Kaleta: Costantini 'will do whatever he can' to play for Sabres

Patrick Kaleta spent his Wednesday afternoon glued to the television, watching as, one-by-one, his Buffalo Junior Sabres players came off the board in the NHL Draft.
Luke Tuch went to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round. Trevor Kuntar was selected by Boston in the third, followed by Colorado's selection of Colby Ambrosio in the fourth.
In the fifth round, a pick hit close to home. The Buffalo Sabres selected center Matteo Costantini with the 131st pick, setting him on the same course that Kaleta found himself on 16 years ago.

Kaleta, a sixth-round pick, carved out a 348-game career and became a fan favorite on the hometown team. He has little doubt Costantini will do everything in his power to do the same.
"He's determined," Kaleta, president of the Junior Sabres, said. "He's a kid that is really focused and knows what he wants. He understands how hard it is to get there and even watching the Zoom calls and stuff like that, he's grateful for everyone who has helped him out along the way.
"So, character-wise, he's a very, very solid kid. And then skills-wise, on the ice, I think his game can speak for itself. You don't get drafted to the NHL if that part is lacking. Obviously, as you get older, speed and skill gets better and better at every level. So, he'll have to work.
"But that character part of his game, where that work ethic and determination and perseverance comes into play, that's why you draft a kid like that because he knows it's going to take work. He'll do whatever he can to get to the point where he puts on the actual Sabres jersey."
Kaleta described Costantini in a similar manner to how Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams described first-round selection Jack Quinn on Tuesday. He is a focused, competitive individual who has worked relentlessly to establish his draft status.

Costantini was unranked when NHL Central Scouting Services released its mid-term rankings last season. By the time their final rankings were released, he was listed 96th among North American skaters. He tallied 68 points (36+32) in 50 games with the Junior Sabres, earning Rookie of the Year honors from the Ontario Junior Hockey League along with recognition as the league's top prospect.
Buffalo's front office was impressed with Costantini's competitiveness and hockey sense. They were also excited about his development track, which will see him spend next season with Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League before beginning his NCAA career at the University of North Dakota in 2021-22.
Nick Tuzzolino, Costantini's coach with the Junior Sabres, texted the following to Sabres TV host Martin Biron: "He has great passion for the game. Always the first guy at the rink and last one out. Amazing skill set. He's loved by every single teammate in the locker room."
"That's what Buffalo is all about," Kaleta said. "It's about character. From the brief time I've been in youth hockey, which is five years, you can see kids all over the place. They can stickhandle, they can skate. Some do it better than others, but in the realm of things, you don't find kids that you're looking at in the draft that can't do any of those things.
"So, what sets you apart is your character, is how you carry yourself, is if they bring intangibles and they bring characteristics that the team is looking for. So, that's what sets you apart. For Matteo … it just shows in a one-year span of how that character can sort of take over and propel you to where you want to go."
Kaleta said the local draftees are a testament to the work being done inside LECOM Harborcenter, both with the Junior Sabres and the Academy of Hockey. Tuch, Ambrosio, and Kuntar all said they are excited to see the next wave of players who follow in their footsteps.
"Even for our younger kids to watch and think, 'Holy cow, we're playing in the same arena as all those guys did and they're getting drafted into the NHL,'" Kaleta said. "And it kind of goes along with my story too, right? And you can go with Timmy Kennedy and even Brian Gionta.
"We grow up and we lived in Buffalo, we played here and we got to where we are. That's sort of the message we want to portray to kids in the Junior Sabres and even through the Buffalo area is that if you want something so bad, nothing can get in your way."
Costantini will have a shoulder to lean on as he attempts to follow in Kaleta's footsteps by one day playing for the Sabres. In the meantime, Kaleta's advice is simple.
"I'm sure that will be something maybe we can talk about more in-depth down the road, knowing some of the pressures and stuff you have to go through. But, right now, my advice is just savor the moment," Kaleta said. "You're drafted and then the next thing you know, your 10-year career is done and you're coaching youth kids and teaching kids how to skate.
"… Everyone knows that if you like to do something, if you like your job, you work that much harder at it. So, enjoy the time, have fun with it, and then a couple of days from now get ready to put on your work boots, because being drafted is just an opportunity."