Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
Jack Eichel won't turn 19 yrs. old until October 28th and in the short time he's been in the fold in Buffalo, he's given the organization and it's fans something to really get excited about.
Not to dismiss some of the young players that are on the team now, like Rasmus Ristolainen and Zemgus Girgensons, or that will be on the team in the very near future like Sam Reinhart, Jake McCabe, Nicholas Baptiste and Brendan Guhle or even young, seasoned vets like Ryan O'Reilly, Evander Kane and Tyler Ennis, but what the Sabres have in Eichel is something pretty special.
As chronicled, Eichel is a young man with NHL-size, impressive speed and acceleration and has the ability to either set up or score. He's very strong for his age, doesn't cut corners when it comes to his training regimen and in keeping with the values he was raised with Eichel expects nothing that isn't earned. That foundation was ingrained in him by his father while growing up in North Chelmsford, MA, just 30 miles northwest of Boston.
Showing posts with label 2015 Prospects Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2015 Prospects Challenge. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Buffalo opens up the inaugural Prospects Challenge with a bang.
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
Last night's display of hockey by the Buffalo Sabres in the inaugural Prospects Challenge was a far cry from how they performed last year when they played in the Traverse City Tournament. How far, you might ask? The six goals the Sabres scored last night equaled their total output last year when the team went 0-3-1 and finished last in the eight-team field.
Perhaps it was the competition as last night's opponents, the New Jersey Devils, couldn't match the Sabres' prospect talent and depth. Perhaps it was the number of older players on the Buffalo bench, all of whom contributed immensely to the offensive output. Or maybe it was the coaching as veteran Randy Cunneyworth took the reigns.
Or, one could say a rested Jack Eichel knows how to set the tone and lead the way.
On his first shift wearing the Blue and Gold, Eichel took a feed from linemate Evan Rodrigues and hit the red line with speed. Blazing speed. By the time he hit the faceoff circle to the right of Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (2015, 42nd-overall) he was behind the Devil's defense. Charging up the right side and doing everything he could to get into the play was RW, Nicholas Baptiste (2013, 69th) and the two essentially created a 2-on-0. Eichel fed Baptiste on the doorstep who chipped it over Blackwood's pad for a 1-0 lead just :25 seconds into the contest.
Last night's display of hockey by the Buffalo Sabres in the inaugural Prospects Challenge was a far cry from how they performed last year when they played in the Traverse City Tournament. How far, you might ask? The six goals the Sabres scored last night equaled their total output last year when the team went 0-3-1 and finished last in the eight-team field.
Perhaps it was the competition as last night's opponents, the New Jersey Devils, couldn't match the Sabres' prospect talent and depth. Perhaps it was the number of older players on the Buffalo bench, all of whom contributed immensely to the offensive output. Or maybe it was the coaching as veteran Randy Cunneyworth took the reigns.
Or, one could say a rested Jack Eichel knows how to set the tone and lead the way.
On his first shift wearing the Blue and Gold, Eichel took a feed from linemate Evan Rodrigues and hit the red line with speed. Blazing speed. By the time he hit the faceoff circle to the right of Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (2015, 42nd-overall) he was behind the Devil's defense. Charging up the right side and doing everything he could to get into the play was RW, Nicholas Baptiste (2013, 69th) and the two essentially created a 2-on-0. Eichel fed Baptiste on the doorstep who chipped it over Blackwood's pad for a 1-0 lead just :25 seconds into the contest.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Buffalo Sabres Inagural Prospect Challenge roster and schedule
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
The inaugural Buffalo Sabres Prospects challenge is set to get underway with practices today and games beginning tomorrow.
The inaugural Buffalo Sabres Prospects challenge is set to get underway with practices today and games beginning tomorrow.
Buffalo had been a part of the Traverse City Tournament, which is hosted by the Detroit Red Wings, since 2011 but with the completion and opening of HARBORCENTER downtown next to the First Niagara Center the team decided to strike out on it's own. Prospects from the New Jersey Devils and rival Boston Bruins will be headed to downtown Buffalo to take on the Sabres prospects.
The three teams will play a round-robin format over the course of three days at both HARBORCENTER and the First Niagara Center. The tournament allows the organization, as well as the players themselves, the opportunity to see how they stack up against their peers in an NHL setting.
Tickets for each game are $10.
Practice
Schedule
Friday, Sept. 11
• Buffalo
Practice: 9 – 11 a.m.
• New
Jersey practice: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m
• Boston
practice: 3 – 5 p.m.
• Buffalo
morning skate: 10 – 11 a.m.
• New
Jersey morning skate: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Boston
practice: 1 – 3 p.m.
• Buffalo
vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m., First Niagara Center
• Buffalo
practice: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Boston
morning skate: 10 – 11 a.m. (at HARBORCENTER)
• New
Jersey morning skate: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (at
HARBORCENTER)
• Boston
vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m., HARBORCENTER
• Buffalo
morning skate: 10 – 11 a.m.
• Boston
morning skate: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Buffalo
vs. Boston, 7 p.m., First Niagara Center
Buffalo Sabres roster
Forwards:
Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste,
Dan Catenacci, William Carrier, Justin Kea, Jean Dupuy
Evan Rodrigues, Eric Cornel, Matt Garbowsky, Kason Hohmann
Vaclav Karabacek, Giorgio Estephan, Colin Jacobs, Jack Nevins
Defensemen:
Jake McCabe, Brendan Guhle, Brycen Martin, Brady Austin
Devante Stephens, Josh Chapman , Matt Prapavessis
David Henley, Spiro Goulakos
Goaltenders:
Andrey Makarov, CJ Motte, Keegan Asmundson
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Some names to watch at the 2015 Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge
Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
The Buffalo Sabres inaugural Prospects Challenge gets underway September 12, 2015 as Buffalo hosts prospects from the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils at both HARBORCENTER and the First Niagara Center. The Sabres had been a part of the Detroit Red Wings' annual Traverse City Tournament before opting out to start their own.
Yesterday the team released their roster of prospects who will be hitting the ice or the three-day round-robin event. Second-overall picks Jack Eichel (2015) and Sam Reinhart (2014) headline a strong group of recent draft picks while defenseman Jake McCabe and goalie Andrey Makarov, both of whom were in Rochester last season playing big roles, lead a small group of "veteran."
With Eichel and Reinhart grabbing most of the attention, here are some names to watch:
--RW's Justin Bailey and Nicholas Baptiste
Both Bailey and Baptiste are 20 yrs. old and Sabres' picks from the 2013 draft class and both will be riding shotgun with Eichel and Reinhart on the right side. Baptiste plays a strong two-way game and his myriad of shots that he uses to score with. Look for him to be an all-situations, go-to guy. The speedy Bailey packs plenty of size on his 6'3" 195 lb. frame and through his work-ethic is really starting to develop a nice set of hands. Both have finished their junior careers and will begin their trek to the NHL in Rochester this season.
--LHD Brendan Guhle
The 18 yr. old Guhle, who was drafted in the second round (51st overall) of the 2015 draft whom Sabres GM Tim Murray "an incredible athlete who can really skate." At Sabres Development Camp in July the left-handed, more offensive-minded Guhle was paired with Anthony Florentino (2013, 143rd,) a big, hard-hitting, defensive-minded righty. Not sure where Ghule will be on the ice as only one of their nine d-men are right-handed, but no matter where he is, enjoy watching him get up and down the ice.
--RW/LW, Evan Rodrigues
Although he's never said it, nor has he ever been asked, one would thing that Rodrigues is looking to separate himself from Eichel and stand on his own. The pair tore it up in Hockey East last season with many attributing Rodrigues' success to playing with Eichel. It's a fair statement, but he managed to stand out on his own at Development Camp and will likely do the same at the Prospects Challenge. I was amazed at the velocity and accuracy of his shot and the quickness with which he unleashes it.
--C, Georgio Estephan
The 2015 sixth-round pick (152nd) was an underdog at the Development Camp yet managed to raise some eyebrows with his skills and hockey sense. At 6'0" 183 lbs. he has good NHL size and he uses it well. As a sixth-rounder, Estephan is a long-shot, but the Sabres can keep him in the hopper for a number of years while he continues to develop.
--F, Eric Cornel
Cornel's a good-sized, two way forward who can skate very well. He had a six-game taste of pro hockey playing with Rochester to end the season. Cornel will be headed back to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL next season and hopefully he can iron out some of his inconsistencies. For the Prospects Challenge look for Cornel to play a 200' game while, hopefully, hitting the scoresheet.
Of note: G, Linus Ullmark is still rehabbing from double-hip surgery and will be sidelined until later this year.
Missing from the annual prospect tournaments are college players as well as those who are playing overseas. Their gearing up for their respective seasons.
There's a lot of young, highly-skilled talent hitting the ice for the Sabres and no doubt expectations will be pretty high. Winning is the goal, but the main component of events like this is to see how prospects stack up against their peers as they'll be playing them at every level of their hockey career.
For the full roster and schedule, click here.
The Buffalo Sabres inaugural Prospects Challenge gets underway September 12, 2015 as Buffalo hosts prospects from the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils at both HARBORCENTER and the First Niagara Center. The Sabres had been a part of the Detroit Red Wings' annual Traverse City Tournament before opting out to start their own.
Yesterday the team released their roster of prospects who will be hitting the ice or the three-day round-robin event. Second-overall picks Jack Eichel (2015) and Sam Reinhart (2014) headline a strong group of recent draft picks while defenseman Jake McCabe and goalie Andrey Makarov, both of whom were in Rochester last season playing big roles, lead a small group of "veteran."
With Eichel and Reinhart grabbing most of the attention, here are some names to watch:
--RW's Justin Bailey and Nicholas Baptiste
Both Bailey and Baptiste are 20 yrs. old and Sabres' picks from the 2013 draft class and both will be riding shotgun with Eichel and Reinhart on the right side. Baptiste plays a strong two-way game and his myriad of shots that he uses to score with. Look for him to be an all-situations, go-to guy. The speedy Bailey packs plenty of size on his 6'3" 195 lb. frame and through his work-ethic is really starting to develop a nice set of hands. Both have finished their junior careers and will begin their trek to the NHL in Rochester this season.
--LHD Brendan Guhle
The 18 yr. old Guhle, who was drafted in the second round (51st overall) of the 2015 draft whom Sabres GM Tim Murray "an incredible athlete who can really skate." At Sabres Development Camp in July the left-handed, more offensive-minded Guhle was paired with Anthony Florentino (2013, 143rd,) a big, hard-hitting, defensive-minded righty. Not sure where Ghule will be on the ice as only one of their nine d-men are right-handed, but no matter where he is, enjoy watching him get up and down the ice.
--RW/LW, Evan Rodrigues
Although he's never said it, nor has he ever been asked, one would thing that Rodrigues is looking to separate himself from Eichel and stand on his own. The pair tore it up in Hockey East last season with many attributing Rodrigues' success to playing with Eichel. It's a fair statement, but he managed to stand out on his own at Development Camp and will likely do the same at the Prospects Challenge. I was amazed at the velocity and accuracy of his shot and the quickness with which he unleashes it.
--C, Georgio Estephan
The 2015 sixth-round pick (152nd) was an underdog at the Development Camp yet managed to raise some eyebrows with his skills and hockey sense. At 6'0" 183 lbs. he has good NHL size and he uses it well. As a sixth-rounder, Estephan is a long-shot, but the Sabres can keep him in the hopper for a number of years while he continues to develop.
--F, Eric Cornel
Cornel's a good-sized, two way forward who can skate very well. He had a six-game taste of pro hockey playing with Rochester to end the season. Cornel will be headed back to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL next season and hopefully he can iron out some of his inconsistencies. For the Prospects Challenge look for Cornel to play a 200' game while, hopefully, hitting the scoresheet.
Of note: G, Linus Ullmark is still rehabbing from double-hip surgery and will be sidelined until later this year.
Missing from the annual prospect tournaments are college players as well as those who are playing overseas. Their gearing up for their respective seasons.
There's a lot of young, highly-skilled talent hitting the ice for the Sabres and no doubt expectations will be pretty high. Winning is the goal, but the main component of events like this is to see how prospects stack up against their peers as they'll be playing them at every level of their hockey career.
For the full roster and schedule, click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)