BUFFALO, N.Y. The players at Sabres development camp come in varying stages of their careers. Several are veterans of the process, who've already had a taste of the NHL. Now they're aiming to show they can stay there.
"Spots are open. And we've talked about here there's opportunity, said right wing Nick Baptiste. "It's who seizes it and who's going to work to get those spots."
Baptiste and Justin Bailey are both participating in their fifth development camp since they were drafted in 2013.
"Every year there's going to be competition for jobs. Every year I'm pushing for someone else's job and they're pushing for mine."
Bailey, the Williamsville native, has a shot to make the team at left wing, where the NHL roster appears to be the thinnest among the forwards. He played in 32 games for the Sabres last year, with two goals and two assists, while racking up 36 points in Rochester.
"I've been fortunate enough to have a decent amount of success in the minor leagues," Bailey said. "So I want to take that success that I had in the AHL and translate it here to help the team."
Baptiste also believes he's ready to make the leap on a permanent basis. The right winger had three goals in 14 games for Buffalo last season and an impressive campaign with the Amerks, totaling 25 goals and 16 assists.
"I've got to prove that I'm a full-time NHL player," Baptiste said. "I thought a lot of good things in Rochester last year. I thought I did a lot of good things when I was called up in Buffalo last year. For, me I'm shooting to be a full-time Sabre."
Fellow right wing Hudson Fasching started the year with the big club, but a severe groin injury made it a tough one.
"It was not a fun experience, but it's part of growing and learning," Fasching said. "It was definitely a growing year for me. Something to take away to try to make me mentally stronger going forward."
Development camp is a crucial chance to make a first impression on new general manager Jason Botterill and head coach Phil Housley. It's a familiar situation for the likes of Bailey and Baptiste, who've dealt with several regime changes since joining the organization.
But it's an opporutnity they say they embrace with renewed emphasis on a winning mindset from top to bottom.
"You want to be a part of a team whether it be part of team, whether that be Buffalo or Rochester, that's competitive and trying to make the playoffs and ultimately winning championships," Baptiste said. "That's the goal for this organization. That's been made clear."
The coaching style and overall philosophy within the organization has caught Bailey's attention as he tries to take a lead among the young players.
"They want to play with pace. They want to play with high speed, high intestity. They want to score goals," he said. "They want to build a culture around here where everyone's doing the right thing. Obviously, that starts with me and some of the other veteran guys at this camp."
The intesity figures to pick up on on Tuesday as camp concludes with the French Connection 3-on-3 tournament; another shot for these players to prove themselves.