The Sabres host the Prospects Challenge this week. Here’s what you need to know

The Buffalo Sabres host the annual Prospects Challenge, which begins Thursday and runs through Monday at LECOM Harborcenter.

Players who were either Sabres draft picks this year, on the Rochester Americans roster in 2024-25 or are some of the Sabres younger NHL players, will play for a Sabres team that will face teams of other top prospects.

The five-team exhibition tournament will also include players representing the Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins.

When do the Sabres prospects play? The Sabres prospects open the tournament at 7 p.m.

Friday against New Jersey, play the Blue Jackets prospects at 7 p.m.

Saturday and finish the tournament at noon Monday against the Penguins prospects.

Defenseman Radim Mrtka skates toward the goal with center Matous Kucharcik in pursuit during a Sabres development camp scrimmage at LECOM Harborcenter in July.

Who are some players we could expect to see from the Sabres organization? Radim Mrtka , a defenseman from Czechia, was the Sabres first-round pick in the NHL draft, and scored 35 points in 43 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.

Konsta Helenius , a center from Finland, was the Sabres first-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft, and scored 14 goals with 21 assists in 65 games in 2024-25 with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.

Matteo Costantini , a center from St.

Catharines, Ont., helped Western Michigan win the national championship in April.

Costantini scored 29 goals and 49 assists in four seasons with the Broncos and at North Dakota, from 2021-25.

Anton Wahlberg , a 6-foot-5 center from Sweden, scored 11 goals and 19 assists in 63 games in his first full season with Rochester.

Players who wont attend include Minnesotas Brodie Ziemer, Connecticuts Jake Richard and Clarence native Gavin McCarthy, who plays at Boston University.

Professional players on teams in Europe and NCAA prospects cannot attend the rookie camp or prospects showcase because their training camps, preseasons or academic years already have begun.

These are exhibition games, but are these regulation-style games? Penalties will be called.

Fights could be had.

Full lines, defensive pairings and goalies will be played.

Each games format is similar to an NHL game.

If the game goes to overtime, the two teams will play three a side; if its a tie after overtime, the game will go to a shootout.

Is the Prospects Challenge free to attend? No, but itll cost you less than $12 to go to a Prospects Challenge game at Harborcenter.

Tickets are $11.80 each and are available on the Sabres website .

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