McComick, who had been hospitalized due to a blood clot in his leg, appears likely to miss the rest of the season, the Sabres' official site reports.

McComick, who had been hospitalized due to a blood clot in his leg, appears likely to miss the rest of the season, the Sabres' official site reports.

Analysis:

Though McCormick was discharged from the hospital last week, coach Ted Nolan doesn't think that the forward will return to action before the conclusion of the season. "It looks like he's out for the year," Nolan said Sunday. "There's nothing official, but that was one of the remarks I heard right at the beginning when he was in the hospital. So right now, I'm not banking on him coming back." Who will replace McCormick full-time remains to be seen, as Phil Varone and Matt Ellis were demoted Monday. The fourth-line agitator has been one of the Sabres' better veteran players this season, and his presence will be missed. However, this does open the door for youngsters such as Mikhail Grigorenko and Johan Larsson to make a further impression in the NHL. The Sabres will likely use the All-Star break to reevaluate the roster.