The Buffalo Sabres play host to the Minnesota Wild Monday night at First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo. They are also be welcoming back ex-Sabre captain Jason Pominville.
This is the the first return to First Niagara for Pominville since he was traded last April to the Wild after playing nine-seasons in Buffalo.
At a news conference Monday at First Niagara Center, reporters asked Pominville about how shocked he was at the time to learn about his trade.
"It was a shock, but I think that when we talked about those things, Darcy hadn't come up to me to ask me for my list, so I didn't think anything was going to happen," said Pominville. "But at that time, he even said he wasn't actively shopping me. He hadn't received any offers, and he had really no intentions to move, but in the situation we were in he had to keep all his options open, which is understandable."
Pominville said it was kind of "bang-bang you're out of here". He said he didn't even go to the arena to get his gear. But Pominville said he was always treated well in Buffalo.
Monday night's game will be the first match up of the season between the Sabres and the Wild.
The Sabres will be looking for their first win of the new hockey season. Tonight's game begins at 7:30PM.