The Sabres are set to welcome back two key veterans to their lineup on Wednesday against Philadelphia. Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald relays that defenseman Rasmus Dahlin believes he’ll be ready to play while winger Jason Zucker is expected to make his season debut as well. Dahlin has missed the last three games with what’s believed to be a back issue while Zucker hasn’t played after undergoing shoulder surgery late this summer. Dahlin was never moved to injured reserve but Zucker is on there at the moment. Buffalo has a full 23-player roster at the moment so someone will need to be sent down before Wednesday’s contest before Zucker can formally be added to the group.
Elsewhere around the NHL:
Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon appears set to miss his fourth straight game as a healthy scratch on Tuesday, which will lead to questions about his future with the team. In an appearance today on The FAN Hockey Show (audio link), Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested that the veteran may have already vetoed a trade last season in order to remain in New Jersey. The 35-year-old had full trade protection last year but only a 10-team no-trade list this season, the final year of his contract. Accordingly, if the Devils ultimately look to move him and open up some much-needed cap flexibility with his $4MM AAV, Dillon won’t have the same ability to potentially shut down a move.
The Flames have moved winger Samuel Honzek to injured reserve, per the NHL’s media site. The 21-year-old has missed a little more than a week with a lower-body injury, meaning he has already missed enough action to return when he’s cleared. The move opens up a roster spot for a recall from AHL Calgary if it’s needed, especially with Mikael Backlund not making it through the end of Sunday’s game. Honzek has been held off the scoresheet through his first four appearances of the season.
Before tonight’s game against Pittsburgh, the Mammoth announced (Twitter link) that defenseman John Marino would not play due to an upper-body injury. He’s listed as out day-to-day. The 29-year-old has had a good start to his season with five points in nine games along with an eight-year, $54MM contract extension back in July.