An early present from Santa is arriving for Buffalo Sabres fans.
Sabres head coach Don Granato announced this morning that forward Jack Quinn could return to the lineup Tuesday versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Quinn suffered an injury to his Achilles during training back in June that resulted in him undergoing surgery.
During the 2022-23 campaign, Quinn notched 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 75 games, he ranked seventh among rookie skaters. Quinn exploded onto the scene in 2021-22 with the Sabres’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Rochester Americans, scoring with 26 goals and 61 points in 45 games. He also scored two points in as many NHL games for the Sabres, including scoring his first NHL goal.
The Cobden, Ontario native was initially selected No. 8 overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. During his draft year, Quinn scored 52 goals and 89 points in 62 games with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The following season he was only able to play 15 games, all in the AHL. The OHL was shutdown due to COVID-19 and being an 18-year-old in the AHL is never easy. Still, he ended up with nine points in those 15 games and a -14 rating. He added two points in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games. Quinn has two years remaining on his entry-level contract.
Buffalo currently ranks seventh in the Atlantic Division with a 13-16-3 record and 29 points through 32 games. They trail one point behind the Montreal Canadiens and are six points ahead of the last-place Ottawa Senators. With the addition of Quinn, it will add some more firepower to the Sabres lineup. The Sabres are set to face the Blue Jackets on Tuesday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 21 before the Holiday break.
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