I really like what I saw of
Gustav Possler earlier this month at Sabres Prospects Camp.
The kid can flat out fly and he has a lightning fast release on his accurate shot. He plays an aggressive game, too.
The Södertälje, Sweden native has been invited to team Sweden's World Junior Hockey Championships training camp. The 6 foot, 185 lb. MODO Hockey product was selected by Buffalo in the 5th round (130th overall) of the June 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Glaring omissions from Sweden's training camp roster: Elias Lindholm (Carolina) and Filip Forsberg (Nashville).
Theur loss is Possler's gain.
Malmö, Sweden will play host to the 2014 IIHF WJC tournamnent which will run from December 26th to January 4, 2014.
***
Looking at the Team Finland WJC training camp invitee list, I don't see Joel Armia and Rasmus Ristolainen on it.
No Sasha Barkov (2nd overall pick in '13 entry draft to Florida) for Finland, either.
North America, here come Armia and Ristolainen.
Its a sign of the times. We've been waiting two seasons to get a glimpse at Armia on the 200 by 85. He'll start out in Rochester this season and likely will work his way on up to Buffalo before too long. Ristolainen signed his ELC the moment that Prospects Camp ended earlier this month. In his deal, there is a proviso that says that he can play in AHL Rochester if he doesn't make the Buffalo starting roster in training camp. Ristolainen had mentioned prior to signing his first pro contract that he would consider going home to play in his home town team, TPS Turku.
Not likely to happen, folks. He's an Amerk-Sabre now. Better get used to it.,
Buffalo? Rochester?
Doesn't matter because Ristolainen and Armia are Sabres prospects now. They have nothing left to prove by playing with '93s-'95s at the IIHF Worlds. They have graduated to the next level of pro hockey. They are each one step closer to the NHL.
***
Sabres prospect Logan Nelson has an ink habit.
Check out his latest piece:
The Sabres picked him in the 5th round of the 2012 entry draft (133rd overall).
I like what I saw of Nelson in the Blue and Gold scrimmage. Strong. Mean. Skilled.
He's a badass center iceman, too. The 6'2 195 lb. pivot plays a heavy game, in the Girgensons style. He's a banger with soft hands. In 120 regular season games, Nelson has scored 37 goals and has added 68 assists for 105 points (0.88 points per game). He's got 111 PIMs. In 10 playoff games, he's scored 2 goals and has added 8 assist for 10 points.
He had himself a very impressive Sabres Prospects Camp. He's entering his third season with the Victoria Cougars in "The Dub". It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Darcy Regier inks Nelson to play in Rochester this season.
Follow the big man on Twitter at @cellylike_nelly
***
He's gone and done it again.
Patrick Kaleta is giving back again to the WNY community. He does great charity with his HITS Foundation. Realizing the high expense of participating in hockey, Patrick and the HITS Foundation are striving to give families the opportunity to participate in organized sports.
Patrick is an advocate of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He believes in helping less fortunate individuals, and will promote the HITS Foundation as putting a smile on someone’s face.
Kaleta is also is a spokesperson for Cradle Beach Camp, which services the needs of disabled and disadvantaged children from Western New York. They provide an environment for organized activities to promote socialization, self-worth and decision-making, in an atmosphere of love and acceptance.
HITS Foundation has the opportunity to assist under-served communities, low-income families, and special needs individuals with your help.
HITS Foundation is assisting in funding and operating a new sports complex in the
Southern Tier, bringing the game of hockey and other organized sports activities to a
rural setting.
Kaleta is now an active participant in the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Reasearch Team.
On Thursday, August 1, from 6:30 to 9 a.m., the Buffalo Fire Department will hold its annual
Fill the Boot program, with this year’s proceeds going to the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research Team (SMART).
The firefighters will be joined by Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta, former Sabres tough guy Andrew Peters, steady D Darryl Shannon and other Sabres alumni. The Sabres players will be set-up on eight separate corners throughout the City of Buffalo to collect funds for the program.
I strongly urge you to make a donation to this worthwhile cause.
The Buffalo Fire Department will be collecting on the following corner sites:
1. Seneca & Bailey
2. Main & 198
3. End of the Skyway – Patrick Kaleta will arrive at 7:30am
4. Niagara St exit of the 190 – Andrew Peters will arrive at 7:30am
5. Elmwood & Hertel
6. Delaware & Hertel – Darryl Shannon will arrive at 7:30am
7. Elm & Swan
8. Oak & Genesee
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease. The motor neurons affect the voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, and swallowing. Spinal Muscular Atrophy or SMA is the leading genetic cause of death among children less than 2 years old, affecting nearly 1 in 6000 new births. One in approximately 35 people carry a copy of the gene that causes SMA.
SMART is a grass-roots organization working to raise awareness and financial support for targeted research aimed at finding treatments and ultimately cures for SMA and related neuromuscular diseases. Currently, SMART is funding the laboratory of a world-renowned physician-scientist at Johns-Hopkins Medical Center, who is working on novel research avenues that may lead to life-altering therapies for SMA.
SMART will hold their 5th Annual SMART Celebration at First Niagara Center Saturday, August 3, from 1-6 p.m.
For more information, please visit www.smarthope.com.
Boots. Hearts. Tragically Hip. Tasty!
Join the Discussion:
»