Camping Season: 2025 Sabres Prospects Challenge Notes & Takeaways - Sabres Semantics - The Armchair GM's Sports Network

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:03):
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(00:39):
a hard hitting interview and discussion show featuring players, alumni, media,
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Speaker 3 (00:53):
Show.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
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this show is sure to provide an entertaining and unique
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Speaker 4 (01:14):
Welcome into an on site episode of Saber Semantics right
here on the armcare GM Sports Network brandec Puto here
at the Harbor Center in Buffalo. The Sabers Prospect Challenge
just wrapped up here on the Monday, four days worth
of games with five teams in attendance here for the
weekend weekend ish Friday through Monday, a long day, three

(01:35):
games each for each team, and it finished off today
with the Sabers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. We're gonna talk
about players that stood out in the tournament, some notable
players that you'll want to hear about, some of the
high draft picks, some of the Sabers players that you're
expecting to see in the upcoming twenty twenty five twenty
twenty six season. This training camp hits later this week.
I'm pleased to bring on for the first time and

(01:57):
happy to have him on this season. And that will
be Joe Yurdin of Bleacher Report and Noted Hockey Joe.
Thanks a lot for coming on for the first episode.
I know this is audio only today, but going forward
we'll have you on some of the video podcasts and
things like that, but on site here from Sabers Prospect Challenge.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
Appreciate you doing this.

Speaker 5 (02:15):
Yeah, it's a treat brand and this is fun. We're
we're gona have a lot of fun this year. That's
a good way to get it started with the with
the Prospects Challenge.

Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, absolutely it is.

Speaker 4 (02:22):
We're also gonna hear from Rochester head coach Mike Leone,
who was able to do the wrap up press conference
after this whole thing came to an end.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Do you hear that later in the episode as well.

Speaker 4 (02:32):
Thank you to those that are listening on your favorite
on demand audio platform, make sure to hit like It,
subscribe whatever one you're listening to right now, and make
sure you give us a follow at Saber Semantics or
Armchair gm pod on all of our social media accounts. So, Joe,
the Sabers played three games. They played on the Friday,
the Saturday, and the Monday. Results wise weren't the best
for the team when you look at it in the

(02:54):
box score, but realistically the scores really don't matter in
these little tournaments like this. It's about how the players
developed and what they took away from this experience. Some
are going to go back to junior hockey, some are
going to go to nc Doba. Some are gonna be
up with the Sabers, either in Buffalo, Rochester or in
the ECHL. So, just in generality, what were your main

(03:16):
takeaways from the three games that Buffalo played this week?

Speaker 5 (03:19):
Well, I think if there's some of the takeaway is
that you can be encouraged by some of the newer
guys that are in the organization here. They had eight
of their twenty twenty five draft picks playing in this tournament,
which is kind of wild. I mean, that's a lot
of really young guys. We're talking eighteen year old guys,
and look at some of the rosters for some of
these other squads and even the Sabers squad like their

(03:41):
top guys are AHL veterans, they have NHL experience. They
finished on Monday with Pittsburgh. Owen pickerings on the on
the squad for the Penguins. He played twenty five games
in Pittsburgh last year. I know he's a junior, great
junior player, but that's a huge step up for a
lot of these guys to get the experience and not
to mention like the nerves that come through so like

(04:03):
you see them like that's fun, but you get the
counter to that. You got a lot of guys who
played a ton of time in the AHL last year,
you know, like soccer Roseane, Anton Wahlberg, No Austlin, Like
these guys got NHL experience. You know, at least in
Roseanne and Austlin's cases, they do Roddy and Murca gets
in there. You know, lots of guys where it's it's

(04:23):
it's you know, you're you're kind of getting a feel
for some of them and others that you want to
see more from them because they have that experience. And
it was a weird balance because we saw more from
the new guys than we did the old guys, which
you know, hey, listen, Lindy Ruff's gonna Lenny Ruff's gonna
have a lot to say about the that with the

(04:44):
with the the old guys when camp starts on on
ice on Thursday. But the very interesting tournament. Obviously, if
you're coming out looking for wins, you're you're really bummed out.
But Mike Leoni was joking with us saying he's like,
I'm zero for six in this thing now going back
to last year. So I don't I don't think he
liked me joking if he feels feels the heat yet

(05:05):
he didn't. He didn't seem to like that too much anyways.
But uh, but this was this was really interesting because
it's it's always interesting for the new guys to see
how they fit in and how how they look in
these situations because you know, they might have some experience
playing against some of these guys from you know, playing
in junior, playing you know, playingwhere else. But this is
you know, everybody kind of into the pool. Let's see

(05:28):
what you got, Let's see how you see how you
handle things, and it's kind of like a stress test,
you know, you know, how many how many cooking shows
you watch or anything like that, but like the stress
test of like, all right, we're opening the restaurant, let's
see how we do this thing. And then you're right
into a game and it's like, okay, well, we can't
look bad, right right, And then you see who stands out,
and we were able to see some guys stand out

(05:48):
and some others that kind of lift lacking.

Speaker 4 (05:51):
And especially when you're going up against different competition. It's
one thing when it's inner squad into your own people
within your own rookie camp and things like that, but
when you add all five four other NHL teams and
their prospects and seeing where you stack up with other
teams rosters and their pipelines, it's interesting too because, like
you mentioned, you have the first year guys that want
to come in and make an impact right away, but
then might the moment might be too big for them

(06:13):
after they get out on the ice and see how
the speed is, see how how competitive things are. And
then you've got guys maybe in their third or fourth
year at this tournament that are really trying to claw,
scratch and claw their way through the ECHL, the AHL
and trying to make that next step in their pro
hockey careers. After, you know, being able to grind through
so many years here. So it's that interesting dynamic of

(06:33):
those guys that are trying to make it and also
the ones that are here for the first time, trying
to make a good first impression but also realizing that
it's a really different level at this And the part for.

Speaker 5 (06:44):
Some of the older guys too is that some of
them kind of see it on their faces, are like,
I'm here again. Why am I doing this again? And
it's like, well, buddy, you're you're still in your entry
level contracts, so you're eligible, Like you're you're in this,
Like you know, I think I think of Rose and
who's been in the AHL now for what two years,
you know, two years running, and he was Rochester's top
scorer last season, like you know, and here he is

(07:08):
the prospects challenge if I'm you know, I fine, you
know again, like many reasons why I'm not a professional athlete,
we won't get into that, but I think about, like
what my mindset would be in his shoes, and you know,
it's like I'm twenty three, twenty three years old, you know,
twenty two, twenty three years old, and I was just

(07:28):
the leading scorer for one of the top teams in
the second second best league in the world, and I'm
playing in the Prospects Challenge a week before training camp,
and like what am I doing here? Man? Like this
is not where I want to be playing right now.
And but the other part of that, though, is that
it's like, Okay, well, now you're the best guy here,

(07:50):
go show it, you know, go go show your own team,
go show your own management. Like, well you sent me here,
Well now I'm going to score nine goals a game
and I'm ready for camp. Lee, Let's go, buddy. It
can be tough, Like that's a tough it's a good
mental test to find out where your motivation is, like
how motivated you are, and you know how you're going
to respond, like if you get sent back to the

(08:10):
AHL at a camp or whatever, because some guys they
have their you know, their mindset, like I want to
be in the NHL. Roseanne told us that, you know,
day one a camp here, you know, NHL is the goal.
I got to you know, I got to be there.
And it's like, good, that should be the goal. But
if you don't, if you don't reach that goal, that's
that's such a tough thing to try to to try

(08:31):
to wrestle with, as you know, at a guy at
his level, because you don't want to go back, but
you have to be you're going back, you're gonna you
have to be one of the leaders. You have to
be one of the top guys. And if you're not,
then it's you know, then you're talking about your career
getting maybe sideways, because everybody's scouting, everybody's watching, everybody sees

(08:52):
what's going on, and like if the guy goes back
and he sulks and he's bad for a couple of
weeks or a month or whatever, then it's like, all right, well,
what are we doing with this guy? Like, yeah, how
visa is gonna be If he's gonna be like this,
you know, when there's hardship in the way, what's he
gonna do during the regular you know, if he's up
here in regular season and he's not getting the minutes
that he wants, is he's just gotta be like, oh, well,

(09:13):
I don't want to. You know, this sucks. Like you
gotta play, You gotta play, and you gotta play hard,
you gotta go hard, and you know it's very hard
for those guys in those spots to you know, try
to kind of kick it into gear. He'll be motivated.
I guarantee a day one a camp when it's on
ice and Lindy's skating, skating them all over the place
and saying like better being better, be energized, buddy, like

(09:34):
let's go. But but I can understand, I can understand
maybe having a letdown, but you know, for three games
worth a letdown, like that's tough.

Speaker 4 (09:43):
It's that conundrum of I've made it the pageantry of
your NHL Draft day and going through the process and
now you're year four here and then it's.

Speaker 1 (09:51):
Like what am I doing at a at a a.

Speaker 4 (09:52):
Rookie camp basically, So it's not humbling, it's a humbling mindset.
And it's like you mentioned that battle mentally to be
able to go down and still have that mindset that
to come back up here for training camp and then
dial in for hopefully making the NHL camp, but then
also realizing that these are the little things behind the
scenes that make go the extra mile. That maybe the

(10:16):
team or the organization looked at you positively because you
had the right attitude coming to something like this that
maybe you didn't necessarily want to.

Speaker 5 (10:23):
Yeah, and and you know, it's it's very hard to
be focused in that, like to think about those things
in the moment because you're just you know, you're so
centered on like what you're doing to prepare and to
get ready and to do all these things, and you
know when it's when it's something like that, and it's
just kind of like, man, it's like, you know, all
my other buddies are they're here, like they're you know,
everybody's in town because you know, camps starting up, so

(10:45):
we got all these other NHL guys are in town
and everything, and and then you know you've got even
younger guys, you know, like we saw your Ecoalique and
Zach Benson. We're here at the game the other night,
and it's kind of like Cooliaku was my team.

Speaker 4 (10:57):
You know.

Speaker 5 (10:58):
Cooliak's like, you know, a guy like we're saying, like
that's his best friend and he was in the NHL
like almost all last season, and he's like like, man,
that's gotta be me. I gotta do that. And it's like,
m playing in this rookie game. I don't want to
be playing. You got to put all that aside and
just go and play and dominate and make it so
that they got to be like, well, he had to
be here, but also like we don't need him playing.

(11:20):
You know, he'll be fine, it's okay, but you know,
if you're in that spot, you just got to go
and play. Like Matt Savoy a couple of years ago.
Look great, he was awesome in this tournament. And then
he hurts his shoulder and that changed kind of changed
the course of how things went with the Sabers because
Savoy getting hurt turned into Benson making the team out
of camp, but he never left. He stayed in the
NHL the whole time, and mattsa boy's in Edmonton. And

(11:43):
because they didn't because they're like, well, we already got
one small guy forward and it's I don't know if
we need another one, but you know we need we
really need a number three center, and this is our
way to get in.

Speaker 1 (11:52):
Ones and his teammate in the WHL as well, linemate,
which was all.

Speaker 5 (11:55):
They were linemates. Yeah, that's what I mean, Like it's
and all that jeez, for what two years two three
years were their.

Speaker 1 (12:03):
Teammates Nacchi and when they moved from Winnipeg.

Speaker 5 (12:06):
And yeah, that's right. Yeah, I mean Benson. I think
the only bit of when actually Benson ever saw was
training camp that one year and he didn't go back.
It was it. He was in Buffalo.

Speaker 1 (12:15):
He's been here since.

Speaker 4 (12:16):
So Joe, let's get into some of the players and
obviously some very talented top end draft picks here. For
the Sabers, we always we've been talking about that for
a long time with this organization, but again they continue
to stockpile this top end talent. Let's let's sort of
just quickly get your general thoughts on some of the
guys that stood out. Obviously, you've got the constat Helanius,

(12:37):
you've got the Esach Rosean as you mentioned, Noah Austland,
Anton Wahlberg, Redeem Mrka, some top end draft picks here.
First off, talk about those guys that everybody kind of
wants to hear about, those top end guys.

Speaker 5 (12:50):
Yeah, Helenius, I really like the way he played on
Monday against Pittsburgh. I thought I thought he he was
much more engaged. He was definitely upsetting a lot more
guys on Pittsburgh by existing and dig getting hard in
on corners and and and playing hard that way. Columbus
game was a struggle for I think everybody out here.

(13:11):
That was a sloppy, not great game for anybody. I
think that was just a that was a bit of
a letdown after how the Devil's game went on on Friday.
But I like Helenius is such an interesting player because
you know, he's not big, He's not he's not a
you know, he's not a huge forward. He's not like
a guy who's going to intimidate you with size. But man,

(13:33):
he's just a hound on everything and he's just he
gets in your face. He's he's competing for pucks everywhere,
all over the place, and when his game is going well,
he's right on it and he's involved in all the plays.
We saw that a lot more on Monday, which is
which is good to see. Took him a little bit
to get going last year in Rochester because he was

(13:54):
eighteen playing in the AHL, coming over from Finland, and
that's a big adjustment in a lot of ways. But
the second half of the year he was great and
the playoffs, he was fantastic in the AHL playoffs. So
encouraging as the weekend went here for him to see
him kind of take his steps and get better because

(14:14):
he was centering I think the second line, the first couple,
I think, each of the games, and then he ended
up on the top line for a bit on Monday
afternoon today, So good turnout for him. I think, you know,
if you're looking for raw offensive numbers here, they didn't
exactly put them up, so like it's fine, But I
like Hellnius. I think he's I think he's a really

(14:36):
good player.

Speaker 1 (14:37):
He got into a fight.

Speaker 4 (14:38):
Technically there wasn't really a fight, but they called him
for fighting even though it really was roughing penalties.

Speaker 1 (14:42):
But he did show a little bit of bite there.

Speaker 5 (14:45):
Yeah, I think the official was like, well, I'm not
giving you guys ten minutes. So you had a fight,
go sit down. I'm giving this other guy two minutes.
Because Helenius was doing everything he could to like stiff
arm the guy away from him, Like I Pidola is
way bigger than Hellnious, and that is not a fight.
I don't think. I don't think he wanted any part
of it was pretty clear because he was just like,

(15:05):
get away from me. I'm off fight you stay away,
like probably chirping him the whole time. So that's that's fine.
That's that's the way things go. But yeah, it's uh yeah,
he and Noah Austlin both getting fighting majors this weekend.
That wasn't on the Bengo car no no, And you know,
for Austlin, I think the gloves came off for a second,
but I don't. That wasn't like a drag everybody the center,

(15:26):
ice and duke it out kind of thing. That was
very similar to to the quote unquote fight we saw
with Helenius.

Speaker 4 (15:33):
What about those other top end first rounders that are
playing down at Rochester.

Speaker 5 (15:37):
Yeah, I I I'm a big fan of Noah Austlin
because I liked I've liked the way he's grown. You know,
when he was drafted him he was small. I mean
like wait wise, he was very small, Like we're talking
maybe one hundred and fifty pounds, soaking wet, that kind
of thing, like where you're just looking at this kid
and you're like, boy, he he's gonna need to put

(16:00):
some weight on here and muscle and figure out how
he's going to get around and if he's going to
be an NHL guy, he's got to get that figured out. Well,
he's up to like one hundred and eighty he's one
hundred and eighty pounds now one hundred and eighty five
something like that. So he's pro size and watching him
last season in Rochester in the playoffs particularly, I was

(16:20):
so impressed with the way he's able to track the
game defensively because he was high skill point, supposed to
be like a high skill point guy, because you figure
a guy that size, well, he ain't defending anybody. He's
not checking anybody like he's gonna fly around the ice
like whatever. This guy's a hound on pucks. He back
checks like a maniac. He's on top of everything. And

(16:41):
I really like the way that he's zeroed in on that.
Now it's just about creating offensively more. And we Mike
Leoni was talking about this a little bit earlier in
the week, but but guys that have that defensive if
they got the defensive side of the game locked in
and the offense is there too, their trajectory gets a
lot higher, a lot quicker because the NHL, if you're

(17:02):
not defending, well, you're not playing there, period. But we've
seen Austlin get so much better with that, and we
saw him doing that some more this weekend where he's
you know, he's first guy in the fore check. He's
you know, he's you know, mindful of where he is positionally,
and he was also very good offensively. He had a
he had a breakaway I think Friday night got stoned

(17:23):
on that, but like, you know whatever, he had a
goal another one of the games. Like he he played
pretty well. And I think that's that's huge because he's
a center, Like he's he's not a guy that's gonna
be like he say, well, maybe he's a maybe he's
a winger. No, he's a center. So like that is
big because he can never have enough centers, especially offensively,

(17:45):
Like you can never have enough of those guys. So
that's that's really strong to see Rosane. I've already talked
enough about Roseanne. Uh disappointed with that. I mean Leone
said before the week started up, I want to see
him dominate. He didn't do it, like just flat out
just did not do it and had no points, you know,
and you know kind of kind of looked like he

(18:06):
was kind of struggling with it. And you know, maybe
a little bit better on during Monday's game against Pittsburgh,
but you know it's at that point, it's just it's
kind of like it's like, dude, we just watched you
play for two games not do anything like this is
this is tough.

Speaker 1 (18:23):
He scored seven goals in the second or five goals
in the second game, right, you.

Speaker 5 (18:27):
Know, and you know, and he wasn't a factor in
any of it. So that's that's that's really tough to see. Uh.
Anton Wahlberg kind of similar, although he's not as dug in,
Like he wasn't as big of a scorer last season
for Rochester and he's still pretty new to coming over
and he just came over last season from Sweden. Big guy,

(18:49):
he's like six' to. Two played center In. Sweden he's
been playing wing mostly in The rock in the ahl
got a chance to play some more center here On
monday and looked. Great the whole week before that playing
winger did not look that, great did not look, engaged
not you, know do, whatever and like that kind of
mercurial nature was really noticeable In rochester last, season and

(19:13):
a lot of it was like he'd get a great
scoring chance and you, know goalie makes a, save shot goes,
high head drops down and he's just, like, ah, man
that was my. CHANCE i could have you, know and
you know that's the part of being, young you. Know
and that's a guy who had a lot of success In.
Sweden you, know he was a really good offensive talent,
there and you know you're coming over here in this you,

(19:34):
know it's a lot of. Pressure you, know you gotta,
perform you gotta do, whatever you, know and you know
when you're not putting up the you know you're not
cashing on the opportunities you've, got and you know it
can be very quick to get in you, know get
in the back of your head, like oh, Man i'm
never got a, score you, know like this this is.
Tough but like when you get a great scoring chance
and like an, equal LIKE i, mean, geez imagine you're
you're playing against like you're playing Against laval and you've

(19:57):
got Like Caden primo playing goal, there who you, know
big time prospect for a long time in The montreal,
system and he's just robbing your left and right and
you're just, like, oh you're getting down on it and you're,
like oh, man this. STINKS i can't you, know don't
get mad about. That like you're getting stopped by somebody
who's who's on Your you're at his. Level go do it,
again make him stop you, again make them do it all.

(20:17):
Game you, know instead of just getting bombed and getting
sad about, that he looked a bit more confident. Here,
granted you, know top line, struggled he struggled really, badly
but the chances he had in the third period Against,
pittsburgh like he was camped in front of the, net
and he had one offer to the one one shift
where he had like three or four chances right in,

(20:39):
front and you, know, goalie goalie does a. Job that's.
Fine the key was he came right back down and
did it again his next, shift, like you, know attacking
the net doing. That love to see that because kid
that size camping out around the net being, good you,
know below the circles and the whole thing can live down.
There six to. Two big. Kid just he's. STRONG i,

(21:00):
mean he's, strong but he's kind of gotta kind of
got to grow up a little, bit you, know like
it's just it's just a matter of getting more. Mature
so that was encouraging to see as.

Speaker 1 (21:10):
Well victor Neuts chef first game in quite a.

Speaker 4 (21:13):
While, yeah a little bit odd that he played in.
Today in the game On. Monday nobody really expected it
kind of came out of. Nowhere did play his first,
game believe since he had, surgery.

Speaker 5 (21:27):
His shoulder surgery back In. MARCH a long. Time, yeah
it's a long. Time and you, know he's he's a
very interesting. Talent because his shot we didn't get to see,
It we didn't get to see it too much In monday's.
Game but the SHOT's really good and he's really creative,
offensively like he's like he's a like a classic like
video game build sniper where he can like he can

(21:50):
kind of wheel around the ice as. Quick his SHOT's really.
Good really encouraged by seeing him back on the, Ice
so THAT'S i, mean that's huge for camp because, uh
because he's got a chance to really kind of pop
off For rochester this. Year want to see what he
does this season because we saw a lot of it
last year because he's he's a guy that is like

(22:10):
teaming over with, confidence like to a point where he's
kind of cocky and it comes doesn't come through in his,
attitude it comes through the way he moves with the
pucker on the ice where he's just doing stuff where
you're like, ooh, ooh it kind of kind of nasty, man,
like where'd that come? From and then you know he's
pulling off some great move and he's making a pass
where he's scoring a, goal and it's, like, wow all,
right look all, right, buddy let's let's see what you.

(22:33):
Got so him being back is nice to. See really
looking forward to seeing what he does In rochester this
year BECAUSE i think if he takes, it if he
if he's able to make a take another big step this,
YEAR i think that's. HUGE i, mean not necessarily like
to get him the buffalo right, away but just get
him so that, like, hey maybe we got a guy
here in the pipeline that we can we can kind

(22:53):
of splice in here and see what we can, do
because there's there's a ton of talent. There but it's
just you gotta you got to you got to develop,
him you gotta get, him you got to get him.
Ready and you, know he's a little bit, bigger a
little bit stronger. Now so it's good to.

Speaker 4 (23:05):
See and that was the forward side of. Things you're
gonna move to the defenseman real. Quick Isaac bellivo's first
look at him part of The Connor timmins. Trade this,
offseason him coming in From, pittsburgh playing Against pittsburgh. TODAY
i think he was at the tournament last year for.
Them so thoughts On bellivo and and you sort of,
asked you, know do you you envision him having a
spot On rochester and sounds, like you, Know Mike leoni

(23:27):
says that he's a guy that he could see down
there with The.

Speaker 5 (23:29):
Amerks, yeah he's he's he's shaping up to be a
depth guy and in The rochester. Level spent a lot
of time in the e last year Because pittsburgh is
just you, know you, know when you Got Eric carlson
And crystalsang and and those guys up, top like that's you,
know you're not it's very hard to crack in as
a depth, guy even you Know pittsburgh was not good last,

(23:51):
year but still hard to crack. In and you, know
but they've had you, know they're going in a different direction,
obviously you know they Added Connor clifton uh in that.
Trade so But belivo is an interesting guy because, rangye
he's got some, movement like there's some skill, there there's some,
ability and not knowing a whole lot about him, beforehand

(24:14):
and LIKE i, know you know he's come up through
juniors and. Whatnot but getting a good look at him
here him, Like i'm, like, OKAY i could this guy
could be this guy could be A puck. Movie he
could be doing some stuff. Here BUT i if he's
not In, rochester he'll be playing twenty minutes a night In.
Jacksonville uh for the. Iceman That's BUFFALO'S ehl. Team uh
if he didn't, Know but that's as good as spot

(24:37):
as any for for young defenseman like. It and you
know there's already a ton of young defensemen In. Rochester
we saw like three of them here in this weekend
already that you, know they've already got spots claim, basically
but but it's it's important to get a look at
him here with this group and held his own like
that's it's important to see defense overall struggled struggled pretty

(24:58):
roughly this. Weekend part of that toa they didn't get
a lot of help him before is. Either but but,
yeah very interested to see how that turns out for.
Him BUT i don't, KNOW i you, know he spent
so much time that you last. Year you gotta wonder
if he's already penciled in to go, there which, Right, hey,
listen if you're, playing you're. Playing it's more important to
play than to just sit in the press, box you.
Know you know for.

Speaker 4 (25:20):
Stretches he did score a nice goal in the game Against,
pittsburgh so maybe they gives him a little bit of.

Speaker 5 (25:24):
Confidence, yeah, yeah it, Helps it definitely. Helps and you
know what a little bit of a revenge goal, there.

Speaker 1 (25:30):
And he celebrated in front Of pittsburgh's.

Speaker 5 (25:32):
Bench, well those guys were riding them all game, long
so you know that's. Fine, Plus i'm pretty sure he
knows every single one of those, guys.

Speaker 1 (25:40):
Right for, sure the big one Redeem merca literally and. Figuratively, yes.

Speaker 4 (25:48):
Got a lot to discuss on. Him we'll try to
get through it. Quickly but first opportunity to see, Him
buffalo's first rounder ninth overall in the twenty twenty five
draft Is, june big right, shot you, know six foot
six defenseman wearing number fifty, seven which is already seeing
The Tyler myers. Comparisons and, Again Tyler myers was the

(26:11):
guy that was a love hate during his time In,
buffalo won The call their, trophy and then things sort
of went to in the other. Direction and he ends
up going on To vancouver still playing, now but first
impressions of the big check in and what you thought
of his entire. Game scored his first goal on The
friday night and then got into some rough stuff on The.
Saturday we got a little bit of everything from Ridin.

Speaker 5 (26:33):
Merca, yeah the way he's able to read plays offensively
from the blue, line like he knows when when to jump,
in when to get, Involved like at least that's wolves
apparent this weekend he was very cognizant of Like, okay
now's the time to, GO i can jump into, this
or reading where the defense was, rotating like the goalie
scores Against New. Jersey he looked at like where everything was.

(26:58):
Going you, know the savers forwards are kind of packing it,
in not packing it in down, low but everybody's kind
of below the. Dots so everybody's just kind of being
mindful of, that saying, like, well those guys are more
dangerous and slacked. Back murcus swings his way around to
the to his off hand circle And Noel labergeh another
really had a really nice weekend on defense for. Them

(27:18):
didn't play On, monday but looked, good made a nice
saw him the whole, way watched them the whole way
and like kicked, in came down low and then just
feathered a nice pass over to him and you know
he was able to beat the goalie to the to
the wide. Side really nice. Shot he's such a smart.
Player like you get a guy who's six six and

(27:40):
can move as well as he does because he moves,
well and you, know you're more. FOCUSED i watched the
defensive side of things more just because like the, defenseman
like unless You're Eric carlson level offensively on, defense then
Like i'm gonna be watching to see how you handle
things in the d. Zone he was solid physically and
had a big hit a couple of those. Games, uh

(28:02):
was able to keep his cool when guys were trying
to trying to get in his. Face Ryer bolton was you, know,
Listen Ryer bolton did the classic like go for the
biggest dog in the yard and show him that you're
that you're nobody's, fool like tried AND mrca just looked
at him like are you? Nuts like get out of, here,
MAN i ain't fighting. You which smart on his, kids

(28:24):
smart on both of, Them Like bolton's like he's, like all, right,
man let's let's do. This like you want to, go
you want to, go and you, Know murca's like, no, no,
NO i don't want to, go and like you're insane
to try to go for. Me but the way he plays,
defensively like his his gaps were pretty good, positionally like
guys are trying to race past them and, like, okay

(28:45):
they might get a step on, him but like all
he does is like flex his hips, out swings his
hips out, wide and then he's got the stick and
he's like cutting off their path to the net that.
Way cause it's like all, right WELL i can't get by.
That he's just gotta poke it right off my stick coming.
AROUND i love. THAT i like seeing that kind of
stuff from a guy who's who's his age and is

(29:06):
still getting accustomed to play In North. AMERICA i, mean
he played forty plus games In, seattle so he's he's
got a good feel for it. Already like let's let's
not act like this is a totally foreign thing for.
Him but but just the he played so heavy and
he's so smart about. THINGS I i it was asked
about you know whether or, not like maybe he goes to.
ROTCH i don't see that happening this. Year Like Mike

(29:28):
leone was pretty, clear like it's a lot harder to
play defense than it is to play, Forward Like helenius
is able to do it because forward we can hide a.
Forward you can't hide a. Defenseman you're you're the Last
you're literally the last line of defense before the. Goalie
You if you screw, up everybody sees. It and then
it's like it's a huge confidence, thing like don't mess with.

(29:49):
That let him go play In, seattle let him let
him dominate out, there and then get him to watch
next year maybe like we'll, see like, whatever but there's,
time there's. Time they've got plenty of, time and like
he's gonna be. Good he's you, KNOW i know he
was too easy for fans online when he got drafted
to get you, know snarky about things and. Whatever but

(30:09):
like his kid loves playing and he loved he's he
seems to love being here and he's having a good
time and he's looked pretty, good like maybe maybe a
little tired On, monday but like you know, what he's
playing twenty minutes twenty minutes a game in in a
prospect game like it's, fine he'll be.

Speaker 1 (30:29):
Fine, yeah his facial expressions don't tell the whole.

Speaker 5 (30:31):
Story oh, NO i tell you right, NOW i don't
want to be in a poker game with him BECAUSE
i won't find out. Anything i'm not gonna find out
a damn thing like get stone cold bluffed right off
the table by. Him i'll Just i'd be.

Speaker 4 (30:43):
Toast, yeah But merco was definitely a guy that was,
noticeable not just because he's. Bigger he's men amongst boys
out there, sometimes but he definitely stood out and Showed
sabers fans why they should be so excited abut. Him
don't pencil him in the top four decor, already you
know WHAT i. Mean but at the same, time you
see what could eventually be with the guy like, that

(31:04):
especially when he rounds. Out he doesn't even really know
how to fully play in that big, frame in big body,
yet and it's going to take a couple of years
for him to gain all that those, experiences and like you,
mentioned going back to THE, whl maybe goes to a
contender and who knows from, there but a good run
for A Memorial cup would be good for.

Speaker 5 (31:21):
Him and the thing is your defenseman in the. Dub
you're not playing soft defense in the dub ever, ever, ever, EVER.
A you have to be, BIG. B you got to
you gotta start hammering on.

Speaker 4 (31:32):
Things so we'll move on lastly to the, goaltending and
again they brought four goaltenders. Here Scott reslaf did not
play a little bit under the weather for this last
day that he most likely would have played on The,
monday but more, Precautionary Mike leone, said if it was
a playoff game or something like, that he would have been,

(31:53):
in but precautionary didn't didn't skate on the. Weekend just
general thoughts on the, goaltending because it's it's hard to really.
Gauge like you, mentioned if the team isn't playing solid
team defense and the goalie gets left out to drive
for sevent eight, goals it looks bad in his say,
percentage but doesn't tell the whole. Story so any quick
thoughts on the.

Speaker 5 (32:08):
Goaltending, YEAH I i, Uh topius Leananin is is the
one to keep an eye, on just because he'll be
In rochester this. Year we don't know how that's going
to break, down especially now that The savers Added Alexander
georgiev to the goaltending mix Because Ukapeka lucanan tweaked. Something
we've already got stuff before camp. BREAKS I leanan is

(32:32):
interesting because he's so, big like he's six foot he's
six foot, five you, know big, goalie like. Whatever he's,
healthy which is. Good CONCERN i had was that a
lot of the, save the first saves he was, making
he didn't know where the puck was after he made those,
saves And i'm, like, oh, okay well maybe you, know
maybe that's an adjustment. THING i don't, know but like
something to keep an eye on this season, wherever you,

(32:55):
know wherever he's, playing whether you know it's In, Rochester
jackson or, whatever something to keep an eye. On whether
that's like. SOMETHING i, Mean Seamus, cottack the team's goalie,
coach organizational, coach he's gonna have his hands hold because
he's got two young goalis or with him And rats
Laugh malash And Leanders. LEANERS i thought played great two

(33:15):
periods On saturday night Against. Columbus third period was tough
because the wheel just kind of came, off and you,
know stuff. Happens it's it's what. Happens but BUT i
thought he played very. WELL i was very encouraged to
see that because he because he was able to track
the puck very. Well a couple of goals he got

(33:35):
beat for or you, KNOW i Think Mike leone called
him fifty to fifty plays where it's you, know defense
makes a mistake and then it's, like all, right well
he's got Twenty the skater's got twenty five feet to
the net by himself to decide what he wants to,
Do like all, right you, know maybe come up to.
Play but he's, nineteen it's. Fine and same goes For Sam,
malash like eighteen years. Old, Man like these guys are

(33:56):
gonna be Sitting they're gonna be playing junior. Hockey they're
gonna be playing where for four in the next three four.
Years like it's, fine it's, fine but they but they
handled themselves. WELL i Thought malatch did pretty well On.
Monday that's, fine but it would have been more fun
to see rats laugh out here just to get another
look at. Him he got got some time In rochester last.

(34:17):
Year he didn't. PLAY i think he, played but he
was there, like you, know kind of taking. Notes you,
Know Devin levi's the guy, there so like you just
have him hang out, there but could be asking a
lot of those guys this year to be backups In rochester,
again depending on what happens With Georgia, lyon like the whole,
Thing LIKE i, GOLDTENDING i. CAN'T i hate talking about

(34:40):
goltending With sabers because it drives me out of my.
Mind like, this even before we you, know we Had
levi And lucan in here where it's kind of, like,
oh which guy is gonna be hated it? Forever because
it's just like they got other. Problems they got other
problems to worry.

Speaker 6 (34:53):
About but now you got like FOUR nhl goalie and
like one of, them you, know is going back to
The Ahl levi's unless you, know unless you Know luken
in seasons over with or something.

Speaker 5 (35:04):
LIKE i don't, KNOW i don't who, knows But levi's
going back To Rock like that's he's gonna go. There
he's gotta play the whole. Season he's gonna try to
win him A Calder. Cup, great BUT i, mean, gee, ways,
Man LIKE i can't stand talking about goaltending because it's
it's all. VOODOO i don't every TIME i THINK i
understand a. POSITION i DON'T i, LEARNED i don't know

(35:25):
anything about. It so but it's which is great THAT
i just spent the last five minutes talking about goldening,
anyways but uh but, NO i, encouraged encouraged to See
it's nice to see Lean in, here. Period BUT i
want to see what he does Against North american pros.
Man it's gonna be be very interesting for. Him and you,
know as long as he stays, healthy because he battled

(35:47):
injuries the last couple of years In finland And. Sweden
so be very interested to see if he can just stay,
healthy play, games get your, time get things down and
then same for rats laugh like, great he's great in junior,
Hockey like he's just he's really. Good Uh So i'm
very excited to see what he can.

Speaker 4 (36:06):
Do more reaction to the twenty twenty Five Sabres prospect
challenge right here On Sabers samanda story right back after
the commercial. Break we're here from head Coach Mike leone
on the other side of, it so stair it here
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Fans here we, Come it's Talking died And. Bob here we.

Speaker 10 (39:59):
Go welcome back to part two of Today's Saber semantics

(40:27):
episode from twenty twenty Five Sabers Prospect.

Speaker 4 (40:31):
Challenge thank you to those that are tuned in on
the audio version only today of today's, Podcast thank you very.
Much make sure to get like hit, Us hit us
with a, like subscribe on whatever one you're choosing to
listen to us. Today Brandon kudo joined Alongside Joe jorden
From Norded hockey And bleach your, report continuing to discuss
and break down this week here for The Buffalo sabers

(40:51):
at The Prospects challenge right here On Saber. Semantics make
sure to give us a follow on x At Saber
semantics or on our, armchair Gmspurce, everard face, Book, instagram
TikTok and YouTube. Page, So, joe before we get To
Mike leoni's wrap up of the, WEEK i guess what
is your thoughts on the next step? Here Like now

(41:14):
That Prospect challenge is, over training camp starts later this.

Speaker 1 (41:18):
Week you've Got.

Speaker 4 (41:19):
Kevin adams And Lindy ruff speaking On, wednesday you Mentioned
Alexander gorgiev signing and what that means For ruko Pek.
Lukenan still really no update was provided to us. Today
so in your, opinion some of these guys that are
gonna be going from this prospect challenge up to training
camp later this, week you, know what are your thoughts

(41:39):
on how this twenty twenty five six twenty twenty six
season is sort of ramping?

Speaker 3 (41:44):
Up?

Speaker 5 (41:44):
Now this IS i mean obviously The sabers and the
state that they're, in you, know no playoffs in fourteen,
years and the whole. Thing the attention is so hyper
specific on can this team get to the? Playoffs and The,
east like you get outside those top teams in The,
east everybody's got a. Shot everybody's got a, Chance like

(42:07):
you look at the teams that at the bottom last,
year like Like boston and. Whatever we really think The
Boston bruins are gonna be seventy points bad again this?
Year they could be probably not, though Like swaming gets
a whole, camp they get you, Know Hampis lindholm And
charlie McAvoy. Back you, Know David pasternack's, great like all these.

(42:28):
Guys it is just you, know all these teams are so,
close and you, know even last year The, sabers their
whole season was thrown in the dumpster because they lost
thirteen straight, games which, yeah, yeah it'll. Happen avoid avoid
like a stretch like. That and you know this team
is was is in the wildcard race the whole. Way
and maybe they make it like they're, close they're they're

(42:51):
a playoff esque, team but it's you, know everybody's fighting
for those. Points everybody's you, know when you got everybody
kind of in that schmat like right in there where
you've got, six, seven eight teams that are kind of
on the same, level you, know it gets tough and
like any little thing can change things. Up there's reasons
to be. Encouraged it's how they played in the second

(43:13):
half of the year where the veteran guys really took To.
Lindy you, Know Alex, Tuck Tge, Thompson. Dollan dollan was
otherworldly all season. Long his absence during that thirteen game
losing streak was very noticeable and contributed to. That like
we're talking about a team that's got a lot of
guys that are so, good and they're so, talented and

(43:34):
they can score, goals they can do all this, stuff
just a matter of just getting it together for enough
to be able to get. There so this camp is
gonna BE i, mean it should be laser. Focused, EVER
i you, know as much as it might stink for
us that are asking, questions if these guys are like
boring and just like, playoffs we just got to make
the playoff cool, cool be laser, focused don't you? Know

(43:57):
we want to have you guys like joking around having
fun with, us but also LIKE i don't, know if
you guys are kind of just like super serious and
like lasered in and like we got to make the
playoffs or, else that's that? Cool like give me, That
like that's fine because that because that is the sort
of thing we haven't really seen here much because the
team's always been so stupid, young and you know it's

(44:19):
guys that are just kind of, like, wow THE, Nhl holy. Cow,
Now like these guys are still stupid. Young they're probably
still gonna be the youngest team in THE. Nhl but you,
know even some of the youngest, guys they've got three
years under their, belt three four years in THE nhl
under their. Belt Zach. Benson we just we just saw
him a few weeks. Ago he just turned. Twenty he's
going into his third season in THE. Nhl like they

(44:41):
can finally send him back to junior if they, Want
like you didn't have to worry about sending them back to.
Junior they can send him THE. Anhl he's never going.
Anywhere like it's things like that where it's just like
it hits you where you're like, Wow teams, like, yeah they're,
experienced but youth comes at a, price and that price
is just like how you react in tough, situations and
they haven't able to do. THAT i think they started
cracking through that a little bit last, year so you

(45:05):
want to see that carry over and, honestly having a
camp where you're you're not flying To europe for a
month a week into it is probably going to do
them a world a.

Speaker 4 (45:12):
Good, yeah well they don't have to have their entire
roster decided before they head over To. Europe so definitely
going to be a regular training camp for them as well,
well as you mentioned hopefully being their. Benefit let's get
To rochester head Coach Mike leon and his post twenty
twenty Five Savers Prospect challenge. Thoughts we're going to come

(45:33):
back and Get joe's final thoughts on it when you
find that Our ratslav wasn't, available and how do you
Feel polish stepped?

Speaker 11 (45:38):
In, uh you know, what rats is kind of under the.
Weather i'm sure if it was if he was playing
junior hockey at playoff, game you, know probably could. Go
but he's just under the, weather just more. Precautious AND
i thought he did a good. JOB i think he
was a bit of the whole entire. Tournament if you
look at the goals we gave, up like the first,

(46:00):
two a lot of. It if you look at the
three games is you, KNOW i don't know what OUR pk,
was but wasn't. Great we weren't great on the power,
play gave up a short handed. Goal BUT i thought
he did.

Speaker 3 (46:13):
Well you, know the first two the.

Speaker 11 (46:17):
Back door on one hits off a, kneepad the other
one the flex off our.

Speaker 12 (46:20):
Defensement so it was more just good to see.

Speaker 3 (46:23):
Him get in. THERE i thought he played. Well you look.

Speaker 11 (46:26):
At the, score you're probably going to think your goalie played,
Bad BUT i don't think he played bad at, all
which the last two games, especially it seems like it
wasn't that you weren't at your.

Speaker 3 (46:35):
Chances, no, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 11 (46:39):
YEAH i think if you look at the boat two,
GAMES i think we had close to ninety shots on,
goal you, know and we probably missing that twenty to thirty,
times and then the amount of TIMES i Think wally
might have had six to seven great a's not just
GRADE a like shots and a salt like you're right
around the you know that house area where we just didn't.

(47:01):
Finish BUT i thought we had the puck a lot.
Anytime you, know we were big. Heavy i'm a big
believer in and like shot volume and creating, chaos AND
i thought we did, that you, know every.

Speaker 12 (47:14):
Game we had over especially the last two.

Speaker 11 (47:16):
Games you, know we were close to forty, tonight we
were over forty last. Night you're gonna s. Score we
just we didn't capitalize on, it and then we missed
a lot of there was there would go one power
play was really, good and then we'd go through a
stretch where we were you, know didn't get really good
r raps are in the. Zone but it wasn't a

(47:38):
lack of ozone time or. Chances we had a ton
and then we missed it not quite a few.

Speaker 3 (47:43):
Times you mixed.

Speaker 7 (47:45):
Up your top two lines for. Today you, Know razane
was on the top. One how to eat it With
wahlberg and.

Speaker 11 (47:50):
It was, Again, yeah they they they played together a
lot during last, season so it was just to try
to get our the guys that have played with each.
Other then we kind of switched it into the third.
Period Wall he's played a bit of seminars more to
get him at reps at center. Two so, yeah they've.

(48:12):
Played they were a really good line for us last.
Year feed Their shultz also played With oz And rosie
and did a really good. Job so that was kind
of the reasoning behind the switch.

Speaker 7 (48:21):
There andutchev played his first Game. Mars what went the
decision the second?

Speaker 11 (48:27):
Line, yeah he Was NEUSCH'S i think a top six.
Player he was really. Skilled you could see some of
the plays he. MADE i think he had two points.
Tonight it was good to see him get. Back he was,
healthy he had you, know recovery in the off season
long you, know he missed a lot of, times so
it was good to see him. Back he's looked great
at practice AND i thought he second half of the

(48:49):
game he had a really good game today for.

Speaker 3 (48:52):
Him did you like to do a? Bit? YEAH i, think.

Speaker 11 (48:57):
You, know there was a chance he could have played
this second, game AND i think it was to see
how we recovered after practice and he was good to.
Go we we wanted to just make sure he was
one hundred.

Speaker 3 (49:08):
Percent what's your case?

Speaker 5 (49:10):
This he's a four year.

Speaker 3 (49:11):
Program why you do a sport?

Speaker 5 (49:13):
Year he did not get a point this this?

Speaker 3 (49:14):
Weekend do you need more on?

Speaker 12 (49:16):
Him?

Speaker 11 (49:17):
YEAH i think With rosie it's just a matter the
the willingness to do it all the time and not
the consistency in his.

Speaker 3 (49:26):
Game you see it in, Flashes BUT i.

Speaker 11 (49:28):
Think for him going into training camp is just to
do it all the, time you, know as you, know
you're on your last year of your. CONTRACT i, mean
that's that's for him is you know it's and he.

Speaker 3 (49:41):
Does he has a will and he he wants to do.

Speaker 11 (49:43):
It it's just being consistent in the, game not getting
frustrated when things and not so much if he's not getting.
Points but how do you impact the? Game cause you're
gonna go through stretches where you don't get, Points but
how are you how's your play away from the. Pocket
are you winning? Wallballs are you is He is he
going to be the most physical? Player probably, Not but

(50:04):
his version of compete is being relentless on park's getting
closing on guys, quick using his stick to disrupt. Turnovers
so it's just being consistent with his effort away from the.
PUCK i think when you're not scoring is those intangible
things that go a long way in your game and

(50:26):
give you confidence too when you're when you're playing the
game the right, way one thing you when all goal,
scorers you, Know noah went through it last year before
he got, injured you. Know but it's just doing those
things so you have confidence not just when you don't
score that you're helping your team.

Speaker 13 (50:43):
Win the Way Wald earth, PLAYS i would say a
little bit of the, same like he was in and,
Out like you saw in the third, period when you
can get on the fore, chick you had a ton of.

Speaker 11 (50:54):
CHANCES i think it's he's going to have to learn
how to finish those plays in front of the.

Speaker 3 (50:58):
Net but when he's, skating when.

Speaker 11 (51:00):
He's physically engaged using his sticks to disrupt, PLAYS i
think he has a chance to be a good penalty killer.
Too so it's you, know the first game we, played
he missed an, assignment so it's those things cleaning.

Speaker 3 (51:12):
Up but there's there's a lot of tools in the two.

Speaker 11 (51:15):
Box now it's just hit him utilizing those things with
the consistency doing it all the.

Speaker 5 (51:20):
Time it guy likes to play set.

Speaker 3 (51:22):
Up pardon?

Speaker 5 (51:23):
Me?

Speaker 3 (51:23):
Then?

Speaker 5 (51:25):
Yeah is it the word where you like you want
him that guy's? SPOT i always played a tonne.

Speaker 11 (51:30):
Like, YEAH i THINK i think IT'S i think it's
good because you, know when you, play when you're just
in one, spot say you're a, Center, well there's only
four centers that play at the next, level you, know the.

Speaker 3 (51:43):
Winger it's a little bit.

Speaker 11 (51:44):
Okay you got, eight but if you could play both
and you can be, versatile that's twelve spots that open,
up you know WHAT i. Mean SO i think IT'S
i think his natural instincts. TOO i used him a
lot last. YEAR i know he played center growing. UP
i know he really likes playing, center but his natural
instinct is to play. Low he's really good at killing

(52:07):
plays in the di zone and transporting.

Speaker 12 (52:09):
Parks, also he's really.

Speaker 3 (52:11):
Long you, know he's, big he's.

Speaker 11 (52:13):
Long he's got a really good, stick, defensively AND i,
know you, know he's slotted as a, winger BUT i
think it is the versatility with the, size if he
can get good in face. Off SO i think that's
that's more of a you, know upper management decision on
what they see him long. Term BUT i do think
he has ability to play both. Positions you had.

Speaker 8 (52:34):
Eight of your nine twenty twenty five draft, picks, yeah you,
know and in game situations led because it was a
work grow. Setting what was your evaluation as the group.

Speaker 11 (52:45):
In the first off of the young, Kids, YEAH i
thought picks. THOUGHT i thought they did. GREAT i, MEAN
i thought the Kou har Chik, ruchinsky Uh, nevan you,
know AND i thought they were arguably our best.

Speaker 3 (52:59):
Line.

Speaker 11 (52:59):
All they just played the game the right. Way they
they were, skating they were hunting. Parks they get caught
in the. Dzel sometimes they Miss assignmon's off, faceous but,
OVERALL i thought they did a great.

Speaker 3 (53:09):
JOB i Thought merca looked. GOOD i thought today he was.

Speaker 11 (53:12):
A little you, know three games in four days for
young big d is a. Lot it's probably a little
bit overwhelmed, Today BUT i thought he should. Well all
the all the young, KIDS i thought they did a
really good. Job you got your first.

Speaker 5 (53:24):
Look to see a guy that you think maybe help
you a.

Speaker 11 (53:27):
Lot, yeah, YEAH i think with the. Depth you, know
he gets, skated he's got a really good. Shot he
competes really. Hard that was my first time seeing, Him,
LIKE i, thought he did a. Route really when we put,
him inserted him in the, lineup he just kind of
calmed things down a. Bit he's played a little bit
of pro, hockey so, no he you, know he made

(53:49):
a strong case for, himself you, know the. Depth you
always need, depth especially in The American. League there's guys
going up and, down so it's good to have some
someone like that in our. Organization they'll give them the
versatility that you're forwarding your. Pass like if.

Speaker 3 (54:06):
Opening that it was tomorrow In, rochester who would be
your four?

Speaker 5 (54:09):
Cellars?

Speaker 12 (54:12):
Uh, well it's a.

Speaker 11 (54:14):
Tough it's hard for me to answer because you never
know what could happen at, camp you know WHAT i, Mean,
LIKE I i don't. Know maybe one of them goes
into camp and has four points in three games and
they blow the doors.

Speaker 3 (54:28):
Off then you gotta make.

Speaker 11 (54:29):
DECISIONS i THINK i, Think I'LL i think our, staff
like you get Through.

Speaker 3 (54:34):
Chang you, know.

Speaker 11 (54:35):
Injuries happen and you get through training, camp you never,
Know so it's hard for me to make a decision or.

Speaker 12 (54:42):
Assumption it's probably not fair to the just.

Speaker 11 (54:45):
The, guys you know WHAT i, mean they want to
go in. There everybody goes to a training. Camp you're
trying to make the, team and that's on the coaches
and then the players that are sent To, rochester they're
part Of rochester and we'll figure out after.

Speaker 4 (54:58):
That what's Your, specifically he seems like he continuously took
steps in the offensive.

Speaker 3 (55:03):
Leads, yeah what impressed you by his?

Speaker 5 (55:05):
Offense?

Speaker 11 (55:06):
Yeah HE i mean for a seventh round, pick he's
just like a ball of. Energy he just, skates he,
Works he competes really. Hard he's really. Smart he makes.
Plays he might add a point of game at the.
TOURNAMENT i, mean he, was he was really. Impressive he's
going to be a really good junior hockey, player really.

Speaker 3 (55:23):
Good college hockey.

Speaker 11 (55:24):
Player and you, know especially with the late round, picks
you just, hope you, know even if they played pro
hockey one day in The American, league that's a really
good draft. Pick and he has all the tools. Too
it's hard to say IN, nhl or you'll see how
that he. Progresses but good, player really good.

Speaker 3 (55:42):
PLAYER i was.

Speaker 11 (55:42):
Impressed he wasn't scared of the. Moment, obviously it's talking
to those. Guys it's an eye opening. Experience, it's, uh
just how, fast how, hard how skilled everybody.

Speaker 3 (55:55):
Is SO i thought those guys that line.

Speaker 12 (55:58):
WAS i thought they played great all weekend talking.

Speaker 5 (56:01):
About how players can open up, situations whether they, conlay
center or.

Speaker 3 (56:05):
Wing you, know but In wolvermurd's, cases the coach would
you rather see him as a? Center the?

Speaker 5 (56:09):
THING i know he's the center.

Speaker 11 (56:10):
Before, uh you, KNOW I i think it's it's a good,
Question LIKE I i think it's all.

Speaker 3 (56:19):
You.

Speaker 11 (56:19):
KNOW I i do think he could play the way
he could play both. Positions i'd like the thought of
having a six foot three center that could play below the,
circle especially as his projection is probably a depth player
in THE, nhl like A i'm just like A Greenway
maile and Steam, danforth like in that slot where if you're,

(56:42):
responsible you could win, shifts you're good in your own,
zone you know you're gonna help your team. Win you
could be a really not that he's not gonna be
an offensive. PLAYER i think that's yet to be. Determined
he's gonna have to learn how to score in front
of the. NET i think it all depends on you,
know there's a possibility whether if someone makes the team

(57:03):
out of camp or they take you, know you never,
know if it slots for him to play, Center i'm
more than comfortable playing him. There he gave, us you,
know anyone Following, rots there was a stretch there where
we towards the end of the year and call ups
and you know Where wally played center for a huge
chunk of the. SEASON i would, say an eight to

(57:24):
ten game segment and he was he was. Great you,
know were we at the were we at the winning
percentage we were at, Before, no but when we had
things going down there and we had a, slot guys
in different, spots or we had eleven, forwards Like wally
did a great job playing center at the end of
the season when the stakes are, higher people are fighting

(57:47):
for playoff spots or games gets.

Speaker 3 (57:49):
Tighter And wally did a great.

Speaker 11 (57:50):
Job AND i even use them in playoffs some games spot,
shifts you know after a power play or you, Know
wally and being the late game situation guy cause he's so,
big he's got a really good. Stick BUT i think
there's there's a lot of tools for him to play
the middle and the.

Speaker 4 (58:08):
Wing thought Somebody kemsky's first time at this, level third
round pick this.

Speaker 1 (58:12):
Year maybe it's a by break shot of the betsman
and you see THE i guess the skills go why
he was.

Speaker 3 (58:17):
Drapped, Yeah, yeah he's, big he's.

Speaker 11 (58:19):
STRONG i think there was times he was overwhelmed with
the pressure and like you know when you're coming around the,
net like you have that split second at junior hockey
where you get probably carried the puck to the to
the blue liner out of the zone where YOU i
think there was times it was a deer in the,
headlights like guys coming at you really fast to move the.
Puck SO i, think but you see the, size the

(58:41):
skating ability for the big, man there's a lot of,
tools AND i think it was a great experience for
him to see what it's gonna look like down the
road at the next. Level and if you wanna get
to THE, nhl what are conversations.

Speaker 5 (58:54):
Like between now who started camp with the guy who
store where he's looking to play your ball blow either
maybe you didn't have a.

Speaker 3 (58:59):
Term or hope you for at next see. That, YEAH
i think it's it's just a.

Speaker 11 (59:04):
RESET i, mean the guys are going to have a
couple of days off before camp, starts AND i, know
you Know buffalo staff new strength and conditioning.

Speaker 3 (59:12):
PROGRAM i think it's going to be.

Speaker 11 (59:15):
Extremely difficult and, challenging AND i think at the end
of the, day they're going to try to get you, know,
there do whatever they can to put the best team
for it possible to hopefully it's a long, season and
want to get into the.

Speaker 3 (59:28):
Playoffs AND i think at this, Point.

Speaker 11 (59:32):
Lendy's come in done a really good job his first
year getting the mentality of change for the, culture AND
i think it's even going to be elevated this. Year
AND i think they're in the mindset of the having
the best team possible for them to, win and whether
that's a young, guy older, guy whoever can help them,
win that's what they're going to. Do AND i think
it's everybody's got a clean. Slate come Come, wednesday and

(59:57):
the guys that didn't produce this, WEEKEND i think you
have a chance opportunity to Come wednesday to show what
you could.

Speaker 3 (01:00:04):
Do and then however they do the.

Speaker 11 (01:00:06):
Lineup when you get into a, game whether you play, one, two,
three it's an opportunity to showcase yourself AND i think
that's that's really.

Speaker 3 (01:00:13):
Important.

Speaker 6 (01:00:15):
Mark i'm just curious from the house, Keeping, stanley but
can you.

Speaker 3 (01:00:19):
At The rochester this?

Speaker 12 (01:00:21):
Year, YEAH i think he's eligible Because.

Speaker 11 (01:00:25):
I'm not too particular with the, rules BUT i think
he's in the same situation is hell he was last
year because you.

Speaker 3 (01:00:32):
PLAYED i think he was.

Speaker 11 (01:00:33):
Signed and, YEAH i THINK i think he's eligible to
play because he's technically not Like major junior or like
What benson was or some of the other. Guys If
i'm not. Mistaken, yeah that's a decision for.

Speaker 3 (01:00:49):
You, know the big.

Speaker 12 (01:00:50):
Club it's it's. Possible but THEN i think.

Speaker 4 (01:00:54):
An extended press conference For rochester head Coach Mike leone
here running the team this weekend on the bench as
the head coach for The Sabers Prospect. Challenge a lot
of great thoughts From. Joe it was twenty minutes, long
so uh not we could we could probably talk about
it for three. Hours but what were your generality takeaways
from what he had to? Say and hopefully you know

(01:01:17):
some players to watch in his mind going into training
camp and then who will be down with him In
rochester this.

Speaker 5 (01:01:24):
Season, yeah it's uh the guys to, watch you, know
from his. PERSPECTIVE i mean a lot of the guys
we've talked about. Already you, know you want to keep
an eye On rosane because to, see you, know if
this how he performed here is a motivator to go
into camp to be, like all, Right I'm i'm coming
for somebody's, job because right now he's gonna take away
somebody's job because the main roster kind of or you

(01:01:45):
could probably write there's a lot of names you could
write an, ink and the names that you can write in,
pencil you could write half of it an. Ink can
probably be okay with. It there's gonna there's gonna be,
competition but there's not gonna Be it's not like it's wide,
open you, know like that a lot of this team
you can you can almost like copy and paste what
they had last year and put it right in place

(01:02:06):
now and say, like, yeah this is this is probably the.
Team you, know a couple of minor differences here and,
there Like Connor clifton's, Gone Connor timmins is, In michael
kesselrings in AND Jj fitturk has gone like but you,
know for the most, part a lot of this group
is the. Same for the guys that are here that
are going to be competing for the for a spot
in THE, nhl they've got to really go out and

(01:02:27):
get at, it like they've got to get at it
in a big. Way and that you, know that Includes
rose and that's That's Aucelin wahlberg to a lesser. DEGREE i,
think you, Know wahlberg is destined to go back To,
rochester but you need those guys to have big seasons
In rochester, Too and with the way that roster's, built
those guys were being counted on to be big time
producers last. Year it just keeps going this. Year so

(01:02:50):
like that's that's a big, thing and that's that's a
great responsibility for those guys to have because a lot
of them really took to it last. YEAR i, mean you,
know we've been hyper Critical rose in, here but like
he was very good for them For rochester last. Year
he's very good and he's a very good. Player but you,
KNOW i think this kind of sets the path forward
for him where it's like, hey, man like your elc's

(01:03:11):
up after this. Year time to go get, It like you,
know it's either it's either now or. Never well not,
never but like go get it now because you got
you got a great chance to really to to to
make your name known and get them to. Succeed but but,
yeah this IS i, mean it's very tough to get
like hyped off of like the results here and a

(01:03:33):
lot of you, know a lot of the performances just
because it's kind of, like, man they kind of took
it on the chin here throughout the. Weekend but but,
yeah when it when it comes To sabers camp, though you,
know it's it's the big name guys who didn't really
produce here where it's like, okay, man like you just
make camp a lot harder for yourself because if you
come in like all guns blazing in your in your

(01:03:55):
role and then it's, like oh, man some of these
guys at the bottom, lineup but are better be better
we were because it might be coming to take their.

Speaker 9 (01:04:01):
Job.

Speaker 5 (01:04:01):
Now it's kind of LIKE i gotta work double hard
BECAUSE i, KNOW i, know, darnwall the coaches were, watching
they're sitting up with the box watching here watch it all,
weekend so if they don't come, ready it's. It you
know that that ticket For rochester might come really.

Speaker 4 (01:04:14):
Quick, Yeah so that's basically it for Today's Prospect challenge.
Overview again a long couple of long weekend here and
then as well going into this week like it's it's
all ramping up, Now, joe AND i guess just you,
know as we look ahead to training, camp, preseason regular
season starting in the beginning Of. October you mentioned they're

(01:04:34):
not going out, overseas which, helps but again just final,
thoughts says we'll have you back On i'm sure at
some point, soon but leading into camp and then you,
know preseason can only always take that with a grain
of salt as well with the results in, preseason same
thing as we saw here this.

Speaker 1 (01:04:50):
Weekend but you, know the the twenty twenty five twenty sixth.

Speaker 4 (01:04:53):
Season gonna be very important for The sabers and they're
gonna have to show all the talk that they've they've talked,
about you, know believing in this group and some of
these guys that may or may not be with The
sabers going.

Speaker 5 (01:05:04):
Forward, yeah it's it's gonna be a really interesting. Camp
just uh because it's gonna be like a couple of
weeks of just set in the path for the start
of the season because because they got to hit their ground.
Running his team cannot start the regular season slow because
they can't afford to be in holes. Period like you
just can't get stuck in a hole and try to
climb your way. Out it's too hard to get those points. Back, so,

(01:05:25):
uh start out, hot get get hot to, start and
then just kind of ride that momentum because as down
as fans are about the team right, now this team
comes jumping out and like say they go like six
one and two to start the. Year everybody's back on
the bandwagon and then it's, like all, right let's, go
let's let's go get it. Done like it'd be tough
to get really really bitter about things the team, starts

(01:05:48):
so you keep asking them to do, well then they do.
It it's, like, yeah they'll just let me down, anyway shut,
up just let's.

Speaker 4 (01:05:54):
Go So Joe jurdan From Noted Hockey Bleacher, Report, joe
thanks a lot for coming on today right after the.
Tournament here again background, music things like, that but giving
you the full experience of what it was like here
at The Sabers Prospect. Challenge thanks a lot and look
forward to having you on as a correspondent all season.
Long there's Nobody i'd rather Talk sabers with that's here every,

(01:06:14):
day boots on the ground and can provide me and
the listeners and our fan base with a lot of great.

Speaker 5 (01:06:19):
Knowledge, yeah happy to do. It, brandon had a lot
of fun here and, yeah let's get at it this. Season. Man.

Speaker 4 (01:06:23):
Absolutely that's going to wrap up Our Saber semantics episode
here from the twenty twenty Five Sabers Prospect.

Speaker 1 (01:06:29):
Challenge take.

Speaker 4 (01:06:30):
It everybody they tuned in on our audio only podcast,
today make sure it hit like kids subscribed and smash
that bell and whatever one you're choosing to listen to
us today and For Joe yard and my name Is Brandick.
Puittle that's gonna wrap it up and we'll talk to
you again right very soon here on The ARMCHAIR Gm Sports.

Speaker 1 (01:06:43):
Network you're listening to The ARMCHAIR Gm Sports. Network

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