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Buffalo Sabres prospects prove they are NHL-ready

By Sion Fawkes

LAVAL, QC - APRIL 08: John Peterka #77 of the Rochester Americans and Alex Belzile #22 of the Laval Rocket skate against each other during the second period at Place Bell on April 8, 2022 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Rochester Americans 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - APRIL 08: John Peterka #77 of the Rochester Americans and Alex Belzile #22 of the Laval Rocket skate against each other during the second period at Place Bell on April 8, 2022 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Rochester Americans 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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While it would have been great to see Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka grace the lineup for the Buffalo Sabres this season, they honed their game in the AHL. 

The Buffalo Sabres showed they can win with the players they got at the NHL level. So you can count any big-name prospect rising through the AHL rankings as either a bonus or a reinforcement.

In the 2021-22 season, forwards Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka made their NHL debuts, playing in a pair of games each for the Sabres before being re-assigned to the Rochester Americans. And while the Amerks did not have a stellar season, Quinn and Peterka proved they are among the AHL’s elite prospects.

Buffalo Sabres prospects Quinn, Peterka, prove they are NHL ready

Peterka logged 64 points in 66 games, pacing the AHL rookie class. His 39 assists and 25 goals both ranked third among rookies. To make things better, 21 of those goals came in the 2022 calendar year. Indicating the game slowed down for Peterka as the season dragged on.

Quinn also put up 25 goals and 34 assists, good for 59 points. He logged at least one point in every other game in 2021-22, recording multiple points in 18 contests.

Drafted eighth and 34th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, their accomplishments in Rochester show us, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that this dynamic duo is NHL ready. They both earned a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team, and they were the first pair of Amerks rookies to log 50 or more points in a season since 1992-93. Quite an accomplishment all around.

Look for Peterka and Quinn to lace up their skates regularly at the KeyBank Center in 2022-23. And while they will need to work their way up into the top scoring lines, don’t be surprised if they see extended ice time sooner than later.

The Sabres scoring units have systemically improved throughout the last two months. And with two blue-chip talents like Quinn and Peterka coming, expect an even greater scoring output come October.

(Statistics provided by Hockey DB)

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