The Buffalo Sabres are back in motion, and the first real signs of the season are already on the board.
Their annual prospect challenge got going this week, with Buffalo and Boston meeting for two games before training camp. The Bruins took the opener on Sun, Sept. 13, 6-1, then followed it up on Mon, Sept. 14 with a 4-3 overtime win powered by four goals from James Hagens.
Off the ice, the Sabres locked up Noah Ostlund on an eight-year extension worth $6.6 million average annual value (AAV). Ostlund is coming off a season in which he appeared in 60 regular-season games and put up 27 points, including 11 goals and 16 assists. He also skated in three playoff games and recorded two points.
Now entering his second NHL season, Ostlund is expected to take on a much bigger role. With Alex Tuch gone, the door has opened for more responsibility, and he’s projected to line up at left wing on the second line. If his game keeps climbing, he could also work his way into first-line minutes later in the year.
That same vacancy on the top line is one of the biggest camp battles to keep an eye on. The current favorite to replace Tuch is Zach Benson, who recently signed a seven-year extension of his own. Benson is expected to handle much of what Tuch left behind, and his competitiveness and growth have made him the leading candidate to hold down that wing spot next to Buffalo’s top talent.
Goaltending is another situation worth watching. Last season, Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen split the crease, and the Sabres still don’t have a clear answer on who will start opening night at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct.
- Head coach Lindy Ruff will make that call, and either option would be acceptable - but it’s one of the more interesting decisions still hanging over camp.
Preseason games begin next week, and the regular season is now 16 days away. After a long summer, Buffalo is officially past the waiting stage. The roster is starting to settle, the battles are taking shape, and hockey in Buffalo is back on the clock.
In Other News...
James Hagens Is Already Forcing A Bigger Bruins Conversation
James Hagens wasted little time making his presence felt at the Prospect Showcase, leading Bostons rookies to a pair of wins over Buffalos prospects and giving the Bruins a reminder that the conversation around him may arrive sooner than expected. The young forward was a clear driver in both games, drawing praise from Providence Bruins head coach Trent Whitfield for his offensive ability, competitiveness and coachability, while Hagens pointed to the Bruins skills coaches for helping him sharpen his game.
The performance has only added to the intrigue around what comes next, especially with NHL camp approaching and Hagens sounding confident about the work he has put in. Boston has reason to be encouraged by how quickly he translated that into results against other top prospects, but the bigger question now is where he fits when the real roster decisions begin. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Camp Opens With One Immediate Offensive Decision To Make
Training camp opens this week with Marco Sturm facing the sort of early roster puzzle every new coach wants to solve quickly: where the Bruins best fit their newest skill pieces before the season opener against the Rangers. The focus starts with forward JJ Peterka, whose arrival in June gives Boston another dynamic option up front and another chance to sort through line combinations while the roster takes shape.
Peterka is expected to be tried on both wings, and the Bruins may also look at him for a role on the power play as they search for the right mix around him. It is the kind of decision that can shape more than one line in camp, especially for a team still defining its offensive identity, while Charlie McAvoys place among TSNs top 50 NHL players is another reminder that Bostons hopes still rest heavily on elite talent at both ends of the ice. [Read more 🡒]
James Hagens Is Forcing A Bigger Bruins Conversation Before Camp
James Hagens spent much of the offseason training in Boston, working on his shot and sharpening the rest of his game with help from Bruins coaches, and that summer investment is already showing up in a meaningful way. The top prospect stood out in the Prospects Showcase in Buffalo, giving the Bruins a reminder that his development is moving in the right direction as training camp approaches.
Hagens performance has only added to the sense that Boston has a legitimate talent to watch closely once camp opens. He came out of the showcase with six goals over the two games, the kind of production that can turn a prospect from a name on a list into a real part of the conversation around the clubs next wave. [Read more 🡒]