The Buffalo Sabres return to the Queen City to host the Pittsburgh Penguins to kick off the second half of their preseason.
As the Buffalo Sabres inch closer to their regular season, we are catching more glimpses at what their lineup for October 13th might look like. But there are still plenty of prospects and on-the-cusp players to watch in this one as the Sabres mix and match them with a few proven players.
Position battles are still ongoing, not just to see time on the Sabres lower lines, but also to vie for that first call-up should the inevitable injury occur. So who should you keep your eye on in this one? Here are three names.
Top 3 Buffalo Sabres to watch: Player #1 – Matt Savoie
Savoie has seen his struggles in the preseason, but he also showed more than a few flashes of brilliance. His three giveaways and (-2) plus-minus in two games are signs he’s not quite ready for the NHL.
However, Savoie has also acclimated well to the game’s speed in practice, built sound chemistry with teammates, and displayed natural playmaking ability. I doubt we will see any more of Savoie following this contest regardless of how well he plays, and that’s okay.
Give him one more season in the WHL and watch him shine this time next year. You may see him get his nine games at the end of 2022-23 if the Buffalo Sabres find themselves out of contention.
2 – Lawrence Pilut
Pilut has looked good so far in the preseason and he gets another opportunity to show he can be part of the main roster in this one. However, names like Chase Priskie and Jeremy Davies may still be ahead of him.
Priskie has been remarkable, repeatedly showing off his scoring capabilities while Davies found himself on a fourth pairing with Ilya Lyubushkin recently at practice. Pilut will need another big game to show he belongs in Buffalo as opposed to Rochester.
3 – Brett Murray
If there is ever the prime definition of a floater this season, it’s Brett Murray. The Buffalo Sabres/Rochester Americans forward saw some time in the NHL last season, acting mainly as an enforcer.
In 2022-23, he can fulfill that same role as a part-time skater. Murray can also be moderately productive despite seeing limited ice time at the NHL level. If he proves that productivity and hard-nosed identity is there today, the Sabres may wind up giving him a long look to join the roster as an additional skater.
We are reaching the portion of training camp where you will start to see the team reassign players to other leagues. With so much at stake, look for a sense of urgency not only from those listed above, but also everyone who will take the ice today.
Article Source: Sabres announce roster for this afternoon’s preseason game vs. Penguins by Chris Ryndak