The 2021-22 Buffalo Sabres Opening Night Roster

The Buffalo Sabres have set their roster after sending JJ Peterka and Casey Fitzgerald down to Rochester, prior to Monday’s 5 P.M. deadline. The following players will hear their name announced when the Sabres host the Montreal Canadiens Thursday October 14 @ 7 P.M.

Forwards (14)Defense (7)Goaltenders (2)
Jeff Skinner
Kyle Okposo
Victor Olofsson
Casey Mittelstadt
Cody Eakin
Zemgus Girgensons
Anders Bjork
Tage Thompson
Vinnie Hinostroza
Dylan Cozens
Rasmus Asplund
Drake Caggiula
John Hayden
Arttu Ruostolainen
Rasmus Dahlin
Colin Miller
Will Butcher
Henri Jokiharju
Robert Hagg
Mark Pysyk
Jacob Bryson
Craig Anderson
Dustin Tokarski

The tandem of Anderson and Tokarski leaves out a prominent prospect in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who will start his season in Rochester.

Some of it is how many times have you been in that position and those experiences. So a guy like UPL, he may have never come to camp before feeling that pressure like, “Ok, I may have a chance here” and I think that’s a great thing.

He (UPL) was exactly as I expected, there were times in games where he looked like a rock solid NHL starting goalie and then there were times in games where he looked young, and that’s ok.

Flat out, we felt that Anderson and Tokarski were the guys that won the job and that was the honest conversation we had going into camp.

Craig Anderson comes as advertised in terms of his experience. With how he is at practice and how he is in the locker room, you constantly hear him talking to his teammates. He’s almost teaching as he’s doing his job, which I think is really important with the young guys we have.

Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams on October 9, 2021

JJ Peterka got a chance to lead the team in stretches before being sent down. While it may be disappointing for Peterka, he impressed the Sabres and the fans with his preseason performance.

He tallied 3 goals and 1 assist for 4 total points in 5 preseason games. It is not a question of if he will play for the Sabres this season, but when? In the meantime, Rochester opens their regular season Friday October 22 at 7:05 P.M. against the Syracuse Crunch.

Sabres Head Coach Don Granato mentioned Monday after practice that he’s not concerned who will be in the lineup Thursday.

I’m not going to get too worked up on an opening lineup as you play 82 games. That’s how I’ll present it to the three guys that won’t be playing. We play 82 games, spare me the drama of being a healthy scratch, we’re in it for the long haul.

Sabres Head Coach Don Granato after practice Monday October 11

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