Yesterday, the Sabres invited all personnel back to Buffalo for physicals, headshot sessions for the new season, and presumably some really interesting icebreaking exercises. As much as I’d love to know what Steve Ott said during “Two Truths and a Lie,” this news means just one thing
NHL hockey is back in Buffalo.
The Sabres training camp begins in earnest today, with the team’s first practice session taking place this morning. If you’re interested in checking out the new-look Sabres in person, the team’s training camp practices this week will be open to the public, in multiple sessions. The sessions which are open to the public are found at the end of the article, courtesy of Sabres.com.
Speaking of the team’s official website, they’ve also provided a handy-dandy camp roster. The only big surprise is former Minnesota first-rounder Colton Gilles, though some might consider Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek’s presence on the roster a bit of a surprise. Hey, at least Cody Hodgson will be on the camp roster for the next six years.
Some other tidbits came out of yesterday’s media session, including the fact that Ron Rolston will rotate the team’s captaincy during the preseason before deciding on a permanent captain – and he’s not thinking about contract status at all. Also, Teppo Numminen will coach from behind the bench next season (as opposed to his former spot in the press box) and will be the man in charge of the team’s power play.
Finally, Ryan Miller spoke to the media and said he’d be open to negotiating an extension, and he dropped a great line about how he sold his house last year not in anticipation of being traded, but because he didn’t want someone to lowball him in the last year of his contract.
Training camp is officially upon us, Sabres fans, and that means that real, meaningful NHL hockey isn’t far behind.
Thursday, Sept. 12
Session One: 8:45-9:45
Session Two: 10-10:45
Scrimmage: 11:15-12:00
Session Three: 12:15-1:00Friday, Sept. 13
Session One: 7:45-8:45
Scrimmage: 9:15-10:30Saturday, Sept. 14
Session One: 8:45-9:45
Session Two: 10-10:45
Scrimmage: 11:15-12:00
Session Three: 12:15-1:00Sunday, Sept. 15
Pre-game skate: 10:30 a.m. (First Niagara Center)
Game at Montreal Canadiens: 7 p.m.