JT Compher
Position: Left Wing
Age: 19
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 182 lbs.
2013-14 team: Michigan (NCAA)
Acquired: Taken in the second round (35th overall) in the 2013 draft
Last year’s ranking: 19th
From the time they drafted him it was apparent the Sabres were very high on JT Compher. Darcy Regier sent Andrej Sekera to Carolina in order to move up to take the talented winger. It may be a new regime in Buffalo now, but I’m sure Tim Murray is very happy to have Compher in the bullpen.
In his first year at Michigan Compher led the Wolverines in assists and points and was named the first ever Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the Michigan MVP. Not too shabby.
He participated in the USA Development Camp this off-season, but hurt his hand and missed the tail end. He’ll be back in time for the World Juniors, and many peg him as the frontrunner to be America’s captain. If he is named captain both the American and Canadian junior captains would be Sabres, since Sam Reinhart is team Canada’s captain.
Compher may not be the biggest player in the world, but he plays like it. He has a reputation for being a successful agitator. As he said himself, “I don’t make many friends on the ice.”
Compher returns to Ann Arbor this season, this time with an “A” stitched to his bright yellow uniform. He’s likely still a few years away from donning a slightly different shade of blue and gold, but that doesn’t mean he’s not already considered one of the Sabres most exciting prospects.
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