Buffalo Sabres Announce Traverse City Tournament Roster

Apr 4, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing

(93) and Buffalo Sabres defenseman

(29) battle for the puck in the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

WITH NHL EXPERIENCE

The Sabres will have three players on their Traverse City roster with NHL experience – and all defensemen. A loaded blueline corps should be great support for some of the younger forwards in the group. Jake McCabe, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov will all be on the roster for the prospects tournament in the coming days.

McCabe spent most of last season with the University of Wisconsin, where he had 25 points and 53 penalty minutes. But he also saw his first NHL action, appearing in seven games with the Sabres, and he’ll join Buffalo for his first full NHL season beginning next month.

Ristolainen split last season between the Sabres and the Amerks, playing 34 games at each level. With the Sabres, he had four points and six penalty minutes; with the Amerks, 20 points and 22 penalty minutes.

Zadorov played seven games with the Sabres, notching one point and four penalty minutes. He then spent the rest of the season with the OHL’s London Knights, where he racked up 30 points (11-19) and 43 penalty minutes in 36 games.