Morning Skate | Samuelsson to make NHL debut vs. Pens

The youth movement continues.
Mattias Samuelsson will make his NHL debut for the Sabres in their rematch with the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center on Sunday. Samuelsson, 21, has 11 points (3+8) in 19 games as a rookie with Rochester this season.
The Sabres selected Samuelsson during the second round (32nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He played two NCAA seasons at Western Michigan University, where he earned the rare distinction of serving as an alternate captain as a sophomore. He twice represented Team USA at the World Junior Championship, serving as captain during his second go-around in 2020.

Western Michigan coach Andy Murray predicted last May that Samuelsson would be a member of the Sabres lineup by the end of his first pro season. Sure enough, the defenseman earned a look thanks to strides made with the Amerks.

"The reports have been vastly encouraging," Sabres interim coach Don Granato said. "Just the progress has been significant, I would say, which would probably be the best way to describe it."

Samuelsson's father, Kjell, played 813 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1992.
"He just told me to enjoy it," Mattias said. "You only do it once, have fun with it and just go out and play your game. Just prepare the way you normally prepare and have fun with it."
Riley Sheahan will rejoin the lineup at forward after missing the past two games with an upper-body injury. He will replace Steven Fogarty, who was loaned to the taxi squad prior to the game.
Dustin Tokarski will start in net for the second time in as many days.

Tune in

Coverage on MSG begins at 2:30 p.m. Radio coverage can be heard on WGR 550. Puck drop is scheduled for 3.