The prospects from the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres will have a bit of a different look this season instead of the HarborCentre tournament of the past. The teams once played a round-robin tournament with other teams in the region, but this year it will be just two games between the organizations on Sunday, September 12, and Monday, September 13.
It'll be the first time Bruins fans have a chance to watch their team play since the NHL team lost to these Sabres in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sabres won't have anyone in the lineup who played in that series, while the Bruins do have James Hagens on their roster, and he is expected to play at least one of the games before focusing on making the NHL roster in main camp.
Bruins' Rookie Camp roster
Hagens will be the main attraction, as fans start to stress about whether he will make the NHL roster out of training camp. With a less-than-stellar showing in his NHL debut last season, which isn't anything to be too worried about, fans will want to see him take a step, and it will likely begin with dominating Buffalo's rookie roster.
Dans Locmelis' return from last season's shoulder surgery will also be something fans keep an eye on. The Latvian center has turned heads over the past few years, and an injury at the Olympics cut short a solid rookie season in the AHL. Rookie Camp will be a good chance for him to put the right foot forward before main camp.
The Bruins don't have many defensemen at this camp who will challenge for roster spots this season, considering the abundance of players under contract whom Marco Sturm has to choose from. However, it would be nice to see Loke Johansson have a good camp before potentially joining the AHL team full-time this upcoming season.
With Michael DiPietro likely to be Jeremy Swayman's backup this season, the Bruins will need to find a new tandem mate for Simon Zajicek. Luke Cavallin likely has the inside track with Lundgren getting his feet wet in the ECHL, but a solid camp, starting with his chance to play in the rookie games, could earn Lundgren a look.
Sabres' Rookie Camp roster
The Sabres won't bring the most star-studded group to this camp, as top prospects like Konsta Helenius (aiming to make the NHL club), Daxon Rudolph, and Brodie Ziemer (still in the NCAA) won't be able to attend. The one player to watch who fans could see in NHL games this season is Radim Mrtka.
Mrtka is a massive 6-6 defenseman who will challenge for a spot on the Buffalo blueline this season. He played just 11 AHL games last season across the regular season and playoffs, but he is physically ready to get a shot in the NHL.
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