9/6 Recap: Kassian chips in, gets chippy

Zack Kassian collected three assists Monday as Windsor won a chippy pre-season contest over Plymouth, 6-2. Perhaps the toughest heavyweight in the entire CHL, the 6’3, 215-pounder also got to tune-up his left hook by pounding Whalers forward Ben Holtom into the ice midway through the third period. Monday's contest, the second exhibition meeting between the two clubs, featured a total of five fights. Kassian’s linemate Sergei Khokhlachev poured in a hat trick and an assist to pace the Spits.

Windsor returns to action Thursday when they tangle with the Czech National Jr. Team. Also on Thursday, Gregg Sutch and Mississauga will face the Steven Shipley-less Owen Sound Attack while Matt MacKenzie and the Calgary Hitmen open their exhibition run against Red Deer. Marcus Foligno and the Sudbury Wolves will make their pre-season debut on Friday against Barrie.

Friday night also marks the opening of the QMJHL regular season for a pair of Sabres prospects. Jerome Gauthier-Leduc and the Rimouski Oceanic will square off with Lewiston, while Cedrick Henley and the Val-d'Or Foreurs will host Victoriaville.

Have a great week.

9/5 recap: Shipley to the shelf

SabresProspects has learned that 6'2, 205-pound center Steven Shipley of the Owen Sound Attack could miss the remainder of the pre-season after breaking a finger in the first week of training camp. It's a tough start for the Sabres 2010 fourth round pick after reporting a day behind schedule. We'll keep tabs on the injury as details become available. The Attack opened their exhibition schedule without Shipley on Sunday, defeating Barrie by a 6-3 count.

In the WHL, Riley Boychuk suited up for Portland's third game in three nights, registering a slashing minor and a couple shots on goal as the Winterhawks lost a 3-2 shootout to Spokane. The 'Hawks will continue their pre-season next weekend with games against Everett and Kootenay.

Mark Pysyk was given the night off as Edmonton dropped a 3-2 decision to Medicine Hat. After reassigning a trio of 15-year olds, the Oil Kings will correct some mistakes in preparation for next weekend's exhibition set with Prince George.

Gregg Sutch did not play as Mississauga opened their exhibition season with a 5-3 win over the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Sutch, 6'2, 190 pounds, has spent the first week of split squad scrimmages skating on a line with Casey Czikas (NYI) and Justin Shugg (CAR). The Majors will next play at Owen Sound on Thursday.

Lastly Phillip Gogulla's return to the Cologne Sharks has started well, as the 2005 second rounder has a goal and two assists through the team's first two games. Gogulla is joined this season in Cologne by ex-Sabres Mike Card and Adam Dennis. Card is +2 for the Sharks while Dennis opened the season with a shutout.

9/4 Recap: Boychuk bangs as 'Hawks rally

In Saturday pre-season action, Riley Boychuk notched a late assist and provided a physical spark Saturday as Portland came back from a pair of four-goal deficits to earn a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over the OHL's Soo Greyhounds. With about eight minutes to play and the Winterhawks trailing 5-3, Boychuk broke down the wing and sent a pass towards the slot that was batted in by Spencer Bennett. The 'Hawks would strike again just :43 later to tie the game and carry momentum to the OT victory.

With Portland sitting a slew of regulars for the second straight night, Boychuk was quite active on a line opposite Oliver Gabriel (three goals in first two pre-season games) while also anchoring the top power play and penalty killing units. His checking energy was on point, especially in the third period when he delivered a few solid pops and created several scoring opportunities for the rallying Winterhawks. Portland will next take the ice on Friday when they face the Spokane Chiefs in Everett's pre-season tourney.

Also on Saturday, Mark Pysyk was left off the scoresheet as the host Oil Kings opened their exhibition schedule with a 5-4 loss to Swift Current. The Oil Kings skate away with the loss despite a dominating 53-22 shots on goal advantage. Edmonton will close out their weekend invitational tourney on Sunday against Medicine Hat.

Chilliwack's Kevin Sundher and Kamloops' Corey Fienhage both sat as the Bruins defeated the Blazers, 6-3.

In the OHL, Zack Kassian was scratched as Windsor opened the pre-season by playing to a 2-2 tie with Plymouth.

9/3 Recap: Fienhage blazing trail; Kassian on track

Corey Fienhage made his WHL pre-season debut on Friday, earning three assists as Kamloops rode a five-goal third period to an 8-3 victory over Chilliwack. Fienhage was a big piece of the winning surge with all three of his helpers coming at even strength in the final frame. Kevin Sundher earned a power play assist for the Bruins, who were outshot by a 49-33 margin. The two clubs will reconvene Saturday evening.

I know it's just the pre-season, and yes there's a major difference competing against 16-17-18's compared to the more experienced, stronger players of the WCHA, but it's worth noting that Fienhage's three-point effort in his first junior appearance is equal to his total output in 39 NCAA games with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. It's particularly worth noting because it's clear that his development did not flatten despite inconsistent reps as an collegiate underclassmen.

For those wondering how Fienhage is faring his WHL transition, check out this quote from Blazer bench boss Guy Charron:

Corey Fienhage, who joined the Blazers after two seasons at the U of North Dakota, has been the talk of camp because the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, a third-round pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2008 NHL draft, looks to be the real deal.

“There are a lot of things that have impressed me,” head coach Guy Charron said. “One is his attitude. He’s a very upbeat young man. He’s happy to be here. It hasn’t been a difficult adjustment for him towards his teammates or his teammates towards him. He’s a real team-oriented guy and that’s probably from the program he played in at North Dakota.

“He’s also very strong. We have to be excited to have a player like him in our lineup.”

Elsewhere, Riley Boychuk did not play as Portland opened their exhibition schedule by defeating Seattle, 4-1.

The OHL exhibition schedule got underway Friday, with Sabres prospects potentially seeing their first action on Sunday. Good news is emerging out of Windsor as it appears that Zack Kassian is clicking early with a creative 17-year old Russian.

Training camp is one big chemistry lab, but you don't need a university degree in the subject to see that there's something developing between Russian rookie Alex Khokhlachev and LaSalle native Zack Kassian.

Playing on a line together, the duo made the puck sing with some nifty passing in leading Team Red to a 5-1 win Thursday over Team Blue in the Windsor Spitfires' final intra-squad ga-me at the WFCU Centre.

The pair combined for seven points between them.

Kassian had two goals and an assist while Khokhlachev had two goals and a pair of helpers.

"I haven't clicked like that with anyone in my whole OHL career," Kassian said.

This is obviously good news for a Sabres organization in need of a bullying scoring presence. Kassian knows he has some things to work on while being counted on heavily for offence this season, but so far so good as the Spits head into Monday's pre-season opener.

He has looked every bit the NHL first-round pick that the Buffalo Sabres made him in the 2009 draft.

"It's huge for me," Kassian said of this season.

"Obviously, I've made a couple of big mistakes.

"But life is full of mistakes and I've learned a lot from them.

"I'm just working on being a better person and being a leader. I'm focused on what I have to do here and what I need to do to get a contract in Buffalo."

After reporting to training camp a day late due to personal reasons, Steven Shipley arrived in Owen Sound on Thursday ready to roll. Word out of camp is that the 6'2 center was nagged by some undisclosed discomfort in Friday's intrasquad scrimmage that saw him briefly retreat to the dressing room in the third period before returning for action. Shipley and 2010 first rounder Joey Hishon (COL) are expected to carry the offensive pace for the Attack this season.

Deja Goose: Boychuk arrives in top shape

When the Sabres drafted Riley Boychuk this past June, there was one obvious thought that came to mind: Goose 2.0.

After all here were the Sabres, ten years removed from selecting Portland power forward Paul Gaustad with the 220th pick, using another seventh rounder on a hard-nosed, 6'5 220-pounder from the WHL's Winterhawks.

Gaustad's commitment to strength and conditioning started as a junior, so much that the Portland training staff names its annual fitness award after the current Sabres grindmaster. Earlier this week, the similarities between the two role players continued as Boychuk earned his second straight Gaustad Fitness Award as the 'Hawks get ready for their 2010-11 campaign.

“I have to chase Riley out of the weight room,” said Campbell. “He’s real in tune with wanting to stay in shape and stay strong and sometimes he does too much. I have to keep my eye on him that way.”

For Boychuk’s part, winning the Paul Gaustad Fitness Award is fitting, as not only does he model his game after Gaustad, but has worked out with him in the offseason. As a Sabres draft pick, he’s also looking to one day become his teammate.

“He’s a great role model,” said Boychuk. “I think his style of play is similar to mine – all hard work. As a power forward you have to create room for your linemates. He’s a good role model for anyone to look up to.”

Both are known for their size and grit. The pair even share a February birth date. With all things considered, it seems that Boychuk is in line for a statistical breakout this season.

Paul Gaustad
1999-00 (age 17/18) 56GP 6-8-14 110 PIM
2000-01 (age 18/19) 70GP 11-30-41 168 PIM
2001-02 (age 19/20) 72GP 36-44-80 202 PIM

Riley Boychuk
2008-09 (age 17/18) 62GP 7-10-17 86PIM
2009-10 (age 18/19) 66GP 14-16-30 157PIM
2010-11 (age 19/20) ????

Like the Goose nearly a decade ago, Boychuk's third full season begins amid heightened expectations. The Winterhawks will have eight NHL draft picks on their roster, and with the suggestion made a few posts down that he could potentially double his numbers from a year ago, the expectation is that he'll contribute on many levels in what could be his final season in juniors.

9/2 Recap: Gauthier-Leduc creates as Q pair ready for openers

 Real quick update here as a pair of Sabres QMJHL prospects closed out their pre-season schedules on Thursday...

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc posted a pair of power play assists including one on the game winning goal as Rimouski edged Bathurst, 7-5. The 6'2 rearguard also registered a game-high nine shots on goal to help give the Oceanic a 33-27 edge. JGL finished the exhibition season with a goal and two assists in four games. The Nics open the regular season Friday in Lewiston.

Cedrick Henley finished the night -1 with a game-best four hits as Val-d'Or defeated Montreal 4-3 in a shootout. The 6'5 Henley, who did not get a shot on net in the contest, was stopped by Junior netminder Etienne Marcoux in the eighth round of the shootout. The Foreurs will kick off the regular season on Friday when they host Victoriavile.

More on Kassian, Fienhage, and others when I get off the course.

Camp Update: Kassian still strong; Foligno to lead pack?

Time for a brief hump day cruise through the CHL camps...

Oilers TV, who by the way did a marvelous job covering the NHL draft combine a few months back, posted an interview with Sabres first round pick Mark Pysyk as the Oil Kings training sessions kick into gear. Pardon me for being a little leery of the Oilers poking around a Sabres top pick (see: Vanek, Thomas), but it’s worth a gander as the regular season approaches.

I really want one of those bobbleheads. Any Edmonton-area readers want to hook me up?

Staying in the WHL, all reports are suggesting that Corey Fienhage is starting off his Kamloops playing days on the right foot. After being one of the more impressive rearguards in the camp’s opening scrimmage, Fienhage kept his momentum going on Tuesday with two goals and an assist in Team White’s 10-8 win over Team Blue.

To the surprise of no one, Zack Kassian outperformed his Windsor teammates with 38 reps of 155 pounds on the weight bench as the Spits launched their 2010-11 season with their annual round of fitness testing. So essentially he bench pressed Paul Byron nearly 40 times. The 6'3, 215-pound ox posted the same exact number of 155 pounds last season with Peterborough.

After yesterday’s random tweet on the topic, the Sudbury Star’s Scott Haddow makes his case for why Marcus Foligno should be the next captain of the Wolves. I said it back at prospect camp – the kid has all the elements of being a gritty heart and soul letter-wearer down the road for the Sabres. It’s that warrior mentality that makes me think that a team would pay an arm and a leg to get him if the Wolves bow out of contention. Again, it’s too early and likely too difficult for Sudbury to entertain the thought.

More to come...

Aaaaand....they're off!

The zambonis are tuned up, new sticks have been ordered, and the billets have cleared space. With QMJHL camps breaking ice and the rest of the CHL starting to follow suit, so begins another season of SabresProspects coverage.

Finally.

Aside from going to LA for the draft, hitting up prospect camp for a few days, doing early prep for the 2011 draft, and lending a hand to Puck Daddy, it was pretty mellow summer hockey-wise. All of a sudden I'm eager for games that count and glad to be able to provide your daily fix on the happenings of the future Buffalo Sabres. Things are looking good for the current batch of hopefuls. Not that size always matters, but they're seemingly bigger than ever with many in good positions to succeed.

We're going to try some new things this season, but before that let's take a brief east-west cruise through CHL training camps.

QMJHL

As usual, the Q was the first to get things going with their mid-August camp dates. The Sabres will have just two prospects skating in the league this season, down from their usual four, as some of their recent mindshare has shifted towards the WHL.

One of the more offensive-minded blueliners in the stable and currently the youngest Sabres prospect, Kris Letang Jerome Gauthier-Leduc will continue his development with the Rimouski Oceanic in 2010-11. The 'Nics broke the seal on August 18th and two days later dropped the puck with Baie-Comeau for a four-game exhibition series. JGL appeared in three of the four outings, finishing +3 with an insurance goal in a 6-4 win on August 20th. He skated even the following night as the Oceanic defeated the Drakkar, 6-2. The 6'1 defenseman posted a -1 with four shots on goal and three blocks to close the series with a 3-1 loss on Saturday. Rimouski will continue their pre-season on Thursday against Bathurst. 

Cedrick Henley, the Sabres sixth rounder in June, returns to the Val-d'Or Foreurs looking take a dramatic step forward after notching 31 points over his first two Q seasons. After sitting out the Foreurs first two exhibition contests, the 6'5 wing scored the opening goal in their 6-1 defeat of Rouyn-Noranda on August 22nd. Henley was given the night off in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Huskies.

OHL

The upcoming week will see four forwards, including three aggressive grinders and a developing playmaker, reporting for duty in what should be a wide-open season in the "O".

Fresh on the heels of a strong showing in Team Canada's U20 Evaluation Camp, Zack Kassian and now re-building Windsor Spitfires will open camp on Tuesday, August 31st. For now, the back-to-back Memorial Cup champs look to have thrown in the towel in their quest for a third by trading Justin Shugg and Marc Cantin to 2011 hosts Mississauga earlier in the week. Windsor may have as many as nine OHL rookies on their roster this season, putting Kassian under the offensive microscope from the get-go. At this point, let's hope Kass embraces the role as the Sabres want his all-around game to keep spiking. The Spits their exhibition schedule with a Labor Day matinee with Plymouth.

Recently turned 19-year old Marcus Foligno will head to Sudbury Wolves training camp on Spetember 2nd to begin his first OHL season without his father Mike behind the Wolves bench. Foligno is likely to again skate alongside center John McFarland (FLA) at some point this season, but with new faces dotting the Wolves roster comes the possibility of Foligno starting as the #2 center. Much of that will shake out beginning September 10th when the Wolves open the pre-season against Barrie. 

As Mississauga continues to load up for their Memorial Cup date, perhaps there is an outside shot of something developing similar to last season when Luke Adam was joined in Cape Breton by fellow Sabres prospects Maxime Legault and Jacob Lagace. A line with Foligno and fellow hard-hitter Gregg Sutch would be outstanding for Sabres fans to enjoy next spring against the CHL's best. The Foligno family has been a big part of the Sudbury hockey community for many years, but the franchise may be best served for the future by evaluating the option as the season matures. Nothing like some wild Eklund-esque speculation to grease things up...

Sutch, the Sabres fifth round pick in June, will enter the Majors camp with a clean slate after an injury riddled draft 18-year old season. The 6'2, 193-pound banger has shown the propensity to do damage on the forecheck and with his fists, and will no doubt be eager to get his season on track beginning with the first team's first pre-season game Sunday, September 5th versus the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL.

Steven Shipley will return to Owen Sound for his third OHL season when the Attack open main camp on Monday. The 6'2, 200-pounder went from 39 to 63 points over his first two seasons, and should show another healthy increase in 2010-11 as he uses his size and heavy skating stride to take the puck to the net. The Attack kick off the pre-season with a home-and-home versus Barrie on September 5th and 6th before engaging Sutch and Majors on the 12th.

WHL

For the first time since 1999-2000, the Sabres will have a six-pack of prospects brewing in the "Dub" providing this ESTer with plenty of late-night viewing options this season.

Mark Pysyk speaks to the media after being selected 23rd overall.

The Sabres top pick in the June draft, Mark Pysyk reported to Edmonton on Saturday for fitness testing and the start of the Oil Kings training camp. The team will hit the ice on Monday in prep for their exhibition opener on September 5th against Medicine Hat. Pysyk is carrying the momentum of his Team Canada U20 camp showing into the season, where his excellence in special teams will be relied upon as main catalyst to the Oil Kings success in 2010-11. With a simple and steady fall, Pysyk has as good a shot as any to make Team Canada come winter.

Fellow Team Canada invitee, 6'4 Brayden McNabb will return to Kootenay as one of the league's top rearguards. The sixth leading scorer among WHL defenseman last season and fourth in team scoring with 57 points, McNabb's hard work at both ends should position himself near the top of the Hockey Canada's radar for December. With plenty of good tools in place, the Ice will open the pre-season at the Tri-City Tournament on September 10th against Seattle. As far as Sabres training camp goes, I fully expect the hard-worker to earn a pre-season game before going back to Kootenay.

Corey Fienhage began his WHL career on Thursday when he checked in for Kamloops Blazers training camp. The two seasons in the University North Dakota's program, including use of the supreme facilities at Ralph Englestad Arena, should greatly benefit 2008 third rounder in his transition to the Dub. Big and rugged in his newly measured 6'4, 220 pound frame, the 20-year old Fienhage has the athleticism and ripping shot to be leveraged by the Blazers in various situations nightly. For those who tracked Nick Crawford and the Barrie Colts last season, think of Fienhage as a Dalton Prout type - a big, physical righty anchoring the 2nd pair. Kamloops opens the exhibition schedule on September 3rd against Kevin Sundher and the Chilliwack Bruins.

The experienced Sundher is expected to man the top-line pivot for the Bruins this season after scoring 25-goals and 61 points in his second WHL campaign in 2009-10. The Surrey, B.C. native is a prospect that wasn't invited to to Canada's summer evaluation camp but could very well get land at their Selection Camp in December if he and Ryan Howse (CAL) can heat up quickly. Regardless, he's already a prime candidate for for next season's U20's.

Solid two-way defenseman Matt MacKenzie willl look to build on his Memorial Cup experience when the Calgary Hitmen open main camp on September 3rd. Entering his fourth season on the WHL circuit, MacKenzie will be counted on for big things in both leadership and point production as the Hitmen graduated a slew of talented players from last season's squad. The club opens the exhibition season with games against Red Deer on the 8th and Medicine Hat on the 14th. 

Power forward Riley Boychuk, 19, and the Portland Winterhawks opened camp this week as a serious contender for the WHL title. With injuries behind him and Portland brimming with talent, the right situation could see the hulking 6'5, 220-pounder double his 2009-10 line of 14-16-30 and realize the potential that made him a top-bantam draft pick a few years back. The 'Hawks will make their preseason debut on September 3rd against Seattle. 

Handy Kassian's nifty move

Zack Kassian recently scored a goal and an assist over his two games at the Canadian U20 Evaluation Camp held in St. John's, Newfoundland.  Kassian, who was throwing his weight around throughout camp, wowed the crowd with a sharp display of hands against 2010 draft pick Calvin Pickard as the event concluded with an exhibition shootout on Saturday.

Kassian grabs late goal as White doubles up Red

Zack Kassian scored a third period goal Friday as Team Red lost the opening scrimmage of Canada's U20 Evaluation Camp to Team White, 6-3.

With the bulk of his time spent on the right wing of a line with Curtis Hamilton and Riley Sheahan, the 6'3 Kassian elevated his physical presence and forechecking ability in a strong third period. Bringing good energy to keep the puck low, Kassian's spark earned time on the Tyler Seguin line (in place of Tyler Toffoli) in the final twenty while at one point also getting double shifted to skate with Ryan Johnasen's unit. His goal, a backhand finish of a rebound to the left side of the net, was as much a typical Kassian play as the poke in the back of the knee on Erik Gudbrandson that led to each receiving minor roughing penalties. Minutes before, Kassian set a tone for Saturday's intrasquad match-up by advancing the puck and finishing a hit on projected 2011 top dog Sean Couturier. Kassian is playing his aggressive game in highly skilled setting.

Couturier (1G, 1A) helped lead Team White along with linemates Louis Leblanc (2G), and Quinton Howden. Kings prospect Brayden Schenn also added a pair of goals for the winning side. I expect all to receive a few bumps from Kassian on Saturday as players start to separate themselves on the Canadian depth chart.

Kassian is one of four Sabres properties skating in the evaluation camp in St. John's, Newfoundland, joining WHL defensemen Mark Pysyk and Brayden McNabb and QMJHLer Jerome Gauthier-Leduc.

Team Red played poorly through the first forty minutes, making too many casual plays with the puck and not communicating well enough in all three zones. 2010 first rounder Mark Pysysk was one of the Red defenders who put forth an "ok" performance. Paired with Pens prospect Simon Despres, Pysyk made a good play in the early third when he followed his sharp pass to a breaking winger by sliding into a shooting lane to register a clean shot on goal. I expect the Pysyk-Despres pair to tighten things up on Saturday as Red bounces back from a listless effort.

On the White blueline, #23 McNabb played steady and conservative while #6 Gauthier-Leduc also looked to keep things simple. At times it appeared as if Gauthier-Leduc wasn't focusing on the body as much as he was the puck. He was mainly looking to clear his zone throughout, once coughing it up near his net as Red applied pressure late in the game. In the shootout round to end the game, he showed great hands by roofing a backhand to the delight of the fans.

On Saturday, expect to see McNabb continue his sound defensive play while making good looks up-ice and supporting the offense with keeps at the blueline. Gauthier-Leduc's game will be angles and awareness in his own end to help get the puck out and make plays when it crosses into the opposing end of the ice. He's not overly physical, but his footwork should be used a little more to cancel out his man to allow others to fish for the loose puck.