(WGR 550) – Just a few minutes before their morning skate on Saturday in Arizona, head coach Don Granato and his Buffalo Sabres got thrown into complete chaos.
Multiple reporters have indicated they saw Kevyn Adams pull assistant coaches Matt Ellis and Marty Willford off the ice.
Not attending Saturday's morning skate were Victor Olofsson, Rasmus Asplund, Henri Jokiharju and Rasmus Dahlin.
“We had several players and staff members test positive this morning," Granato said after the skate. "Every one of those re-tested, and the only one that we’ve gotten back has returned negative. It’s obviously a pretty active situation, and I can tell you of all these tests that have gone through, everybody feels normal.
“We’re in a wait and see situation. Kevyn’s in contact and will remain in contact with the league on this, and we’ll take it as it goes.”
Granato has been able to navigate all that’s been thrown his team’s way, but this one clearly bothers him.
"Today was the first day with all this chaos that I really felt a little different," Granato admitted. "To have this uncertainty just minutes before you go on the ice for the pregame skate when you really need focus, it’s a lot.”
Granato inferred that Dahlin was one of the players that tested positive. He also wouldn’t say if Kyle Okposo is ready to return to the lineup. The three extras with the team are John Hayden, Will Butcher and Casey Fitzgerald.
Granato confirmed that if there is a game against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, Craig Anderson will be in goal. However, he wouldn’t confirm if Dustin Tokarski will be the backup. Anderson has been out since Nov. 3, missing 33 games.
Aaron Dell has been put on waivers, so he can go to Rochester once his three-game NHL suspension is over.
If there is a game, join Brian Koziol for pregame coverage starting at 8 p.m. EST when he’ll be joined by Granato, Anderson and Tokarski.
