Bryson, Hagg return to practice with Sabres

Jacob Bryson and Robert Hagg practiced with the Sabres on Friday, inching the team closer toward having its opening-night defense corps return to full strength.
Bryson has been out since entering the NHL's COVID-19 protocol on Dec. 29. Hagg has missed five games with a lower-body injury.
The Sabres' next game is Tuesday night against Tampa Bay, giving both defensemen three more days to reacclimate to game shape before potentially returning to the lineup. Coach Don Granato said he expects Bryson to be ready for that game, though Hagg will require further evaluation.

"He feels very good with the exception of not having conditioning," Granato said of Hagg. "… It's going to take him a few good practice days. We'll see where he's at the next couple, how he's feeling. As far as the injury, he's very confident that he's not feeling it."

Hagg did not skate during the third period of Buffalo's victory in Winnipeg on Dec. 14. The physical defenseman - who leads the Sabres in blocked shots (56) and ranks second in hits (49) - said he had been trying to play through his injury.
"It's been an ongoing thing through the season," he said. "Just tried to deal with it but at one point I didn't feel it was fair to me or to the team to keep pushing and keep trying. Been in rehab now for close to three weeks. … I feel much better now than I did during the whole season, I'd say."

Bryson said he experienced symptoms that gradually dissipated after testing positive for COVID. He had a conditioning skate on Thursday prior to joining the team for practice.
With Bryson back in the fold, the Sabres had five absentees due to COVID protocol: forwards Alex Tuch, Anders Bjork, Kyle Okposo, and Peyton Krebs and defenseman Casey Fitzgerald.
"I skated yesterday and skated today and I felt pretty good," Bryson said. "So, trying to get back in shape and we've got a couple days before the next game, so I'll have a few days to recover."

Buffalo's opening-night defense corps consisted of Rasmus Dahlin, Bryson, and Hagg on the left side and Henri Jokiharju, Colin Miller, and Mark Pysyk on the right. Bryson, Hagg, Jokiharju, and Miller have all missed time due to injuries or, in Bryson's case, illness.
"I think we have a positive group back there and we know our roles," Hagg said. "But it takes time. How many games have we played - 30, 35 games? Of course, we want to be a little more connected and all that. I think we have positive things going here and hopefully we see that in the next coming games."

Mittelstadt progressing after injury

Granato said Casey Mittelstadt remains weeks away from returning from his upper-body injury but added that the forward is optimistic about his recovery. Mittelstadt has been seen watching practice from the stands this week.
"He's pretty excited," Granato said. "I spoke with him for a bit this morning and the medical team was talking about a date, and Casey's shaking his head saying, 'Nope, I'll be back sooner than that.' So he's feeling very good. He's still weeks away, but he's closer."