Matt Savoie, Jiri Kulich, Devon Levi among absences after long hockey seasons
Zach Benson, the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft will be among 35 players attending development camp, which runs from July 2-6.
Benson, selected at No. 13, and the other seven players drafted this past week will be in attendance.
The roster, which consists of 19 forwards, 11 defensemen and five goalies, also features Russian forward Viktor Neuchev (third round, No. 74, 2022) and defenseman Nikita Novikov (sixth round, No. 188, 2021). Each will be attending their first development camp since being selected.
Notable absences include Matt Savoie, Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, and Devon Levi. With the Rochester Americans going on a run to the Eastern Conference final in the Calder Cup Playoffs, none of the prospects who played in that run will be at camp. Savoie joined the Amerks and played two games after his season with the Winnipeg Ice ended in the WHL final.
Levi signed his entry-level contract on March 17 after his college season ended and made his NHL debut two weeks later. He went 5-2-0 with a 2.94 goals-against average and .905 save percentage, appearing in seven of the Sabres’ final 10 games.
Russian defenseman Vsevolod Komarov will also be absent after a long season that ended in a Memorial Cup championship with the Quebec Remparts on June 4.
