Although it seems like hockey just ended, we are now less than three weeks away from the beginning of preseason hockey. Preseason hockey will start just before the end of this month and training camps will likely start the week before that. So we are extremely close to seeing the Buffalo Sabres back on the ice for the first time since last May.
The Sabres will open up their preseason on September 28th in Columbus against the Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. Buffalo will play in six preseason games against three different teams. Their preseason schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, September 28th @ Columbus, 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 30th @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 1st vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Monday, October 4th vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 5th @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 9th vs. Detroit, 3 p.m.
Sabres fans will see a lot of new faces during the preseason. Players such as Robert Hagg, Craig Anderson, and Aaron Dell came to Buffalo via trade this offseason. And although the Sabres’ number one overall pick Owen Power will be going back to college for another season at the University of Michigan, there are still plenty of other rookies that we may get to see in training camp and the preseason.
The most interesting headline going into Sabres camp and preseason has to be the goalie situation. After losing both Linus Ullmark and Carter Hutton to free agency, Buffalo brought in veteran goalies Aaron Dell and Craig Anderson.
This likely points to goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen starting the season in the AHL for the Rochester Americans. But if UPL can put together a strong camp and good showing in the preseason if he gets the opportunity, it would not come as a surprise if he found himself in Buffalo sooner rather than later.