By Chris Ryan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Devils will send 27 players to Buffalo for three games at the Prospects Challenge starting on Sept. 8, including Nico Hischier, Will Butcher and Michael McLeod. The prospects will play less than a week before the start of training camp, so there will be plenty of incentive for a strong performance. Here are six things to watch when the Devils take the ice in Buffalo.

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Butcher's debut

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John Minchillo | AP Photo

Most of the notable players participating in the Prospects Challenge were on the ice with the Devils during July's Development Camp or earlier in their careers. But this weekend will be the first time the Devils will get a glimpse at defenseman Will Butcher in game action. The NCAA Hobey Baker signed with the Devils in August, and his debut with the Devils is one of the most noteworthy things of the event.

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Defensemen competition

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Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media

Butcher's debut also adds another piece to the competition for defensemen aiming to make the Devils' NHL roster to start the season, Along with Butcher, defensemen Steven Santini, Yaroslav Dyblenko, Michael Kapla, Joshua Jacobs and Colton Sissons could all make a case for themselves prior to training camp.

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Nico Hischier in game action

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Sure, he dazzled in the Devils Development Camp Scrimmage, but all eyes will be on Nico Hischier playing against other NHL-caliber competition. The No. 1 pick of the 2017 NHL Draft will be the center of attention throughout the preseason and beyond, and it starts this weekend in Buffalo.

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Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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John Quenneville back on the ice

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Forward John Quennevile is one of the candidates to secure an NHL roster spot in training camp after playing with the Devils in March last season. He missed Development Camp with a minor ankle injury, so this will be his first time back on the ice for a team event since last season. It will be interesting to see what strides he made in the offseason and where his game stands entering the 2017-18 campaign.

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First test for Speers and McLeod

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Blake Speers would be the first to tell you how important the Prospects Challenge can be for a player entering training camp. After an impressive weekend in Buffalo last September, he made the Devils out of training camp before returning to the OHL for the rest of the season. Speers will be in his first pro season in 2017-18 and will start his audition for a longer NHL stint.

Meanwhile, Michael McLeod will try to do the same thing Speers did last season. The 2016 first-round pick will start his push for a roster spot in Buffalo.

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AP Photo

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Chances for 2017 Draft picks

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Outside of Hischier, it's extremely unlikely any of the Devils' 2017 Draft picks will see NHL action this season, and most will likely be cut from training camp after just one or two preseason games. So the Prospects Challenge gives the Devils and fans a bonus look at some of their young 2017 picks, including Marian Studenic, Jocktan Chainey and Nikita Popugaev.

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Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.