The Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospects get their first game action of the new season, clashing with the host city in Buffalo.
The Buffalo Sabres shuffled the deck chairs when it came to the depth of the roster this most recent offseason.
Beck Malenstyn was acquired via trade with the Washington Capitals from the Sphere in Vegas for the 43rd overall pick.
Matthew Savoie was shipped to Edmonton for forwards Ryan McLeod and Ty Tullio. McLeod was on the third line for their most recent cup run and loss to the Panthers.
Forward Jeff Skinner was bought out and signed with the Oilers. Defender Calle Sajin was left unqualified and became unrestricted free agents
Veteran forwards Jason Zucker and Sam Lafferty reunite in Buffalo.
Former CBJ Josh Dunne is now part of the franchise.
Defenders Dennis Gilbert and Jack Rathbone inked deals with the club. D-man Colton Poolman also inked a one year deal
Goalie Felix Sandstrom becomes the AHL starter with his short term deal. James Reimer is the veteran option
Konsata Helenius was the top draft pick for the organization from the last in person draft
Rookie Rosters
Buffalo Sabres
FORWARDS 29 Riley Fiddler-Schultz 94 Konsta Helenius 52 Aleksandr Kisakov 48 Tyson Kozak 20 Jiri Kulich 95 Ethan Miedema 54 Olivier Nadeau 79 Viktor Neuchev 36 Noah Ostlund 59 Tyler Tullio
DEFENSE 43 Simon-Pier Brunet 65 Jack Bodin 76 Vsevolod Komarov 91 Nikita Novikov 74 Norwin Panocha
GOALTENDERS 35 Ryerson Leenders 34 Scott Ratzlaff
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Forwards
37 RW Cameron Butler; undrafted ELC 41 C Hunter McKown; undrafted ELC 45 RW Gavin Brindley; 2023 Draft 53 Luca Pinelli; 2023 Draft 65 Luca Del Bel Belluz; 2022 Draft 66 James Malatesta; 2021 Draft 76 Mael Lavigne 77 Jack Van Volson 88 Tyler Peddle; 2023 Draft 92 Pano Fimis 93 Max McCue; undrafted ELC 94 Sam Alfano 97 Nicolas Sima
Defense
5 Denton Mateychuk; 2022 Draft 50 Nick DeAngelis 54 Luca Marrelli; 2024 Draft 57 Charlie Elick; 2024 Draft 74 Corson Ceulemans; 2021 Draft 96 Conor Walton 98 Nolan Collins
Goalies
31 Nolan Lalonde; undrafted ELC 35 Evan Gardner; 2024 Draft 70 Jacob Oster
What to expect:
Buffalo has five first round draft picks. Helenius, Ostlund, and Kulich will be lethal for the Sabres once fully in the show. Ratzlaff, he might be a backup.
Watch Mateychuk eat up big minutes. Ceulemans it’s boom or bust time. This is also Malatesta’s final rookie camp. He is going to be fighting for middle or top six minutes in Cleveland. Expect a lot from Brindley.
Predicted Final Score
5-4 CBJ
Higgins Sentenced
Based on today’s New Jersey hearing, the convicted drunk driver will be held without bond through October 15 for his next court date and is expected to face the maximum sentencing of 20 years in prison for the deaths of John and Michael Gaudreau.
October 15 is also the first home game of the Jackets’ season, taking on the defending Stanley Cup champions in Florida Panthers. Expect a moment of silence or tribute video from the franchise then.
Fans, if you are continuing to wish to contribute and honor the Gaudreau name and family, here are some links for you.
Oubitraries
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ
Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K
https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.
https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season
https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss
https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donate to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)
https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)
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