Buffalo Sabres will have to play out the 2019/20 NHL season without their defenseman Matt Hunwick. This was confirmed by the team’s general manager Jason Botterill in an official team-released statement on Wednesday.
According to Botterill, Hunwick is dealing with a neck injury, which also troubled him through the entire previous season.
“After further medical evaluation this offseason, we, unfortunately, do not expect that Matt will be physically able to play this upcoming season due to a neck condition,” said Botterill.
Hunwick’s injury struggles began in summer 2018 and forced him to miss the first two months of the season. While the 34-year-old eventually returned on ice, he was limited to only 14 games in 2018/19 during which he contributed with two points.
These 14 games might be the only ones Matt Hunwick ends up playing in Buffalo, as he is currently entering the final year of his contract. Sabres will now probably place him on the long-term injured list, which would bring them cap salary relief.
Hunwick joined the Sabres in June 2018 in a trade with Pittsburgh Steelers. He previously also played with Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche among other teams.
