3 unheralded prospects who could join the Buffalo Sabres in 2023

The Buffalo Sabres have a plethora of prospects to be excited about following the Rochester Americans loss in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Last week, I discussed five popular prospects who could earn a spot on the Buffalo Sabres in 2023-24. Today, we’re talking about three others who may not come to mind, but could ultimately wind up with a spot on the Blue and Gold’s roster because they best fulfill a team need.

Therefore, names like Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, and Lukas Rousek won’t be listed. Instead, we’re taking a long, hard look at the roster and seeing where the Sabres are at their weakest, and naming a prospect who could help negate that weakness.

3 darkhorse prospects who could join Buffalo Sabres in 2023

1 – Tyson Kozak

Few players align better with what the Buffalo Sabres need than Tyson Kozak. He can win faceoffs, he’s great on the penalty kill, and he would add a level of physicality the Blue and Gold needs.

But would there be room for Kozak? It depends on whether the Sabres decide to extend a qualifying offer to Tyson Jost. If they do, Kozak will have a tougher time making the team, but he’s still not someone I would count out.

2 – Malcolm Subban

Many of us want the Sabres to sign a veteran goalie, or even acquire someone like Connor Hellebuyck if the price is right. But perhaps they already have one in Malcolm Subban, whose performance in the playoffs will likely grant him another chance in the NHL next season with one of the 32 teams.

While many fans probably wouldn’t like this move, it’s also important to remember that Subban has seen his fair share of success in this league. He has a career GAA of just 2.92, far better than what you can say about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Eric Comrie, and a save percentage of 0.902. The downside? His quality starts percentage is a meager 0.397.

Overall, I believe that, if the Sabres add a veteran goaltender, it will be someone other than Subban. But given the way he played this past season, it also wouldn’t surprise me if he re-signed and found himself in Buffalo.

3 – Brandon Biro

Thanks to his injuries, Brandon Biro found himself getting lost in the mix during discussions of high-profile prospects. And it didn’t help that he missed the entire 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs.

But we also can’t ignore how good Biro was during the regular season, when he put up 51 points, 16 goals, and 35 assists in 49 games. Lukas Rousek led the Amerks in scoring with 56 points, but he did so in 71 contests, averaging to 0.788 points per game. Biro, on the other hand, scored 1.04 points per game before injuries ruined his season.

We can talk about Kulich, Rousek, Rosen, and even Matt Savoie replacing Victor Olofsson if the Buffalo Sabres move him. But let’s not forget about Biro.

Overall, it’s tough to see any of the three prospects listed here earning a spot on the Sabres roster. But you can make a case for each of them based on the way they played this past season, and that their respective strengths can serve the team at the NHL level.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and theAHL.com)