Subban skates with Sabres for 1st time since injury

Malcolm Subban is ready for his next opportunity between the pipes for the Buffalo Sabres.
He was acquired by the Sabres in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on December 2 and he made his first start two days later. However, he was forced to leave his debut at Carolina on December 4 midway through the third period with an injury.
Subban took part in the team's morning skate on Friday, but is not expected to play. It's possible that we could suit up again for the team in Buffalo's home game on Saturday against Washington.
"I'm just going to keep working to get back to 100 percent," Subban said. "I feel like I'm pretty close but whenever I feel ready, the training staff feels that I'm ready, I'll be back in there.

Last Saturday's game was Subban's first in the NHL since May 3, also on the road against the Hurricanes. He was with Rockford of the American Hockey League at the time of the trade.
He was a first-round choice of the Boston Bruins in the 2012 NHL Draft and was claimed off waivers by the Vegas Golden Knights prior to the 2017-18 season. He was traded to Chicago in February 2020 and, with a logjam of goaltenders in the Blackhawks organization, started this season in the minors.

Sabres coach Don Granato said all the reports about Subban prior to him joining the organization were glowing. He spoke highly of Subban's reputation as a good teammate and his off-the-ice intangibles.
While that is one reason the Sabres brought him in, the potential for Subban to be an effective starting goaltender for Buffalo was also a deciding factor.
"The other thought is where he's at in his career and the potential here for him," Granato said. "The excitement for us as coaches in an organization is, here's a guy that has had a lot of ups and downs in his career, but that's an accumulation of experience.
"We hope to give him the net when he's ready and see if all that experience can help him establish himself here. It would be great for him to do that."
Buffalo's back-to-back set opens tonight against the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. on MSG and WGR 550 (pregame on MSG starts at 6:30). Tickets are on sale now.