3 – Norwin Panocha, D
If there’s one player who quietly had a great game vs. the Devils, it was Norwin Panocha. Like Metsa and Savoie, the Buffalo Sabres 2023 seventh round pick needs to shine every time he gets a chance if he’s looking to show that he can transition smoothly to the North American style.
Sure, there are players like Viktor Neuchev, who could have filled this spot. However, Neuchev has experience playing professional hockey in the KHL, so I’m looking for a smoother transition.
For Panocha, I wasn’t expecting it to the same degree, but he’s given us some positive early returns. We will get another look at Panocha on Monday before he ultimately debuts for the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Saguenéens. If he gives us another good outing tomorrow afternoon, then it could foreshadow a smoother transition than we initially expected for the 18-year-old.
Source: Isak Rosen continues to impress as Sabres stay unbeaten at Prospects Challenge by Lance Lysowski, Buffalo News