Buffalo Sabres Already Facing Injury Woes On Defense

When the Buffalo Sabres open the 2015-2016 NHL season next week against the Ottawa Senators, it’s still unclear what the team’s blueline will look like that. A big factor in that: injuries, a woe that the team is already dealing with before the season has even begun.

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Entering training camp, the Buffalo Sabres had 19 defensemen on the roster: Brady Austin, Zach Bogosian, Josh Chapman, Carlo Colaiacovo, Matt Donovan, Cody Franson, Josh Gorges, Spiro Goulakos, Brendan Guhle, Jerome Leduc, Brycen Martin, Jake McCabe, Matt Prapavessis, Mark Pysyk, Rasmus Ristolainen, Chad Ruhwedel, Bobby Sanguinetti, Devante Stephens and Mike Weber.

Martin and Stephens have since been returned to their respective junior clubs.

Austin, Chapman, Goulakos, Leduc and Prapavessis are all Rochester-bound to start the season with the Rochester Americans. Likely headed that way eventually also are Donovan and Sanguinetti, though both remain with the NHL club for now.

Champan, Goulakos and Prapavessis are all on AHL-contracts and would have to be signed by the Buffalo Sabres in order to play with the NHL club this coming season. Also signed to an AHL contract is Colby Robak, who inked a deal with Rochester on Monday.

Minus the junior players and probable AHLers, that leaves Bogosian, Colaiacovo, Franson, Gorges, Guhle, McCabe, Pysyk, Ristolainen, Ruhwedel and Weber for the Buffalo Sabres.

But injuries could tamper with that lineup even further before the Buffalo Sabres even get a chance to finish the preseason this coming weekend.

Rasmus Ristolainen missed the first bit of training camp and preseason with an upper body injury. He returned to practice on Monday and is expected to suit up in Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Josh Gorges is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Zach Bogosian is also considered week-to-week with a lower body injury; it was originally announced last week as being day-to-day.
Chad Ruhwedel is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Jake McCabe’s status is unknown after he suffered an injury in Saturday’s game against Ottawa.

Assuming that Ristolainen is ready to return, and taking out all the others, here’s what that leaves for the Buffalo Sabres heading into opening night: Colaiacovo, Franson, Guhle, Pysyk, Ristolainen, Weber.

Guhle has gotten a good look in the preseason, and would otherwise normally likely be headed back to juniors shortly – but with injuries, there now seems a possibility that he could, at the very least, see a nine-game tryout in the NHL.

He’s been seemingly impressive in his preseason performance so far, and it may be a matter of necessity that allows him to get his chance at the NHL. Of course, with Ruhwedel day-to-day and others week-to-week, there’s a chance that after Guhle’s played nine games, that he returns to juniors – but it would be a good opportunity regardless.

Of course, there’s also the chance that either Donovan or Sanguinetti (or both!) get a look in the NHL as well, at least while the injuries are a factor for the Buffalo Sabres.

UPDATE (10/2): Brendan Guhle is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Chad Ruhwedel has been placed on waivers, and Josh Gorges reportedly had a procedure to fix his lower-body issue. He should be ready for opening night.

So — what will the blueline look like for the Buffalo Sabres when the team hits the ice next Thursday against the Ottawa Senators? Heck if I know. All we can do is wait and see who’s ready, who’s not, and who else (if anyone – hopefully not) suffers injury between now and then – but it certainly has the potential to be an interesting look on defense.

Next: Rochester Americans Bolster Blueline

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