Published by hockeybuzz.com, 2-25-2019
Sabres GM Jason Botterill made the big move last night in trading for Anaheim Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour. Buffalo gave up one of it's three 2019 first round picks (but not their own) and 21 yr. old d-prospect Brendan Guhle for Montour although the 24 yr. old Brampton, Ontario native won't be in the lineup tonight against his the Toronto Maple Leafs. Botterill told the gathered media that the team wasn't interested in rushing Montour to Toronto on a red-eye to play tonight but that he'll be in the lineup tomorrow night in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
In the only other move by Botterill and the Sabres, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu was traded to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2019, sixth round draft pick. Beaulieu was acquired by Botterill on June 17, 2017 from the Montreal Canadiens for a third round pick (Scott Walford) and played in 89 games for the Sabres scoring four goals and adding 12 assists with a minus-18 rating while averaging 15:32 of ice time. Beaulieu's time dwindled with Buffalo this season and he was often a healthy scratch causing him to ask for more ice-time while indirectly saying he wanted to be traded if Buffalo couldn't accommodate. His wishes came true today as the Jets added him for defensive depth.
With Montour not playing, Beaulieu being traded and Marco Scandella still injured, defenseman Casey Nelson makes his first appearance since December 4 when he went down with an injury. Nelson was having a solid season in limited action before going on injured reserve with a goal, four assists and a plus-6 rating in 22 games played.
Also on the ice for Buffalo tonight will be winger Jeff Skinner, whose leg and ankle twisted like a pretzel against the Washington Capitals on Saturday. The replays of Skinners twisting ankle, and the way he agonizingly tried to crawl across the ice, made it seem as if he'd be out a long time but somehow he heeled fast. He was back on the ice for the third period of the Sabres win vs. the Caps and is ready to go tonight against his hometown Leafs.
In addition, winger Kyle Okposo is back in the lineup after dealing with concussion-type issues. Okposo was dropped in a one-punch fight 10 days ago in a game against the NY Rangers. With his concussion injury and with the team placing him on IR, it was thought he'd be out much longer. However he said he's ready to go and is back in the lineup.
It's been said hear that Botterill really needed to do something for this team to give them a push. Most believed a trade should have taken place a month or two ago but Botterill was firm in his commitment to only make a trade if it helped now and in the future. Montour fits that bill as he still has one more year on his contract and will be a restricted free agent (with arbitration rights) at the end of it.
Perhaps Botterill saw the light a bit as his teams seemed to be pumped up by the trade for Montour. At today's presser he told the gathered media "the players are excited about a teammate coming into the organization.
"It was something I underestimated this summer," he confessed, "in bringing Jeff Skinner in. When he came in it wasn't a situation talking about futures or a prospect. He was a player that helped our group right now and I know that that got our players very excited."
The Sabres will need all they can get tonight as the head up the QEW to take on a tough Toronto club with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance. A tough three-game losing streak in regulation really put them behind the 8-ball although they played great games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals to garner three of a possible four points. There are only 21 games left to play for the Sabres and their six points out of a playoff spot.
Maybe the trade for Montour, although not a franchise-altering trade, will give them just enough of a lift to keep them in it.
We'll see.
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