With training camp set to open on Thursday at KeyBank Center, the Buffalo Sabres announced their 37-man roster, as well as the upcoming schedule for the team's 14-day camp on Monday.
The players will officially report to the team's facilities on Thursday for testing and physicals, but the group will not begin on-ice sessions until Friday.
The Sabres will practice 11 times in the team's 14-day period for training camp, which will include two "Blue vs. Gold" scrimmages on Monday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. EST, as well as Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. EST.
The team will have until 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 12 to finalize their 23-man roster for the start of the 2020-21 season. It is also expected that the team will finalize their 4-6-man taxi squad around that time.
Buffalo's season opener will come two nights later on Thursday, Jan. 14 when the Washington Capitals come to town for the first of a two-game set at KeyBank Center. The Sabres last played the Capitals in the final game of their 2019-20 campaign on March 9, 2020, where they earned a 3-2 shootout win on home ice.
Here is the schedule of upcoming practices for the Sabres:
FRIDAY, JAN. 1:
Gold Group: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Blue Group: 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 2:
Gold Group: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Blue Group: 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, JAN. 3:
Gold Group: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Blue Group: 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
MONDAY, JAN. 4:
Blue vs. Gold Scrimmage: 1 p.m.
TUESDAY, JAN. 5:
Day off
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6:
Gold Group: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Blue Group: 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
THURSDAY, JAN. 7:
Gold Group: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Blue Group: 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, JAN. 8:
Gold Group: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Blue Group: 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 9:
Gold Group morning skate: 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Blue Group morning skate: 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Blue vs. Gold scrimmage: 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, JAN. 10:
Practice: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
MONDAY, JAN. 11:
Day off
TUESDAY, JAN. 12:
Practice: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13:
Practice: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Among the notable players attending training camp this week will be the new acquisitions from the offseason, including forwards Eric Staal, Tobias Rieder and Cody Eakin. Also expected in attendance for camp will be some notable Sabres prospects fighting for a roster spot, including forwards Rasmus Asplund, Brandon Biro and Arttu Ruotsalainen, defensemen Will Borgen, Jacob Bryson and Mattias Samuelsson, and goalie Jonas Johansson.
A couple of notable names left off the training camp roster includes 2019 first round pick Dylan Cozens, as well as 2020 first round pick Jack Quinn. However, both players are currently competing in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship for Team Canada in the Edmonton bubble.
It seems likely that both players will join the team once the tournament has concluded, and once they get the proper clearance through the COVID-19 protocols.
However, two more notable prospects who did not get the invite to training camp this season included defenseman Oskari Laaksonen and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Both players are currently playing professionally in the SM-Liiga in Finland, and both could remain in Finland until training camp for the Rochester Americans open at some point in the near future.
The American Hockey League is still targeting a Feb. 5 start date for the upcoming 2020-21 season.
The Sabres added one more name to their training camp roster on Tuesday as the team announced the signing of forward Riley Sheahan to a professional tryout (PTO). The 29-year-old spent the 2019-20 season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he registered 15 points (8+7) in 66 games while playing in a depth role.
All practices during training camp will be closed to the public.
Keep it locked to WGR and WGR550.com for the latest on the Sabres through training camp and heading into the 2020-21 season.