Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – Right after the Buffalo Sabres traded for Logan Stanley on Thursday, he started making his way from Winnipeg to Western New York. He had to sit and watch the games on Saturday and Sunday because of visa issues, that didn’t get resolved until Tuesday afternoon. The Sabres were playing the San Jose Sharks that night and Lindy Ruff asked Stanley if he wanted to play and of course he did.

We were able to speak with Stanley live on Sunday in the first intermission. The big 6’7, 231 pound defenseman remembered playing against the Sabres in December while still with the Jets and he was very impressed then. He said when he found out he was traded all that left him with mixed emotions,

“I think excitement was a big one, obviously emotional, I had been in Winnipeg for a long time (six years), met some great people and had some great relationships with teammates.”

Winnipeg made Stanley the 18th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo. That was the season the Sabres took one of their biggest first-round busts in team history, Alex Nylander. Stanley is no shrinking violet when it comes to rough play and he said watching the Tampa Bay Lightning game made him hungry to join his new teammates,

“Fun, it looked like a lot of fun, I think we have them again at home once before the season’s over.”

Trust me when I tell you Stanley was taking notes during that game and some of the Lightning are going to be awful uncomfortable for the rematch on Dyngus Day.

Stanley had never had more than one goal in a season and he had five career goals in 202 NHL games. This season he has nine goals in 60 games to go with 12 assists for 21 points he said having better offense has helped his overall game,

“For sure and I think confidence is huge in this league and I think last year was a good step for me and this year I got off to a good start, my confidence grew and I think my game’s in a good place right now.”

Stanley is glad he’s part of what Jarmo Kekalainen wants which is for the team to be more physical. He said,

“I’ve watched how they’ve played a little bit and they play fast and make plays and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to just try to get to know the guys and help any way I can.

“But not seeing them as much, you don’t realize and appreciate how good of a group they have, so it’s been awesome coming in and really lookng forward to the future and a playoff push here.”

Stanley had seen the whole game against the Nashville Predators and one period against the Lightning when he spoke. He was really enjoying how the fans were reacting to the team,

“Yes 100%, I think this is a great sports town and passionate fans, so to see the Sabres having success this year and people are coming out and supporting which is awesome and the building is going to be rocking the rest of the year.”

Stanley is a better skater because he said he’s worked hard on it in the offseason.

Luke Schenn and Tanner Pearson have also been cleared by immigration, but they didn’t play on Tuesday. Stanley said it’s so much easier to get to know new teammates when some old ones are traded with you,

“Yes for sure, I didn’t know many guys coming in, so tons of familiar faces around is going to be nice.”

The Sabres have arugable the best top-four defensemen in the National Hockey League and it’s something Stanley already knew,

“It’s going to be exciting, we were in here with Winnipeg a couple of months ago and you could see the skill and the speed that they play with and hopefully I’ll learn some stuff from them too.”

Stanley was really impressed with how the players stuck up for each other and showed some good team toughness.

Things have not been going well for Winnipeg as they are 27th in the NHL with a points percentage of .492. He said it’s great to be in a room bursting with energy,

“I think the amount of energy is a little bit refreshing for me, it’s young and fast and skilled and I don’t know if some of them know just how good they are quite yet, but it’s an amazing group and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Stanley admitted that he didn’t know his visa would come though Tuesday afternoon, so he only had 3.5 hours to get ready for the game. He said on the postgame show,

“A couple cups fo coffee, and kick the soccer ball around and go out and try to have fun with it.

“I was definitely nervous and by the second period I calmed down a little bit and it only can go up from here.”

The team didn’t have an on-ice practice on Wednesday. They’ll host the Washington Capitals on Thursday.