Buffalo Sabres: Predictions for 28 prospects in 2022-23

J.J. Peterka

No one impressed the Buffalo Sabres faithful quite like Peterka. He only needed 70 games in Rochester to make his mark and it turned into a 68-point outing with 28 goals and 40 assists. Peterka formed a dynamic duo with Jack Quinn, who took home the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award.

Peterka and Quinn also sneaked onto the AHL All-Rookie Team and both appear to be heading to the NHL in 2022-23. I have seen nothing but random projections regarding Peterka this season, as some say he will just be an extra skater along with Anders Bjork, while others have him starting on the third line.

My guess is that he starts the season on the fourth line, or perhaps as an extra skater before he eventually works his way onto the third. Ideally, a line featuring Peterka, Dylan Cozens, and Rasmus Asplund will work wonders at the NHL level, as all three have a two-way mentality. Especially Asplund.

Jack Quinn

There are three rookies the Buffalo Sabres faithful are sold on: Owen Power, J.J. Peterka, and Jack Quinn. Quinn impressed in Rochester last season, with 61 points, 26 goals, and 35 assists in 45 games. And although he put up just two assists over 10 playoff games, Quinn still figures to be part of the Sabres main roster.

So where does he fit? It wouldn’t surprise me if he started on the lower lines – either the third or fourth. And while he isn’t an ideal fit for either line, it would make sense if head coach Don Granato temporarily put him there so he could get acclimated to the NHL game.

Then again, Quinn showed promise with his two points in two NHL games last season. And he may have seen more production if injuries did not hamper him. That said, I am looking for Quinn to, by the end of the season, at least play part-time on the second line with most likely Casey Mittelstadt and Victor Olofsson while Peyton Krebs bumps down to the lower lines.

Oskari Laaksonen

As noted in the first slide, this is not a ranking of 25 prospects. Instead, it is simply a prediction list in no particular order. One thing I like about Laaksonen is that he has shown potential to become an effective two-way player, something his 34 points in 71 games proved.

But he needs to focus on playing better defense if he wants to stick around long-term. Will it happen this season? As sold as I was on Laaksonen last year, right now, he is behind the eight ball with the likes of Lawrence Pilut, Kale Clague, Chase Priskie, and Jeremy Davies most likely joining him.

It will be hard for Laaksonen to get a chance against these four promising prospects and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up seeing the least amount of average ice time of any defenseman in Rochester. Here is to hoping Laaksonen can play better defense and become that player on the cusp of making his debut with the Sabres, something he came close to last season.

But for now, Laaksonen is in has-been status. Now, he needs to prove the entire organization wrong.

Brandon Biro

The Buffalo Sabres rewarded Biro with a one-off appearance in the NHL as a result of his AHL output. An undrafted free agent out of Penn State, Biro never really separated himself from the pack during his college days. But the Sabres thought they saw potential in him and he rewarded the organization with a breakout year in 2021-22 with 41 points in 48 games.

While Biro is nowhere near ready to play in the NHL full-time, he showed last season he could make those cameo appearances. And if the Sabres get hit with an injury bug, look for him to see a few more games of action on the main roster.

But he will spend most of his time in Rochester, most likely on one of the top two lines. The only problem is that with the likes of Isak Rosen and Aleksander Kisakov rising through the ranks, his UDFA status may ultimately hurt him. We also cannot forget about Lukas Rousek and Linus Weissbach, to name just a few more.

To keep drawing attention to himself, Biro must dramatically outperform those drafted into the system. And that will be no easy feat.

Michael Houser

Houser is one of the few prospects I listed that is not signed to the Buffalo Sabres, but instead, to Rochester. I included him given the goaltending carousel the Sabres faced last season and if something similar occurs, he might see himself playing a game or two in the NHL.

However, Houser is also an odd man out in Rochester as things stand, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen returning plus the possibility Malcolm Subban also finds himself in the AHL. This means Houser could very well end up being the system’s journeyman once more, which was the case in 2021-22 when he spent 11 games in the AHL, 18 in the ECHL, and two in the NHL.

So what are the odds we see Houser? Eric Comrie has proven so far he is nothing more than a spot starter and Craig Anderson is injury-prone. Ditto for Luukkonen, and Subban also missed most of last season. So there is a chance we see him.

But if Anderson stays healthy and Comrie shows he can withstand extended playing time, odds are, Houser will remain in the AHL all year, if not the ECHL. Although Houser looked good in those two games with the Sabres, let’s hope he stays in the minors.

Sean Malone

Malone struggled with injuries in 2021-22 and had they not occurred, chances are he would have seen time in the NHL. A hometown hero, he would definitely have the Buffalo Sabres faithful in his corner. But he is also 27, and there are a slew of young prospects below him, so the chances are greater he will spend the entire season in the AHL.

My projection is that this isn’t totally a bad thing, as Malone will serve as a mentor as he enters his sixth professional season. I see him starting the year off on the top two scoring lines, but he will likely make way for the likes of Rosen, Kisakov, and Cederqvist as the season progresses.

Regardless of where he ends up, I see Malone as a consistent performer capable of matching his 37 points in 39 games of production last season. Regardless of where he finishes in the lineup, Malone will spend the 2022-23 season as one of Rochester’s most valuable players.

Linus Weissbach

At 5’8, Weissbach is undersized, but like the Buffalo Sabres ninth overall pick in the NHL Draft, Matthew Savoie, don’t let his small size fool you. Weissbach proved himself productive in 2021-22 when he scored 37 points in 67 contests with Rochester.

This may not seem like a lot, but it was his first season playing in the AHL. And odds are, he can make a leap this season in both production and development. Even with the likes of Rosen, Kisakov, and Cederqvist arriving.

Like Malone, I am looking for Weissbach to find a place on the top two scoring lines. But unlike Malone, I expect Weissbach to stay there for the duration of the season. I don’t believe he is anywhere near ready to see time in the NHL, but he will be a steady puzzle piece as a member of the Amerks.

Look for greater output in 2022-23, and potentially spot duty at the NHL level in 2023-24 if needed. This is a small, but intriguing prospect.

Brett Murray

If there is one player who may end up floating through the system in 2022-23, it is Brett Murray. Murray played well in a limited role for the Buffalo Sabres last season, mainly serving as an enforcer. It is a role he may end up in permanently as the 2022-23 season wears on.

Given his size and physical nature, Murray is best suited for the checking line at the AHL level. And while his scoring output remains pedestrian with 79 points in 134 games, it’s best to measure Murray’s output with his overall role. And it is one reason we saw him in the NHL last season.

Murray does face a bit of a logjam, however, so if he snags a full-time role with the Sabres this year, it would only occur if they were sellers at the trade deadline. Therefore, I would look for him to appear in between 20 and 25 games for the Sabres in 2022-23, with an opportunity for more later on.

Matej Pekar

The entire Buffalo Sabres organization has high hopes for Pekar, but right now he has been a bust. Over the past two seasons, Pekar appeared in 72 games at the AHL level with 12 points and 106 penalty minutes.

Okay, so this indicates he’s either a pest or an enforcer, right? Not really, as Pekar proved to be a prolific scorer while playing for the Barrie Colts and the Sudbury Wolves at the OHL level. Between the 2018-19 season and 2019-20, Pekar saw action in 84 games and scored 99 points, 42 goals, and 57 assists.

This year, it is the moment of truth for Pekar. Will he sink or swim? Right now, I cannot see him playing anywhere near the top two lines, especially with the aforementioned rookies coming in. Pekar will have the cards stacked against him heading into 2022-23 and if he doesn’t perform this year, odds are he will be a washout.

Lukas Rousek

If there is ever a more intriguing prospect in Rochester this season, I’d like to know about them because right now, Lukas Rousek holds that honor. A former sixth round pick, the Buffalo Sabres are confident that Rousek will build on his solid playoff run.

A torn ACL limited his ice time to just 19 games in 2021-22 and his scoring output tanked to just four points, one goal, and three assists. But let’s not judge Rousek’s lack of regular season production, as he scored six points, two goals, and four assists in 10 playoff games.

Rousek’s performance during development camp indicated his scoring run in the playoffs was no fluke. So this season, look for him to build on that epic performance and threaten to snag a permanent spot on the top scoring lines. He is also a dark horse to appear in some NHL games this season if he shows he can produce consistently in the AHL.

Filip Cederqvist

Cederqvist is one of the more promising Buffalo Sabres prospects in the pool this season. He is one of three – the other two being Kisakov and Rosen, that I am looking most forward to following. But unlike the latter two, Cederqvist has both size and production in his corner.

He put up 32 points, 14 goals, and 18 assists for Djurgardens IF of the SHL. This indicates he is far more AHL-ready than Rosen or Kisakov. So look for Cederqvist to come in early and make his mark. If any of the aforementioned incoming rookies will snag an early spot on the top two lines, Cederqvist has the best chance of doing so.

While you should expect growing pains, look for steady improvement as the season progresses. By the end of the season, Cederqvist could very well make his case for NHL minutes come 2023-24, or 2024-25 at the latest, barring any unforeseen incident.

Michael Mersch

Another favorite of mine, Mersch’s NHL career has not panned out the way he would have liked. Since entering the AHL in 2013-14, he has seen just 17 games of NHL action, which occurred in 2015-16 with the Los Angeles Kings.

He came to the Buffalo Sabres system in 2020-21, and has since put together some promising returns, with 73 points in 93 games. However, he will be 30 when the season starts, so it is hard to imagine the Amerks giving him more ice time than the younger players with far more NHL potential long-term.

Look for Mersch to see his ice time frontloaded, and as the younger players continue to develop, he may easily take a back seat. If there are developmental issues, however, the Amerks could keep Mersch on the top two lines, but this is by no means an ideal situation. Instead, look for Mersch to ideally become a mentor to the younger players.

Ethan Prow

Like Mersch, Prow is another member of the Buffalo Sabres system who will likely end up taking a back seat in time. Although he saw his first taste of NHL action for four games with the Sabres, it was most likely a one-off, considering the young talent they have heading into Rochester in the rotation for 2022-23.

Lawrence Pilut, Kale Clauge, Jeremy Davies, and Chase Priskie all have more NHL potential than Prow, which leaves him as a potential odd-man-out if Oskari Laaksonen can learn how to play better defense. But the soon-to-be 30-year-old has played in his fair share of NHL systems, and that experience will be priceless for the young talent mentioned above.

While Mersch will serve as a mentor to the forwards, look for Prow to play the same role for the defensive rotation. Also like Mersch, he can fill in and earn extended ice time if the situation calls for it.

Aleksandr Kisakov

Kisakov is one of those prospects in the Buffalo Sabres system who you expect to see make his way onto the top two scoring lines in Rochester. While it may not happen immediately, expect steady improvement as the 2022-23 season wears on.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see much of Kisakov in the KHL, as he played in just four games last year. But his performance in the MHL was off the charts over the last two seasons, scoring 129 points in 112 contests, 62 goals, and 67 assists.

Best yet, with the likes of Isak Rosen and Filip Cederqvist joining him in Rochester, we will be able to see the rookies build chemistry at some point this season. Other essential rookies, like Lukas Rousek, will also get to mesh with players like Kisakov.

He was a dynamic scorer over in Russia. And I am expecting that scoring to continue after he becomes acclimated to the North American game.

Jiri Kulich

If there is one prospect Buffalo Sabres fans cannot wait to see more of, it is Jiri Kulich. He impressed in development camp, and he augmented that with a stellar showing in the IIHF World Junior Championships.

Kulich is slated to start the 2022-23 season in Czechia’s professional league, Extraliga, per Elite Prospects. However, that may change if the Sabres elect to place him onto the Rochester Americans roster. There is also a small chance Kulich plays in the CHL, but Extraliga and the AHL are far more realistic.

Regardless of where he plays, expect steady improvement throughout the season as he continues to show us why the Sabres picked him 28th overall. Kulich’s performance this season will guarantee him a spot in the AHL in 2023-24 unless he winds up in the CHL. There is also an outside chance that, if he ends up in the AHL this year, that he could even join the Sabres in a one-off.

Isak Rosen

Like Kulich, Rosen is another Buffalo Sabres prospect many fans are interested in keeping tabs on. His high-scoring output in the World Juniors put everyone on notice. And don’t be surprised if that trend continues in the AHL after he becomes acclimated to the North American game.

Rosen’s performance at the IIHF Worlds wasn’t perfect, however, as The Athletic’s Corey Pronman believed Rosen and the rest of Sweden’s forwards were not as effective offensively as they otherwise could have been. But that doesn’t take away his five points (four goals) in seven games as he further helped Sweden earn a Bronze Medal.

Don’t expect Rosen to be a playmaker when he first encroaches AHL ice. However, feel free to expect higher output as his rookie season in Rochester wears on. Despite the potential for leaps in improvement, it is farfetched to see him get a little if any NHL ice time this season.

Matthew Savoie

Everyone involved with the Buffalo Sabres, from the front office to the fan base, were glad to see Savoie drop to them at ninth overall. We can thank his lack of height – he is just 5’9, as the potential reasoning for his fall. But Savoie plays bigger than his small indicates.

And for the past two seasons – one with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints and another with the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice, Savoie’s production has been astronomical: 99 games, 128 points, 56 goals, and 72 assists. Now that he is entering what might be his final season in the WHL, expect Savoie to threaten to pace the league in points.

If he can, then the NHL will be knocking on the door. My most logical guess would be that Savoie could potentially replace Casey Mittelstadt at center in 2023-24 if the Sabres decide to do away with him following the 2022-23 season. Mittelstadt’s contract runs through 2023-24, so there is an outside chance the Sabres let him play it out.

But if Savoie is ready and the Sabres feel he is a better fit than Mittelstadt, it makes sense to go with the hot hand come 2023-24. It will depend on whether Savoie builds on his remarkable 2021-22 campaign, and if Mittelstadt finally starts to play like a first round pick.

Noah Ostlund

Ostlund was the one prospect I wasn’t a fan of when the Buffalo Sabres drafted him. However, he looked strong in HockeyAllsvenskan preseason, so it may be the first of many steps in the right direction. Ostlund did have a lot of backers, and he should, given his hockey IQ, but here is why I wasn’t fond of him:

He is phenomenal at creating scoring opportunities for teammates, but I definitely would have wanted to see more goal scoring output from the center. However, Ostlund has an opportunity in 2022-23 to lead Djurgardens back to the SHL after they lost the playout last season.

Projection-wise, I’m going to say Ostlund steps up his scoring production. And his 42 overall points in 32 contests last year was nothing to scoff at. But if the goals start coming in, expect Ostlund to fly under the AHL radar for 2023-24, though the likely scenario is that he returns to HockeyAllsvenskan or the SHL.

Owen Power

It’s tough to call Owen Power a prospect since he is a shoo-in to play in the NHL this season. But with only eight games under his belt, I will call him a prospect until it becomes official that he earned a spot on the Buffalo Sabres defensive rotation, which will become official in about a month.

Anyway, Power’s eight-game sample was a motivating stint and one he will build on in 2022-23. Look for him to score at least 35 points, between 10 and 15 goals, and 20-25 assists. And this is a conservative estimate.

On defense, Power will continue to find himself in position to disrupt plays and create turnovers. Expect him to be on the ice for each phase of the game, and to become a staple at the blue line on the second pairing. He will contend for the Calder Trophy and will earn a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.

Tyson Kozak

Kozak might be one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire system, but it is not every day that a former seventh round pick makes this list. But here is Kozak, ready and willing to become the next great Buffalo Sabres success story. And if he has a repeat season with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, he will find himself in the AHL come 2023-24.

Kozak’s 69 goals in 66 games last season shows us he is on the up and up, and his +25 is an added bonus. Though it would be good to see his 42 penalty minutes shrink somewhat. Kozak entered 2021-22 as a team captain, and he will enter 2022-23 as such.

Like Savoie, if Kozak emulates or even betters his success from last season, expect the NHL universe to take notice. Unlike Savoie, don’t expect him to make his mark in the NHL just yet – the likelier path is the AHL for at least two seasons. But it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he sneaks onto the Sabres roster in 2025-26, complete with a new contract in hand.

Josh Bloom

Bloom impressed enough with the Saginaw Spirit in 2021-22 that he got to practice with the Rochester Americans during their Calder Cup Playoff run after signing his entry-level deal. Since he won’t turn 20 until 2023, however, he was ineligible to actually play in a game, but it was a good way to get acclimated to the AHL atmosphere.

In 67 games played with the Spirit last season, Bloom scored 61 times, finding the back of the net on 30 occasions. He was a remarkable chess piece for a team who struggled, and you will see him once more lead the Spirit to hopefully better results in 2022-23.

Given his uptick in production from 2019-20 to 2021-22 (the Spirit did not play in 2020-21), it leads us to ask the question: What will he bring in 2022-23? Look for Bloom to impress and sneak his way onto the Amerks roster for the 2023-24 season. At the absolute least, he will make his case for a roster spot.

Olivier Nadeau

Unfortunately for Nadeau, he will miss part of the 2022-23 AHL Season because of shoulder surgery. So much of his success will hinge on how effective he will be upon returning from such an injury.

Playing in the QMJHL, Nadeau spent the last two seasons with the Shawinigan Cataractes, but he will play for the Gatineau Olympiques for the upcoming season. Nadeau has played lights out over the past two seasons, scoring 123 points in 99 games, with 48 goals and 75 assists.

Like Bloom, Nadeau has the potential to end up in Rochester next season if he returns from shoulder surgery at full force. There is a chance he ends up in the QMJHL for one last season of eligibility. If that is the case, expect him in Rochester in 2024-25, but don’t be surprised if he gets there in 2023-24.

Lawrence Pilut

Pilut is a name many in the Buffalo Sabres faithful are familiar with. He played parts of two seasons for the Sabres before heading off to the KHL for another two years. For 2022-23, he will return to the organization but with the logjam in the defensive rotation at the main roster, look for Pilut to start the season in Rochester unless he can usurp Casey Fitzgerald or Jacob Bryson in camp.

He grew into a fan favorite during his time in Buffalo, but as pro hockey is a business, he must once again earn his stripes. I am projecting Pilut to be one of the better players at the AHL level this year and that he will see action in some NHL games.

The question is: Will Pilut play for an extended period in the NHL? He is one of those players who had a chance two seasons back, but the move to Russia put his NHL career in doubt. Right now, I can’t see Pilut being anything more than a rotational piece at most. An extra skater who may see between 30 and 40 games at the NHL level, and that is a rather lofty expectation.

Chase Priskie

Priskie has just four games of NHL action to his name and he likely won’t see time with the Buffalo Sabres this season barring an unforeseen injury bug. However, expect him to see plenty of ice time in the AHL and to make the most of his one-year agreement.

His future is most likely not with the Sabres organization. Instead, Priskie is just here to audition for the other 31 franchises and hope that he catches someone’s eye. Look for Priskie to be a rather physical presence that he showed during his ultra-limited ice time with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22, where he recorded three hits and three blocks in 56 minutes of total ice time.

Priskie could make for a nice physical presence on an NHL roster, so don’t be surprised if he ends up on someone’s third pairing if he gets a chance to move up. There is a nominal chance the Sabres could even move him at the trade deadline to a team looking for prospects if they find themselves in the wild card race.

Jeremy Davies

Davies is in a situation similar to Priskie’s. Expect him to, at most, see a handful of NHL games, but odds are greater that he won’t see anything other than a Rochester Americans uniform. Like Priskie, he could wind up on someone’s third pairing, but it is a slim to none chance that the third pairing will occur with the Buffalo Sabres.

Instead, look for Davies to fight for a spot on the first pairing in Rochester with Kale Clague and Lawrence Pilut. There is also a chance Priskie will also end up on the first, so at worst, expect Davies manning the second unless Rochester goes with the lifers in Oskari Laaksonen and Ethan Prow.

Yes, there are a lot of what-ifs here with Davies. But like Priskie, his future is with another one of the 31 NHL teams and that future will come in 2023-24 if the Sabres don’t move him during the season.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Upon his re-signing with the Buffalo Sabres on August 31st, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a late addition to the list. He has the size to man the net and the potential to become a franchise goaltender, but he continues to struggle at the AHL level despite putting up solid NHL numbers.

Look for Luukkonen to most likely man the net in Rochester but there is an outside chance he remains on the Sabres roster as the third goaltender. If Luukkonen remains in Rochester, expect him to build upon last season’s struggles. But he must find a way to stay healthy.

It is highly likely he will play well enough to warrant consideration to be the Sabres starting goaltender in 2023-24. However, if he struggles, he must ward off an upstart Devon Levi (projected to sign following the 2022-23 NCAA Season) to show he can be the franchise goaltender.

Kale Clague

If the Buffalo Sabres weren’t so stacked in the defensive rotation, odds are Clague would be good enough for the third pairing. But odds are greater that he will end up in Rochester with Pilut, Priskie, and Davies comprising the top four.

Like Pilut, Clague is likely another one of the next men up if the injury bug hits the Sabres defensive rotation. But like the aforementioned players comprising Rochester’s projected top four, Clague’s future may very well be somewhere else.

He will seek to impress one of the other 31 teams out there in 2022-23. And once again, if the Sabres are somehow in the wild card race come the trade deadline, he may be yet another bargaining chip.

Clauge is a good hockey player and he has shown he can play for an extended period in the NHL. But the Sabres have too many homegrown players in the system for him to seriously contend for a spot in the rotation.

Malcolm Subban

And finally, we got the fan favorite in the Buffalo Sabres organization – Malcolm Subban. While he struggled last season and ultimately wound up on the injured reserve, Subban was in a rather undesirable position. Though he played his role well and he may ultimately be that goaltender in 2022-23 that floats between Buffalo and Rochester.

My initial projection is that Subban will begin the season as Luukkonen’s backup. But if the star-crossed goaltender struggles again with injuries and inconsistency, Subban can step in and take over. I am also projecting we see him in a handful of games up in Buffalo this season.

So there you have it – 28 predictions for 28 prospects signed either to the Sabres or the Americans – but have seen time in Buffalo before. As mentioned at the beginning of this ultra-long piece, today’s article is not a power ranking. It is simply discussing how each prospect will fare in 2022-23, and where they may end up next season.

(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects, Hockey DB, and Hockey-Reference)