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Is there a hotter shooter in the NHL today than Buffalo Sabres forward Victor Olofsson?
No.
On Wednesday night in Buffalo, Olofsson tied an NHL record by scoring his 4th power play goal in four games this season which means that all six of his NHL goals have come on the power play.
Olofsson entered the home game against the Montreal Canadiens on a career-best three-game point streak after scoring 3G and 1A in Buffalo's first three games of their Golden Anniversary season.
Olofsson gave Buffalo the 1-0 lead at the 5:04 mark of the first period when he pounded a puck past Habs goalie Keith Kinkaid for the power play goal.
Olofsson skated a career-high 20:54 on Monday night at Columbus and scored a goal with 1:14 remaining in regulation to send the game OT.
Olofsson has become the trigger man on Buffalo's first power play unit which features Oloffsson, Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin, Jeff Skinner, and Samson Reinhart. The Sabres currently lead the NHL in power play efficiency with a sizzling 8 for 13 this season.
All four of Olofsson’s goals this season have come with the man advantage, giving him sole possession of the NHL lead in power-play goals (4).
Olofsson also leads all NHL rookies in goals (4), points (5) and shots (14), and leads rookie forwards in ice time per game (19:04).
Since he made his NHL debut on March 28, 2019 against the Detroit Red Wings, no NHL player has scored more power play goals than Olofsson’s six in his ten games played.
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Growing up, I loved that I shared a birthday with John Lennon.
Today would have been Lennon's 79th birthday. I love you, John. You are gone but certainly not forgotten.
Now for the hockey.
I'm coming to you live from the Ted Darling Memorial Press Box high atop the surface in balmy Buffalo.
Before I raid the sushi bar, I'm compelled to share with you the extensive list of NHL dignitaries and scouts who will be watching
Sabres-Canadiens here tonight.
The Winnipeg Jets continue to stalk the Sabres. The Pittsburgh Penguins have their director of pro scouting here tonight. The Jets and Pens desperately need top four defense man. The Sabres are not in a selling posture these days having earned 5 of 6 points in their first three games played this season. Jason Botterill made his roster additions in the summer when he added
Colin Miller, Jimmy Vesey, Marcus Johansson, and Hank Jokijarju.
Ralph Krueger is pleased with his forwards, D and goaltending.
When will Jason Botterill be open for business in terms of trading a defense man or two?
Three weeks from today.
That is when the Sabres are expecting Brandon Montour to return from his hand injury. That is when lefty Lawrence Pilut is expected to return to the fold as well. When Montour and Pilut return, I anticipate a trade that includes veteran D Marco Scandella. Casey Nelson may also be on the way out of Buffalo now that John Gilmour has earned the 7D job with the Sabres.
No. Botterill is not trading away Rasmus Ristolainen. That ship sailed once training camp opened on Septmber 13. Stop asking. Krueger and Risolainen are vibing right now and the results are self evident. Ristolainen needed to be guided and mentored by Krueger. So far, Risto and Ralph are working together splendidly. Ristolainen is averaging 23:59 and is playing shut down hockey with his partner in crime Jake McCabe .
I have gathered intel that the Habs are interested in accepting offers on skilled forward Jonathon Drouin, who finds himself in Claude Julien's chateau bow wow right now.
Drouin, 24, has one goal in two games played. His TOI is only 16:46 per game, which is fifth among Habs forwards. Drouin, who was the third overall pick of the Tampa Lighting in 2013, has been playing third line minutes since the preseason. He scored just 18 goals in 81 games played last season when he tied a career high 53 points.
The Habs need more from Drouin. There are teams that are looking to add a talented offensive player of his ilk. Drouin has 4 years remaining on his contract at $5.5M AAV.
Other teams here tonight:
NY Islanders
Stars
Devils
St. Louis Blues (director player personnel)
Columbus Blue Jax (director player personnel, scout)
Vegas Golden Knights (director player personnel, scout)
San Jose Sharks (2 scouts)
Tampa Lightning (director pro scouting, scout)
Hurricanes (2 scouts)
Coyotes
Canucks
Flames (director player personnel, scout)
Predators
Ducks
Senators
Avs
Bruins
These teams are not shopping for Canadian Thanksgiving. They are actively monitoring the market for trades that may be available.
Many of the NHL's incumbent power clubs are struggling right now. See: Winnipeg, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and San Jose.
The upstart Sabres, Hurricanes and Oilers appear to be for real and are forces to be reckoned with moving forward. No NHL GM wants to be in his division basement on November 1. The odds of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs are in the 70% range for teams who are out of playoff berths in early November and the odds get even worse with each passing month.
The goal in today's NHL is to get into a playoff berth early in the season and fight like hell to defend your turf for six months.
The 2018-19 St. Louis Blues were the exception to the rule because they were in 31st place on January 3 and they made a legendary run to win the Stanley Cup.
To a man, all NHL GMs get depressed thinking about being in 10th or 12th place in their respective conferences on U.S. Thanksgiving. Sources that I speak with regularly tell me there will be trade activity beginning inside in the NHL in the next two weeks.
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