Finally, the time has come for the Buffalo Sabres to announce their roster for the 2022 Prospects Challenge! And it is a dandy.
The Buffalo Sabres had three first round picks in July, and you will see two of them in action at the 2022 Prospects Challenge. Sabres fans will finally get their first look at ninth overall pick Matthew Savoie, who missed development camp because of a shoulder ailment.
Jiri Kulich is arguably the most enticing of the trio, having made play after play at development camp and the 2022 IIHF World Juniors. Now in September, he once again gets a chance to shine. Kulich is a tenacious two-way player whose competitive spirit drives some of his finest plays and you will see plenty of them this week.
Ostlund, who is playing for Djurgardens in AlleSvensken will be absent. But Sabres fans shouldn’t miss him too much as he has looked good over in Sweden. Isak Rosen, the Sabres second 2021 first round pick, will be in attendance.
The slew of first round picks and prospects that recently signed entry-level deals with the Buffalo Sabres will make the 2022 Prospects Challenge memorable.
Aleksandr Kisakov, absent from development camp because of immigration issues, will also put on a show for Sabres fans. Josh Bloom and Tyson Kozak are arguably the most enticing of the recently-signed prospects, especially Kozak, who is constantly beating the odds as a former seventh-round pick.
While we won’t see Olivier Nadeau because of his recent shoulder surgery, we will see Filip Cederqvist, whose respectable SHL numbers have given him a lot of promise for his upcoming escapade into North America.
Lukas Rousek is another forward to keep an eye on. Following a slow start last season, he turned on the jets in the playoffs and knocked down six points in 10 games. The undersized but feisty Linus Weissbach is another prospect you will want to watch.
At defensemen, Mats Lindgren and Vsevolod Komarov will also give fans a reason to tune in. Lindgren was one of the better offensive defensemen in the draft, while Komarov has flashed two-way potential. Oskari Laaksonen will also be there to improve his defensive game.
With Devon Levi and Erik Portillo still in college, Beck Warm and Tomas Suchanek will fill in at goaltender. Warm has 15 games of AHL experience, with 14 coming in 2020-21, where he posted a 0.914 save percentage and a 2.74 GAA.
Suchanek started 42 games with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, recording a 0.901 save percentage and a 3.87 GAA. Catch the complete 2022 Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge Roster.
Article Source: Breaking down the Sabres’ roster for the 2022 Prospects Challenge by Jourdon LaBarber
(Statistics provided by Elite-Prospects)