Sabres make statement by adding Montour

TORONTO -- When the Buffalo Sabres acquired defenseman Brandon Montour on Sunday, the move sent a positive message to the players and coaches that management believes in them.

"Yeah, that's great. Trade deadlines can always be a bit nerve-racking but general manager Jason | 2018-19 NHL Trade Tracker]*
"Just coaching against him, he has playoff experience," Housley said about Montour, who has played in 21 postseason games the past two seasons.
"He plays the game that we want to play. He's a highly skilled, puck moving defenseman who can join the rush and that's the way we want to play. He's going to be a great fit for our team."
For a team that has missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs seven-straight seasons and finished with the worst record in the NHL three of the past five seasons, seeing management add at the trade deadline instead of subtract is a welcome sight. The Sabres trail the Carolina Hurricanes by six points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference and hold one game in hand.
"He's a really good skater obviously and really good with the puck. We only play the Ducks a few times a year but he's a guy that plays fast, can skate with the puck and makes a lot of plays," captain Jack Eichel said about Montour. "He's a big addition for our team and we're excited to have him. Whenever you add a good player like that, it's good for your team. For us, that's a big addition."

Added forward Sam Reinhart, "Yeah for sure, we all want to win as soon as possible and he's a guy that can come here and help us do that right away."
Housley said he has not yet decided who Montour will partner with. A right-shooting defenseman, Montour, who had 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 62 games with the Ducks this season, could potentially be a fit with 18-year old left-shooting defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who was selected No. 1 in the 2018 NHL Draft.
"Oh yeah, 100 percent (he can help us)," Dahlin said. "He likes to play fast which is our type of game. I think he's going to fit right in. I remember he liked to play fast. He's a skilled defenseman, he skates well. I don't know a lot of about him but from what I've seen playing against him, he looks really good."
Regardless of whether they are paired together, Dahlin is excited to see the team adding to its young core.
"Exactly, we're building right now and so far it's been really good," Dahlin said. "Every day we're getting better so it's awesome that he comes to add to our group going forward."