Veteran D-man done for the season before it even gets started!

Training camp is just two weeks away, but we already one veteran defenseman won’t be attending in Buffalo…

Sabres blue liner Matt Hunwick is expected to be ruled out for the entire 2019-20 season due to a neck condition that bothered the 12-year veteran for much of last season.

Sabres general manager Jason Botterhill made the official announcement based Hunwick’s prognosis on off-season medical evaluations on Wednesday. 

“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.”

During the 2017-18 campaign in Pittsburgh, Hunwick suffered a concussion six games into the season, costing him five weeks. He only played 42 games in that calendar.

In his first year with Buffalo last season, he took part in just 14 contests and collected a slim two assists in the process. Before the start of his time with the Sabres, he had suffered a neck injury working out during the offseason.

We do not know what this means for his personal career in the NHL, however the Sabres could place Hunwick on the long injury reverse at the start of the season. This is the only upside of this story as it will allow the team to free up space under the salary cap. Buffalo was projected to be about $1 million over the $81.5 million salary cap after re-signing defenceman Jake McCabe and goalie Linus Ullmark earlier this month.

Hunwick has compiled 25 goals, 119 points and 207 penalty minutes in 535 NHL contests. He began his career with the Boston Bruins and has also played for the Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.