At long last, the Buffalo Sabres have announced their 2021 return to play training camp roster.
Ralph Krueger and his coaches with have 20 forwards, 12 defensemen and 5 goalies to evaluate in the ten day training camp, which will officially open on December 31.
Krueger and his coaches will have 13 days to work with their players before opening night puck drop on January 14.
Remember that the all NHL clubs are now able to place 4-6 players on a taxi squad during the 2021 regular season. The taxi squad players can practice and travel with the Sabres this season. Teams without three active goalies must carry at least one goaltender on the taxi squad.
NHL clubs will not play exhibition games this season. However, the Sabres players will play in two Gold vs. Blue intra-squad games.
There are not any surprises here.
Our 2020-21 training camp roster and schedule are set!
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 28, 2020
Get the details: https://t.co/0IjZr9Rnde pic.twitter.com/xcyISqHX2P
Are you wondering where the names of prospects Matej Pekar, Arttu Ruotsalainen, Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka are at on the first draft of the roster?
The American Hockey League is still working feverishly to finalize its 2021 return to play format and details. More will be known in the days to come about the whether Pekar and Ruotsalainen will attend the Sabres' training camp.
As for Cozens, Quinn, and Peterka, who are starring for Team Canada and Team Germany squads respectively at the World Juniors in Edmonton, they will be committed to their WJC team until the event ends on January 5. I expect that the three prospects will be reporting to Buffalo after the tourney ends, however, they will have to quarantine for two weeks and will not be able to skate with Sabres in their training camp.
I fully and completely expect Dylan Cozens to make the Sabres roster after he is done with his two week quarantine, he will play in meaningful NHL games this season. I expect that Pekar, Ruotsalainen, Quinn, Will Borgen, and Jacob Bryson will be placed on the taxi squad by the Sabres. Peterka will likely finish his season with Red Bull of the German Elite League.
The Sabres have not been on the ice as a team since March 9, 2020 when they defeated the Washington Capitals in a shootout on home ice.
On March 11, the NHL season was placed on pause. The Sabres were one of seven NHL clubs that did not qualify for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Sabres will open their 2021 regular season on January 14 against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
More to come....