Girgensons Likely To Come Off Injured Reserve This Week
Girgensons Likely To Come Off Injured Reserve This Week
The Buffalo Sabres return from the Christmas break facing the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins at Key Bank Center on Wednesday. This will be the third meeting between the two clubs, with each winning in the visiting building. The Bruins have lost their last four games (0-2-2) but still lead the division by four points over Toronto and Florida, while the Sabres are seven points behind Tampa Bay and Washington for the Eastern Conference wildcard spots.
The Sabres will go with the same lineup that played against the New York Rangers in the 4-3 overtime loss at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, except for Devon Levi starting in goal.
Head coach Don Granato had a fully healthy group on the ice for the morning skate on Wednesday, but said afterward that forward Zemgus Girgensons (who has been on injured reserve since November 24) would not play, even though he is “very, very close”.
The issue may be that the Sabres do not want to insert the veteran winger after three off days, but another consideration is that the club has a roster dilemma that will need to be rectified once the NHL holiday transaction freeze drops away at 12:01 am Thursday.
Buffalo is currently at 24 players (allowable during the holiday freeze). Once Girgensons is activated, they will have to make two moves to get down to the maximum roster limit of 23 players.
It is unknown what moves GM Kevyn Adams will make, but the club is currently carrying three goaltenders and Eric Comrie has not played since December 5th. With Girgensons back, new addition Eric Robinson would likely be relegated to being an extra forward. The former Blue Jacket has already cleared waivers this season while with Columbus.
Other options could be demoting rookie Ryan Johnson (who does not require waivers), but Granato has been playing the 22-year-old semi-regularly since being recalled in early November.
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