Sharpen Up: March 27, 2021 | Sabres move on to Bruins after Staal trade

The Buffalo Sabres have been down 10 players due to injury or illness and heading into today's game against the Boston Bruins, they'll be down one more, but for a different reason.
After yesterday's practice, the team traded Eric Staal to the Montreal Canadiens for a third-round pick and fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Buffalo also retained $1.625 million of Staal's salary.
Today, Buffalo will face the Bruin at TD Garden at 1 p.m. Pregame coverage on MSG begins at 12:30. Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray will have the call on MSG and WGR 550.
Here's what you need to know.

Staal trade signals more changes are coming

Staal was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Buffalo acquired the respected veteran in September, in part, to help provide leadership and serve as a great example of how do things the right way on and off the ice.
"The professionalism Eric displayed during his time with the Sabres was felt by everybody in our organization from top to bottom," Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said following the completion of the trade. "I know his leadership and demeanor were valued by our players, coaches and staff, and Eric's impact on our young players is obvious. It was a pleasure to be around Eric again and I wish him and his family all the best."
The trade deadline is April 12. With Buffalo in last place and in the midst of a 16-game winless streak (0-14-2), more changes are likely coming.

"Nobody's naïve here," alternate captain Kyle Okposo said after practice. "Everybody knows what's going on with the situation that we're in and we know that there's going to be changes coming. Still doesn't make it any easier.
"I found out about Staalsy [getting traded] right before practice and just got off the ice to go wish him well. He's a character guy. He's a really good person, he's a good man. He's had a heck of a career to date and he's going to continue to play well. So, I wish him nothing but the best."

Defenseman Brandon Montour is also a pending unrestricted free agent and he was asked for his thoughts on potentially being traded before the end of the season.
"I can only control being on the ice," Montour said. "I'm not my agent or the GM. I think everybody knows I'm a UFA at the end of the year. Teams could be calling, could not be calling. That's not my decision. If I'm wearing a Buffalo Sabres jersey or whatever jersey, I'm a player and my job is to go on the ice, so that's all I'm focused on."
You can read more in yesterday's Practice Report.
The team will now shift its focus to the game at hand.

Today's matchup

Sabres interim head coach Don Granato and interim assistant coach Matt Ellis are expected to be back behind the bench today. They were unavailable for Thursday's game due to NHL COVID-19 protocol, but cleared that protocol yesterday and joined the team in Boston after practice.
Adams served as head coach during Thursday night's game after Granato and Ellis had to self-quarantine in accordance with protocols.
While Okposo skated with the team for the first time yesterday since a neck injury flared up on him after practice on Sunday, he said it was too early to say whether he would be available to play against the Bruins.
Tage Thompson was also back on the ice after missing the last two games with an illness.
From the Game Notes, courtesy of @SabresPR:

Sabres to host fans for 4 home games in April

The Buffalo Sabres announced yesterday that the team will host fans at KeyBank Center four more times during the 2020-21 season.
Based on updated guidance from New York State, fans will have additional options for entering KeyBank Center, making it easier to attend the remaining games this season. Each fan who attends a game will need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 antigen or molecular (RT-PCR/TMA) COVID test result.
Fans who are fully vaccinated can show their vaccination card when entering KeyBank Center. To attend a game, fans will need to have received their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or single dose of the Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the date of the game.
Fans who need to test to enter the game will need to show proof of a negative antigen COVID-19 test taken within six hours of puck drop, or proof of negative molecular (RT-PCR/TMA) COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the game.
A limited number of tickets for all four games will go on sale on Monday, March 29 at 2 p.m. Season ticket holders will have an exclusive window to purchase tickets starting at 10 a.m. and will automatically receive a discount on the box office price when they purchase a ticket through their account.
The dates, times and opponents for the four games are:
Additional information for fans attending Sabres games this season can be found at Sabres.com/FAQ.
Fans can click here for more details as well.

Today in Sabres history

2017:Brian Gionta plays in his 1,000th career NHL game and records a goal in the Sabres 4-2 win against Florida.

Happy birthday, Terry Pegula!