When does a player get his Sabres jersey number? Is it the first time he's called up? Or do they assign them ahead of time for a number of prospects?

I'm wondering for the purposes of ordering a jersey. If I wanted to get Gerbe, Kennedy, or one of the other prospects in the system, how would I go about figuring out what number he'll wear for the Sabres? It's not as much fun to wait until they play a game, order, and wait a couple months for the jersey to come in.

Usually numbers are given out at the start of training camp and they can change if say a player wants a number that is taken at the time he turns pro and is available when he "really" makes the big club.

For instance, Gerbe might want9 or 19, but both are taken. But, if Connolly leaves as an UFA after 08-09, Gerbe might take #19 in 09-10.....

The guys that are on the squad can pick a number. When players are called up, they usually get assigned a high number like 56, 62 or something like that. Once they make the roster, then they can pick. That is how most clubs do it.

The guys that get the really crazy numbers are unsigned prospects in Juniors that are early camp cuts.

Everyone else gets a number that is expected to "stick". Just look at Max, McKee, Peters, etc.

I don't know. Peters is the only one that looks really out there to me...

I said it before,
I'll say it agian

I think
they should go back to using #'s 1-35

But thats my opinion..