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 Sabres have announced their 2024 development camp roster, which begins Monday and runs through Thursday’s 3-on-3 tournament at Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo.

Among the selections is 2024 first-round pick Konsta Helenius, who Buffalo took at No. 14 overall in Friday’s first round. The other seven Sabers rookies from this year are also included.

Additionally, four Western New York natives were named 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 weren’t all named to 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 invitee
• 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), fourth round pick in 2023
• 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), 2022 seventh round pick
• No. 70 – Jake Richard: University of Connecticut (NCAA), 2022 sixth round pick
• No. 88 – Stiven Sardarian: University of New Hampshire (NCAA), 2021 third-round pick
• No. 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), seventh round pick in 2024
• 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), fourth round pick in 2024
• 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. Sabres (OJHL), undrafted invitee
• No. 34 – Scott Ratzlaff: Seattle (WHL), 2023 fifth-round pick

To view the full development camp schedule, click here.