Ranking the Buffalo Sabres Top 10 Prospects (2023 Postseason Edition)
The Buffalo Sabres prospects pool is still one of the NHL’s best, even as many have graduated to the big league over the past year.
This time around, I’m ranking the Buffalo Sabres prospects pool in a different light. A few names who you can technically still consider prospects won’t be ranked, so Devon Levi (seven NHL games), and Ryan Johnson (unlikely to sign) are not included in the list below. Lukas Rousek, however (two NHL games), will be included because he’s not as much of a surefire addition to earning a spot in the lineup as Levi.
So these rankings may not look the same as others you may see in the coming months. Anyway, enough small talk. Let’s get to our top ten players in the Blue and Gold’s prospect pool.
Top 10 Buffalo Sabres prospects – 2023 postseason edition
10 – Viktor Neuchev
Viktor Neuchev signed with the Sabres recently, and all signs point to him joining the Rochester Americans next season. His presence should help negate the sting Rochester may feel if they lose star winger Jiri Kulich and perhaps others to the Blue and Gold. Neuchev also enjoyed extensive experience in the KHL last season, appearing in 57 games and scoring 12 points for his efforts. Don’t be surprised if the Amerks eventually utilize him on the power play.
9 – Linus Weissbach
Some may believe Linus Weissbach to be “overaged” for a prospect and may not even rank him, as he’s 25 years old. But he’s played well enough to snag a top ten ranking, and to kind of hover around in outer orbit when it comes to potentially making a jump to the NHL, even if it may not ultimately be with the Buffalo Sabres. Weissbach has enjoyed two solid seasons in Rochester, and has recently gone on a tear in the playoffs, so he’s more than worth watching.
8 – Brandon Biro
Brandon Biro is another one some may consider to be overaged, but when healthy, he’s arguably the best player in Rochester. He snagged 51 points in just 49 games this past season, and if he can return strong, Biro could be a darkhorse candidate to eventually sneak his way onto the Sabres roster. At the absolute least, he will get a long look in camp.
7 – Nikita Novikov
I’d spent the previous year watching clips of Nikita Novikov whenever I could get my hands on them, and needless to say, I was beyond impressed. You look at his size, and you will immediately think of Mattias Samuelsson. Couple that with the fact that he can be a big hitter, and the Buffalo Sabres latest signee at the time of this writing could be, once given some time to develop in Rochester, a long-term fixture in the Blue and Gold’s top four.
6 – Noah Ostlund
This past season, Noah Ostlund made an incredible jump from J20 Nationell to HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional league. In 37 games, he logged eight goals and 18 assists, which isn’t half-bad for a rook. Per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, Ostlund has the ability to win faceoffs (especially important ones), help kill penalties, and create opportunities for others. Expect him to continue to hone those aspects of his game in Sweden next year, unless he decides to make the move to Rochester.
5 – Tyson Kozak
Tyson Kozak has surprisingly been a decent scorer so far during the Rochester Americans playoff run. And although scoring hasn’t comprised much of his game during his first season in the AHL, Kozak has been effective on the PK unit and winning faceoffs. He also brings a physical edge that has been fun to watch over the past season, and his overall style of play will eventually land the former seventh round pick a spot in the NHL.
4 – Lukas Rousek
Lukas Rousek was incredible in his first two outings with the Buffalo Sabres, and he he’s been no stranger to success this season in Rochester. Another “overaged” prospect on this list, Rousek has earned a high ranking because he will be a legitimate threat to earn a spot in the lineup next season if there are a few openings. This past year, he recorded an incredible 56 points in 70 games with the Amerks, and has also averaged over a point per game in the playoffs.
3 – Isak Rosen
Few have made their presence known during the Amerks playoff run more than Isak Rosen. While he still needs to put on a good 10 to 15lb before he’s ready to make the jump to Buffalo, Rosen has nonetheless shown us he’s more than capable of producing at the NHL level. His playoff tear has been nothing short of impeccable, and look for it to continue. Further, expect Rosen to become the go-to on the power play in 2023-24.
2 – Matt Savoie
Matt Savoie is yet another member of the prospects pool who enjoyed a remarkable playoff run, scoring an impressive 29 points, 11 goals, and 18 assists in 19 playoff games. Now that he’s with the Rochester Americans, Savoie isn’t done yet, as it looks like we will see him in the Amerks lineup at some point during Rochester’s Eastern Conference Final vs. the Hershey Bears.
1 – Jiri Kulich
If there is any prospect more than ready to make the jump to the Buffalo Sabres lineup in 2023-24, it’s none other than Jiri Kulich. Ever since he entered the system, Kulich’s motor just hasn’t stopped, despite a busy schedule that included stints in development camp, the Prospects Challenge, Rochester, and the IIHF World Juniors. The scary part? His recent playoff tear, with nine points in six games, plus one goal per game, tells us that he’s playing his best hockey of the season.
Related Story. Sabres: J.J. Peterka tearing it up at 2023 IIHF Worlds. light
As mentioned, this list may look dramatically different from others you will see. I’ve taken the liberty to include a few older prospects on my list who, even if they don’t wind up playing in Buffalo, have shown us enough to potentially find a home in the NHL. A good few of the prospects mentioned, however, will be playing in the Queen City at some point in their respective careers.
Source: Buffalo Sabres are No. 6 in 2023 NHL prospect pool rankings by Scott Wheeler, TheAthletic.com
(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects)