NHL 2008 Season Preview: Buffalo Sabres Find Hope in Young Stars

The Buffalo Sabres believe in giving their young players a chance to improve and grow. They give their youngsters a chance to play in the AHL for a few seasons and then bring them up to the NHL level for a taste of the pros. The deal that saw Portland become the Sabres full time minor league team makes it easier for the Sabres to develop young talent. Now all the young players will all be on the same training program. Before this season, The Sabres shared their minor league team in Portland with the Florida Panthers as well. So, the Portland team consisted of both prospects form the Sabres and the Panthers. This season, Portland will be made up of only players in the Sabres system. This season, there could be a few players who could make the jump from the minor leagues to the pros this season.

Marek Zagrapan is the first of the prospects that could go pro next season. At only 15 years old Zagrapan was playing in the top Czech league and played the last two seasons with Chicoutimi in the QMJHL. He led all rookies in scoring in 2004-2005 with 32 goals and 50 assists. The following season he bettered himself when he had 35 goals and 52 assists. The last two seasons Zagrapan has played for the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He posted 35 goals and 43 assists for a team who finished in last place. Zagrapan is a fierce competitor who often takes bad penalties and gets caught up in the moment of the game, but his stick handling skills and balance are more than adequate for him to make the push to the NHL next season.

After losing to Michigan State in the 2007 NCAA Championship, Nathan Gerbe led Boston College in scoring this season with 35 goals and 33 assists in 43 games to clinch this year 2008 NCAA Championship. At only 5-foot-6 160 pounds Gerbe is far from the ideal size for an NHL player but his quickness and fiery nature give him a larger than life persona. Gerbe was pronounced the Most Outstanding Player in the 2008 Frozen Four scoring eight points, 5 goals and 3 assists. Gerbe is one of the most offensively talented prospects the Sabres have. Despite his size, look for Gerbe to make a strong showing at this years training camp.

In net the Sabres have Jhonas Enroth. Enroth was ranked as the number one European goaltender in 2006 when he was selected 46^th overall. He had a strong season playing in the Swedish Junior League in 2006 and spent time with Sweden for the World Under-18 Tournament. Last season Enroth posted a 2.13 GAA and a .932 save percentage to earn himself Swedish Elite League rookie of the year. Expect to see Enroth spend time with Portland of the AHL next season.