Sabres notebook
Prospects have stars in eyes
The Buffalo Sabres’ prospects, who had the ice to themselves for the past week, moved to the side Saturday to create room for the guys who will wear Blue and Gold this season. You won’t find any of them complaining.
The youngsters already had their share of star-struck moments during the team’s rookie camp. They watched up-close as the pros skated on their own leading up to training camp. They practiced in HSBC Arena. They were coached by some of the NHL’s best bench bosses.
But on Saturday, they shared the ice with the guys they idolize.
“It’s pretty exciting to see those guys out there,” said forward Tyler Ennis, one of the Sabres’ two first-round picks in June. “Coming up here makes you want it that much more, seeing all these guys, just the lifestyle and everything that goes along with it. It just makes you want it.”
The prospects will stick around camp for a while, scrimmaging and practicing with the stars they dream of playing with someday. The NHLers were impressed when they watched rookie camp, but the youngsters have a lot to prove.
“We’ll see what happens when they’re out of the shinny hockey and into the real stuff,” Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller said. “I’m not ripping on them. I think they’ve got great skill. But the step into playing physical around these guys, it’s tough. It’s not just something every person can do. I’ll be interested to see how they handle camp as it gets a little more competitive.”
The rookies certainly will be in shape to compete. They did countless laps and drills in the past week. For some, it’s the hardest work they’ve ever done.
“They definitely try and see if you’re in shape,” said defense-man T. J. Brennan, the Sabres’ first selection in 2007.
“It’s definitely a big jump from juniors,” said forward Luke Adam, June’s second-round pick. “You think you can make the jump quicker, but you get that much more respect for guys that you see going in and playing in the National League at 18, 19 years old. You just respect how hard they must have worked and how much they got so fast.”
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Two seasons ago, the Sabres used co-captains. Last year, they rotated the “C.” This season? To be determined.
Coach Lindy Ruff said the team is still examining whether to name a captain or keep shifting it around. But the more he talked, the more it sounded like the rotation will be back.
“If the majority of that team feels like they’re involved in the leadership, we’ll have a strong group in there,” Ruff said. “The players have been someone that has really bought into that rotation process. They’ve liked it. I know on the outside it seems like something that isn’t really welcomed, but on the inside it’s something that the players, in talking to the key guys, have really liked. They like the responsibility, or the initiative to have a good month to become the captain for the month.
“We’re going to weigh things through camp and have a lot of discussions on where we want to be.”
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The Sabres already have their first injuries of the season. Center Paul Gaustad bruised his shoulder during Saturday’s scrimmage, and left wing Thomas Vanek pinched a nerve in his knee Friday during physicals. Both will skip the Sabres’ opening preseason games, Monday in Toronto and Tuesday against Montreal in Roberval, Quebec.
Defensive prospect Michael Funk has a concussion, but the Sabres received good news on Adam Mair, who had offseason knee surgery.
“It looks like they’re going to clear him for full contact possibly in time for the last preseason game, which puts him way ahead of schedule,” Ruff said.
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The highlight of “Puck Drop 2008” was the official unveiling of the Sabres’ third jersey. It features the return of the team’s original logo, which has been paired with the new dark blue color scheme.
“I like them,” said forward Patrick Kaleta, who grew up in Angola with a bedroom plastered with the original design. “It’s a mix of old school and new school. I like the old emblem and the stripes.
“It’s pretty cool to be able to share that experience and tradition with them.”
A color photo of the third jersey appears on Page B1.
