Moving quickly toward getting their team down the required 23-man roster, the Buffalo Sabres have returned three prospects to their respective junior programs after the first day of training camp. The Sabres announced that defensemen Simon-Pier Brunet and David Bedkowski, and netminder Samuel Meloche have been cut from the roster.
Brunet will return to the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres after spending the last three years with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Buffalo selected the 19-year-old with the 123rd overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, and he scored eight goals and 32 points in 60 games with a +10 rating last season with the Voltigeurs. The Sabres likely expect a slow-paced development, given that Brunet has already committed to the NCAA’s Merrimack College for the 2026-27 season.
Meanwhile, Bedkowski could take even longer to reach the NHL, if he does. The 6’5″, 220lbs, 18-year-old blue liner spent last year with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, scoring three goals and seven points in 30 games with a whopping 73 PIMs. The former 71st overall selection of the 2025 NHL Draft makes his presence known by his high-level physical play and his ability to fight.
Like Brunet, Meloche is another QMJHL product, this time with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, who has also committed to an NCAA program for the 2026-27 season. Last season, as the Huskies’ starter, Meloche recorded a 30-14-6 record in 51 games with a .900 SV% and 2.90 GAA, along with five shutouts. Meloche, 18, was drafted with the 116th overall pick by the Sabres in the 2025 NHL Draft and has committed to Northeastern University.
Was this the plan to get then exposure to a pro camp before sending them back to juniors? Or did they look that bad on day one?
I would assume the former. Ruff said everyone came into camp healthy and in shape, and it’s tough to make serious judgments after one day of skating.
That’s kinda what I figured. To get sent home on the first day without that being the plan all along I think you’d have to show up drunk or mouth off to a coach.
I believe it’s to get them a sniff at the pro camp. It’s a look at how the dedication commitment, work out routines, etc. the real world.
They’ve probably been there a few days. I’m sure they didn’t get off the bus last night and sent home the next afternoon. They’ve been around skating working out, etc..
Another thing might be with the Sabres being such a loser, why waste time with a couple of kids when they need to get their act together immediately and set the tone immediately of what they want to do. Just my two cents.