For many of the players, that first chance to get on the ice against real competition will come when the Sabres host the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center on Tuesday. The Sabres utilized a young roster for their preseason opener in Columbus on Monday, allowing many of the veterans and new acquisitions to make their preseason debuts in front of the home fans.
Skinner and Dahlin will be among the players appearing in their first preseason games as Sabres, as will forwards Vladimir Sobotka and Casey Mittelstadt and goaltender Carter Hutton. Okposo, Jack Eichel, Rasmus Ristolainen and Jake McCabe will make their preseason debuts, among others.
Okposo said it was a pleasant surprise to learn that the Sabres had acquired Skinner, given what he already knew about the forward. The two have worked together under the same trainer for years, which offered Okposo insight into Skinner's tireless work ethic away from the ice.
Okposo also knows what it was like to play against Skinner, and it's fair to say he won't miss it. Both players have spent their entire careers in the Eastern Conference, including three seasons as opponents in the Metropolitan Division, and Okposo grinned while recounting their battles.
"Oh, I couldn't stand playing against Skinny," he said. "During the season, you just can't stand playing against him. It seems like he gets every puck. The puck's always following him, he's got his hips open and generating speed from that.
"I don't know how he does that, but he's a bit annoying to play against so I'm happy to have him on our side."
Okposo and Skinner have skated on a line with Eichel in the early practices at camp, which will be the case again on Tuesday. For those who are curious to see what Skinner might add to the top of the Sabres' lineup, know that Okposo is just as intrigued as you are.
"He creates a lot of offense, he creates a lot of shots for himself with his skating and his elusiveness," Okposo said. "So yeah, I'm really looking forward to seeing the offense that he creates. You just want him to play his game. He's a veteran guy and he's going to just play, so I'm really excited."
Dahlin will continue to skate alongside McCabe, with whom he found success during his two-goal performance at the team's intra-squad scrimmage on Sunday. Phil Housley said he wants to see the young defenseman keep the game simple and let his instincts take over.
"Obviously, it's going to be exciting for him," Housley said. "He's going to have nerves, he's going to have anxiety, so just play his game. He's got very good poise with the puck. The thing I'm looking for is just his defensive reads, his gaps, really good stick detail. I think once he settles in, you get those first two shifts under your belt, he'll feel comfortable."
The Sabres spent ample time working on special teams at their morning skate, with Dahlin working at the point on a power-play unit that also included Eichel and Okposo on the flanks, Skinner in the middle and Jason Pominville at the net-front.
"Rasmus, he's got a lot of skill," Okposo said. "He's so elusive. He does a lot of things up there that I'm going to have to get used to a bit, just going to have to try and give him some space and get him some room to operate and be ready to shoot the puck. He's pretty solid and everybody knows what Jack can do on that one-time side, so it's going to be fun."
Tonight's game can be seen live on MSG-B, with pregame coverage set to begin at 6:30 p.m., or you can listen on WGR 550.
