BUFFALO – On Friday, winger Isak Rosen will suit up for the Sabres in his fourth Prospects Challenge. Given his slick skill set and experience, there’s an expectation he will be a dominant presence in the rookie tournament.
Rosen has registered 48 goals and 105 points over the last two seasons in the AHL and played 15 NHL games. Last year, he developed into the Rochester Americans’ top offense threat, scoring 28 goals and 55 points in 61 outings.
It can be argued the Swede, the 14th overall pick in 2021, has outgrown the tournament.
But these upcoming games – the Sabres also play Saturday and Monday afternoon in LECOM Harborcenter – offer Rosen, 22, an opportunity as he fights to crack the NHL roster this year.
Last year, center Jiri Kulich carried his dynamic performance throughout the tournament into training camp and made the big club. The Czech spent most of the season with the Sabres, scoring 15 goals and finishing the campaign as their No. 1 pivot.
“As a player coming in with their fourth year, you want to see them kind of blow the doors off with this tournament, similar to what Jiri did last year,” Amerks coach Mike Leone said of Rosen following Wednesday’s season-opening practice. “It kind of set him up for being on the Sabres most of the season.”
He added: “You never want to tell a player to dominate a tournament, but he should have the puck a lot, he should be a guy that drives in a short tournament.”
Rosen, who stood out in the Prospects Challenge last year, expects to be a difference-maker again.
“I was last year, so I should be this year as well,” he said.
Rosen understands he’s beginning a critical season, the final of his entry-level contract.
“It’s my fourth year,” he said. “It’s time to show … that I want a jersey in Buffalo. I just got to take every opportunity I get here.”
Of course, the Sabres don’t have many openings. But if he impresses them enough, they will likely try to find him a spot.
Leone said he wants Rosen to develop a mentality “to go out there and take it.”
“It’s not going to be given to him, and I think that’s the biggest thing for Rosy, to believe in himself,” he said. “He’s a great player. He can skate, he make plays everywhere on the ice, but it’s got to be consistent and it’s got to be all the time.”
While he has showcased consistent growth and matured over his three seasons in Rochester, Rosen hasn’t done much in his limited action with the Sabres.
Last season, he earned some late recalls – he recorded his first point, an assist – and played eight games. Those contests, however, infused him with confidence heading into the summer.
“I can feel that I really can play in this league,” he said.
During the offseason, he changed trainers, developed a new routine – “It was more high intensity,” he said – and packed on about 10 pounds. The Sabres now list him at 6-feet and 185 pounds.
He also worked on staying present and simply focusing on the next day.
“There’s a lot of guys that want to make the Sabres; it’s not just me,” he said. “So I have to show it every day.”