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The Buffalo Sabres have recalled defenseman Matt Hunwick from his conditioning stint with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, the team announced Saturday afternoon.
Hunwick was assigned to Rochester on December 12. He recorded one assist and has a plus-2 during his brief period with the Amerks (two games), playing at least part of his time with on pairings with Will Borgen and Jack Dougherty.
The games in Rochester were his first action in eight months.
Amerks capitalize on a turnover and get on the board. Sean Malone from Alex Nylander and Matt Hunwick. Only down by 3! pic.twitter.com/yFi415tz4T
— Let's Go Amerks (@LetsGoAmerks) December 13, 2018
The defenseman hasn’t played a game with the Sabres yet, missing the first 32 games of the NHL season due to a neck injury sustained during off-ice training. At some point, it seemed possible that Hunwick could miss the whole season, but now he appears to finally be ready to make his debut, possibly tonight in Washington.
He came to Buffalo from the Pittsburgh Penguins in June along with teammate Conor Sheary. Hunwick finally practiced on-ice with the Sabres for the first time in late November.
The 33-year-old has previously also played for Boston, Colorado, the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs since being drafted 224th overall by the Bruins in 2004.