Falk, 28, has provided quality - though relatively sheltered - minutes in his first season with the Sabres, as he's among just a handful of players landing on the positive side of possession.
He's without a goal, and has chipped in three assists.
Falk will be eligible for the expansion draft if he appears in another five games this season.
theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at three teams or players making headlines, good or bad.
Some bite
Deployed as they were designed, finally, after rolling out a diminished lineup for 51 games to start the year, the Panthers looked like the playoff threat they were pegged as in preseason Friday night.
Simultaneously returning from 15-game and 16-week absences, respectively, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau picked up right where they left off on the top line with Jaromir Jagr, driving play in a 2-1 win over the Ducks. The victory, the Panthers' third in succession, lifted them to within two points of the third postseason slot in the Atlantic Division.
Barkov, Huberdeau, and Jagr produced 36 goals together at even strength last season, second only to the Chicago Blackhawks' scoring line of Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, and Artem Anisimov. In itself, losing a line that's outscored top defensive units at better than two-to-one has been a major detriment to the Panthers. But the absences had a much more profound effect.
Vincent Trocheck, Reilly Smith, and Jussi Jokinen feasted on mismatches created by the top unit last season, generating even greater margins at even strength than the No. 1 line. This season - as the focus of the opposition - the second-line trio has mustered just three goals in more than 200 minutes at five-on-five.
Batten down the hatches
It won't quite be the media throng awaiting him next week when he makes his only visit to Toronto this season, but John Tavares and the Islanders will experience an appetizer with the Maple Leafs and their reporters in New York on Monday.
Speculation surrounding Tavares' future has been an omnipresent narrative in Toronto and across league circles for months now, but still hasn't matched the hoopla that surrounded Steven Stamkos before he eventually decided to re-up in Tampa.
Part of that is because Tavares - still not a free agent until 2018 - has shot down the idea at every opportunity. But cooler heads are prevailing, for the most part, because Toronto's dynamic offense has a) eliminated the need and b) served up enough of a distraction.
Regardless, Tavares will have to repeat himself Monday, before doing so again for a larger audience in just over a week.
Oilers still starving for secondary scoring
The Oilers had 150 goals in 51 games at the All-Star break, boasting an overall offense in the runner-up position among Western Conference teams. They've scored just three in four games since, and would be winless (and five points back in the Pacific Division) if Montreal hadn't been equally impotent in the Super Bowl Sunday shootout snoozer.
As has been a problem for much of the year, Edmonton's depth has been unable to pick up Connor McDavid when he falls into brief inactive spells. Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Milan Lucic - the team's three highest-paid players who take up $18 million of cap space - have counted eight goals over the past 20 games, with Lucic serving up a single.
With the Oilers now hanging up the blades for five days for their mandatory bye, the coaching staff ought to be hard at work devising a strategy to help take the pressure off McDavid for the stretch run.
Goaltending has been a hot topic in the NHL this season, with the 2016-17 campaign throwing wrenches into a fair few clubs' expectations.
Between Devan Dubnyk outshining Carey Price, Peter Budaj reigning as the league's shutout king, and a number of former mainstay starters beginning to slip, it's fair to assume a couple general managers will be talking netminders heading up to the trade deadline.
The Calgary Flames remain desperate for a more solid contributor in net, while the Edmonton Oilers need a reliable backup behind Cam Talbot. And teams like St. Louis and Dallas continue to fall short of expectations due to issues in net.
That being the case, here are three backup goalies who could wind up in new homes before deadline day:
Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets have taken a huge step forward offensively this season. But heading into the home stretch, they still find themselves on the outside looking in, sitting three points out of a playoff spot.
Winnipeg has one obvious option to help turn things around - dealing one of their three netminders for a piece that can benefit them down the line.
Connor Hellebuyck has started the most games for the Jets so far (35), and boasts the best numbers of the team's three goalies. Michael Hutchinson is next up in terms of starts (20), and has at different points in his career seemed to be the future of the Jets' net.
The veteran isn't a home run, but he has a solid enough track record to warrant a look from teams looking for an upgrade. Just two seasons ago he posted a career-best .920 save percentage alongside five shutouts. If nothing else, he's very familiar with carrying the load in the cage, and may be a nice veteran option for a team with a young starter.
Anders Nilsson, Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres backup Anders Nilsson has been one of the league's strongest secondary options this season. Through 19 games, the 26-year-old has posted a stellar save percentage of .923 - a top-10 mark among this year's crop of backups.
The Sabres are definitely in need of some help heading into the season's final third, sitting second-last in the East after an injury-plagued 2016-17. They're not completely out of the running yet though. Buffalo sits just seven points out of a wild card spot, a small enough sum for a miracle run.
Robin Lehner is hitting his stride and reclaiming the starter job - he posted his first shutout of the season in Buffalo's recent win over Ottawa - making Nilsson expendable. The team also has a decent backup option, Linus Ullmark, waiting in the AHL. Ullmark appeared in 20 games for the big club last season, and is fresh off an impressive performance at the AHL All-Star skills competition.
Sounds like it's time to shuffle the deck and see what Nilsson will fetch on the market.
Peter Budaj, Los Angeles Kings
I know, I know. The shutouts. But hey, "if Wayne Gretzky can be traded ..."
Budaj has found new life in Los Angeles Kings colors, putting up a career year that has him leading the NHL with seven shutouts.
But is the 34-year-old really a reliable enough option to take into the playoffs? The Kings aren't exactly rolling through teams anymore, and as of right now they're only barely in the playoff picture. Budaj might have single-handedly saved their season, but with Jonathan Quickback practicing with the team - and scheduled to return in early March - the club might be better served by selling high on their now-elite backup to fill other needs.
It's fair to assume Quick will reclaim the starting role once he's settled back in, and the team still has a fairly serviceable option in Jeff Zatkoff as well. Trading Budaj would be risky - the club could also opt for the safer option of flipping Zatkoff - but considering what he might bring in given his current level of play, it could be a game-changing gamble for the Kings' postseason run.
Few things remain constant in the NHL. But if there's one aspect of the game that seems a given each year, it's Washington Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin reaching the 50-goal plateau.
After all, Ovechkin has topped the half-century mark in each of the past three seasons, and has done so a total of seven times throughout his career. The only other two players to boast seven 50-goal campaigns? Hall of Famers Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky.
But the Russian phenomenon isn't currently firing at the same clip he has in recent years.
Through 52 games, Ovechkin's posted 25 goals, leaving him with the second-lowest goals-per-game pace of his career (0.48).
He's scored at a similar rate twice before in his career, finishing with 32 and 38 goals in the two seasons when that was the case (2010-11 and 2011-12). Those rank as the only two years in which Ovechkin failed to top 45 tallies while still playing roughly a full season (he appeared in more than 78 games in both instances).
And after dominating for three consecutive campaigns, the 31-year-old appears headed for that range once again.
With exactly 30 games remaining in Washington's season, and Ovechkin only halfway to the coveted plateau, he'd have to score 25 goals in 30 games to reach his usual mark. Certainly not an easy task.
Interestingly, there is one player who did post 25 goals through 30 games this season - the Russian's longtime rival, Sidney Crosby.
If there's one other player who can put pucks in the net at that absurd pace, it's The Great Eight. And with Crosby cruising en route to this year's Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, he'll likely have all the motivation he needs to step his game up over the home stretch.
For the first time in decades, the Detroit Red Wings will approach the NHL trade deadline with good reason to be sellers.
The Wings have earned a postseason berth every season since 1990, but appear on the cusp of seeing that streak end, sitting with the third-fewest points in the East heading into the home stretch.
With the organization potentially turning their attention to the future, one key name that could find its way into trade talks is Mike Green. The veteran defenseman would certainly draw interest in the midst of an impressive season, having posted 10 goals and 25 total points through 44 games on the Wings' back end.
Right-handed rearguards with Green's offensive skill are always among the most coveted trade pieces, and the former Washington Capital boasts some elite career numbers - two 70-point seasons in his prime years, and at least 35 points in each of the past three seasons. He's on pace to top 40 points in 2016-17.
Green's no-trade clause means his fate is in his own hands, but given the fact that the Wings seem to be going nowhere fast, a change of scenery may not require much convincing.
That being the case, here are three teams that could benefit from the smooth-skating defender's services:
1. Winnipeg Jets
With seven entry-level deals on the books, cap space isn't a huge concern for the Winnipeg Jets. That's key, as Green carries a hefty $6-million annual cap hit until the conclusion of next season.
There's no denying his skill, however, and with the Jets taking a step forward offensively this season, Green's scoring talent could help them move one step closer to a playoff return.
Most importantly, the veteran could help fill in for key defensive cog Tyler Myers, who remains on the injured reserve. Myers hasn't played since early November, and is not making any progress, according to his head coach.
Green seems as good a replacement as any, and could perhaps help the club continue to climb the standings - they currently sit three points out of a wild-card spot. The draw for Green? Getting to play with one of the most potent young snipers in the game in Patrik Laine.
2. New Jersey Devils
The fit is pretty straightforward here. The New Jersey Devils are absolutely starved for offense, having finished last in the league in goals per game last season, and ranking fourth-last in that regard this year.
Though the club added a few intriguing offensive pieces this summer - namely elite winger Taylor Hall - they still lack a true No. 1 option on the blue line. A problem exacerbated by the fact that the Devils traded their best bet at that role, Adam Larsson, to get Hall.
Making matters worse, the injury bug is chipping away at New Jersey's defensive corps, as both John Moore and Jon Merrill currently sit on the shelf.
The Devils have plenty of cap space and plenty of room for improvement at both ends of the rink. Like Winnipeg, they sit within reach of the playoffs - five points out of a wild-card spot - and adding Green would be a significant step towards closing the gap.
New Jersey's going to be a harder sell for the veteran, though donning Devils colors would mean an unchallenged shot to be the No. 1 option on the back end.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have all sorts of cap space, meaning they would have no issue fitting in Green's salary. They're also oozing with potential, as the up-and-coming club is beginning to see hard-earned progress after years of futility.
The Canes sit just four points out of the playoffs and boast a number of strong young prospects building up their names. They've got some talent on the blue line, but aside from Justin Faulk, the Hurricanes' rearguards are an exceptionally young and inexperienced bunch.
Green and Faulk could serve as a considerable one-two punch for Carolina, and the Red Wings star would be of particular use in helping right the ship for the Hurricanes' 22nd-ranked power play. Over the past decade, only four active defenders have put up more power play points than the former Capital's mark of 188.
A move to Carolina would allow Green to take on a mentor role for the next crop of talented blue-liners, as the Hurricanes have a few talented future options in tow, led by 2015 fifth overall pick Noah Hanifin.
Whether or not Green and the Red Wings agree that a move is best remains to be seen, but if the scales tip toward a trade, it's clear the 31-year-old won't be short on suitors.
That should be the approach of Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic heading toward the March 1 trade deadline, or the summer draft floor, when the team could move one of its star players.
With the Avalanche in the midst of the worst season since the franchise arrived in Denver, change is in order, and that could land center Matt Duchene or winger Gabriel Landeskog in a new area code.
Duchene, 26, is signed through the next two seasons and carries a $6-million cap hit, while 24-year-old Landeskog has four seasons remaining at a cap charge of about $5.57 million annually.
Here's why it makes more sense for Sakic to hang onto Duchene and trade Colorado's captain.
The case for Duchene
No team ever complained about strength down the middle.
The Avalanche have their own pair of middlemen in Nathan MacKinnon and Duchene. Three seasons ago, they combined for 133 points en route to MacKinnon winning Rookie of the Year honors. Furthermore, in a game focusing more and more on possession, faceoff strength is critical, and only Anaheim's Antoine Vermette has done better at the dot than Duchene's 61.1 percent success rate (minimum 100 faceoffs).
While not much has gone right in Denver this season, Duchene has done his part, collecting 32 points in 44 games. On pace for 56 points, that's in line with his past two seasons - even more impressive considering the Avalanche haven't had many good nights. They've won just two of their last 22 games.
Captain's goodbye
As for Landeskog, the captain's body of work hasn't been as impressive. With 18 points on the year, he's on pace for his worst full season since he made his NHL debut in 2011.
Landeskog plays a physical brand of hockey, and the Avalanche have an opportunity to cash in on their asset before that approach takes its toll. His contract also doesn't expire until 2021, when Landeskog's best days could already be behind him. The captain's crash-and-bang style would be perfect for a contender this spring, but the Avalanche's days as a contender are still far off, meaning they may not have the opportunity to utilize that strength when it counts.
Filling a need
Sure, Sakic would likely get a bigger return for Duchene, but that's because wingers are the easiest pieces to add. When was the last time a top center or high-end defenseman became available or reached unrestricted free agency? They just don't move, and in the rare case they do, what's surrendered in exchange is painful.
And that's truly the top need for the Avalanche. They already have two top defensemen in Erik Johnson (who's missed the majority of the season with a leg injury) and Tyson Barrie, an excellent puck mover, but the issue is depth. Colorado has rolled through a range of low-end rearguards this season. What the Avalanche sorely need is a true second-pairing blue-liner, and that's what they can get by trading Landeskog while staying strong down the middle and keeping Duchene's production.
