Sabres 2022 first-rounder has been out since September prospect tournament
Sabres 2022 first-rounder has been out since September prospect tournament
The Buffalo Sabres have sent forward prospect Matthew Savoie to the Rochester Americans of the AHL on a conditioning stint. The 19-year-old was absent from the club’s training camp after suffering an upper-body injury at the club’s prospect tournament on September 18 and has been doing on-ice work with the club’s training staff the last two weeks.
Savoie, the Sabres 2022 first-round pick, looked to have the inside track on making the NHL club out of training camp after impressing early in the tournament, injuries at inopportune times have prevented the speedy winger from gaining valuable experience.
"He had an injury in prospect camp last year and couldn't play and then (injured again in) the second game early in rookie camp this year." Sabres head coach Don Granato said. "I'm happy that he's able to stick around and gain what will be a real good experience in Rochester and we'll see where that leads from that point."
Savoie faces a similar situation to what Shane Wright had to deal with last season in Seattle. Due to the existing NHL/CHL agreement, any player drafted out of the QMJHL, OHL, or WHL cannot play in the American Hockey League unless he turns 20 on or before December 31 of that particular season. That means Savoie (who does not turn 20 until January 1) is limited to playing either in the NHL with the Sabres or with the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild, where he scored 90+ points the last two seasons.
The Kraken played Wright occasionally in the NHL but sent him down to AHL Coachella Valley on conditioning stints before loaning him to Team Canada for the World Junior Championships. Savoie can spend two weeks with the Amerks before the Sabres have to make a roster decision. In that stretch, Rochester plays six games and four at home.
Team Canada’s World Junior camp opens on December 10 in Toronto, which could mean that Savoie will get some opportunity to play with the Sabres in November.
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