BUFFALO – For the time being, everyone can stay. Twenty-five Sabres players participated in this morning’s skate. Twenty-four are on the active roster.
The Sabres are under the salary cap, so they’ve been able to carry an extra player through the NHL’s holiday roster freeze. But at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, they must reach the 23-man roster limit.
They don’t have make any moves before tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center, their first contest following a three-day Christmas break.
Update: Center Tage Thompson will miss tonight’s game for personal reasons, according to the team.
Sabres coach Don Granato said winger Zemgus Girgensons, the only player on injured reserve, won’t return tonight. Girgensons, out the last 15 games with a lower-body injury, has been practicing.
“He looks ready,” Granato said. “We’ll have another conversation. When I say that, just having three days off, not ideal to put him in tonight, unfortunately. Had we practiced the last three days, he would probably be good to go. So he’s very, very close.”
In other news, Granato said defenseman Henri Jokiharju will sit out his third straight game tonight as a healthy scratch.
“His challenge is consistency and doing what he does at his best consistently, hitting the repeat button on it, not having lapses,” Granato said. “So he’s moved along in his career quite a ways now, he’s not a young guy anymore (24). He’s a young guy but he’s got lot of experience now. For him, what he does well, if he does it really consistently well, he’s one heck of a hockey player.”
Sabres goalie Devon Levi, who turns 22 today, is expected to start. Jeremy Swayman will go for the slumping Bruins, who enter tonight on their first four-game winless streak (0-2-2) since December 2019.
Nobody would tie up a roster spot for
Girgensons except the Sabres. You take his salary and Okposos and you could have dumped both and bring in Patrick Kane who will win games for you like he’s doing in Detroit. Typical Sabre move, besides scoring regularly, Kane would also improve attendence with his hometown base.
Jokiharhu is a liability on ice, can’t protect his goalie and doesn’t body check opposing players.
Put him on waivers and take his salary and run.
So this prior post is dead on accurate. Zengus should go home. So should Kyle. Both are spent. Adams messed up paying 5mill to these two. Kane cost 2.75 prorated. This is a big gaffe by Adams. But Kane rightfully dismissed Granato as an inferior coach. Bring in Peca to coach and make the playoffs. Don is cheesy meatballs. The whole NHL knows it.
Completely agree with you, well put
Since Girgensons left the Penguins game on Nov. 24, the Sabres are 5-9-2 (.375 P%). Yes, it clearly must be all Z’s fault. And Okie has been pretty productive the past couple of weeks compared to a lot of guys who are paid much more. Like clockwork, whenever the Sabres season starts to head south, it’s time to blame all of their problems on the 4th line. Give me a break.
They have plenty of space for Kane with Okposo and girgensons. Kane didn’t want to sign here
Trade Dahlin for a real defenseman or make him a center. He is a huge liability around our own net. Send Power to Rochester. He needs some humbling and coaching as his play has not gotten better. He is also a liability around the net and has been making horrible decisions with the puck.
Sabres goaltending is decent when you play defense in front of them. They losses and goals against are not really their fault.
Gamers forecheck back check and are tough on the puck along the boards and don’t get stripped of the puck. Skinner and Middelstadt are weak on the puck, lazy, wait for linemates to do the work. Trade both today. Tuch will be very happy and let’s get a gritty scorer in return.