The good news for Buffalo Sabres fans this Sunday afternoon: the Sabres announced they’ve recalled defenseman Brendan Guhle from the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
The bad news: the recall is due, at least in part, to Lawrence Pilut being placed on injured reserve.
It’s the first recall of the season for the 21-year-old Guhle, who has appeared in 21 NHL games since 2016. He’s registered five assists and 41 shots on goal.
Guhle has spent this season with the Amerks, appearing in 25 games with the team. He’s been a big part of their defensive core and has also added 13 points, including 10 assists. He’s currently on pace to match his career-best points total in the AHL.
Guhle’s recall by the Sabres is a welcome move that many fans have been calling for, particularly in the wake of injuries (McCabe, Nelson, etc) and the lackluster play of Matt Tennyson, who was recalled ahead of Guhle earlier this week.
Assuming he plays Sunday, it will be Guhle’s first NHL game since April 7, 2018.
In a corresponding move, Pilut was placed on IR. He was considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury and missed Saturday’s game in Washington. Pilut registered two assists and was a plus-3 in six games with the Sabres.