossman) October 6, 2014I'm not sure what more the 20 year old center could have done to impress Ted Nolan and Tim Murray. He was a standout player in all three zones. Ted Nolan skated Grigorenko with several different line mates in training camp, however, he found immediate positive chemistry with winger/center Cody Hodgson.
Check out these mitts from last Sunday's game in Toronto:
Defenseman Jake McCabe was not on the ice in Buffalo. He was likely sent to the Amerks as well.
My take:
The Sabres will be giving Sam Reinhart a nine game tryout and have opted to sent Grigo to the Amerks. For now. I'm of the mind that after nine games in Buffalo that Reinhart will be sent back to Kootenay. Grigo will then be recalled to play third line center in Buffalo.
More to come....
#Sabres on ice this AM: 26-63-21 19-23-12 82-28-80 44-8-65/17 22 (no contact)
4-57 61-41 6-55 51-24
1 34
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 6, 2014
**
In other news, the Columbus Blue Jackets will have their leading scorer in their lineup afterall when they visit Buffalo on Thursday night.
The Blue Jackets have agreed to terms with Ryan Johansen on a three-year contract, GM Jarmo Kekalainen announced on Monday morning. The team hopes to have Johansen on a flight out of Vancouver at some point today, and he's expected to join the Blue Jackets in time for Thursday's season opener in Buffalo.
Here's the breakdown of the new contract: $3 million in Year 1, $3 million in Year 2 and $6 million in Year 3 for an AAV of $4 million. Johansen will be RFA at the end of the contract.
More to come...