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Thank you Dan Hickling for capturing the very essence of compete and intensity at Buffalo's Prospects Challenge practice on Friday morning.
Pictured below are Sabres prospects Vaclav Karabacek, Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Josh Chapman, and Andrey Makarov.
All four men are focused on the task at hand this weekend. Which is to deliver strong, meaningful and memorable performances and lead their fellow prospects to victories over the kids from the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins.
This weekend's round robin tourney isn't about winning and losing. Of course, the Sabres coaches and players want to win each game. However, the coaches will be looking for the skilled players to create and distribute and the D to support the forwards and to play tough. All the while, the winning attitude will be stressed. There will be no more tanking seasons in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. This tourney will be a measuring stick to see how much each prospect has progressed (or regressed) in the past two months. The kids were in Buffalo for the prospects development camp in the days following the Fourth Of July holiday. Samson Reinhart was Buffalo's best player in that camp and earned the Craig Ramsay Award for the hardest working player. Eichel looked tired and worn out from all of the NHL Draft hullabaloo and the lasting effects of his long NCAA playoff run for Boston University last spring. Will Carrier and Justin Bailey were standouts as well. So too were Justin Kea and Josh Chapman.
If three's a crowd, what is four in the crease? Just boys hanging out at @BuffaloSabres rookie camp! @mhick1953 pic.twitter.com/vSLNzBN9vx
— Dan Hickling (@DanHickling) September 11, 2015
Eichel said Friday morning that the mood and philosophy has changed from one of fun and frivolity to pulling on the work boots and going to work.
“Hockey season is here. This is what I’ve waited for, and this what I think everyone has waited for. I think we’re all just going to make the most of our opportunities.…
Eichel thin ks its the right time for he, Reinhart and the Sabres to measure themselves against their peers from New Jersey and Boston.
“It’s great to just come in and play some games against another team,… Eichel said. “It’s going to be competitive. Everyone wants to make an impression on management and the coaches. I’m sure we’re going to be flying, and I’m sure the teams we’re going to be playing will be flying.…
Thanks, Sabres.com
Eichel's batteries are refreshed now that he had some down time at home with his family. He wants to go back to the rink and prove to his teammates and coaches that he is ready for the NHL.
“It’s exciting,… Eichel said. “You work hard all summer to prepare for prospects tournament and training camp, so it’s been a long road from the draft and everything that’s happened. Now that the season’s here, I’m just excited to start playing hockey again.…
Reinhart and Eichel battled head to head at the July camp. Reinhart is relieved that his camp roommate Jack is now on his team.
“It’s definitely nicer playing with him. I’m sure we’ll see each other on the ice at some point playing together,… Reinhart said. “Obviously we know each other well now so to finally play alongside, it makes things a little easier.…
Thanks, Sabres.com
Samson pic.twitter.com/XoKOIaqN0E
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) September 11, 2015**
Justin Bailey had himself a great OHL career with the Kitchener Rangers and Soo Greyhounds. In 168 games played in his three season career, the right winged from Williamsville potted 76 goals and 72 assists for 148 points. Pretty impressive numbers for a kid with the size, speed, skill, and shot that will translate well at the NHL level.
Bailey, entering his third training camp with Buffalo, has been skating with his Sabres teammates in Buffalo for the past month. He has added obvious size, strength, and speed to his 6'3" frame. Bailey is approaching the Prospects Challenge as a platform to show Dan Bylsma and Tim Murray that he is ready to play in the NHL now. Bailey projects himself to be a Jeff Carter or Eric Staal type player: responsible in all three zone, heavy on opponents, and able to light the lamp and set up his line mates. A strong tourney will segue nicely to the exhibition games season. Last fall, Bailey was one of the last cuts during training camp, however, he never suited up for exhibition game action. Bailey told me that he will take full advantage of the ice time that he earns from Bylsma during training camp. That's why he is so committed to making another strong first impression versus New Jersey and Boston this weekend. Bailey knows that Bylsma and Murray will be sitting up top watching his overall contributions during games.
Thanks, Sabres.com
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Here are the line trios and D pairs from the Friday skate:
F:
71 Evan Rodrigues – 41 Jack Eichel – 73 Nick Baptiste 56 Justin Bailey – 23 Samson Reinhart – 74 Vaclav Karabacek 43 Dan Catenacci – 58 Giorgio Estephan – 46 Eric Cornel 72 Jean Dupuy – 42 Justin Kea – 51 Jack Nevins 48 William Carrier – 70 Matt Garbowsky – 64 Cason Hohmann - 75 Colin Jacobs
* I expect Randy Cunneyworth to roll the highlighted lines above against New Jersey on Saturday night.
D:
29 Jake McCabe 45 Brendan Guhle 53 Devante Stephens 54 Brycen Martin 62 David Henley 67 Brady Austin 78 Matt Prapavessis 81 Spiro Goulakos 85 Josh Chapman
1 Andrey Makarov 33 Keegan Asmundson 60 C.J. Motte
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