The Buffalo Sabres trade goaltender Michal Neuvirth to the New York Islanders in exchange for goalie Chad Johnson and a third-round pick in 2015.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise the Isles made this move. Johnson simply wasn’t working out for them as their backup. They risked burning out starter Jaroslav Halak down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Neuvirth is an experienced backup defenseman and should be an improvement over Johnson, who never really found his groove on Long Island after playing well in a backup role with Boston last season.
Perhaps Johnson will get a chance to do so in Buffalo, but that’s doubtful. The Sabres have traded away both goalies they started the season with. Jhonas Enroth was dealt last month to the Stars.
Buffalo needs to give Hackett 7 gms in the NHL to qualify him as a RFA so maybe Lindback gets waived and sent to the Roch if not claimed