OTP - Could The Sabres Buyout Jeff Skinner? The 2024 Memorial Cup will take place in Saginaw, MI later this month, and it will likely feature two Buffalo Sabres prospects. Defenseman Vsevolod Komarov and the Drummondville Voltigeurs clinched a trip to the four-team round-robin tournament on Tuesday with a 4-3 win over Baie-Comeau to sweep the QMJHL Championship, while Matthew Savoie’s Moose Jaw Warriors are up 3-0 on the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL Championship after a 4-3 overtime victory. The 20-year-old Russian blueliner finished the season leading all QMJHL blueliners with 69 points (14 goals, 55 assists) in 60 games, was named the Émile-Bouchard Trophy winner as the league’s best defenseman earlier this month, and was named the winner of the Guy Lafleur Trophy as league’s playoff MVP after scoring 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists) in 19 games. Komarov was Buffalo’s fifth-round selection (134th overall) in 2022 and scored the game-winning goal for the Quebec Remparts in the Memorial Cup final last May and was dealt to Drummondville midway through this season. The big right-hander (6'3", 198 lb.) will likely not be rushed by the Sabres, but he could get a long look at training camp from new head coach Lindy Ruff since most of Buffalo’s defensive corps is left-handed (Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Bowen Byram, Mattias Samuelsson, Ryan Johnson). Savoie, Buffalo’s top pick (9th overall) in Montreal, saw spot duty with AHL Rochester and with the Sabres and was dealt after playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships by Wenatchee to Moose Jaw. The 20-year-old averaged over two points per game for the Warriors and has 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 18 WHL playoff games, including the game-winner in the series opener last Friday. It is expected that Savoie could challenge for a spot on the Sabres roster at training camp or play a full year in the American Hockey League. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1OTI0MDY2NDU5MTMzMjA2/img_5780.jpg] LATEST THN BUFFALO STORIES Sabres Say They Are Ready For Accountability [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-say-they-are-ready-to-be-held-accountable] Ruff Sees Similarities Between Sabres And Former Club [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/ruff-sees-similarities-between-sabres-and-former-club] Ruff Hopes To Bring Winning Culture Back To Buffalo [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/ruff-hopes-to-bring-winning-culture-back-to-buffalo]
