With Alexander Sulzer ready to return from the IR and Cody Hodgson ready to play, the axe has fallen on a few more players. Luke Adam, Mark Pysyk and Brayden McNabb have all been returned to the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres had been playing much better as of late, but haven’t found a way to win those close games or compete night to night so Ted Nolan felt a shake-up was needed.

“Where we’re going isn’t a month fix or three-week fix. It’s about putting the kids in a position to have success” ~ Ted Nolan from WGR550

This was Luke Adam‘s third stint with the Buffalo Sabres and he looked much better. The confidence was back and his hockey

Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

knowledge and play making ability was at an all time high, things seemed to be going great for the youngster. Boy haven’t we heard that song and dance before? But with just 1 goal in 9 games, he wasn’t scoring like he had been in Rochester and a move needed to be made. Hopefully he finds his scoring game back in Rochester.

Brayden McNabb was just called up a week ago after Mikhail Grigorenko was sent to the World Juniors and Sulzer went on the IR. He’s played 5 games with the Sabres this season and has failed to register a point.

The most surprising of the demotions is Mark Pysyk, who has been a solid guy on the blue line. He was a healthy scratch against Calgary, but Nolan claimed it was because the Sabres had too many defencemen. Pysyk is one of two rookies who survived the original cuts when Nolan took over, and at times he has been the best defenceman. He has 4 points in his 31 games and has a less than impressive +/- -11. Aside from the stats, his game is well beyond his age.

The moves today have left many wondering if the Buffalo Sabres are waving the white flag on this season and are trying to give the Rochester Americans the best possible roster.

Both Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer will likely draw back into the line-up tonight when the Buffalo Sabres take on the Winnipeg Jets.

In addition to Pysyk, Adam and McNabb being returned to Rochester, the Sabres have recalled defeneman Chad Ruhwedel and forward Kevin Porter.

Ruhwedel has played 26 games with the Amerks putting up 14 points and racking up 12 penalty minute, while Porter has 10 points in 13 games since being returned in October.

What do you think of the moves the Sabres made today?

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