Buffalo Sabres rookie Jake McCabe knows he’ll feel more nerves tonight during his NHL debut tonight in St. Louis against the Blues.
“Even out in the pregame skate, I’m sure my heart rate was getting up there, for sure,” the defenseman told reporters this afternoon in St. Louis. “This is a whole new level.”
The 20-year-old, the 44th overall pick in 2012, played three NCAA seasons before signing a three-year, entry level contract Wednesday.
Giving away his senior season, McCabe said, “was a big, big decision.” He said Wisconsin was an “all-around awesome experience” and he would tell other hockey players to go the college route.
McCabe called the past couple of days a “whirlwind.” He flew from Chicago to Buffalo and underwent some tests before going to St. Louis.
The Sabres have some stiff competition coming up. In addition to St. Louis, the Western Conference’s best team, they face Detroit on Friday, Philadelphia on Sunday and Detroit on Tuesday.
“The only way I’m looking at it is it’s exciting to get my feet wet a little bit and see what it takes to play up here at this level,” McCabe said.
What does Sabres coach Ted Nolan expect from McCabe?
“He’s going to be full of energy and full of enthusiasm,” he said. “We have to make sure, especially against the first team he plays against, St. Louis Blues, they’re the cream of the crop of the National Hockey League right now.
“So he can’t be admiring his passes. He can’t be going back on a normal college speed. He has to jump right in with the best in the league.”
In other news, Nolan said winger Drew Stafford and defensemen Henrik Tallinder and Mike Weber are game-time decisions tonight. Tallinder is likely out, Nolan said.
Rookie goalie Nathan Lieuwen, fresh off his first NHL win Tuesday, will start again. Matt Hackett will go Friday, Nolan said.
Meanwhile, winger Chris Stewart, out since injuring his right ankle March 6, is practicing again and could return this season.
“He’s way ahead,” Nolan said. “We thought for sure he wouldn’t even be touching the ice until mid-summer. But it shows you the kind of rehab he’s been getting.”
He added: “He has a shot.”
Could the photographer have gotten a bit of a closer shot of the new guy? I can’t quite count his nosehairs. 😉