2019 Sabres Development Camp player breakdown and schedule

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 6-26-2019


The Sabres head into their 2019 Development Camp with 40 players set to hit the ice at Harborcenter for three days of workouts and skills sessions before bringing it to a close on Saturday with the annual French Connection 3-on-3 tournament. 

An array of youngins from draft picks to free agents to camp invitees with the eldest being Andrew Oglevie, who was signed out of the University of Notre Dame is the oldest with a February, 1995 birthdate. Jonas Johansson and Victor Olofsson are also 23 yrs. old and were a part of Buffalo's 2014 draft class and are a part of Buffalo's longer development curve. On the opposite end of the spectrum are members from the 2019 Draft class. Some, like center Dylan Cozens, hit the pros in a year or two, others we may see five years from now as a part of the Sabres stretching out their prospect pool, and some may not make it at all. 

Development camp is all about seeing individual progression amongst the youngins, seeing how they've developed physically, mentally and skills-wise along with how they stack up against their peers. Although the fun part of the four days comes with the 3-on-3 tournament, it's more about finding out what they need to be working on this summer and into the future. 




In sharp contrast to his predecessor, general manager Jason Botterill has opted for quality (hopefully) over quantity in his three draft classes. While former Sabres GM Tim Murray was working with a wealth of assets he inherited resulting in 25 draft picks from 2014-16, Botterill has drafted six players in each of his three years. 

However, regardless of where the players come from and their status coming in, without proper development the organization goes no where.

That's why they're at Harborcenter beginning this morning at 1 p.m. today with workouts open to the public. 

Here's a breakdown of the players at the 2019 Sabres Development Camp:


2014 Draft Class

G, Jonas Johansson (61st-overall)
LW, Victor Olofsson (181st)

D, Brandon Hickey (65th, CGY)


2015

D, Will Borgen (92nd)
D, Devante Stevens (122nd)


2016

C, Rasmus Asplund (33rd)
D, Casey Fitzgerald (86th)
LW, Brett Murray (99th)
D, Philip Nyberg (129th)

RW, Tage Thompson (26th, STL)


2017

C, Marcus Davidsson (37th)
D, Oskari Laaksonen (89th)
D, Jacob Bryson (99th)


2018

D, Mattias Samuelsson (32nd)
C, Matej Pekar (94th)
D, Jacob Bryson (99th)
D, Linus Cronholm (117th)
D, Miska Kukkonen (125th)
D, William Worge-Kreu (187th)


2019

C, Dylan Cozens (7th)
D, Ryan Johnson (31st)
G, Erik Portillon (67th)
RW, Aaron Huglen (102nd)
LW, Filip Cederqvist (143rd)
LW, Lukas Rousek (160th)


Free agent signees

C, Andrew Oglevie (2018, Notre Dame)

D, Lawrence Pilut (2018, HV71, SHL)

C, Arttu Roustalainen (2019, Liiga, SHL)


Rochester Americans free agent signees

D, Tobie Bisson (2018, Cape Brenton, QMJHL)


Camp invites

LW, Dawson DiPietro, Western Michigan (National Collegiate Hockey Conference)
C, Stephen Harper, Acadia (Atlantic University Sport, Canada)
RW, Caleb Moretz, Flin Flon (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League)
C, Kyle Olson, Tri City (WHL)
LW, Josh Passolt, Western Michigan, NCHC)

D, Justin Baudry, Bemidji State (Western Collegiate Hockey Association)
D, Bryan Yoon, Colorado College (NCHC)

G, Darion Hanson, Union College (Eastern College Athletic Conference)
G, Michael Lackey, Harvard (ECAC)
G, Adam Scheel, North Dakota (NCHC)
G, Matthew Welsh, Charlottetown (QMJHL)


Development Camp Schedule:

Wednesday, June 26
•   First Session: 1 to 2 p.m.
•   Second Session: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 27
•   First Session: 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
•   Second Session: 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Friday, June 28
•   First Session: 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
•   Second Session: 12 to 1 p.m.

Saturday, June 29
•   French Connection Tournament: 10:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.