The Buffalo Sabres are playing better this season than they have in years, but they still need help if they plan on sustaining long-term success.
The Buffalo Sabres have one of the top prospect pools in the NHL. Many outlets ranked them number one a few months back, and even with many of those prospects graduating into full-time NHL players, the pool is still one of the best in the league.
So there is talent galore that the Sabres can groom starting in 2023-24, and perhaps they can take the NHL ice sometime around 2024-25 or shortly thereafter with some cameos next season. Which three players should general manager Kevyn Adams seek to sign in the near-future? Here are three names.
1 – Ryan Johnson, D
Per Lance Lysowski of Buffalo News, the Sabres will sit down with Johnson following the 2022-23 NCAA season. And from the way it sounds, Johnson wants to be in the Queen City, even if it’s more likely he’ll start his professional hockey career in nearby Rochester.
"““I think Buffalo, they do have great opportunities, and it’s an excellent place to play. So, I don’t think that will be a problem. It’s just going to be my decision and talking to their general manager to get their view.” – via Buffalo News."
Given the Sabres problems in the defensive rotation, it’s easy to see why general manager Kevyn Adams would want to lure Johnson to the organization as opposed to him signing elsewhere. Defenseman is the weakest link in the prospect pool, and if Johnson signs, he will likely find himself ahead of the other blueliners the organization drafted in 2021 and 2022 (excluding Owen Power).
2 – Viljami Marjala, LW
The 20-year-old Marjala would have a tough time making it onto the Buffalo Sabres roster at the moment, given the influx of forwards already on the outside looking in. But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have a great supporting role in Rochester if he signed for next season and returned to North America.
With 48 points in 31 games in U20 SM-sarja, and four points in seven contests with TPS in Liiga, Marjala has shown he can produce at the professional level. At worst, the former fifth-round pick would act as AHL insurance as early as next season.
3 – Devon Levi, G
There is no one else fans of the Buffalo Sabres would love to see more than Devon Levi. The former seventh-round pick is once again putting up legendary numbers at Northeastern, where he’s a prime candidate to win the Mike Richter Award.
As the 2022-23 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Season wears on, Levi has been remarkable, with a 2.32 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage. If Levi signs, look for him to start his pro career in the AHL where he will spend at least one season before moving up to the NHL.
Source: Sabres, Ryan Johnson plan to discuss future when college season ends by Lance Lysowski
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