What is a Prospects Challenge and why are the Buffalo Sabres in one?
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres kick off their 2023-24 season tomorrow night at the 2023 Prospects Challenge. And you may be wondering what that is.
Five months ago, the Buffalo Sabres 2022-23 season ended with a lot of hope, and September 15th, 2023 could not have gotten here quickly enough. As I write this, we are just one day out from the Blue and Gold opening their season in an exhibition game vs. the Montreal Canadiens that will feature plenty of top prospects from both organizations.
The Sabres invited another five franchises and their respective prospect pools to the event, including the Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, and the Ottawa Senators. If you don’t know the purpose of the Prospects Challenge, let me give you the rundown.
What is the 2023 Prospects Challenge and why is it worth watching?
Think of the Prospects Challenge as a showcase, but something similar to that first and final game of the NFL preseason. Here, you mainly see young and up-and-coming players take center stage as opposed to seasoned veterans. Also like the preseason, it comprises a trio of games, but it’s only a four-day event as opposed to three weeks.
While the games don’t count toward the regular season standings (also like the NFL preseason), you will see every prospect suiting up to play treat this thing like it’s a real game. Players like Jiri Kulich and Matt Savoie, for example, could sneak their way into fighting for a roster spot, and this tripleheader gives them the first chance to show they have what it takes.
What is the Buffalo Sabres scheduled tripleheader?
The Sabres will open their tripleheader on Friday night at 7 PM against the Montreal Canadiens prospects, before They will return Saturday and face the New Jersey Devils prospects, also at 7 PM, before taking Sunday off.
Related Story. Sabres: 3 things we want to see at the 2023 Prospects Challenge. light
Monday, September 18th will be the final day of the Prospects Challenge, when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects at 5 PM. With one of the league’s top prospect pools, maybe the Sabres will sweep the four-day event – perhaps even by tuning into the Zach & Matt Network!!
Source: Sabres announce schedule for 2023 Prospects Challenge by Katelyn Kardaman, NHL.com/Sabres