The Buffalo Sabres, like the rest of the NHL, have settled in to their long summer’s nap, and news regarding the blue and gold will likely drip out slowly over the coming weeks.
However, there are still a few blips on their radar that will either need to, or could possibly be, completed before the opening of the team’s training camp 60 days from now. Here are three things to watch out for as the weather heats up.
First and foremost, the possibility of a Ryan Miller or Thomas Vanek trade will continue to loom over the team not only for the summer, but for the entire season should either player start the year in Buffalo.I wouldn’t really anticipate any movement on the trade front until we start to get closer to training camp, but there’s a chance that some monster news could break on a random July or August afternoon. Those of you holding your breath, however, should exhale now.
The Sabres also have a few players yet to get under contract – namely, their restricted free agents. The two big ones would be Cody Hodgson and Brian Flynn, both expected to be contributors on the NHL squad next season, however, the Amerks also have plenty of RFAs themselves, with Matt Hackett, Corey Tropp, Luke Adam, and Nick Crawford all wearing the RFA tag.
While there’s no timetable over the summer to get these guys signed, other than before training camp, but the RFAs do have the option of holding out as long as Dec. 1, at which point they would become UFAs.I don’t anticipate this coming in to play, for those of you worried about Cody Hodgson’s fickle agent.
Finally, the Sabres prospects will be playing in the Traverse City NHL Prospect Tournament running from September 5-9. The Sabres are the defending champs at this tournament, though the last time it was played was in 2011.
There’s Sabres hockey to look forward to, folks, but it’s not coming until early September. Let the countdown begin.