The Buffalo Sabres will open training camp Thursday at LECOM Harborcenter without Jason Zucker and Louis Crevier.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Wednesday that Zucker and defenseman Crevier will not be available when camp begins. Zucker, who underwent sports-hernia surgery, could miss the start of the season. Adams said, “He’s going to be out, and you can never say exactly when,” and added, “He’s very close to the start of the year, but he could miss maybe a couple weeks.”
Crevier is also still recovering from shoulder surgery and needs to keep talking with the doctor who operated on him. Adams said, “We think he’ll be ready for the start of the season.”
Zucker enters his 16th NHL season. He played primarily at right wing and scored 20 goals, with 10 power-play goals, 21 assists and averaged 13:22 of ice time in 72 games last season. He was the Sabres’ veteran presence who created scoring chances directly in front of the opposing goalie.
Crevier, acquired in a trade with Chicago in June for defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway, enters his fourth NHL season and is expected to bring a physical presence to the Sabres’ third pairing.
Zucker’s absence temporarily eases the fact that the Sabres have a surplus of forwards at the start of training camp - they listed 31 on the roster they released Tuesday - but it also opens another opportunity for a player. Ruff said, “I look at it as, you’ve got [Mika] Zibanejad who’s going to step in, who’s going to get a bigger opportunity off the bat. You’ve got [Josh Doan].”
“Zucker’s given us some real good hockey, but in that period of time he’s going to miss, it’s an opportunity for someone to step in and prove they can really help us,” Ruff said.
The Sabres open camp at 9 a.m. Thursday at {tr~| Harborcenter, host the Blue and Gold Scrimmage at 11:30 a.m.
Saturday at KeyBank Center, and face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first preseason game at 5 p.m. Monday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
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