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The Buffalo Sabres are icing a stacked lineup for this weekend’s Prospect Challenge.
The Sabres are the owners of the best talent pipeline in the NHL today.
Finishing at the bottom of the NHL standings for four straight seasons has given the Sabres access to some of the best skaters, scorers, defenders and play makers in the world in Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and Casey Mittelstadt. Add in to the already impressive mix a world class rock star in defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and others and the future is looking so bright for the Sabres they gotta wear shades.
Below is the full 27-man roster.
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Sabres have announced Prospect Challenge roster. It’s an excellent roster with Dahlin, Mittelstadt, Thompson, Pilut, Borgen, Guhle, Olofsson, Asplund, Nylander, Hickey, Pekar, Laaksonen and more @BuffaloSabres
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 4, 2018
Here’s the official Buffalo Sabres roster :
Our #ProspectsChallenge roster. âš”ï¸
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) September 4, 2018
🏒 starts Friday - be there: https://t.co/wJUDDrvRg1 pic.twitter.com/pXfGOAjgTW
Of course, Nylander has a lot to prove at this tourney and then at Sabres main camp. His health has undermined his performance at Prospect Challenge 2017 and Development Camp 2018
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 4, 2018
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It was back to school day on Tuesday for Samson Reinhart.
Despite having no contract extension in place, Reinhart joined his teammates young and old in a conditioning skate.
Afterwards, Reinhart broke his summer-long silence and answered questions in a small scrum of five media members.
What’s up with the contract extension, Samson?
"That stuff is all between my agents, myself and Jason (Botterill) and that's the way we've wanted to keep it.…
"That's the way it's going to keep going. My focus around here is to be ready for the season. I'm excited to be back with the guys. That's where my focus is."
Reinhart said he was his best self as a scorer and key contributor once the calendar flipped from 2017 to 2018.
Reinhart said he liked his performance from January to April.
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 4, 2018
“I was happy with how I was able to battle through the adversity and get back to the player that I know I can be. A lot of that confidence was translated into the off ice (conditioning) this summer…
The real Samson Reinhart finally stood up in 2018. Where he disappeared to in his team’s 42 games of the season remains unclear today. Reinhart isn’t looking through his rear view mirror but rather through his windshield.
"You can't really just pick that up," Reinhart said. "You've really got to value that time together and get a feel with the guys. That's why I am here and skating. It's a fresh mentality, a lot of excitement involved and we're moving forward."
Reinhart scotlred 37 points (18G,19A) in his last 38 games last season. His has 20 goals in 43 games in 2018 tied him for 12th-most in the NHL from January to April
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 4, 2018
Reinhart, 22, is entering his fourth season with the Sabres. He’s seen a lot of teammates come and go in the three previous seasons. Reinhart is used to the constant turnover and is embracing New mates Rasmus Dahlin, Conor Sheary, Jeff Skinner, Patrik Berglund, Tage Thompson, Vlad Sobotka, Carter Hutton and others.
Reinhart said he and his teammates must commit to moving ahead together.
Reinhart is used to changes. He’s seen many teammates come and go in Buffalo. “It’s nothing new to us, but you know what? I think for the guys who have been here that’s another reason I wanted to get back here again with the group just before camp...…
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 4, 2018
Reinhart said he was at a golf course while he streamed a feed of the NHL Draft Lottery in April. Reinhart got to skate with a Rasmus Dahlin for the first time on Tuesday. Reinhart likes what he sees of Dahlin, the first overall pick at the 2018 NHL Draft.
By achieving the 25-goal mark, Reinhart joined Jack Eichel as the two 25-goal scorers under 23 years of age for the first time since super Sabres Alexander Mogilny and Donald Audette each topped 25 goals as 22-year-olds in the 1991-92 season.
Has Reinhart been tracking the litany of contract extensions that have been happening with regularity this summer? It was a few weeks ago that Detroit extended then RFA forward Dylan Larkin for 6 years and $6.1M AAV. The Anaheim Ducks extended Adam Henrique for 5 years at $5.83M AAV. Minnesota re-signed Jason Zucker for 5 years at $5.5M AAV. Ditto Tampa and J.T. Miller.
"You kind of have to pay attention to it. No? It's always going to be there and you're going to see it," Reinhart said. "My preparation doesn't change regardless."
Reinhart wants to remain a Buffalo Sabre. He prefers a long term contract extension.
"Yeah. For sure. Now, my focus is getting ready for the season right now. That's all going to be determined privately and it will be announced whenever it's announced. My focus is to be on the ice with the guys and get ready like I would if I was signed."
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Reinhart was joined on the ice on Tuesday morning by Jack Eichel, Zach Bogosian, Rasmus Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen, Marco Scandella, Jake McCabe, Nathan Beaulieu, Casey Nelson, Patrik Berglund, Zemgus Girgensons, Kyle Okposo, Jason Pominville, Carter Hutton, CJ Smith, Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste, Alex Nylander, Larry Larsson, and Scott Wilson.
**
Later today, the Sabres will be announcing their roster for this weekend’s Prospect Challenge.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils will travel to Buffalo on Thursday for the four team tourney which will conclude on Monday.
Rasmus Dahlin, Casey Mittelstadt, Victor Olofsson, Rasmus Asplund, Alex Nylander, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be participating for the Sabres.
More to come..