Buffalo filled the backup goaltending position by acquiring Ty Conklin from the Columbus Blue Jackets but still is thin offensively, with Maxim Afinogenov, Chris Drury, Ales Kotalik and Jiri Novotny, as well as defenseman Jaroslav Spacek all injured. In exchange for Conklin, the Sabres sent a 2007 fifth-round pick to the Blue Jackets.