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Wake me up when September ends.
Yes, you will be able to watch Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste, Jake McCabe, Will Carrier and all of the top prospects competing against other top NHL prospects.
The big boys will report to training camp on September 17. The prospects have a tournament to participate in before then.
The Buffalo Sabres have announced the roster of prospects and free agent for their first ever rookie challenge. The Sabres will not be participating in the legendary Traverse City Tourney this year as they has two of the past three seasons.
The New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins will also be participating un this unique round robin tourney.
Here is the Buffalo roster:
Forwards:
Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste, William Carrier, Dan Catenacci, Eric Cornel, Jean Dupuy, Jack Eichel, Giorgio Estephan, Matt Garbowsky, Cason Hohmann, Colin Jacobs, Vaclav Karabacek, Justin Kea, Jack Nevins, Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues.
Defense:
Brady Austin, Josh Chapman, Spiro Goulakos (free agent), Brendan Guhle, David Henley, Brycen Martin, Jake McCabe, Matt Prapavessis, Devante Stephens.
Goalies:
Andrey Makarov C.J. Motte Keegan Asmundson (free agent)
The schedule of events:
Friday 9/11:
Sabres practice: 9-11 a.m. Devils practice: 11:30-1:30 p.m. Bruins practice: 3-5 p.m.
Saturday 9/12:
Sabres morning skate: 10-11 a.m. Devils morning skate: 11:30-12:30 Bruins practice: 1-3 p.m. Sabres vs. Devils, 7 p.m.
Sunday 9/13:
Sabres practice: 10 a.m.-noon Bruins morning skate: 10-11 a.m. (HarborCenter) Devils morning skate: 11:30-12:30 (HarborCenter) Bruins vs. Devils: 7 p.m. HarborCenter
Monday 9/14:
Sabres morning skate 10-11 a.m. Bruins morning skate 11:30-12:30 Sabres vs. Bruins, 7 p.m.
Per the Sabres, all practices and morning skates will be free and open to the public. Tickets for the games are $10 and can be purchased in person at the First Niagara Center Box Office, by phone at 1-888-223-6000 or online at Sabres.com.
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Buffalo Sabres forward Matt Moulson has opened his home to his new line mate Jack Eichel. The Hobey Baker Award winner has accepted the invitation.
Eichel, the second overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, was among of 39 NHL prospects at the NHL Players' Association Rookie Showcase in Toronto on Monday.
Eichel, 18, told NHL.com that he will be living with his future line mate this season.
"He had approached me about it. He texted me after the draft, along with a group of other players, and congratulated me. Later he offered it up, if I wanted to stay with him and his family I was more than welcome to during the year. I thought it would be a good fit. I heard a lot of good things about him as a person, and getting to know him I think it worked out. It's a really nice house, and he's got a great family".
I love this decision because Moulson has served as one of the Buffalo team leaders since he arrived via the Thomas Vanek trade in late October 2013,
Moulson played a similar role for the NY Islanders when he a huge impact on the development of his former top NHL prospect teammates in John Tavares, Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, and Josh Bailey to name a few.
Moulson, a Toronto native, is married and has two young children at home. He is a consummate pro and will serve as a mentor for Eichel both on and off the rink.
Eichel has been training with NHL vets at home in suburban Boston this summer. He has reportedly added muscle and strength to his long frame.
"I did. I put on a little bit of weight, about 10 pounds of weight, and kept the body fat down. I did a lot of lifting, a lot of training. I actually trained with [Carolina Hurricanes top pick] Noah [Hanifin]. Every day, me and Noah. There's a big group of us though down in Foxborough, Mass. Our trainer's name is Brian McDonagh. He's trained a lot of [New England] Patriots and there's a lot of NHLers in the group; Brian Boyle [of the Tampa Bay Lightning], the Hayes brothers [Kevin Hayes of the New York Rangers and Jimmy Hayes of the Boston Bruins], Charlie Coyle [of the Minnesota Wild], so it's a really good group. [Rangers defenseman] Keith Yandle's there too, he makes it a lot more entertaining."
More to come....