Buffalo Sabres: 3 players who must step up their game in the preseason

Preseason tells us a lot, and for the following Buffalo Sabres, they will be facing make-it-or-break-it moments if they don’t improve. 

Every preseason, we get some hyped up players who for one reason or another, falter when given the opportunity. In the first preseason game, a few Buffalo Sabres put themselves behind the eight-ball, and if they don’t improve in camp, they will find themselves playing in the AHL or junior hockey.

Which players need a few strong outings to remain in the running to make the active roster? Here are three names that caught my eye.

Buffalo Sabres who must improve: Player #1 – Matt Savoie

While Savoie played well in the Prospects Challenge, he struggled more than I thought he would in this one. While it’s still early enough for Savoie to prove otherwise and stick around, giving the puck away twice doesn’t help matters.

He also won just 40% of his faceoffs in this one, showing that he still has a long way to go. The good news? As the ninth overall pick, I expect the Sabres to keep him around longer unless he struggles throughout the next few practices and games.

Player #2 – Spencer Sova

Sova was another disappointment earlier today, I wrote him in as one of my three Buffalo Sabres to watch as camp progressed. Unfortunately for Sova, he showed little in today’s game, and he remains buried in the defensive rotation.

Just 18 years old, there is no way he will make the team under any circumstances. But Sova is one of those kids on the roster seeking to impress the Sabres enough to eventually sign an entry-level contract. While that doesn’t need to happen this season, Sova at least needs to stand out to keep the Sabres interested.

Player #3 – Kale Clague

Clague had a shot on goal, a hit, and a block, but like Sova, he also didn’t show the Sabres much. Unlike Sova, Clague is in the running for a spot on the active roster, most likely as an extra skater. Today, however, he paled in comparison to the likes of Lawrence Pilut, Chase Priskie, and Casey Fitzgerald.

The likelier outcome for Clague and most of the players mentioned is that they will end up in Rochester. But if others in the Sabres/Amerks defensive rotations continue to outshine Clague, he may not even be a top four defenseman in Rochester. Especially if Oskari Laaksonen enjoys a solid camp.

(Statistics provided by Sabres.com)