"It's better than rehab skating and good to be around the guys, gear up for the season," he said. "Obviously, tough bounce. Unfortunately, I've been used to it and just happy to be out there with the team."
Malone, a West Seneca native, was originally drafted by the Sabres during the sixth round in 2013. He spent four years at Harvard before making his NHL debut at the tail end of his senior season.
Since then, he played three seasons with Rochester - including his injury-shortened 2018-19 campaign - and spent 2020-21 in the Nashville Predators organization, primarily with AHL Chicago. He returned to the Sabres on a one-year contract prior to last season and grabbed ahold of increased opportunity.
Despite being limited to 39 games, Malone set AHL career highs with 20 goals and 37 points while building his reputation as a dependable two-way centerman.
"I think any opportunity you get, you have to run with it," Malone said. "I felt like earlier in my career I didn't get a whole lot of opportunity here and credit to the coaching staff in Rochester, I think you saw a lot of guys kind of get opportunities and run with it."
Sabres coach Don Granato said Malone's name had come up in conversations about potential recalls throughout the year, a message that had been relayed to Malone before his injury by Rochester coach Seth Appert.
"There was definitely times where Apps took me aside and said, 'You're right there,''" Malone said. "And then I have surgery, so it is what it is. Like I said, I'm not feeling sorry for myself by any means. I just want to be the best player I can be and be a leader for those guys down in Rochester and hopefully, you know, continue with the same success, advance my game and hopefully be here (in Buffalo) soon."
He gave himself a shot with his play last season. Malone was rewarded with a new one-year contract in June.
"The coaches and guys that watch Rochester, are in Rochester full time have such a high respect for him as a player and what he does for them as an organization," Granato said.
Here are more takeaways from Day 8 of training camp.
1. The Sabres once again split into two groups for practice sessions. The first session consisted of players who did not make the trip for the preseason game in Columbus on Wednesday.
Here's how those players lined up:
| September 29 (Session 1) |
| --- |
| | C | RW |
| 53 Jeff Skinner | 72 Tage Thompson | 29 Vinnie Hinostroza |
| 74 Rasmus Asplund | 93 Matt Savoie | 37 Casey Mittelstadt |
| 13 Lukas Rousek | 24 Dylan Cozens | 89 Alex Tuch |
| 81 Brett Murray | 28 Zemgus Girgensons | 21 Kyle Okposo |
| 57 Michael Mersch | 8 Riley Sheahan | 43 Sean Malone |
| | | |
| LD | RD | G |
| 23 Mattias Samuelsson | 26 Rasmus Dahlin | 47 Malcolm Subban |
| 25 Owen Power | 10 Henri Jokiharju | 32 Michael Houser |
| 20 Lawrence Pilut | 46 Ilya Lyubushkin | |
| 4 Jeremy Davies | 70 Mitch Eliot | |
| | | |
2.Craig Anderson did not practice but will be back on the ice Friday, Granato said. The day off was planned as maintenance for the 41-year-old goaltender.
"He's in his 40s, and anybody in their 40s knows it's a lot different than being in their 20s," Granato said. "And this is a sport dominated by the ability to play at a physically high level. So, the work to rest ratio is totally different for Craig and will be than it is for guys in their 30s."
3. The Sabres will hold another two practice sessions at KeyBank Center on Friday. They begin the back half of the preseason schedule with a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday afternoon.
