Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Scott Ratzlaff was the Buffalo Sabres' fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and is taking part in this week’s Sabres Development Camp at Harborcenter.
The 20-year-old just finished his fourth season in the Western Hockey League with the Seattle Thunderbirds. In 49 games played, Ratzlaff went 23-19-4 with a 3.16 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Despite a first-round exit in the WHL Playoffs, Ratzlaff put up a .919 save percentage and a 3.30 goals-against average in six games played.
After his final junior season ended, he got the opportunity to go down the the Rochester Americans and practice during their playoff run. Next season will be his first full season playing professional hockey.
According to Amerks head coach Mike Leone, it gave the young goalie a chance to see what pro hockey is all about.
"It was important for him to come on our stretch run at the end of the year just to see our day-to-day, and how hard it is too," said Leone while participating at development camp. "The preparation and being around both of our goalies in Rochester really helped him, the day-to-day and becoming a pro."
If you recall, the Sabres were in Germany and Czechia getting ready to open the 2024-25 season against the New Jersey Devils. The group that would make up the Amerks wound up playing the preseason schedule in North America.
Ratzlaff found himself in Columbus playing, pretty much, against the entire Blue Jackets NHL roster, which left Leone impressed with what he saw.
"In that preseason game, where he pretty much went in and played Columbus’ real lineup, he had a good game shutting them out in his two periods," Leone said. "I think that was really important for him that he could play pro hockey, and it gave him a lot of confidence."
Ratzlaff valued that time in Rochester, and knows it’ll help him as he becomes a pro this season. He, of course, has great memories of that preseason game against Columbus.
"It was a surreal experience," said Ratzlaff while taking part at Sabres Development Camp. "I could sum it up, I remember playing against the Blue Jackets and I looked on Twitter in the morning, and they pretty much had their full, entire lineup. It was the Buffalo Amerks versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, but I just knew going into it that I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m playing against an NHL team. I just want to show what I can do and have a little fun out there."
With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon the likely goaltending duo in Buffalo this coming season, that means Ratzlaff will likely contend with 2022 second-round pick Topias Leinonen for the backup spot in Rochester behind Devon Levi.