On the Buffalo Sabres …
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Teams are watching the Buffalo Sabres and their goaltending tandem of Robin Lehner and Chad Johnson. Teams that are dealing with goaltending injuries or are looking for depth could come calling.
Both Lehner and Johnson are on one-year deals.
Teams that are dealing with goaltending injuries include Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Charting the Sabres’ goalies
Lehner GP W-L-O GAA/Sv Pct
Home: 11 3-6-1 2.02/.932
Road: 10 3-6-1 3.98/.878
Johnson GP W-L-O GAA/Sv Pct
Home: 4 0-3-0 4.73/.869
Road: 7 1-2-2 3.13/.891
Darren Dreger: (from Monday) Teams are calling the Sabres and checking the availability of Robin Lehner and Chad Johnson.
Matthew Bove: Robin Lehner’s agent has said that he knows nothing about a potential trade involving Lehner.
On the Ottawa Senators …
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen: For now, answers for the Senators are going to have to come from within. Trade options for GM Pierre Dorion at the moment are limited.
The only teams that are active in the trade market are the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and San Jose Sharks.
On the Boston Bruins …
Jimmy Murphy: The Bruins are getting healthier, and it will be interesting to see what they do with Frank Vatrano and/or Matt Beleskey when their forwards are ready to return to the lineup. Both Vatrano and Beleskey would require waivers, and both have been in the trade rumor mill. Vatrano has been in the rumor mill more recently.
Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports: wonders if the Bruins need to bring in some toughness/enforcer to help protect their skilled players.
The Bruins did have Ryan White on a tryout, but both sides decided to go another direction.
Brad Marchand has missed a stretch of time in concussion protocol and teams starting to target him. Marchard was injured against the Capitals and Maple Leafs after taking big hits. The Flyers also played Marchand physically.
David Backes just returned to the lineup, so that helps in the toughness department, and defenseman Adam McQuaid is getting closer.
“I don’t think we need anybody to take advantage of our best players. That’s for darn sure. The new NHL isn’t necessarily intimidating that guy so he stops it, but it’s going after their best players to make them uncomfortable,” said David Backes. “They can tell their own guys that ‘If you’re going to be hard on Marchand then they might kill me out there tonight, and I don’t like that.’ I don’t necessarily think it’s fear, but you’ve got to have that counter-action or repercussion as at least a threat so they don’t start taking liberties with .”
