Darcy Regier, Lindy Ruff, James Patrick, Teppo Numminen, Kevyn Adams and the Sabres scouts look forward to days like today. The research and due dilligence has been done. The drafting and player acquisition deals have been complete (for now). Now its time to sit back, in a controlled environment and to gauge the progress of all the young dudes that the Sabres have opted to add to their already impressive cache of weapons on their NHL roster.
No youngster will earn an NHL roster spot based on their testing scores and on-ice performances from this week alone. These sessions are designed to specifically sell-in the "Sabres System" to the young pups. They'll be tested for strength and agility. Skills and drills will be accentuated. Proper diet, power skating, positional defense, fore check, back check and rest-recovery ratios will be some of the elements to be stressed over and over again over the course of the next ffive days.
What I've learned about this camp, having covered it for the past eight Summers, is that the youngsters are given lists of expectations, that include that player-specific workouts they each prospect bring with them back to their home rinks and workout gyms.
Unlike in year's past, there are jobs available on the Buffalo roster for the 2012-13 season, namely #1 centre. Cody Hodgson was traded to Zack Kassian at the trade deadline in February. He's already played 91 NHL games and has scored 20 NHL goals in his young career, however, he hasn't perfected his craft yet. On locker clean out day, Hodgson told me that he would go home and work on his strength and conditioning so that he can be of more value to his Buffalo teammates this upcoming season. Ditto Corey Tropp, who played in 34 games for Buffalo last season. Marcus Foligno scored 13 points in only 14 games, but he's told me that he's only scratching the surface of being the power forward that he really wants to be. Brayden McNabb played 25 games in Buffalo last season and will be looking for a job in Buffalo's top 8. He doesn't want to start in Rochester, however he may have to with the addition of Pardy and the re-signing of Sulzer. These players will be challenged by the newbies klike Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons, who were drafted with the notion that they would someday play on Buffalo's #1 and #2 line. Nothing like a lot of good old fashioned peer pressure to bring out the best in everyone on the ice!
Might a strong developmental camp, and equally as impressive training camp help his chances of achieving his NHL dream of playing in the NHL?
You better beleive it. A strong showing now will only boost Grigorenko's confidence.
The Sabres will open developmental camp a 10am this morning. This time around, First Niagara Center will host all of the festivities. This will mark the first time the ice will be installed during the summer and the development camp will be held at the home of the Sabres.
There will be an on-ice session each day open to the public Monday through Wednesday from 10:00 am -12:30 p.m. The week will culminate in a Blue and Gold scrimmage game on Thursday, July 12 at 6 p.m. Tickets for the scrimmage will be $10 for general admission seating.
I'm psyched for this camp as I anticipate seeing some serious offensive skill on display with the likes of Luke Adam, Joel Armia, Dan Catenacci, Marcus Foligno, Zemgus Girgensons, Mikhail Grigorenko, Cody Hodgson, Justin Kea, Kevin Sundher, Corey Tropp, and Phil Varone on display.
On D, Brayden McNabb, Mark Pysyk, Jerome Gauthier Leduc, Jake McCabe, and Matt MacKenzie will be ready to rattle bodies off of walls.
I'm really excited to be able to get another birds eye view of the monster-sized new goalies, Connor Knapp (6'5 220), Nathan Lieuwen (6'5 195), and Linus Ulmark (6'3 200).
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