Sabres Edge

By John Vogl

Bo Horvat

Position: Center

Junior team: London (OHL)

Born: Rodney, Ont.

Measurables: 6-foot, 206 pounds

2012-13 stats: 67 games, 33 goals, 28 assists, 61 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 15 (North America)

Lowdown: Horvat has experienced nothing but success since joining London two years ago, and he had a lot to do with it this season. He scored with 0.1 seconds left in Game Seven of the OHL finals to win the game and series, sending the Knights to the Memorial Cup for the second straight spring. It was the highlight of a dominating postseason. Horvat recorded 16 goals and 23 points in 21 games as folks marveled at his big-game ability.

Possibly the best faceoff man in the draft, Horvat loves the two-way game. He’s a stellar penalty-killer and shot-blocker who gets put on the ice in key situations. He scored 11 goals in his first season of junior hockey and tripled it this season.

Though he plays top-line minutes with London, some observers feel he’ll amount to a third-line center in the NHL.

They said it: "He does everything you like to see. His penalty killing is very good, blocking shots. He's effective every shift. He does something every shift to contribute to a win. He's got good skill. He's got pretty good finish around the net. I love his competitiveness." – Chris Edwards of NHL Central Scouting to NHL.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

The NHL draft was already interesting with trade talk and bona fide prospects. Colorado just added to the intrigue.

The Avalanche are set to pass on former Denver resident and No. 1-rated prospect Seth Jones with the first overall pick, according to the Denver Post. The defenseman seemed destined to return to the city where he fell in love with hockey, but the Avs like the potential of Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin and Aleksander Barkov.

"If we do pick first, we're leaning more toward one of those three forwards," Joe Sakic, executive vice president of hockey operations, told the Denver Post. "We feel those three forwards are just too good to pass up."

By John Vogl

When the Sabres announced they were hiring a social media manager, Craig Kanalley figured it would be a fantastic job for one of his friends or followers.

“I thought it was a great opportunity for someone, so I shared it out,” Kanalley said today.

The more Kanalley thought about the job, the more he wanted it for himself. The senior editor of the Huffington Post sent in his resume and started dreaming of a return to Buffalo.

No other applicant could match Kanalley’s social media background. He’ll leave New York City at the end of the month and join his favorite team July 1.

By John Vogl

Terry Pegula says he talks to Darcy Regier more than his own wife. The chats have convinced the Buffalo Sabres’ owner he has the right general manager despite a playoff history that suggests otherwise.

“He is a very qualified person,” Pegula said today during an appearance on the Sabres’ radio show. “I don’t want to talk about prior ownership. I have a different management style, and Darcy has a chance to flourish under our management style. I’m giving him, I believe, more latitude in the way we operate the team with less financial restrictions.

“When you look at the history, even with the Sabres, what’s he done wrong? Help me out here. I’m going to ask the question. You gonna talk about some of the past deals. Maybe someone was holding the painter’s hand while he was doing the painting.”

By John Vogl

Rasmus Ristolainen

Position: Defense

Foreign team: TPS (Finland)

Born: Turku, Finland

Measurables: 6-foot-3, 201 pounds

2012-13 stats: 52 games, 3 goals, 12 assists, 15 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 4 (European)

Lowdown: Like other top-rated Europeans, the move to the NHL won’t be shocking for Ristolainen because he’s been playing against men in a pro league for two years. He’s actually been playing a lot. Ristolainen averaged more than 21 minutes per game while leading TPS’ defense corps in scoring. He also put up two goals and six points in six games at the world juniors.

Ristolainen doesn’t shy away from contact. The big-bodied Finn knows how to hit and can use his size and strength. He is adept at reading plays and makes solid decisions with the puck.

He’s not the best skater and could benefit by lengthening his strides. The Sabres have interest because he’s played alongside Buffalo prospect Joel Armia on national teams. The abundance of top-end forwards could push Ristolainen down the draft board.

They said it: "He's a mobile, strong, offensive-minded defenseman with very good puck-handling and passing skills. ... He knows how to use his size and strength. He's one of the best young defensemen in Europe in his age group. He's a leader on the ice and plays with confidence." – Goran Stubb, NHL director of European Scouting, to NHL.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

Dave Andreychuk was a steal at the NHL draft.

The big forward put up 58 goals and 101 points in 67 junior-league games heading into the 1982 selection process. Still, 15 players went before him.

The Sabres finally snatched him up at No. 16 after they'd taken Phil Housley at No. 6 and Paul Cyr at No. 9. Andreychuk went on to have a 1,639-game career with 640 goals, 698 assists and 1,338 points. He led his draft class in goals and was second in points to Doug Gilmour, who had 1,414 as a seventh-round selection by St. Louis.

NHL.com, as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first draft, is looking back at the best first-round selections. The panel has made the Andreychuk pick the best No. 16 ever.

By John Vogl

Ryan Hartman

Position: Right wing

Junior team: Plymouth (OHL)

Born: Hilton Head, S.C.

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds

2012-13 stats: 56 games, 23 goals, 37 assists, 60 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 16

Lowdown: Many people speak highly of Hartman, but few are his opponents. He can be likened to the Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta. He’s an agitator of the highest degree who loves the sound and feel of a big hit. He finished second on Plymouth with six fighting majors and led the team with 120 penalty minutes. Skirmishes after the whistle were as frequent as the verbal barbs Hartman lobbed at his foes.

Hartman helped the United States win gold at the world junior tournament. While skating in the role of shutdown forward, he put up two goals and three points in seven games. He finished second on Plymouth in points and assists. The former member of the U.S. National Team Development Program brings a solid work ethic and rarely takes shifts off.

Hartman probably will not develop into a top-line scorer, but he can bring the intangibles and attitude that teams embrace. He had shoulder surgery after the season and will be sidelined until August.

He said it: "Lots of teams show interest, some teams don't. It's exciting to think about. It's going to be where you're playing for the rest of your life, maybe.” – Hartman, about the draft, to NHL.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

A key question heading into Game Three of the Stanley Cup finals isn't who will win. It's when they will win.

Chicago and Boston have played parts of 10 periods, which normally equates to 3 1/2 games. Instead, the series is tied, 1-1, after Chicago won the opener in triple-overtime and Boston came back with an overtime win in Game Two.

The series shifts to Boston tonight. Chicago has lost Game Three in every series so far.

Here is the hometown look at the game, with the Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune.

By John Vogl

Kerby Rychel

Position: Left wing

Junior team: Windsor (OHL)

Born: Torrence, Calif.

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 205 pounds

2012-13 stats: 68 games, 40 goals, 47 assists, 87 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 17

Lowdown: Scoring 40 goals in consecutive seasons does a lot for a player’s draft stock, as Rychel can attest. He led Windsor with 41 tallies and 74 points last season, and he kept the production going this season to pace the Spitfires again. He has the size of a power forward and knows how to get to the right spots for a scoring chance.

Rychel is the son of former NHL forward Warren Rychel, who grinded out a 400-game career with stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, Colorado and Anaheim. Warren Rychel is also the general manager in Windsor, and his acquisition of Kerby has obviously worked out.

Rychel needs to improve his skating. He’s often sluggish on starts. Though he’s handled expectations that come with being the son of an NHL player and OHL GM, he can be weighed down by the burden of carrying a team.

He said it: "I'm a two-way power forward who can be used in all situations. I think the coaches have a trust in me to play in all situations. Some people will nitpick at my game since they know who my dad is. But I don't play like him. I work hard like him, but I'm not a fighter. I'm more of a goal scorer and penalty killer." – Kerby Rychel to NHL.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

John Vogl

Aleksander Barkov

Position: Center

Foreign team: Tappara (Finland)

Born: Tampere, Finland

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds

2012-13 stats: 53 games, 21 goals, 27 assists, 48 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 1 (European)

Lowdown: A 17-year-old isn’t supposed to dominate a men’s league. Barkov did. The big forward skated alongside former NHLer Ville Nieminen and never looked out of place, thrusting himself into the mix for a top-five selection at the draft.

Barkov’s father, Alexander, played 16 years in European leagues (often as a point-per-game player), and Barkov has lived up to the family name. He’s been competing against professionals since he was 16 and quickly developed the poise of a grown man. He’s been referred to as Saku Koivu with size.

“Sasha” had seven points in six games at the world junior championships on a team that boasted Joel Armia, the Sabres’ first-round pick in 2011. He’s a dependable faceoff man who has the vision to make the correct pass.

Barkov’s playoffs ended abruptly because of the need for shoulder surgery. He had it in April and will miss five months. He’s not the fastest skater.

They said it: "He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He's a very good stick-handler with great vision. He's one the better two-way players in this class and has shown more consistency than any other European over a full season." – Goran Stubb, NHL director of European Scouting, to NHL.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

T.J. Brennan is joining his third organization in three months.

Brennan, the Sabres' top pick in the 2007 draft, has been dealt from Florida to Nashville for forward Bobby Butler. Buffalo sent Brennan to Florida in March for a fifth-round selection in this year's draft.

Brennan totaled three goals and 10 points in 29 games this season, including two goals and seven assists in 19 games with the Panthers.

Butler has 20 goals and 48 points in 128 NHL games with Ottawa, New Jersey and Nashville.

By John Vogl

John Tavares went from talented hockey player to MVP candidate under the tutelage of skating coach Dawn Braid. The Sabres hope their prospects can take a similar leap.

Many of the Sabres' future players are in town this week to take part in a skating clinic. Braid, who is employed by Buffalo as a skating coach, is giving the lessons.

The sessions have been off-limits to observers.

The Sabres' annual development camp, which is typically open to the public, will return July 8-13.

By John Vogl

Ryan Pulock

Position: Defense

Junior team: Brandon (WHL)

Born: Dauphin, Manitoba

Measurables: 6-foot, 211 pounds

2012-13 stats: 61 games, 14 goals, 31 assists, 45 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 12 (North America)

Lowdown: It’s a fun moment when Pulock gets the puck at the point. Folks inhale deeply, then freeze as they watch him wind up. His slap shot – clocked at 102 mph in a Brandon skills competition – is world class. The cannon makes opponents wince in multiple ways. They block it and get bruised, or it reaches the net for a scoring opportunity. Even the puck doesn’t find the twine, goaltenders have trouble handling it and rebound chances abound.

Pulock has 33 goals and 72 assists over the past two seasons, making him one of the most dangerous scoring threats from the blue line in junior hockey. He produced this season despite battling a wrist injury for much of the year.

The ailment caused his stock to drop. Central Scouting had him at No. 6 in the midterm rankings. Pulock is not blessed with size or speed, which has led to conflicting scouting reports on his long-term ability. He played forward for much of his life and is still learning the defensive game.

They said it: "He passes the puck very well, plays a pretty simple game, and is very good on the power play. When he’s at the top of his game, he can make the game look pretty easy. He’s our captain, and he’s very respected by his teammates for his desire to get better and improve." -- Brandon General Manager Kelly McCrimmon to WHL.ca.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

One of the casualties of the lockout was the NHL Awards Show, so the league will hand out the hardware over the course of two days. It'll start today.

The NHL will announce the winners of the Bill Masterton Memorial, Frank J. Selke, King Clancy and Lady Byng trophies, and the Jack Adams, Mark Messier NHL Leadership, NHL Foundation Player and General Manager of the Year awards at 5 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com.

The Hart Memorial, Calder Memorial, James Norris Memorial and Vezina trophies, along with the Ted Lindsay Award, will be revealed at 7 p.m. Saturday on NBC Sports Network and CBC.

The finalists:

By John Vogl

Hockey fans in Buffalo tune in regularly to hockey broadcasts. The tradition continued in a big way Wednesday night.

The Buffalo market ranked fourth in the United States with an 8.5 rating for Game One of the Stanley Cup finals, NBC Sports said today. Buffalo was No. 1 among cities without a rooting interest.

Boston led the way with a 28.1 rating, while Chicago was second at 25.1. Providence, which is home to the Bruins' minor-league affiliate, was third with an 18.5 rating. Milwaukee (6.1) rounded out the top five.

Chicago's 4-3 triple-overtime victory posted a 4.8 overnight rating, which NBC said was up 100 percent from last year and the best in 16 years. Detroit and Philadelphia put up a 5.2 on Fox in 1997.

By John Vogl

Samuel Morin

Position: Defense

Junior team: Rimouski (QMJHL)

Born: Lac-Beauport, Quebec

Measurables: 6-foot-6, 202 pounds

2012-13 stats: 46 games, 4 goals, 12 assists, 16 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 23 (North America)

Lowdown: Morin was merely a curiosity when the season started. He stood out because of his height, but little else was of grand stature. Things have changed. He’s vaulted up the prospect rankings, including a 53-spot jump by NHL Central Scouting, which had him ranked 76^th in the midterm evaluations. Folks are intrigued by his willingness to scuffle and hit. His long reach in the defensive zone is an enviable trait and makes forwards go wider than they’d planned.

He’s a solid puck mover with a hard shot. He learned power-play tips from Sabres prospect and former Rimouski standout Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, who was a scoring machine in juniors.

Morin’s lack of pounds weighs heavily against him. He’s as rail-thin as Buffalo’s Tyler Myers at the same age, and like Myers he may struggle to put on pounds. Myers faltered while trying to adjust to his developing body, and Morin has experienced similar growing pains.

They said it: "He moves really well for a big guy, and he has a good sense of the game, offensively and defensively. He’s quite a responsible player. When you get a guy that’s that big, that rangy, can make the first pass out of the zone and has a good stick to defend, and he’s got a little bit of a physical element ... that’s a pretty nice package." – Dan Marr, director of NHL Central Scouting, to the Montreal Gazette.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

The way Boston and Chicago have been playing, it was assumed by many the Stanley Cup would be a tightly played series. Game One only enhanced that outlook.

The opener went to triple-overtime before Chicago's Andrew Shaw finally had a goal bounce off his leg and into the net with 7:52 remaining in the sixth period, giving the Blackhawks a 4-3 victory. Chicago rallied from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits.

The game was the fifth longest in Cup history. The "No Goal" epic between Buffalo and Dallas is No. 2.

Chicago took 132 shots, including 63 that reached Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask. Forty missed the net and another 29 were blocked. The Bruins put 54 shots on Corey Crawford.

For an in-depth look at each team, here is the coverage by the Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune.

By John Vogl

The hockey season didn't start until January, but it seems like a long run for Chicago and Boston. One will complete the journey with the Stanley Cup raised over their head.

The finals start tonight. Bucky Gleason picked Patrick Kane and Chicago in today's Cup preview. Make your pick below.

Today     8 p.m.     Boston at Chicago     NBC, CBC
Saturday    8 p.m.     Boston at Chicago     NBCSN, CBC
Monday     8 p.m.     Chicago at Boston     NBCSN, CBC
Next Wednesday     8 p.m.     Chicago at Boston     NBC, CBC
*Saturday, June 22     8 p.m.     Boston at Chicago     NBC, CBC
*Monday, June 24     8 p.m.     Chicago at Boston     NBC, CBC
*Wednesday, June 26    8 p.m.     Boston at Chicago     NBC, CBC

By John Vogl

Valeri Nichushkin

Position: Right wing

Foreign team: Chelyabinsk (KHL)

Born: Chelyabinsk, Russia

Measurables: 6-foot-3, 196 pounds

2012-13 stats: 18 games, 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 2 (European)

Lowdown: So how can a guy with pedestrian stats and a reputation for inconsistency make his way into consideration for the first overall pick? Pure, unadulterated talent. Nichushkin is a slick-skating big man who has the ability to make defensemen look as if they’re standing still. Few players in the draft can match his skating ability, especially in one-on-one situations, where he also uses his long reach to get around goaltenders. The combination of size, speed and a passion for heading toward the net amazes scouts.

The 18-year-old played at three levels in Russia this season: junior, second division and the Kontinental Hockey League. He had six goals and nine points in 25 playoff games with Chelyabinsk, which traded him to Moscow Dynamo after the season.

That’s where the red flags come in. He’s tried to convince folks that he really wants to play in the NHL next season, but the KHL paycheck waves in the background. Nichushkin added he will skate only in the NHL or KHL; the AHL is not an option. He had just one goal and two points in six games at the world junior championships.

They said it: "When Nichushkin is at his best, he's by far better than Barkov, but he's not always at his best. He's a big, strong player with a high overall skill set. He can score the big goals and can dominate games." – Goran Stubb, NHL director of European scouting, to NHL.com while comparing Nichushkin to top-rated European skater Aleksander Barkov.

By John Vogl

Harry Neale remembers begging his father to let him stay up late and listen to hockey broadcasts. Neale, only about 8 years old, would sneak a radio into his bedroom in Sarnia, Ont., and visualize the images conjured by legendary Maple Leafs broadcaster Foster Hewitt.

When Neale's phone rang with the news he was this year's recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award -- an honor that features recognition in the Hockey Hall of Fame -- the Sabres' broadcaster welled up.

"I can’t ever remember feeling as different as I did when I got the call," Neale said today. "It was a humbling moment to be in a group as celebrity-filled as the Foster Hewitt Award."

By John Vogl

Harry Neale went to a Hockey Hall of Fame banquet last spring to watch Rick Jeanneret get honored with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. Neale will go back again this year, but this time he's the one earning broadcasting's biggest honor.

Neale has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the Foster Hewitt, awarded annually to members of the radio and television industry who make outstanding contributions to their profession and the game of ice hockey during their broadcasting career. The winners are selected by the NHL Broadcasters' Association.

Recipients of the Foster Hewitt are honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with a plaque in the great hall. Neale will join Jeanneret and Ted Darling (1994) as Sabres announcers in the Hall.

Neale joined the Sabres' broadcasting team in 2007 after a long career with CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada." He was the color analyst for five years before moving to a studio role this season.

"Harry has entertained millions of hockey fans in the United States and Canada for close to thirty years,” said Chuck Kaiton, president of the broadcasters' association. “His unique brand of humor and insight has been memorable. He is extremely worthy of this honor."

Jay Greenberg, a longtime writer who has covered the Flyers and Kansas City Scouts, among other teams, also will earn Hall recognition as the winner of the Elmer Ferguson Award. The honor, awarded by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, is given to distinguished members of the newspaper profession whose words have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.

By John Vogl

Frederick Gauthier

Position: Winger

Junior team: Rimouski (QMJHL)

Born: Mascouche, Quebec

Measurables: 6-foot-5, 210 pounds

2012-13 stats: 62 games, 22 goals, 38 assists, 60 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 8 (North America)

Lowdown: Gauthier was on his way to Harvard, which isn’t a bad place to go for hockey or an education. Then the phone rang. Sidney Crosby, a former star for Rimouski, told Gauthier to reconsider his career choice. When the greatest player in the world calls, it’s wise to listen. So Gauthier changed his mind and took his big body to Rimouski.

The big body is what should carry Gauthier to the NHL. You can’t teach size, especially when that size can skate well and create offense. Gauthier averaged nearly a point per game for the Oceanic, and his defensive awareness was outstanding. He’s universally praised for his eagerness to play in his own zone.

The knock on Gauthier is his inability or unwillingness to consistently use his size, a common complaint with big men. He doesn’t have a mean streak yet. He stumbled in the playoffs, recording just two assists in six games.

He said it: "There's a defensive end and offensive end, and you have to chip in with both. I learned that every time you're on the ice you have to give it what you got, and on the next shift give it what you got. You have to empty the tank each time you're out there, and that's what I try to do." – Gauthier to NHL.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

Lindy Ruff has begun looking toward his next job – the New York Rangers are reportedly the latest to give him a call – but he’ll remain a Western New Yorker. In fact, he still carries the same dream for Buffalo as when he represented the Sabres.

“There’s one thing missing from my playing career and my coaching career,” Ruff said tonight. “I have no regrets on my playing career. I have no regrets on my coaching career, but there is one thing I want to see Buffalo have one day and that’s the Stanley Cup.”

The Sabres fired Ruff as their coach in February, but his ties to the community remain strong. The Clarence Chamber of Commerce honored him as its inaugural Sportsman of the Year during a ceremony at Westwood Country Club, and the Clarence resident received handshakes, laughs and applause from his neighbors in the Northtowns.

“I owe a lot to the City of Buffalo, to the community of Clarence,” Ruff said. “My kids all grew up and were raised here, went through school. Not many coaches can say their kids went to one school.

“I don’t have any plans of moving. I might have to relocate short term for a while, but home will always be Clarence.”

It’s possible the relocation could be downstate. The Sabres, who still have Ruff under contract, have granted the Rangers permission to speak with the 53-year-old about their coaching vacancy, according to multiple reports.

Ruff declined an interview request.

Ruff was scheduled to play in a golf tournament that accompanied his award banquet, but he canceled to take care of important phone calls, according to an event organizer. He has already interviewed for the Dallas Stars’ coaching job, and he has been linked to the opening in Vancouver, too.

By John Vogl

Lindy Ruff and the New York Rangers reportedly have permission to talk with one another. The former Sabres coach was scheduled to talk to someone important today.

Ruff is being honored by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce as its inaugural "Sportsman of the Year," but he skipped the accompanying golf tournament this afternoon because he had important phone calls scheduled, an event representative said. He is expected to attend the award ceremony this evening.

The New York Rangers, who have a coaching vacancy, sought and received permission from the Sabres to interview Ruff, ESPN.com wrote today while confirming a "Hockey Night in Canada" report from the weekend. Ruff is still being paid by the Sabres, who relieved him from his coaching duties in February.

By John Vogl

Jordan Subban

Position: Defense

Junior team: Belleville (OHL)

Born: Rexdale, Ont.

Measurables: 5-foot-8, 170 pounds

2012-13 stats: 68 games, 15 goals, 36 assists, 51 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 55

Lowdown: Studying is one of Subban’s top traits. The principal’s son has earned academic honors while playing in the OHL. But studying tape of his brothers and taking notes while watching their games is what really has Subban in line to add to the family legacy. His brother P.K. is a star defenseman for Montreal and a finalist for the Norris Trophy. His brother Malcolm, a goaltender, was selected by Boston in the first round last year.

Jordan Subban doesn’t have the size of P.K., but he has a similar rocket from the point that knows how to find the net. It’s hard and very accurate. He’s a power-play quarterback with tremendous passing skills and the poise to make the right play. He was plus-22 this season after a minus-23 outing last year.

His height and weight are major issues. He can be pushed around down low. If he can’t add pounds to his frame, he won’t make it in front of the net in the NHL.

He said it: "We both like to play emotional and compete very hard. He’s a little bit bigger than me, so I think I try to play a little bit more smarter and just use my stick well, where he can get away with using his strength and big body.” – Subban on comparisons to his brother P.K.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

Darnell Nurse, a likely top-10 pick in the NHL draft who's profiled in today's editions of The News, has a football background. His dad, Richard, played wide receiver in the Canadian Football League after a season at Canisius College. Nurse's uncle is Donovan McNabb, the former NFL star.

"I love football," Nurse said. "On Sunday, I’m probably on my couch for 90 percent of the day watching football."

He's not watching the Bills, though, despite growing up in nearby Hamilton, Ont.

By John Vogl

Eric Comrie

Position: Goaltender

Junior team: Tri-City (WHL)

Born: Edmonton, Alberta

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 167 pounds

2012-13 stats: 20-14-3, 2.62 GAA, .915 save pct.

Central Scouting rank: No. 2 (North America)

Lowdown: Goaltending is important for Tri-City. The team’s owner is Olaf Kolzig, who played 719 games in the NHL. Tri-City alums include Montreal’s Carey Price and the Flyers’ Brian Boucher. Comrie is continuing the tradition.

The half-brother of former NHL forward Mike Comrie gets extensive tutoring year-round, and it’s paying off. The dual citizen, who grew up in Edmonton and California, backstopped Canada to gold at the Ivan Hlinka under-18 tournament. A student of the game, he anticipates plays by watching a lot of video and learning players’ tendencies. He moves laterally very well.

Comrie’s season ended in February because of hip surgery. Scouts don’t have a full season to judge, and teams can’t be sure how he’ll fare under playoff pressure. He has no postseason experience.

He said it: "I think the best way to develop skills is pre-scouting. You watch a lot of their video and understand their tendencies and what the team likes to do with the puck, and also just by playing you gain experience. That’s why goalies make it at older ages. They have experiences they know where the puck is going in different situations." – Comrie to the TheHockeyWriters.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

News Sports Columnists Bucky Gleason and Jerry Sullivan discussed the NHL playoffs Friday morning on "The Bucky and Sully Show," which airs live at 10 a.m. Friday every week at buffalonews.com.

Click here for more segments from the show.

By John Vogl

Nathan MacKinnon

Position: Center

Junior team: Halifax (QMJHL)

Born: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Measurables: 6-foot, 182 pounds

2012-13 stats: 44 games, 32 goals, 43 assists, 75 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 2 (North America)

Lowdown: It’s not a bad thing to be compared to Sidney Crosby. Hockey’s premier player was born in Halifax, played junior hockey there and became an NHL franchise player. MacKinnon mirrors Crosby on the first two, and there’s little reason to think he won’t join him for the final piece of the trifecta. The center can do it all, primarily because of his skating. No one in the draft has MacKinnon’s explosiveness. A stride or two is all he needs to separate himself from the opponents. Once free, he has sniper ability and magnificent passing vision. He may not become Crosby, but he should become the best player on his NHL team in a relatively short period of time.

MacKinnon leaped to No. 1 on many draft boards after leading Halifax to the Memorial Cup title. He made a mockery of his competition in the junior playoffs, recording 11 goals and 33 points in 17 postseason contests. He scored three times in the championship game with scouts watching every move.

MacKinnon doesn’t turn 18 until Sept. 1 and would have had to wait until the 2014 draft if he was born two weeks later. With a maturity beyond his years, he’ll be at or near the top of the 2013 selection process.

He said it: “I’m pretty interested in some of the teams I could end up with. Obviously, anything can happen on draft day. Teams could decide to trade their picks or anything like that, but it’s human nature to be interested in that kind of stuff, what your future could be.” – MacKinnon.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

The United States will go for a repeat at the next world junior hockey championships. Justin Bailey and Dylan Blujus have a chance to be part of it.

USA Hockey will hold its national junior evaluation camp Aug. 3-10 in Lake Placid, and the Buffalo-area duo is among the 40 players invited. Bailey, a 17-year-old forward from Williamsville, plays for Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League and is eligible for the NHL draft June 30. Blujus, a 6-3 defenseman for North Bay of the OHL, was selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2012 draft.

The national team will be selected during a pretournament camp in mid-December. The world juniors will begin Dec. 26 in Sweden.

By John Vogl

Max Domi

Position: Center

Junior team: London (OHL)

Born: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Measurables: 5-foot-9, 185 pounds

2012-13 stats: 64 games, 39 goals, 48 assists, 87 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 19 (North America)

Lowdown: There’s no doubt being the son of an NHL player has certain perks. Domi, for example, grew up sharing the ice with stars such as Mats Sundin, Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts while his dad, Tie, played for Toronto. Max Domi learned how to be a pro from a young age.

There can be drawbacks, as well. Opponents see the name on the back of the sweater and take their best shot. But Domi’s main obstacles have included Type 1 diabetes and inheriting his dad’s lack of height. The compact, powerful forward wears an insulin pump during games and monitors his glucose levels on the bench and at intermission.

Domi has overcome the challenges so far. He’s strong like his pugilistic father, but he’s mainly a scorer. He had a hat trick in his OHL debut and has continued to torment goaltenders. He has top-level speed and an impressive touch around the net. The concern is whether he’ll get pushed around by bigger players at the NHL level, but the name Domi carries a reputation for fighting through obstacles.

He said it: "It’s a blessing to be able to hang around with guys like Mats Sundin, Mario Lemieux, ask them questions and learn from them, obviously. It’s definitely beneficial for me. It’s a lot of fun to be around them.” – Domi.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

Why would a person with a broken leg continue to clog shot lanes and try to clear the puck?

A) Because he can't get out of the way. 2) Because it's the Cup.

The Bruins' Gregory Campbell added his name to NHL playoff lore Wednesday night during a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Pittsburgh. The forward blocked a slap shot by Evgeni Malkin during a penalty kill, and the Bruins announced this morning Campbell broke his right fibula on the play.

By John Vogl

Sean Monahan

Position: Center

Junior team: Ottawa (OHL)

Born: Brampton, Ont.

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 187 pounds

2012-13 stats: 58 games, 31 goals, 47 assists, 78 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 5 (North America)

Lowdown: Monahan was the definition of a one-man team this season. His 78-point outing was nearly double the second-place showing of 40 on the woeful Ottawa squad. With more talent on his wings, Monahan may have put up numbers to rival the league’s best. He drew admirers anyway with offensive skills to go alongside a dependable defensive game.

Monahan is one of the top two-way centers in the draft. He has a solid hockey sense and good size to play in the middle. He should develop into a faceoff ace. He’s consistent, too, with back-to-back 30-goal, 40-assist seasons.

Monahan’s main drawback is his skating. He won’t amaze onlookers with end-to-end rushes, but he shouldn’t be two strides behind all game, either. He can slow the game to his pace and take advantage. He served a 10-game suspension for elbowing an opponent in the face.

He said it: "I believe that playing on a rebuilding team at some point in your career is part of being a professional. I learned how to control my emotions better during a game, and that allowed me to focus and play my game. I was also able to build on my leadership skills and was able to react differently at different times during the season." – Monahan wrote on his monthly blog at NHL.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

Associated Press Photo

By John Vogl

 Zachary Fucale

Position: Goaltender

Junior team: Halifax (QMJHL)

Born: Laval, Quebec

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 181 pounds

2012-13 stats: 45-5-3, 2.35 GAA, .909 save pct.

Central Scouting rank: No. 1 (North America)

Lowdown: It’s easy for goaltenders to win when they’re surrounded by ridiculous talent. Halifax boasts Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin, both pegged to go in the top three of the draft, and the squad rolled to the Memorial Cup championship. Fucale reaped the benefits, going 16-1 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

It’s not easy, though, for goalies to stay focused during routs. Halifax outscored its opponents, 347-176, giving Fucale plenty of lonely moments at the end of the rink. He received good marks for staying in the game and learning to be ready when action inevitably arrived.

Practicing daily against future stars Drouin and MacKinnon helped Fucale’s progress. He’s got good size for a goaltender and is positionally sound. He’s adept at reading plays, which reduces the number of sparkling saves he needs to make. Goalies can be a bargain toward the middle of the draft, but someone is expected to take a run at Fucale in the first round.

He said it: "I’ve evolved as a goalie from last year. I worked on every single little part of my game. I’ve become better. I’ve tried to improve every little aspect. … Playoffs, it’s do or die. You want to win. It’s big games in playoffs, and it was a great learning experience this year. I’m looking forward to other playoffs and learning more." – Fucale.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

From now on, every player who achieves his dream of reaching the NHL will see the ice through a visor.

The competition committee, made up of five NHL representatives and five members of the NHL Players' Association, voted today to make visors mandatory starting next season. Players with at least 26 games of service will be grandfathered in and not required to use a visor.

Forwards Steve Ott and John Scott, and defensemen Mike Weber and Adam Pardy are the only members of the Sabres who don't wear a protective shield.

The recommendation will need approval of the board of governors in June.

By John Vogl

Valentin Zykov

Position: Left wing

Junior team: Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

Born: St. Petersburg, Russia

Measurables: 6-foot, 208 pounds

2012-13 stats: 67 games, 40 goals, 35 assists, 75 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 7

Lowdown: Like Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko, Zykov left his Russian homeland to play in the Quebec junior league. It’s trending toward a necessary step for foreign players who want to leave no doubt that the NHL, not the KHL, is the place for them.

An unknown before the season, Zykov rocketed up draft charts with a 40-goal outing that culminated in Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year honors. He has a body built for smaller North American rinks. Though Russian, scouts view him as a prototypical Canadian power forward who likes to crash the net. He is tough to knock off the puck and wins battles along the boards. He has an accurate shot and deceptive speed.

Zykov needs to improve his consistency. He hasn’t shown well in international competitions, leading to mixed reviews. While NHL Central Scouting has him seventh, International Scouting Services ranked him 19^th and scouts for the Hockey News rated him 31^st.

They said it: "Valentin demonstrates extraordinary rigor in everything he takes on. He is serious in his training on and off the ice, and leaves nothing half done. He is intense, driven and a perfectionist. No other player on the team possesses as much discipline as Valentin. He has a calm and quiet temperament and a positive influence on his teammates in and out of the locker room.” -- Eric Veilleux, coach of Baie-Comeau.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

The Sabres' prospects are already set to play in Switzerland next season. It appears they're heading back to Michigan, too.

The Detroit Red Wings have announced the resumption of their prospect tournament in Traverse City, Mich., and Buffalo is scheduled to defend its 2011 title. The tournament, in its 15th year, was canceled last season because of the lockout.

The Red Wings said the participating teams will be Detroit, Buffalo, Carolina, Columbus, Dallas, Minnesota, the New York Rangers and St. Louis -- the same eight organizations that were scheduled to play in 2012.

The Rochester Americans will take a break from their American Hockey League schedule in December to play in the Spengler Cup in Switzerland.

By John Vogl

The importance of the fitness test at the NHL scouting combine can be debated. Panthers GM Dale Tallon doesn't give a hoot about the strength portion. Others feel the tests give insight into players' physical abilities.

If there happen to be any scouts who give extra credence to jumping, the top two prospects from Western New York will hop up the draft board.

The NHL has released the top-10 finishers in several testing categories, and Williamsville's Justin Bailey and West Seneca's Sean Malone both made the list.

By John Vogl

Adam Tambellini

Position: Left wing

Junior team: Surrey (BCHL)

Born: Edmonton, Alberta

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 158 pounds

2012-13 stats: 36 games, 22 goals, 17 assists, 39 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 42

Lowdown: There’s no longer a chance of Steve Tambellini stepping to the dais at the draft and calling the name of his son Adam. Edmonton fired the elder Tambellini in April after nearly five seasons as the Oilers’ general manager. Some team, though, will add another Tambellini to the NHL fraternity.

Adam Tambellini is hoping to follow his father and brother Jeff to the big leagues. He’s taken the small-circuit route to getting there. Rather than play in the Canadian Hockey League, which would have cost him any chance of playing collegiately, Tambellini skated in the British Columbia Hockey League. It’s on par with the Ontario Junior Hockey League, home to the Buffalo Junior Sabres. Tambellini helped lead his team to the championship with 10 goals and 18 points in 17 playoff games.

He’ll need to put on weight when he gets to the University of North Dakota. Though he projects well, Tambellini has to prove himself against top-level peers.

They said it: "He works hard in practice every day, and regardless of what his last name is he’d up there in the draft as a pretty high pick. … He's a pure sniper. He's got that big-league shot and release. He's a power forward, he's still a little bit slight, but he's going to fill out and mature.” – Surrey coach Matt Erhart to the Journal Pioneer (PEI, Canada) and Nanaimo (British Columbia) Daily News.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

By John Vogl

J.T. Compher

Position: Left wing

Junior team: U.S. Under-18 (USHL)

Born: Northbrook, Ill.

Measurables: 6-foot, 165 pounds

2012-13 stats: 49 games, 15 goals, 27 assists, 42 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 34

Lowdown: Compher is the ultimate agitator. His way with words will quickly get under an opponent’s skin. Then, with the game on the line, he has the skill to back up his comments and produce a victory. He can thrive under pressure, which he showed when he scored the clinching shootout goal against host Russia to reach the gold-medal game at the under-18 world championships.

A product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, he’s been competing on an international level for years. Few things scare him. His work ethic makes him a leader. He hates to lose and does what he can to avoid it. Compher is set to play collegiately at Michigan.

He’s not blessed with top-level skating skills. Though he has a penchant for rising to challenges, he’s never shown he can be a prolific scorer. His two-way game is what will carry him.

They said it: "If you take a puck from him, you better skate as hard as you’ve ever skated because he’s tracking you down and going to steal it back immediately. And if he can’t get it back, he’s probably going to whack you or run you into the boards.” – Don Granato, Compher’s coach on the U.S. under-18 team, to the Northbrook (Ill.) Star.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

Watch other segments from this week's "Bucky & Sully Show" here.

By John Vogl

Anthony Mantha

Position: Right wing

Junior team: Val-D’or (QMJHL)

Born: Longueuil, Quebec

Measurables: 6-foot-4, 190 pounds

2012-13 stats: 67 games, 50 goals, 39 assists, 89 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 10

Lowdown: The name Pronovost should resonate with longtime Buffalo fans and Sabres historians. Marcel Pronovost coached the Sabres for two seasons in the late 1970s. He played in the NHL, as did brothers Andre, Claude and Jean. Mantha is the grandson of Andre Pronovost, and that’s where he learned the game and its nuances.

The tips turned Mantha into one of junior hockey’s most potent snipers. It takes special talent to score 50 goals at any level. Mantha’s enviable traits include an eagerness to score and a terrific shot. He’s been compared to the Sabres’ Thomas Vanek for his ability to pick corners and fire through people.

Mantha focuses more on offense than defense, so he has work to do to become a two-way player. Despite gaudy stats and measurable improvement – he scored 22 times the previous season – his work ethic has been knocked. Mantha, born Sept. 16, missed the cutoff for the 2012 draft by one day, so he is being measured against players who can be almost a full year younger.

They said it: "He has everything you need to succeed. He can skate, he's smart, he reads the play, he has everything. But if there's one negative, he sometimes has a tendency to take the easy way out. … You can't teach talent like he has or hands like he has." – Chris Bordeleau of Central Scouting to NHL.com.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.

Watch other segments from this week's "Bucky & Sully Show" here.

By John Vogl

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Kevin Devine, the Sabres' director of amateur scouting, has been at the NHL combine all week. General Manager Darcy Regier spent three days at the event. It wraps up Saturday, but the Sabres' work is just getting started.

For the third straight year, the Sabres are hosting their own combine. Up to 75 prospects will visit Buffalo from Sunday through Thursday, including 30 who were good enough to be invited to the NHL event.

By John Vogl

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Dale Tallon isn't actively shopping the second overall pick in the NHL draft. He's open to offers, though.

"We’re in good position," the Florida Panthers' general manager said this morning at the NHL scouting combine. "We’ll take advantage of it."

Associated Press Photo

By John Vogl

Seth Jones

Position: Defense

Junior team: Portland (WHL)

Born: Arlington, Texas

Measurables: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds

2012-13 stats: 61 games, 14 goals, 42 assists, 56 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 1

By John Vogl

Colin Jacobs got a taste of life in the Buffalo Sabres' organization toward the end of the season. He'll get a much better feel over the next few years.

The Sabres have signed the center to an entry-level contract, Jacobs tweeted today. Terms were not immediately available.

Jacobs signed an amateur tryout deal with Rochester in mid-March and played 11 games with the Amerks. The 6-foot-2, 207-pounder recorded a goal and two assists before being scratched for Rochester's three playoff games.

By John Vogl

The bookies are big on Lindy Ruff.

When Vancouver axed Alain Vigneault last week, the gambling website Bovada.lv installed Ruff as the favorite to replace him. The Rangers fired coach John Tortorella on Wednesday, and once again Bovada is looking at the former Sabres coach to step behind the bench.

Here are the odds, with our usual disclaimer: Gambling is bad. Your money is much better spent on whiskey, women and concerts.

By John Vogl

Chicago thought it was moving on to the Western Conference finals when Niklas Hjalmarsson broke a 1-1 tie with 1:49 remaining Wednesday. But referee Stephen Walkom waved off the goal because of a scuffle away from the play, and the Red Wings bounced toward overtime while Chicago and its fans cursed their luck.

"At the end of the day, there's nothing you can do but move on," Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "You're going to overtime and it was no goal, so you can't just sit around and feel sorry. There's still a game, there's still overtime and still somebody's got to score another goal to win it. There was no panic. We just moved on from it."

Indeed, the Blackhawks won Game Seven anyway when Brent Seabrook bounced a shot off the leg of Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall with 3:35 gone in the extra session.

The victory saved Walkom from going down in referee/umpire infamy. (For Walkom defenders: Had Hjalmarsson's goal counted, would anyone be saying, "Oh, man, Detroit got robbed because they didn't blow the whistle during a scoring chance because of a scrum 100 feet away from the net"?)

Chicago will face Los Angeles in the Western Conference finals, while Boston will take on Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference. It's the first time since 1945 that the past four Stanley Cup champions are the last four teams remaining.

Western Conference

Saturday     5 p.m.     Los Angeles at Chicago     NBCSN, TSN
Sunday    8 p.m.     Los Angeles at Chicago     NBCSN, TSN
Tuesday     9 p.m.     Chicago at Los Angeles     NBCSN, TSN
Next Thursday   9 p.m.     Chicago at Los Angeles     NBCSN, CBC
*Saturday, June 8      8 p.m.     Los Angeles at Chicago     NBC, CBC
*Monday, June 10   9 p.m.     Chicago at Los Angeles     NBCSN, CBC
*Wednesday, June 12   TBD     Los Angeles at Chicago     NBCSN, CBC

Eastern Conference

Saturday   8 p.m.    Boston at Pittsburgh     NBC, CBC
Monday    8 p.m.     Boston at Pittsburgh     NBCSN, CBC
Next Wednesday    8 p.m.     Pittsburgh at Boston     NBCSN, CBC
Friday, June 7    8 p.m.     Pittsburgh at Boston     NBCSN, CBC
*Sunday, June 9   8 p.m.     Boston at Pittsburgh     NBCSN, CBC
*Tuesday, June 11  TBD     Pittsburgh at Boston     NBCSN, CBC
*Wednesday, June 12     TBD     Boston at Pittsburgh     NBCSN, CBC

By John Vogl

The first time Lindy Ruff left Buffalo, back in 1989, he went to the New York Rangers. It's possible the scenario could happen again.

The Rangers have fired coach John Tortorella, which might open the door for Ruff to step behind the Blueshirts' bench.