Matt Savoie was injured Monday. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Injured Sabres prospect Matt Savoie week to week

BUFFALO – Sabres center Matt Savoie is week to week after suffering an upper-body injury in Monday’s Prospects Challenge finale, general manager Kevyn Adams said.

“We’re also going to be really patient and make sure that he’s full go before we let him out there,” Adams said this morning in KeyBank Center, where training camp opens today. “But good news overall.”

Savoie, the ninth overall pick in 2022, is expected to compete for an NHL ... Read the full article

(From left) Devon Levi, Lukas Rousek and Victor Olofsson are three intriguing participants in training camp. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres begin training camp with Devon Levi, prospects and Victor Olofsson in spotlight

BUFFALO – The deepest and most talented Sabres team since the rollicking post-lockout days of the mid-2000s will hit the ice today shouldering the expectation it can end the franchise’s embarrassing 12-year playoff drought.

Coming off a season in which they fell one win short of the postseason, the Sabres begin training camp with three sessions at KeyBank Center.

They have a whopping 64 players on their camp roster: seven goalies, 21 defensemen and 36 ... Read the full article

Nikita Novikov signed his entry-level contract in May. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres prospect Nikita Novikov turns heads in first games in Buffalo

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ leading scorer in the Prospects Challenge wasn’t Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, Matt Savoie or another talented young forward.

No, try defenseman Nikita Novikov, who registered five assists, including three in Friday’s 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens in LECOM Harborcenter.

The Russian, 20, compiled three assists and five points in 62 games with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Moscow Dynamo all of last season.

The 6-foot-4, ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie is expected to compete for an NHL job in training camp. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres’ Matt Savoie leaves Prospects Challenge game injured

BUFFALO – For Monday’s Prospects Challenge finale, the Sabres gave some of their more established young players a well-deserved afternoon off.

However, center Matt Savoie, arguably the Sabres’ biggest prospect, dressed for his third consecutive game. Twenty-seven seconds after taking the opening faceoff, he skated into a Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jagger Joshua and left the game.

Savoie, who’s competing for an NHL job this season, suffered an upper-body injury and is expected to miss ... Read the full article

Isak Rosen (wearing the ‘A’) and his teammates celebrate his second-period goal Saturday. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Viktor Neuchev, Zach Benson and Isak Rosen score, illustrate Sabres’ depth

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Viktor Neuchev scored in front early, converting center Tyson Kozak’s nifty backhand pass from behind the net. Winger Zach Benson followed minutes later, releasing a wicked shot from the left circle.

After the New Jersey Devils scored in the second period, winger Isak Rosen zoomed to the net unfettered, recording his second goal in as many nights.

The early goals in Saturday’s 4-2 win at the Prospects Challenge in LECOM Harborcenter ... Read the full article

Jiri Kulich warms up before Friday’s Prospects Challenge game. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

In Vaclav Prospal, Jiri Kulich has special mentor as he fights to make Sabres

BUFFALO – When Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal learned Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich trains in his hometown in Czechia during the summer, he headed to the local rink in Ceske Budejovice to introduce himself.

Prospal, one of the Rochester Americans’ new assistant coaches, ran into some of his former teammates, so he invited Kulich to his house for lunch to chat.

Having coached against Kulich and followed hockey closely, Prospal knew about the youngster’s lethal shot – ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie played two games with Rochester during the Calder Cup Playoffs. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres prospect Matt Savoie poised to stick in Buffalo: ‘That’s my goal’

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Matt Savoie paused for a moment and collected his thoughts before he answered the question.

Savoie, 19, has established himself as a dominant junior star over the past two seasons, scoring 92 goals and a whopping 226 points in 156 total games, including the playoffs.

Clearly, the center’s ready for pro hockey. But the Canadian Hockey League’s agreement with the NHL prohibits him from playing in the AHL this season. He ... Read the full article

Jiri Kulich spent all of last season in Rochester. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres’ 2023 Prospects Challenge roster features five first-round picks

Five first-round picks, including forwards Jiri Kulich and Matt Savoie, are among the 25 youngsters listed on the Buffalo Sabres’ roster for the upcoming Prospects Challenge rookie tournament.

Kulich and Savoie, two of the Sabres’ three first-round selections in 2022, are expected to compete for NHL spots during training camp.

The roster, released Tuesday, also features three other first-round picks: wingers Zach Benson and Isak Rosen and defenseman Ryan Johnson.... Read the full article

Zach Benson skates during development camp earlier this month. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres sign prospect Zach Benson to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Friday signed winger Zach Benson, the 13th overall pick this year, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

He’s the second prospect from the Sabres’ 2023 draft class to ink his deal, joining forward Anton Wahlberg, the 39th selection.

The contract has a $950,000 average salary cap hit – an $855,000 base salary and a $95,000 signing bonus – according to capfriendly.com.

Benson, 18, enjoyed a dynamic junior campaign with the ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie played his first games for Buffalo at last year’s Prospects Challenge. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres to host Prospects Challenge rookie tournament Sept. 15 to 18

The Buffalo Sabres will again be hosting five teams at the Prospects Challenge rookie tournament from Sept. 15 to 18 at LECOM Harborcenter, the team announced Tuesday.

The Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins will all be participating in the round-robin tournament.

Tickets for the games cost $10 and will be available in early August. Season-ticket holders will have priority access and a preferred rate for tickets they purchase.... Read the full article