Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres officially released their roster for this weekend’s Prospects Challenge on Monday.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is one of the three goalies that will be at the tournament. Last season, the 2017 second round pick played four games with the Sabres before injuring his ankle.
Coming in just for the tournament as invitees are goalies Mack Guzda - last played with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League - and Oliver Satny from the Czech Republic - will play this season with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Here is the rest of the team:
Forwards:
Arttu Ruotsalainen
Signed in 2019 by the Sabres as a European free agent. He played 17 games with the Sabres last year, scoring five goals and six points.
Jack Quinn
First round pick (eighth overall) of the Sabres in the 2020 NHL Draft. He played 15 games with the Rochester Americans last season, scoring two goals and seven assists for nine points.
Matej Pekar
Fourth round pick (94th overall) of the Sabres in the 2018 NHL Draft. He played 25 games with the Amerks last year, scoring one goal and five assists for six points.
Brett Murray
Fourth round pick (99th overall) of the Sabres in the 2016 NHL Draft. He went pointless in two games with the Sabres last season, but produced nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 27 games with the Amerks.
J-J Peterka
Second round pick (34th overall) of the Sabres in the 2020 NHL Draft. He played for Germany for the past two years at the World Junior Championship, scoring eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 12 games.
Josh Bloom
Third round pick (95th overall) of the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft. He did not play last season, but played 54 games for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL during the 2019-20 campaign, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points.
Olivier Nadeau
Fourth round pick (97th overall) of the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft. He played 34 games last season in the QMJHL, scoring 13 goals and 32 assists for 45 points for the Shawinigan Cataractes.
Viljami Marjala
Fifth round pick (159th overall) of the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft. Last season, he played 30 games for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, scoring five goals and 22 assists for 27 points.
Tyson Kozak
Seventh round pick (193rd overall) of the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft. He played in 18 games for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League last season, scoring three goals and eight assists for 11 points.
Linus Weissbach
Seventh round pick (192nd overall) of the Sabres in the 2017 NHL Draft. He played in 31 games for the Wisconsin Badgers last season, scoring 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points.
Brandon Biro
Signed as a college free agent in 2020 out of Penn State University. Last season, he played 15 games with the Amerks, scoring two goals and three assists for five points.
Thomas Casey
An invitee to the tournament by the Sabres. He played 38 games last season with the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL, scoring 34 goals and 40 assists for 74 points.
Riley Fiddler-Schultz
An invitee to the tournament by the Sabres. Last season, he played 20 games for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, scoring five goals and 10 assists for 15 points.
Defensemen:
Mattias Samuelsson
Second round pick (32nd overall) of the Sabres in the 2018 NHL Draft. Last season, he played 12 games with the Sabres, scoring no goals and two assists.
Oskari Laaksonen
Third round pick (89th overall) of the Sabres in the 2017 NHL Draft. He played 28 games for the Amerks last season, scoring two goals and 15 assists for 17 points.
Nick Boka
Sixth round pick (171st overall) of the Minnesota Wild in the 2015 NHL Draft. Signed to an AHL contract this offseason by the Amerks. Last season, he played 44 games with the Fort Wayne Comets of the ECHL, scoring four goals and 14 assists for 18 points.
Matthew Cairns
Third round pick (84th overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Draft. Signed to an AHL contract this offseason by the Amerks. Last season, he played 28 games for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, scoring no goals and six assists.
Peter Tischke
Signed to an AHL contract this offseason by the Amerks. He played 16 games for the Colorado Eagles of the AHL last season, scoring one goal and one assist for two points.
Charlie DesRoches
An invitee to the tournament by the Sabres. Last season, he played 32 games for the Saint John Seadogs of the QMJHL, scoring four goals and 22 assists for 26 points.
Clay Hanus
An invitee to the tournament by the Sabres. He played six games for the Portland Winterhawks last season, scoring one goal and seven assists for eight points. He also played 36 games for the Lincoln Stars for the USHL, scoring seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points.
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The players report to training camp on Wednesday with the first game of the Challenge taking place Friday night against the New Jersey Devils. I’ll be joined by Brian Koziol and Brayton Wilson for all the action starting at 7 p.m. ET on WGR Sports Radio 550.
