BUFFALO – With Sam Reinhart sent back to junior today, Sabres general manager Tim Murray can concentrate on another teenage prospect, defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
“I don’t want to start juggling five balls,” Murray said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
The Sabres have essentially been stashing Zadorov on their roster until they find a place for him to play. The 19-year-old has played only one of the first 11 games.
Since Zadorov doesn’t have a release from his Russian team, the Sabres lose control of him for the rest of the season if they send him back to the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights.
“I just haven’t come to a decision on that,” Murray said about Zadorov’s future. “It could be tomorrow, it could be three weeks. I guess I’ll start thinking more about that now.”
Zadorov’s situation is very unique. Read more about it here.
“I just know he stays here for us or we assign him to London, and after that, we won’t be involved, we can’t be involved,” Murray said. “We’ve tried every avenue, and we’ve been shut down at every avenue.”
Murray said verbal agreements and other things – “Stuff that’s way out of our hands,” he said – haven’t helped.
London GM Mark Hunter calls every day about Zadorov, Murray said. The Knights want the No. 16 pick in 2013 back.
In other news, with Reinhart gone, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said Brian Flynn will play Saturday in Pittsburgh, just the forward’s third game this season. The Sabres don’t plan to recall a player right now, Nolan said.
Goalie Jhonas Enroth will make his second straight start. Defenseman Tyson Strachan will likely play again, Nolan said.
Center Tyler Ennis and forward Cody McCormick rested today but will play Saturday.
Related: Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart emotional over demotion to junior
Sabres prospect Nikita Zadorov’s future could be decided soon