BUFFALO – On paper, the Sabres acquired a third- or fourth-line forward with 13 goals and 32 points in 123 career NHL games. But in Scott Wilson, they have a player who developed in a winning culture and raised the Stanley Cup six months ago.
For a team currently dead last in the NHL, that means something.
Shortly after the Sabres waived Matt Moulson on Monday, general manager Jason Botterill sent the Detroit Red Wings a 2019 fifth-round pick for Wilson.
Botterill knows Wilson from their days together with the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins traded Wilson, 25, to the Red Wings on Oct. 21. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound Wilson has zero points in 20 total games this season. He played 17 contests with Detroit.
Last season, his first full NHL campaign, he compiled eight goals and 26 points in 78 games and another three goals and six points in 20 playoffs contests. He also played 26 regular-season games before Pittsburgh won the Cup in 2016.
“We are happy to add Scott to our roster,” Botterill said in a statement. “Scott is a hardworking young player that will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice.”
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Before flying to Colorado for Tuesday’s tilt against the Avalanche, the Sabres recalled forward Evan Rodrigues from the Rochester Americans and sent center Kyle Criscuolo to back to the AHL.
In the midst of a strong training camp, Rodrigues, 24, broke his hand during a Sept. 22 preseason game in Toronto.
“It’s the nature of the game,” Rodrigues said. “When those things happen, that’s where you show your resiliency. I did everything I could to get back to where I was in camp. I feel like I’m there now.”
Rodrigues quickly caught fire following his Nov. 17 season debut, compiling five goals and 10 points in eight AHL games.
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Sabres coach Phil Housley said defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (flu) probably wouldn’t accompany the Sabres to Colorado.
Scott Wilson is a 4th line player, with 0 points in 20 games, who won two Stanley Cups because he was lucky enough to be a depth player on a team with Crosby and Malkin.
Just like Jordan Nolan, nobody is going to take them seriously…the Sabres need talent, not some plugs who won because their teammates were really good.
If this is how Jason Botterill plans to build a team, he will ruin this organization worse than Regier and/or Murray…he’s a salary cap manager, not a talent evaluator.
I’ll take the talented players who can score, over the hard workers who can’t…every single time.