The Buffalo Sabres were back on the ice Wednesday ahead of their first game back from the NHL All-Star break on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Rasmus Dahlin was Buffalo's lone participant in the NHL All-Star festivities, and even recorded a goal and an assist in the Atlantic Division's loss in their 3-on-3 tournament game against the Central Division.
Being selected for the All-Star Game can be a great boost of confidence for players at any point in their career. This is no different for Dahlin, who was selected to make his first career All-Star appearance.
Sabres head coach Don Granato joined the "Howard and Jeremy Show" on Wednesday for his weekly appearance on WGR. He believes that an experience like the All-Star Game is great for Dahlin, and reiterated to him that he is a "legitimate all-star".
"When we can elevate a guy with his skill, we can elevate their self-expectation, their self-image. That goes a long, long way," Granato said with Howard Simon and Jeremy White.
Another key piece to this Sabres team, who was also an All-Star nominee is Tage Thompson. Thompson has already doubled his career high totals in points this season with 30 points in 41 games. In the second year of his recent $1.4 million extension, he saw a transition to the center position, where he has been logging more first line minutes.
"Thompson wasn't even in the lineup one calendar year ago today, and he certainly wasn't a center," Granato said of the 24-year-old. "I think he's done an amazing job there. I'm super excited about that."
The Sabres have constantly been bitten by the injury bug this season with many of their key players struggling to stay in the lineup. However, there has been positive news on that front as of late, as Wednesday saw forward Casey Mittlestadt return to the ice for practice in a non-contact jersey.
"I'm excited to see him in practice today, based on the conversations I've had with him over the last couple of days," Granato said of Mittelstadt. "He's had this injury challenge through the year, and it's affected, obviously, his confidence."
Another bit of good news injury-wise is the return of goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to practice. Lukkonen has been banged up for parts of this season, as have most goalies in Buffalo.
While Granato says he won't be playing against Columbus, he does believe the 22-year-old is getting closer to making his return.
"It's getting back to condition and timing," he said. "We're talking about our whole team having five days or so off, he's had much, much longer than that, obviously. So for him, it's going to take a little longer before he can get back into rhythm."
You can listen to Granato's entire interview during the "Howard and Jeremy Show" below:
