WEISSBACH OUT TO PROVE HIMSELF AT PROSPECTS CHALLENGE
Sep 15, 2022Tonight kicks off the first game of the 2022 Buffalo Sabres Prospect Challenge and the second that Rochester Americans forward Linus Weissbach has had the opportunity to attend.
“I’m just trying to be a leader out there and I’m trying to make sure that everyone feels comfortable. If they have any questions about anything, I'm here and I kind of know what's to expect from now on,” said Weissbach when he asked how it felt to be a second-year veteran at the annual event that is now in its seventh year.
Weissbach, a seventh-round selection (192nd overall) by Buffalo in the 2017 NHL Draft, signed his two-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres on April 6, 2021.
In 2021-22, Weissbach spent the entirety of his first professional season with the Amerks and appeared in 67 games while accumulating 37 points. He also appeared in one postseason game with Rochester against the Belleville Senators before suffering an upper-body injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the team’s playoff run.
“A little bit of everything I'd say,” started Weissbach when discussing what he focused on this past summer after getting the green light to get back on the ice. “For me it was a long season, longer than what I'm used to in my previous years in hockey. So, there was a lot about recovery, I mean mentally and physically, but then obviously when I got back to work, I think a lot of it was a lot of speedwork and trying to get back to how you come into camp because you lose a lot of that during the season. So, I was kind of building back in all those strengths and the speedwork that I had coming in.”
Prior to turning pro, Weissbach spent four years at the University of Wisconsin from 2017-2021. Over 127 games with the Badgers Weissbach produced 114 points on 34 goals and 84 assists. Weissbach finished up his collegiate career in 2020-21 ranking in the top 10 in the NCAA with his 41 points and 1.32 points per game during his senior season.
Additionally, Weissbach has represented Sweden twice internationally, once at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in 2015 where he won a bronze medal and at the 2016 Hlinka Memorial Tournament where he won a silver medal and racked up two assists in seven games.
More than likely, we’ll continue to see Weissbach develop with Rochester heading into the 2022-23 season, however, his goal at Prospects Challenge this week is to show everyone that he’s ready to take the next step in his career.
“The biggest goal for me this week is kind of just to show myself, and everyone, that I'm no longer that young prospect. I'm more so ready to kind of step in and take games in Buffalo and play and contribute at the highest level.”
Weissbach then finished with, “I think that's going to be my goal this week and going forward in camp, too.”
The Prospects Challenge gets underway tonight as the Sabres youngsters take on the top prospects of the Montreal Canadiens. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. at LECOM Harborcenter with tickets still available for $10.
Here is the remainder of the full game schedule for the 2022 Prospects Challenge after tonight:
Friday, September 16
• Boston vs. Ottawa, 3:30 p.m.
• Montreal vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 17
• Pittsburgh vs. Boston, 3:30 p.m.
• Buffalo vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 18
• Ottawa vs. Montreal, 12 p.m.
Monday, September 19
• New Jersey vs. Boston, 10 a.m.
• Buffalo vs. Ottawa, 1:30 p.m.