Guhle impresses Sabres at prospect camp

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Guhle has said he’s improved his game greatly under the tutelage of Manson and hopes to do the same with the Sabres.

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“They liked my skating and my attitude,” said Guhle. “I just have to get physically stronger. There’s little things obviously that I know and we know collectively that I need to work on.

“This season will be a good opportunity to work on those things in Prince Albert.”

Did you know?

Brendan Guhle continues to a player that proves the rankings wrong.

Guhle was picked by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, 51st overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft June 29 in Sunrise, Fla, despite being ranked anywhere from 70th-110th (as well as 56th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting).

The Prince Albert Raiders took him third overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, despite being ranked as a late first round pick by Western Elite Hockey Prospects.

Heading into the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, it was very unclear where Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Brendan Guhle would go.

He was ranked anywhere for 56th to 110th in the pre-draft rankings.

Skate with the greats

Since January, Guhle has already shared the ice with the top two players in his draft class. On Jan. 22 in the CHL Top Prospects Game, he went head-to-head against Connor McDavid. Throughout the Sabres’ development camp, he’s shared the ice with fellow-Sabre Jack Eichel, who went second overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

“They’re both extremely good players. McDavid’s an extremely skilled player, he’s something else,” said Guhle. “I’ve got to know Jack here for the past week, he’s a really great guy. He’s got a lot of passion and competitiveness. He works extremely hard and he’s an extremely good and powerful skater and he’s very fast.

“(Eichel) is huge, he’s got pro size already so I think he’s going to be a really good player here for the Sabres.”

Brendan’s brother isn’t too shabby either

Brendan isn’t the only hockey star in the Guhle family. Brendan’s younger brother Kaiden has already been noticed by WHL scouts, despite not being eligible until the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.

Kaiden, who unlike Brendan is a forward, is ranked 10th overall in the 2002-born age group by Western Elite Hockey Prospects, much to Brendan’s delight.

“He’s a pretty unreal player,” said Brendan. “He skates like I do and he’s pretty smart. He’s going in his first year of bantam so we’ll see how that goes.

“I think he’s going to have a really successful season, they’re going to have a good team. I’m really excited for him. Maybe he’ll be a Raider one day [chuckles].”

Kaiden and the rest of the Guhle family headed down to Sunrise June 27 to see Brendan get drafted—something they will treasure for years to come.

“It was awesome. I was happy that all my family could come down and they could all be there for that,” said Brendan. “They were all supporting me throughout the whole process of playing up in minor hockey, all the early morning practices and driving me to all the workouts and practices and all the games.

“It was nice that we could all be together for that moment—I guess it was all worth it.”

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea