1. Isak Rosen hasn’t gotten as much hype as the more recent first-round picks in the system like Savoie, Jiri Kulich and Zach Benson. But he might have been the best of the bunch in this tournament. His biggest issue is strength, and the only way he’s going to answer that concern is against bigger and stronger competition. It was still encouraging to see him stand out the way he did in this tournament. Rosen said he felt much more confident heading into this rookie tournament than he did last season. He’s gained 10 pounds (listed at 173), and Appert loved the effort he gave away from the puck, particularly as a backchecker. Rosen could play his way into a few NHL games this year if he keeps progressing at this rate. “Why should I not aim for that going into camp?” Rosen said.
2. Kulich says he added 16 pounds this offseason, which is impressive because the 19-year-old has looked like one of the strongest players in his age group for a while. It’s clear he’s motivated to make the jump to the NHL this season, but he’s going to need to prove himself at veteran camp for that to happen. He scored two goals in the first two games of the tournament and then didn’t play in the third. His shot is already NHL caliber, and he’s probably strong enough to play in the NHL, too. He said he spent the summer working on getting faster and more physical. It will be interesting to see if that translates to NHL training camp because the only thing separating him from the top level right now is his play away from the puck. He looks like he could step into the league and play on Buffalo’s second power play right now if asked.
4. Benson didn’t take over this tournament the way Connor Bedard took over the rookie tournament for the Chicago Blackhawks, but he showed why the Sabres were so excited to get him at No. 13. He plays a fast game without being the fastest skater on the ice because he thinks the game so well. He always seems to be one step ahead of the opposition, and that’s notable as an 18-year-old in a tournament like this one. He scored a goal Saturday in which he showed off his quick release and deception. He led an odd-man rush and looked at his passing option just long enough to freeze the goalie and beat him with a shot. He’ll likely be back in the WHL this season and should be one of the league’s most productive players.
6. Nikita Novikov had five assists in the first two games of this tournament. The 2021 sixth-round pick signed with the Sabres this summer after spending his first two post-draft seasons in Russia. He’s 6 foot 4 and willing to use that size to separate forwards from the puck. But his offensive instincts continued to stand out in this tournament. He was pushing the play up the ice and showed off what his teammates described as “elite” passing skills. His first season in North America might come with a learning curve off the ice, but he’s already played over 100 KHL games so he should be able to handle the level of play in the AHL without issue. He could rise through Buffalo’s system in the next few years.
1 Comment
1. Isak Rosen hasn’t gotten as much hype as the more recent first-round picks in the system like Savoie, Jiri Kulich and Zach Benson. But he might have been the best of the bunch in this tournament. His biggest issue is strength, and the only way he’s going to answer that concern is against bigger and stronger competition. It was still encouraging to see him stand out the way he did in this tournament. Rosen said he felt much more confident heading into this rookie tournament than he did last season. He’s gained 10 pounds (listed at 173), and Appert loved the effort he gave away from the puck, particularly as a backchecker. Rosen could play his way into a few NHL games this year if he keeps progressing at this rate. “Why should I not aim for that going into camp?” Rosen said.
2. Kulich says he added 16 pounds this offseason, which is impressive because the 19-year-old has looked like one of the strongest players in his age group for a while. It’s clear he’s motivated to make the jump to the NHL this season, but he’s going to need to prove himself at veteran camp for that to happen. He scored two goals in the first two games of the tournament and then didn’t play in the third. His shot is already NHL caliber, and he’s probably strong enough to play in the NHL, too. He said he spent the summer working on getting faster and more physical. It will be interesting to see if that translates to NHL training camp because the only thing separating him from the top level right now is his play away from the puck. He looks like he could step into the league and play on Buffalo’s second power play right now if asked.
4. Benson didn’t take over this tournament the way Connor Bedard took over the rookie tournament for the Chicago Blackhawks, but he showed why the Sabres were so excited to get him at No. 13. He plays a fast game without being the fastest skater on the ice because he thinks the game so well. He always seems to be one step ahead of the opposition, and that’s notable as an 18-year-old in a tournament like this one. He scored a goal Saturday in which he showed off his quick release and deception. He led an odd-man rush and looked at his passing option just long enough to freeze the goalie and beat him with a shot. He’ll likely be back in the WHL this season and should be one of the league’s most productive players.
6. Nikita Novikov had five assists in the first two games of this tournament. The 2021 sixth-round pick signed with the Sabres this summer after spending his first two post-draft seasons in Russia. He’s 6 foot 4 and willing to use that size to separate forwards from the puck. But his offensive instincts continued to stand out in this tournament. He was pushing the play up the ice and showed off what his teammates described as “elite” passing skills. His first season in North America might come with a learning curve off the ice, but he’s already played over 100 KHL games so he should be able to handle the level of play in the AHL without issue. He could rise through Buffalo’s system in the next few years.