Despite a recent stretch of good play, the Buffalo Sabres are still longshots to make the playoffs. Thus, the questions surrounding players like Paul Gaustad, a pending unrestricted free agent that could prove a useful rental for a Stanley Cup contender.
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun spoke to an anonymous NHL scout about what Gaustad could bring to a team.
“He had a slow start this year, I thought, but has picked it up in the second half,” said the scout. “He’s a big guy who can grind it out -- you need those guys in the playoffs -- but I’d be careful to make sure to pair him with better skaters. He doesn’t get up and down the ice too well. But he’s a good penalty killer, a good pickup for a good team that just needs to upgrade their size on their third or fourth line.”
LeBrun thinks Gaustad would be a good fit in Detroit, where coach Mike Babcock has said he’d like to add some size up front. The Red Wings could also use some help on the penalty kill.