3 European Buffalo Sabres prospects to watch in 2022-23

With perhaps the best prospect pool in the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres have a plethora of players to watch. Here are three from Europe.

It should go without saying that Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich are the most popular European prospects in the Buffalo Sabres system. But there is an outside chance Kulich joins the Rochester Americans while many will tune in for Ostlund’s SHL campaign. Even if Kulich remains in Czechia, fans will follow him too.

So a more appropriate title for this article should be something like: 3 European Buffalo Sabres prospects to watch not named Noah Ostlund or Jiri Kulich. Instead of stating the obvious about our two first round picks who have played overseas, let’s focus on a few more obscure, yet intriguing names.

Another of which I will not talk about is Arttu Ruotsalainen. Given his production last season in Rochester, many will also keep tabs on him since the Sabres still own his rights.

Three European Buffalo Sabres prospects you need to keep an eye on: Prospect #1 – Linus Sjodin

Sjodin’s stat line for Rogle BK impressed me. In 49 games, he scored 11 times, with five goals and six assists. For a young player seeing hardly any ice time in the SHL, Sjodin posted respectable numbers that will only grow in 2022-23.

I am also a fan of his versatility, as he can play both right wing and center if called upon. He may have some of the fastest hands in the SHL; so much that if you blink, you will miss what he is going to do with the puck.

He is also deceptive when in possession of the puck. He will lure defenders in and wait for them to make a move before zipping by or passing to a teammate.

Of course, as a seventh round pick, Sjodin’s game is still raw. He also saw little ice time at the 2022 World Juniors, though he managed to sink the game-sealing goal to guarantee Team Sweden the Bronze. He must also grow into his frame, which will take a few seasons.

Overall, expect Sjodin to see an uptick in production in 2022-23. It wouldn’t surprise me if he signed with the Buffalo Sabres down the road and eventually makes a trip to Rochester.

Jakub Konecny

A seventh round pick in 2020, Konecny is a smaller prospect for the Buffalo Sabres who was on the original roster in the World Junior Championships before COVID forced them to delay until August. He played in four different places last season in Czechia’s pro league and their top minor league, but Konecny ended up with seven points in 28 contests.

Like many young European hockey players, the numbers look fringe on paper, but these youngsters see little ice time. So given his age and his time on the ice, Konecny’s numbers are rather respectable.

Of course, it should sting a little that he didn’t make the roster for the rebooted World Juniors. But let’s see how much of a motivator it is. And it is one reason I have Konecny on this list. I am curious to see how he bounces back from such adversity.

Further, at 20 and entering his second season with the team, he will also see his ice time increase for HC Sparta Praha. If there is one potential surprise European prospect that you may rank a little lower, that prospect is Konecny.