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After an unplanned one-week hiatus, Kris Baker shakes off the rust to discuss some Buffalo Sabres prospects topics including:

Matthew Savoie makes a statement - as should be expected - in his return to the WHL, but will Zach Benson be joining him?
Noah Ostlund and Anton Wahlberg impress as linemates at World Junior tune-up in Czecha...
Members only section of the Youtube channel coming?!
Prokhor Poltapov moves up the CSKA ranks despite a statistical slump...
Isak Rosen earns a well-earned shoutout...
Goalie talk: Scott Ratzlaff finding his groove with Seattle? Topias Leinonen in line for a Liiga start?
Plus some quick hits on Viljami Marjala and Stiven Sardarian...

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A well-rested Kris Baker is ready to talk about Jiri Kulich. 

He’s on a serious scoring tear that could be difficult for the Sabres to ignore. Now that the Brandon Biro and Lukas Rousek recalls have been made, Jiri has stepped into the on-deck circle to bring his Cookin’ with Kulich show to Buffalo for the first time, perhaps sooner rather than later.

Also bandied about this week:

•With Matthew Savoie’s conditioning loan complete, it was his mature game that really stood out
•Olivier Nadeau gets his first professional goal with the help of the most unlikely of centermen
•On the eve of the Five Nations Tournament in Czechia, Noah Ostlund is a lock for the World Junior Championship. And while Anton Wahlberg has done enough to get in on his own merit, there are other situations that are certainly helping his cause.
•Topias Leinonen returned to the net, and the clock is ticking on his very short window if he wants to cement his spot on Finland’s World Junior roster
•Seemed peculiar at the time, but Prokhor Poltapov was simply given a rest on Sunday
•Matteo Costantini vaults into the upper class of Sabres prospects point-getters 
•Ethan Miedema gets off the schneid

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Fall still sucks, and so do afternoon NHL games, but at least the Sabres earned a nice victory over Colorado thanks to a strong performance in between the pipes by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

On the prospect front, Kris Baker gets on track and discusses a handful of topics including:

•Matthew Savoie joins a line with fellow young guns Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen and impressively blends right into the attack as the Amerks cruise to three- straight victories
•Nikita Novikov’s nice rebound from a tough outing in Laval
•All was not great, though, as the Amerks lose rookie Viktor Neuchev to injury
•A well-earned shoutout goes to Lukas Rousek – the guy is just a dog (or is it dawg?)
•Noah Ostlund scores in variety of ways to get himself a three-game goal streak as he begins his World Junior ramp-up (along with Antin Wahlberg)
•Happy belated birthday to Joel Ratkovic-Berndtsson, who celebrates his 20th with his first goal of the year
•Stiven Sardarian responds to the challenge and helps UNH to victory
•Aaron Huglen improving at the dot while UConn’s Jake Richard gets a new centerman
•Vsevolod Komarov posts a big night as Kris again points out the QMJHL trade deadline later this winter…
•Ethan Miedema has a new bench boss in K-Town
•Quick hits on Prokhor Poltapov and Viljami Marjala

Thanks as always for supporting the podcast! Visit youtube.com/sabresprospects for more.

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In an early morning, coffee-fueled episode of Prospect Avenue where he battles some camera/audio syncing issues, Kris Baker eschews discussing the Sabres slow start and instead covers a lot of ground in the prospect ranks including:

Where in the lineup will Seth Appert put Matthew Savoie when he makes his season debut with the Rochester Americans?

William von Barnekow added 11 pounds of muscle and it continues to show as he impresses on Malmo’s top line.

WVB’s teammate in Malmo, Anton Wahlberg, keeps staking his claim to a World Junior spot.

Noah Ostlund rebounds from a brief scare and helps power Växjö to an SHL victory.

Liking what we’re seeing from NCAA freshman defenders Maxim Strbak with Michigan State and Boston University’s Gavin McCarthy.

Meanwhile collegiate forwards Stiven Sardarian and Jake Richard are on an early-season cruise in Hockey East.

Plus some quick hit notes on Vsevolod Komarov, Mats Lindgren, Viljami Marjala, and Sean Keohane.

Thank you as always for supporting the podcast. 
Please find the video version at the Sabres Prospects YouTube channel.

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Kris Baker's weekly trip around the rinks includes thoughts on:

Would considering moving Zach Benson up the lineup be a good or bad idea this early in the season?

Ryan Johnson and Nikita Novikov showing an early ability to play the way the Sabres' system requires of their D.

Again, Prokhor Poltapov finds ways to impact the game as he develops in a lower-line role.

William Von Barnekow taking his top-line assignment and running with it.

Expectations as Noah Ostlund continues his SHL ramp-up.

Updates on Jake Richard, Stiven Sardarian, Aaron Huglen as the get their NCAA seasons going in a good direction.

And from the "Where are they now?" files: Vaclav Karabacek - what are you doing, man?

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In this week’s episode, Kris Baker *briefly* complains about the weather and states why he disagrees with Fall Elitists. 
Along with a quick note on Zach Benson and Matthew Savoie, Kris also highlights:
•Jake Richard’s nice start to his freshman year with UConn
•Stiven Sardarian with a nifty performance to open UNH’'s exhibition season
•Matteo Costantini looks to get his NCAA career back on track at Western Michigan
•CSKA winger Prokhor Poltapov just keeps scoring
•How Viljami Marjala’s skating and puck handling ability are help driving the TPS attack
•Ethan Miedema has an NHL-caliber shot
•Mats Lindgren and Vsevolod Komarov pick up points by getting pucks to the net

AND MORE!

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Kris Baker wakes up with coffee to highlight last week's action including:

*Zach Benson exceeding expectations in the NHL preseason
*NCAA schedules set to begin
*Anton Wahlberg's early season success in the SHL
*Prokhor Poltapov continues to elevate his play
*Ethan Miedema sparkling early in his return from Sabres camp

...and other quick hits from around the rinks.

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Better late than never: Kris Baker reviews what went down at the Sabres rookie tournament with quick capsules on the players in action.

Centerman Tyson Kozak is a beast and defenseman Ryan Johnson looks ready for a seamless transition to the pro game.

Viljami Marjala is off to a quick start and is looking like one to keep a close eye on with TPS Turku in Liiga.

Kris goes around the European rinks with the latest (and video highlights) on Prokhor Poltapov, Noah Ostlund, William Von Barnekow, Anton Wahlberg…

And more!

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