SABRES 2026 DEVELOPMENT CAMP: DAY ONE NOTEBOOK
Close to 30 players took the ice earlier this morning at HarborCenter for the start of Sabres Development Camp
Jun 29, 2026By Ryan J. Harr
The future of the Buffalo Sabres was on full display Monday afternoon as 28 of the organization’s top prospects took the ice at LECOM HarborCenter for the start of the team’s annual Development Camp.
The camp, now in its 12th year and eighth at LECOM HarborCenter, is designed to introduce prospective players to the Sabres’ playing system, expose them to conditioning programs and provide them with the necessary tools – both on and off the ice – in order to be successful at hockey’s highest level.
Like years past, the roster for the annual camp features a balanced mix of young players, most of whom have been drafted by Buffalo in recent years, including the five selected in this past weekend’s NHL Draft, which also was held in the 716. Some have already begun their pro careers, others are getting ready to make the jump to the professional ranks and a few will return to their respective college or junior teams in the fall. But the objective for all of them is the same: make an impression on the coaches and front office staff while improving their game.
For many, today’s hour-long practice session served as an unofficial introduction to the organization. The players were put through a series of drills that emphasized conditioning and skill development. Most importantly, though, it was an opportunity to acclimatize themselves with the Sabres specific style of play and make a positive first impression on those who were watching nearby.
HIGH INTENSITY, HIGH PRAISE FOR DAY ONE
The first half of the practice featured a number of drills and power-skating session, led by player development coach and former Amerk Tim Kennedy. The prospects endured an intense half hour of skating drills emphasizing footwork and conditioning with each repetition being more rigorous than the one before it.
The final minutes saw the prospects rotate through a series of stations designed to test all three goaltenders in attendance.
“I thought it was a great first day,” said third-year Amerks head coach Michael Leone, who along with the Sabres development staff, is overseeing the on-ice instruction over the week-long camp. “They got pushed pretty hard earlier this morning with some of the fitness testing before even stepping on the ice and we skated them hard to start practice. It was a long skate, and they were pretty tired, but I was really happy with the overall effort.”
WELCOME TO BUFFALO
All five picks from the year’s draft class will be on the ice week, most notably first-round selections Daxon Rudolph and Ilia Morozov, who the Sabres claimed with the fourth and 20th overall picks, respectively, over this past weekend.
All eyes were undoubtedly on the first-round picks, mainly because they are hard to miss. Rudolph ranked third amongst WHL defensemen in 2025-26 as he tallied 78 points (28+50). He will begin his collegiate career in the fall by attending the University of Denver, the reigning NCAA champions.
Morozov, meanwhile, continues his tour of Buffalo after being selected 20th by the blue and gold over the weekend. The Moscow native notched 20 points (8+12) as the youngest player in college hockey last season with Miami (Ohio).
Rudolph, a native of Lacombe, Alberta, was the fifth-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings and the first defenseman taken in this year’s draft. A right shot, 6-foot-2 and 18 years old, he just finished his second and final season with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, collecting 78 points (28+50) – third among WHL defensemen in the regular season – and a plus-32 rating in 68 games.
The alternate captain then led all Raiders and WHL defensemen with 27 points (9+18) in the playoffs, helping Prince Albert to the WHL Championship Series. Rudolph has also won on the international stage, his résumé including a gold medal at the 2025 Under-18 World Championship and bronze at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Morozov is a native of Moscow, Russia but moved to the United States at age 14 to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL. He played for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm prior to beginning his collegiate career at Miami.
The report from NHL Central Scouting Services, which listed Morozov as the 10th-ranked North American-based skater in the draft:
A highly intelligent two-way forward who brings pace and precision to his game. He shows excellent awareness off the puck, supporting plays responsibly while positioning himself to create scoring opportunities in transition. His combination of strong edges, quick hands and a deceptive release makes him a consistent offensive threat, particularly on entries and in tight spaces. His compete level, versatility, and ability to elevate the play of those around him project well for success at the pro level.
TSN’s Craig Button concurred with the two-way description of Morozov, comparing him to Carolina Hurricanes captain and two-time Stanley Cup Champion, Jordan Staal.
LEONE’S AMERKS AT CAMP
Among the 28 skaters comprising this year’s camp roster, three donned the red, white and blue over the course of the 2025-26 campaign.
The reason is rather simple as to why there are not more Amerks attending camp. The Amerks are coming off their fifth playoff appearance in five years, and with Rochester’s season ending beyond the post-season, Leone and others thought it was necessary – and deserving – to give players more time to recuperate from the grind of a 75-game season.
Defenseman Gavin McCarthy, who signed an entry-level NHL contract with the Sabres on March 17 following the conclusion of his junior season at Boston University, is part of the young trio.
The Clarence native joined the Amerks last season on an amateur contract (ATO) and appeared in five games with the club, registering three shots.
Joining McCarthy are fellow blueliners Maxim Štrbák and Radim Mrtka, both who made their AHL debuts during the 2025-26 slate while also recording at least one assist.
Štrbák recorded 18 points in his third and final season at Michigan State University, finishing 11th in the Big-10 in plus/minus (+20). The 6-foot-2, 196-pound blueliner inked an NHL entry-level contract in April while also skating in a pair of contests with Rochester. The Slovakian native notched his first-career pro point on April 11 at Providence before taking in his first Calder Cup Playoffs as a scratch.
Mrtka, who is a towering 6-foot-6, is the tallest player on the roster, and was last year’s 9th overall pick by Buffalo. He started the year with preseason action for the Sabres and four games for the Amerks and played another four in Rochester to close the regular season.
Sandwiched in-between his Amerks tour, he enjoyed his second season with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. Mrtka amassed four goals and 69 points in 86 regular-season contests while also helping the team two a pair of postseason berths but he’s one of the organization’s top prospects regardless.
The Czechia native setup Brendan Warren for the game-winning goal against Toronto in the season opener last fall before adding a helper on Konsta Helenius’ tally in Game 3 versus the Marlies this past spring.
McCarthy and Štrbák are expected to begin the 2026-27 with Rochester but Mrtka’s fall plans have not been solidified by the organization.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Among the invites attending camp this week include goaltender Jacob Biron, the son of former Amerks Hall of Famer Martin Biron.
The younger Biron, who’s in his first pro development camp, has appeared in six games across the last two seasons at West Point. A former Junior Sabre himself, Biron has yet to be drafted by an NHL organization.
Biron is also one of three goaltenders, joining Sabres 2025 draft picks Samuel Meloche (Saint John, QMJHL) and Yevgeni Prokhorov (Dinamo-Shinnik, MHL).
LOOKING AT THE WEEK AHEAD
Days 2, 3, and 4 of Development Camp feature on-ice sessions beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and 11:00 a.m. Wednesday before the three-on-three competition, which will highlight the camp on Thursday, July 2 at 9:30 a.m. The on-ice sessions take place in downtown Buffalo at LECOM HarborCenter throughout the week are free and open to the public.