Sabres recall Guhle on emergency basis

 

With a black-and-blue defensive core, the Buffalo Sabres dipped into their prospect pool for reinforcements Friday afternoon, recalling 19-year-old Brendan Guhle from the Prince George Cougars on an emergency basis.

Already without Zach Bogosian and Dmitry Kulikov due to injury, the Sabres lost Josh Gorges to injury Thursday night, leaving them desperate for healthy bodies on the blueline.

“We are very happy for Brendan and his family and we wish him the very best during his time with the Buffalo Sabres,” said Todd Harkins, general manager of the Cougars, in a team release. “Our job is to develop players and get them ready for the next level. He’s been a real first class representative of the Western Hockey League, the Prince Albert Raiders and most recently with the Prince George Cougars. He’s very deserving of this opportunity.”

Guhle was traded from the Raiders to the Cougars in a Friday night blockbuster back on Nov. 19. In four games with the Cougars, he has three goals to his credit. Over 19 games this season, the 6-foot-3, 194-pound product of Sherwood Park, Alta., has seven points (5G-2A) to his name.

When an NHL club loses three positional players to injury, they’re permitted to dip into the junior ranks for further reinforcements. Upon the healthy return of a player, the emergency junior call up must be the first sent back to his club.

Bogosian is listed out day-to-day with a sprained MCL, while Kulikov is also day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. The severity of Gorges’ injury is not yet known.

RECALL: The Sabres have recalled defenseman Brendan Guhle from @PGCougars (@TheWHL) on an emergency basis. https://t.co/sdUwyGP9ym pic.twitter.com/4WTCqkzWJH

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 2, 2016

Guhle is expected to join the Sabres immediately and be available for the team’s home game Saturday afternoon (1 p.m. Eastern / 10 a.m. Pacific) when the Boston Bruins visit Buffalo. The game is being carried by Rogers Sportsnet.

The veteran WHL rearguard is expected to wear sweater No. 45 when he joins the Sabres.

Guhle was selected in the second round (51^st) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Sabres and got his first taste of pro hockey last spring, joining Buffalo’s American League affiliate – the Rochester Americans – for six regular season contests in which he collected four points (1G-3A).

Fresh off representing Team WHL at the CIBC Canada Russia Series for the second consecutive season, Guhle has skated in 205 career WHL regular season games, amassing 77 points (20G-57A) along with 128 penalty minutes. Over 10 career WHL post-season games, he has tallied five points (1G-4A).

As for the Cougars, they forge on without their new stud defenceman, hosting the Victoria Royals Friday night (7 p.m. Pacific) at the CN Centre in Prince George.