BUFFALO – The Sabres placed defenseman Zach Bogosian, a healthy scratch eight of the last nine games, on waivers today.
Bogosian, 29, has become a spare part this season, sitting out 17 of the last 26 games. When the Sabres benched him for the first time Dec. 12, a report quickly surfaced he had requested a trade.
He hasn’t played since struggling in the Sabres’ 6-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 4.
Injuries have ravaged Bogosian over his five-year tenure with the Sabres, costing him a whopping 153 games. He missed the first 22 contests this season after undergoing hip surgery in April and later suffering some setbacks.
Bogosian had season-ending surgery on his other hip in 2017-18.
The Massena native is in the final season of a seven-year, $36 million contract that carries a $5,142,857 salary cap hit. He will be an unrestricted free agent following the season.
It’s unclear what the Sabres will do with Bogosian. If he clears Saturday – given his massive salary and recent play, he likely will – they could assign him to the Rochester Americans. He could also just stay put.
Bogosian briefly played in the AHL – a five-game conditioning stint with the Chicago Wolves – as a rookie in 2008-09. He has spent the rest of his 12-year career in the NHL.
The Sabres likely don’t want a veteran taking ice time from their prospects in Rochester. They could, however, possibly loan Bogosian to another AHL team.
Two years ago, they sent graying winger Matt Moulson to the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings’ affiliate, until his contract expired.
Former Sabres general manager Tim Murray acquired Bogosian and winger Evander Kane in a blockbuster trade with the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 11, 2015.
But the deal paid virtually no dividends, and the Sabres fired Murray in 2017.
Bogosian has compiled one goal and five points in 19 games this season. He has scored 53 goals and 194 points in 636 career outings.
The former third overall pick hasn’t cracked the 70-game mark in a season since 2010-11 and never made more than 65 appearances with the Sabres.
He has never played an NHL playoff game.
In other news, the Sabres sent defensemen Lawrence Pilut to the Amerks today. Pilut, 24, has been sitting as a healthy scratch with Bogosian.
The Amerks play a road game Saturday against the Syracuse Crunch. The Sabres, who had today off, could recall Pilut again before Sunday’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If Bogosian leaves, Pilut would likely be the Sabres’ extra defenseman.
Absolutely right the trade paid no dividends. Missing 11 games short of 2 seasons out of a 5 year contract is a huge liability monetarily. Then demanding a trade when there was little chance of getting any return value had to be one of the most ludicrous myopic decisions by a player I have ever heard of. If there was any trade value at all before that request, there was zero afterwards, especially in view of the Sabres league-wide reputation of perenial cellar dweller in the standings. Even if he stays totally healthy, it’s going to be difficult to get anyone to take a chance on him. I personally have nothing against him, he can’t help the health/injury isuues, but in today’s NHL there’s not a lot of upside at this point. Winnipeg made a better deal than most used car salesmen could ever dream of making.