Yesterday, the NHL Network unveiled its Top 50 prospects for 2023-24, and the Buffalo Sabres had four of them in the Top 30 alone.
The NHL Network failed to rank any of the Buffalo Sabres prospects in the Top 10, though Zach Benson could have easily landed there. Instead, Benson found himself at 19th overall, leading a pack of Sabres prospects between the ranks of 19th and 30th.
Following Benson were Matt Savoie (27th), Jiri Kulich (20th), and Devon Levi (30th). Levi, per the usual, got a ranking much lower than I would have given him, but I expected no differently, seeing how he has been underrated at every stop of his amateur and now professional career.
The Top 50 Prospects in the NHL, revealed.
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 11, 2023
Let's hear it 🧐 do you agree? pic.twitter.com/nAHLhOlXMM
I feel most of us would agree with Benson snagging the top spot overall among the Blue and Gold’s prospects, given his outstanding play last season and his overall skill-set. If you didn’t see Benson play alongside Savoie last season in the WHL, you saw what he can do at development camp, where he looked light years ahead of almost everyone else.
Four Buffalo Sabres grace the Top 30 in NHL Network’s rankings
Seeing Matt Savoie clocking in past Jiri Kulich was another surprise, though overall, it also wasn’t surprising to see both in the Top 30. Kulich’s monster season in Rochester will at least generate him an extended look into the NHL, while Savoie likely needs another season before he’s ready – though anything can happen when training camp and the preseason roll around.
Levi is the one prospect listed that won’t be ranked next season unless he tanks in training camp and is assigned to play in Rochester most of the year. Something that I can tell you right now, isn’t happening.
Overall, expect Benson, Savoie, and Kulich to follow suit within the next three seasons at the latest, and that’s a rather conservative guess. Each of the three former first round picks is, at worst, middle six talents, and Benson is a lock to eventually replace Jeff Skinner a few seasons from today if he keeps playing as advertised.
Levi is likely the 1A this year, and Jiri Kulich could be Victor Olofsson’s replacement in the not-so-distant future. Savoie will eventually work his way into the lineup, perhaps starting on the middle six before moving up.