Sabres development camp roster includes 2024 No. 1 pick, several WNY natives

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 28: Konsta Helenius poses for a group photo with head coach Lindy Ruff and team staff on stage after being selected 14th overall by the Buffalo Sabers in the first round of the 2024 NHL Upper Deck Draft at Sphere on June 28. 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabers have announced the roster for their 2024 development camp, which begins Monday and continues through Thursday’s 3-on-3 tournament at Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo.

Among the selections is 2024 first-round pick Konsta Helenius, whom Buffalo took 14th overall in Friday’s first round. The Sabres’ other seven rookies from this year are also included.

Additionally, four players from Western New York were selected to the roster, including recent draft picks Gavin McCarthy and Patrick Geary. Undrafted invitee forwards Ryan Smith and Jak Vaarwerk, from Pendleton and Clarence, respectively, will also participate in development camp.

Helenius is arguably the biggest name to attend Harborcenter this year, as other top prospects like Jiri Kulich, Matt Savoie, Isak Rosen and Noah Ostlund all failed to make the roster.

The full list is as follows:

Attackers

• No. 43 – Andon Cerbone: Quinnipiac University (NCAA), undrafted invitee
• No. 56 – Matteo Costantini: Western Michigan University (NCAA), 2020 fifth-round pick
• No. 29 – Riley Fiddler-Schultz: Jacksonville (ECHL), undrafted invite
• No. 94 – Konsta Helenius: Jukurit (Liiga), 2024 first-round pick
• No. 84 – Gustav Karlsson: Vimmerby HC (HockeyEttan), 2022 sixth round pick
• No. 82 – Brendan McMorrow: USNTDP (USHL), undrafted invitee
• #95 – Ethan Miedema: Kingston (OHL), 2023 fourth-round pick
• No. 54 – Olivier Nadeau: Jacksonville (ECHL), 2021 fourth-round pick
• No. 79 – Viktor Neuchev: Rochester (AHL), 2022 third round pick
• No. 75 – Joel Ratkovic Berndtsson: FPS (Mestis) / Kristianstads IK (HockeyEttan), seventh round pick in 2022
• #70 – Jake Richard: University of Connecticut (NCAA), 2022 sixth round pick
• No. 88 – Stiven Sardarian: University of New Hampshire (NCAA), 2021 third-round pick
• #83 – Ryan Smith: Tri-City (USHL), undrafted invitee
• No. 45 – Jak Vaarwerk: UMass-Lowell (NCAA), undrafted invite
• No. 55 – William von Barnekow: Malmö (SHL), 2021, sixth round pick
• No. 41 – Vassili Zelenov: RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL), 2024 seventh round pick
• No. 46 – Brodie Ziemer: USNTDP (USHL), 2024 third round pick

Defenders

• No. 86 – Simon-Pier Brunet: Drummondville (QMJHL), fourth round pick in 2024
• No. 71 – Patrick Geary: Michigan State University (NCAA), 2024 sixth round pick
• No. 90 – Sean Keohane: West Kelowna (BCHL) / Tri-City (USHL), 2023, sixth round pick
• No. 49 – Adam Kleber: Lincoln (USHL), 2024, second round pick
• No. 62 – Gavin McCarthy: Boston University (NCAA), 2023 third-round pick (86th overall)
• No. 61 – Luke Osburn: Youngstown (USHL), 2024 fourth-round pick
• No. 74 – Norwin Panocha: Chicoutimi (QMJHL), seventh round pick in 2023
• No. 64 – Max Strbak: Michigan State University (NCAA), 2023 second round pick

Goalkeepers

• No. 35 – Ryerson Leenders: Mississauga (OHL), 2024 seventh-round pick
• No. 50 – Topias Leinonen: JYP (FIN-U20) / JYP (Liiga) / KeuPa HT (Mestis), 2022 second round pick
• #80 – Aiden McKenna: Buffalo Jr. Sabers (OJHL), undrafted invitee
• #34 – Scott Ratzlaff: Seattle (WHL), fifth round pick in 2023

To view the full development camp schedule, click here.