Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-7-2019
When you look at the starting lineup for last night's Buffalo Sabres/New Jersey Devils Prospects Challenge game, one of the things that stands out for Buffalo is the number of mid to lower-round picks and free agents on the roster. It was a pleasant surprise to see 2019 first round pick (7th-overall) Dylan Cozens on the ice after undergoing thumb surgery just after development camp and Sabres fans got their first taste of defenseman Henri Jokiharju (2017, 10th, CHI) in the Blue and Gold. Jokiharju was obtained by Buffalo in July for former first rounder, Alexander Nylander.
The next highest draft pick was center Rasmus Asplund who was picked in the second round (33rd) of the 2016 NHL Draft after the Sabres traded up for him. After that Buffalo's roster consisted of three third-rounders, five fourth-rounders, one sixth round pick, one seventh round pick and six undrafted players.
A 6-4 win, after jumping out to a 6-0 lead is pretty good for a group with so little top-end draft picks.
However, this is a prospects tournament and although there were plenty of lower-end picks and free agent signees skating for the Sabres, this was an older group of players that push the term "prospects" to it's very reaches.
Consider this.
The average age of the Sabres squad last night was 21.27 yrs. old. They skated a 25 yr. old, three 24 yr. olds and one player 23 yrs. of age. Conversely, the Devils average age was 20.05 yrs. old with the oldest player chiming in at 22 yrs of age, which is a huge difference. Buffalo skated two teenagers while seven Jersey players under the age of 20 hit the ice last night.
Although this shouldn't take away from what the Sabres prospects were able to do last night, as some individual players not entering their playing prime played well, there was a distinct difference in age on the ice and it contributed to just how dominant Buffalo was while on their way to a 6-0 lead. "Really, they were just the better team, by far," said 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes to the visiting media. "We kind of got lucky we put four up on the board and only gave up six."
In addition to seeing Cozens and Jokiharju skate for Buffalo for the first time, a packed, standing-room only crowd at Harborcenter got a first-hand look at Hughes, who scored New Jersey's first goal on the powerplay. Of the Devils' four unanswered goals, two came with the man advantage.
There could be a number of reasons why Sabres general manager Jason Botterill and assistant GM/Rochester American GM Randy Sexton decided to go with a veteran group of prospects which includes having a large chunk of players drafted under Botterill that are either gearing up for the seasons at the NCAA-level or overseas. In addition, top goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is recovering from hip surgery performed in April.
All of this is simply to keep things in perspective while going over game notes, especially when Buffalo's top line consisted of center Rasmus Asplund (21 yrs. old,) left wing Victor Olofsson (24) and Andrew Oglevie (24.) That line did what it was supposed to do and dominated combining for two goals (Nos. 2 and 3 on the night for Buffalo) and five assists with Asplund displaying his strong two-way game, Olofsson his wicked shot and Oglevie his strong hockey IQ and speedy 200' game. Jokiharju played 38 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season and another for their AHL affiliate, the Rockford Ice Hogs as a teenager. The now 20 yr. old looked the part of a "veteran" player amongst rookies last night.
Defensemen Brandon Hickey and Casey Fitzgerald are in their early 20's after completing four years of college. Both were solid in their defensive roles last night. William Borgen and Jacob Bryson both left college a year early and were exceptional on the ice. Borgen, who played four games for the Sabres last season and 79 total games for the Amerks after leaving St. Cloud State in 2018, was his usual stout self and contributed a goal on a nice slapper.
Bryson left Providence this year after being a big part of the Friars NCAA Frozen Four team. The 5'9" 184 lb Bryson had his work cut out for him as smaller defenseman in a very tough Hockey East conference but was named first team Hockey East All-Star in 2017-18 and second-team All-Star last season behind Cale Makar (2017, 4th-overall, COL) and Jeremy Davies, a 2016 seventh round pick (192nd) of the Devils.
Back in February Mark Divver of the Providence Journal wrote, "for my money, [Bryson] is the best defenseman in Hockey East not named Cale Makar." Bryson was noted for his "speed and edgework," akin to Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug as well as his puck-moving abilities. All of that was on display last night was well as his impeccable positioning and willingness to battle for the puck.
A lot of eyes were on 2019 free agent signee Arttu Ruotsalainen and he didn't disappoint. The speedy and slick, yet smallish (5'9' 181 lbs.) had his edge-work in high gear as he dazzled with his skating and potted Buffalo's fourth goal. It's a big September for the Oulu, Finland native as his final destination will be either in Buffalo or back SM Liiga, Finland's top professional league. A clause in his entry-level deal gives his Ilves Tampere hockey club the option of bringing him back should he not make the Sabres out of camp.
Of course most eyes in Sabreland were on Cozens. The 6'3" 180 lb. Whitehorse, Yukon native was coming off of surgery on his left thumb after being injured at Sabres development camp. Cozens was first up for post-game player interviews and the scars were clearly visible as he talked about his game. When he was asked if there were any thoughts of the injury in his first game since, Cozens said, "as soon as soon as I started playing, I forgot about it."
Cozens most definitely had some rust. He called his goal "lucky" and also sat in the penalty box for three minors--a hooking call midway through the second period with Buffalo up 4-0 and a double minor for interference and roughing in a late scrum with just over two minutes left in the third period.
Where he ends up this season--including league and position--is up in the air, so getting this game under his belt and putting the injury fully behind him is a big step.
The most rousing moment of the evening came when 2018 fourth-round pick (94th) Matej Pekar, dropped the gloves. Pekar, who became a fan favorite last summer, is noted for his pesky play and last night was no different. The 6'1" 185 lb. native of the Czech Republic did his best Brad Marchand impersonation goading many a Devils player into extra curricular activities. Pekar challenged 2016 first-round pick (12th) Michael McLeod to drop the gloves after a tussle, but the big center declined.
Not so with New Jersey defenseman Michael Vukojevic.
Pekar and Vukojevic got their blood boiling to the point where the dropped their gloves and brushed aside their individual linesman to get it on. Vukojevic, who clocks in a 6'3" and 207 lbs. took a shot then delivered a couple of blows that staggered his opponent a bit. But Pekar came back, with a couple of devastating rights, the second of which knocked Vukojevic (and himself) to the ice. A raucous Harborcenter crowd, that seemed to be itching for a bout featuring Pekar went wild.
All-in-all a good showing by the Sabres left a good taste in the mouths of all the fans at the rink. Everyone did what they were supposed to do on the ice and having Hughes and Cozens, as well as a 6-4 win made it even better.
The Sabres will be back at it tonight with a tilt against the Bruins prospects at 7 p.m.
Asplund
Hi thanks for posting thhis
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