FIVE STORYLINES TO WATCH AT THE 2016 PROSPECTS CHALLENGE

We’re still one week from the beginning of training camp for the Buffalo Sabres, but there is good news for those who can’t even wait that long: the 2016 Prospects Challenge is a mere one day. Let the games begin.

Like the inaugural event last year, the Prospects Challenge will feature young players from the Sabres, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils organizations. Each team will hold a practice on Friday, with games to follow the next three nights. Tickets for the games can be purchased here for $10 each.

The storylines are plentiful at this year’s event, many of which will carry into training camp and beyond. To make sure you’re up to speed, we’ve broken them down with five reasons to get excited about the upcoming weekend.

Reason No. 1: The table will be set for training camp roster battles. When Tim Murray was asked about his plan for free agency at the end of last season, he made it clear that he believed in the team’s organizational depth on the offensive side. The Sabres ended up signing Kyle Okposo to add a proven name to their forward stock, but that shouldn’t close the door on at least one of Buffalo’s prospects – namely Justin Bailey or Hudson Fasching – from fighting for a chance to make the NHL roster out of camp this season.

Bailey looked like a man amongst boys at times during development camp over the summer, and both he and Fasching showed flashes of what makes them exciting prospects – the size and speed for Bailey and the power-forward skill for Fasching – during cups of coffee for the Sabres last season. They’ll have a chance to build on those performances at camp, and you shouldn’t be surprised to see both in blue and gold at some point in 2016-17 even if they don’t make the initial roster.

But the competition isn’t limited to just those two players. Defenseman Brendan Guhle is back in the mix after playing his way into the final roster conversation at last year’s camp, and forward Evan Rodrigues clearly impressed Murray in two games for Buffalo after gradually improving during his first pro season in Rochester.

Then there’s also Alexander Nylander, who is sure to drum up some excitement all on his own.

Reason No. 2: More Nylander. For those who weren’t in attendance to watch Nylander turn the Blue & Gold Scrimmage into a skills competition in July, the Prospects Challenge offers two more chances to see Buffalo’s first-round pick up close and personal at HarborCenter.

Nylander’s performance this fall is particularly important providing the wealth of …

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