The Buffalo Sabres could see a few prospects receive recalls this season, and one dark horse will take a Star of the Week Award at some point.
In a previous bold prediction, I projected Brandon Biro to make the team and mold into a better-than-advertised player. But he is a prospect who I feel gets little acknowledgment despite his overall production. So today, I wanted to make one final prediction on the underrated winger, with this one involving a Star of the Week Award.
Biro is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Buffalo Sabres pool. He wasn’t drafted, and players like him aren’t supposed to be any more than mid-tier AHL talents. But if you watched Biro play in Rochester over the past two years, you can’t help but be impressed with his overall skill-set.
Biro could have been a lock to sneak into the Blue and Gold’s lineup this year, but an injury ended his 2022-23 season, forcing him to miss all of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Before his injury, however, Biro had a sensational 51 points in 49 contests, with 16 goals and 35 assists.
He has one more year left on his current deal, and his play has evolved enough for other NHL general managers to at least take an interest in him, especially for those heading up rebuilding efforts. This leads me to believe that Biro, who is not waiver-exempt, could make the team, and wind up as Buffalo’s 13th or 14th forward and a part-time starter on the third line if Victor Olofsson once again shows off his inconsistencies.
Buffalo Sabres prospect makes team, earns Star of the Week Award
If Biro makes the team and fills in for Olofsson either through the latter’s performance issues or through head coach Don Granato simply mixing up the lineup, it’s easy to see him enjoying some “beginner’s luck” early on. Remember, few teams know who Biro is and what his tendencies are, and that could give him a huge advantage in his first few games.
Well, Biro will get hot in a string of a few games, including a strong season debut with a pair of points. He will remain in the lineup, steal a Star of the Week honor, and his performance might just the stage for him to become a more integral part of the team for at least 2023-24.
(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects)