The on-ice sessions of the Buffalo Sabres training camp begin today at 10 AM. Believe it or not, the first preseason game is next Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

As I’m sure you’re aware, this club is going through another rebuild and the focus will be on allowing younger players to get ice time. That sets us up for some interesting battles for the last few spots on the roster. It makes the preseason games more interesting to watch specific players that will be part of the competition for spots on the final 23.

Camp Battle 1 | Backup Goaltender

The most interesting competition through training camp and the preseason may be the one between Ukko-Pekka Luukkoen and Aaron Dell. These two will be trying to lock down the backup goaltender job behind Craig Anderson. All three will likely see time in the Sabres crease this season. What this competition will be about is who gets that first crack at it.

Dell is the veteran and may come into camp with his name written in pencil behind Anderson. It’ll be on Luukkonen to show that he’s currently a better option. Dell has bounced around the last few years with the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils.

His numbers don’t give you a lot of confidence that he can be at least an average NHL goaltender. Over the last two years, he ranks 63rd among 93 goaltenders that played at least 200 minutes in goals saved above expected in all situations, according to Evolving Hockey.

As you can see above, he’s coming off a particularly poor season with the Devils. He was arguably one of the worst-performing goaltenders in the league last year.

I would guess that the Sabres are hoping that Luukkonen can earn that spot in camp or at the very least show he can be relied on to play some games early in the season. The 22-year-old goaltender ended last season strong in the NHL and pitched a shutout in his one-game appearance in the Prospects Challenge. He was also able to have his first normal offseason in two years.

Prediction: Luukkonen wins the job as the backup to start the season.

Camp Battle 2 | Final Forward Roster Spot

Looking at the roster as it’s currently constructed I would say that there are two spots open if the Sabres plan to carry 13 forwards this season. It’ll be an interesting battle to follow throughout camp between a handful of players. I see Drake Caggiula, Brett Murray, John Hayden, Sean Malone, Jack Quinn, and Cody Eakin as the realistic players that will be in the mix for those final two spots.

Quinn is probably an outside shot and making the team this year. There’s still a lot to work on with his game and it doesn’t make any sense to rush him into the NHL. Especially when you consider that the Amerks will have a handful of young players he can grow with this season.

I wrote about Murray’s chances yesterday and after a strong Prospects Challenge, I believe that he has a legitimate chance at locking down one of those spots. Malone and Hayden will need to impress throughout camp to grab one of the final positions. Hayden comes over from the Arizona Coyotes organization. He’s a bottom-six player that is good on the forecheck and brings some physicality to the lineup. If nothing else he was a decent depth signing for the Sabres as someone that can give you some NHL minutes if needed.

Caggiula and Eakin are likely the two that are penciled into the roster at this point. I know most people are not happy to see this in regards to Eakin, but the fact of the matter is that the Sabres need centers. However, Granato indicated that Zemgus Girgensons and Arttu Ruotsalainen will open camp at center. If Ruotsalainen and Girgensons can show the ability to play down the middle, Eakin will have a difficult time finding a chair when the music stops in October.

Caggiula was re-signed this offseason after a brief stint with the Sabres. He has played under Don Granato with the Chicago Blackhawks, therefore, his familiarity with the head coach gives him a leg up in the competition.

Prediction: Drake Caggiula and Brett Murray start the season with the Sabres.

Camp Battle 3 | Sixth and Seventh Defensemen

There was lining up to be a battle for the final spots on the Sabres blue line, but an injury to Mattias Samuelsson probably cleared that up. Kevyn Adams said today during his press conference that he’s currently week to week. That would mean that Robert Hagg and Jacob Bryson will likely pick up the last two spots on defense.

It’ll be an interesting few weeks for this team leading up to the regular season both on and off the ice.

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