Buffalo Sabres: 3 things we want to see at the 2023 Prospects Challenge
The Buffalo Sabres 2023 Prospects Challenge kicks off tomorrow night, and it signifies the start of what will be an exciting season.
We are on the eve of the 2023 Prospects Challenge, and the Buffalo Sabres will take the ice tomorrow night against their rival, the Montreal Canadiens to kick off their tripleheader. As one of the better prospect pools in the NHL, we’re all excited to see what the Blue and Gold bring. But there are three things that we should be looking forward to seeing more than anything else.
We have a potential dynamic duo on our hands in Zach Benson and Matt Savoie, and seeing them on the ice together will be a treat. Jiri Kulich has put on some much-needed size this summer, and he may just deliver a more complete game than he gave us last year – and that’s saying a lot! Finally, there’s a goaltender who might just generate some fan interest early and often.
What we must see at Buffalo Sabres 2023 Prospects Challenge
1 – Matt and Zach Network
Well, the word “Connection” has already been taken, so I wasn’t about to use it in what will, sometime in the 2020s, need a name to describe this pair. Anyway, it’s obvious as to why myself and any fan tuning into the tripleheader want to see this so badly – the two were teammates with the Winnipeg Ice and the same could very well happen in Wenatchee, Washington this season.
You can even argue that Matt Savoie and Zach Benson were a top three duo in the WHL last year, with the two having combined for 193 regular season points. The fact that Benson fell to the Sabres in the draft was something none of us saw coming, and now we have an opportunity to witness quite a show starting tomorrow.
Savoie enjoyed a strong tripleheader last season, and with another year of experience under his belt, expect a jump in his play. Benson is already one of the league’s top prospects, and he should slide right in and make an immediate impact.
2 – The NEW Jiri Kulich deliver consistent well-rounded games
Jiri Kulich did something many skaters adjusting to the North American game couldn’t: He adapted so well, he took over a few contests in 2022-23. More amazingly, Kulich was just 18 years old, but it didn’t stop him from scoring 24 goals last season. And that doesn’t include his playoff tear with the Rochester Americans.
Kulich is a high-energy player, but like most young prospects, he still needed to get stronger. With that strength came greater size, as you can see in this tiny excerpt below:
“Between the program that Rochester strength and conditioning coach Nick Craven administered for Kulich and his fellow rookies last season and a productive summer, Kulich said he is 16 pounds heavier than he was a year ago.” – Jourdon LaBarber, via NHL.com/Sabres
Source: Prospects Notebook | Kulich embracing camp following ‘explosive’ summer
Look for Kulich to use that added size and strength to his advantage against opponents. It gives us the first glance of what should be an improved, more complete game for the second-year prospect.
No one is expecting him to make the Buffalo Sabres opening-day roster, but this season, there is nothing wrong with another stint in Rochester. With 16 more pounds added to his frame, Kulich will be fun to watch with the Amerks if he delivers us an exciting preview at the tripleheader of what should be an even more well-rounded game.
3 – Scott Ratzlaff channeling his inner-Devon Levi
When the Sabres drafted Scott Ratzlaff, I immediately knew that there would be size comparisons to Devon Levi. Ratzlaff is just 6’0 tall, so don’t expect those comparisons to end any time soon unless he experiences a growth spurt.
Ratzlaff was also outstanding for the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2022-23, and if he takes the next step, he could generate something close to Levi-like numbers this season. Last year while in a timeshare, Ratzlaff had a GAA of just 2.15 to go along with five shutouts. His 0.918 save percentage is also something that jumped out, and it was a far cry from the 0.904 he accrued in 2021-22.
This isn’t to say Ratzlaff will go in there and look like a Devon Levi clone. But he already has identical traits to the Buffalo Sabres goaltender, like overall quickness, per his Elite Prospects profile.
Overall, we want to see a successful tripleheader, but if Matt Savoie and Zach Benson give us a strong preview, along with a new-look Jiri Kulich outmuscling opponents, then this will be a fun few days. And if Ratzlaff puts on a show in the crease, then he could give Sabres fans everywhere even more reason to keep tabs on the WHL this year.
(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects)