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Sabres’ Ristolainen makes team, Zadorov out two weeks (finger)

Columbus Blue Jackets v Buffalo Sabres

BUFFALO, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Rasmus Ristolainen #55 of the Buffalo Sabres battles along the boards with Sean Collins #43 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during a preseason game at First Niagara Center on September 25, 2013 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jen Fuller/Getty Images)

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It was a good news/bad news day for both 2013 first-round picks of the Buffalo Sabres.

First up, the good news. Eighth overall pick, defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, has made the team. After an impressive training camp, he made the cut as Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald shares.

At 6'3" 207 pounds, he’s been a physical player and a smart one through camp for Buffalo. It also marks the second year in a row the team’s top pick has made the team out of camp (Mikhail Grigorenko did last year).

The bad news centers around 16th overall pick Nikita Zadorov. He injured his finger blocking a shot on Friday night and will miss two weeks of action as Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News shares. Coach Ron Rolston says his finger was “smashed” at the tip. Gross.

Rolston says his injury status won’t dictate if he makes the team. More from Hoppe:

“Will we keep him?” Rolston asked. “We’ll have to discuss that. It’s two weeks. We could have him here and he could be working out and be on the ice because it’s not anything lower body.”

Buffalo is poised to be one of the youngest teams in the league. Keeping a pair of first-round picks from this year’s draft and last year’s (Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons) would make them a very green team.

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