Which Buffalo Sabres prospects will make their NHL debuts in 2023-24?
Zach Benson is the latest Buffalo Sabres prospect set to make his debut this season, but will others follow the 18-year-old’s lead?
Let’s be brutally honest: We don’t know if Zach Benson will last longer than nine games with the Buffalo Sabres this season. It will ultimately come down to whether he’s helping the team win hockey games, and if the answer is a resounding yes, expect him to stay. If the answer is maybe or no, then he’ll return to the WHL.
If the Blue and Gold reassign Benson, it may open the door for other prospects to step up and get a chance. Brandon Biro and Lukas Rousek are the likeliest names (though they won’t be listed in today’s piece because each made their respective NHL debuts in 2022 and 2023), but if Isak Rosen or Jiri Kulich impress, then anything can happen. We also need to account for injuries, which are inevitable across 82 regular season games.
So which Sabres prospects have the best chances to at least snag a game or two with the Blue and Gold? Here are five names that did enough to at least warrant a passing glance of consideration with the big club – Note, that this is operating under the assumption that Buffalo neither signs, claims, nor trades for a veteran player.
5 Buffalo Sabres who could make their NHL debuts this season
1 – Ryan Johnson
If the Buffalo Sabres were still thin at defenseman like they were last season, then Ryan Johnson could be getting ready to play the New York Rangers right now. He could already be the best blueliner in Rochester with his upside, but he will need to separate himself from Riley Stillman, Kale Clague, and Jeremy Davies, with the former two most likely getting the first call-up at this time based on their experience.
Davies also has limited experience, and he could also have the edge over Johnson in the early going. However, if Buffalo’s blue line stays healthy in the season’s early stages and Johnson’s stock passes the three aforementioned defensemen, then he has a good chance to debut this season.
Verdict: Will see at least a game or two later in the year if healthy.
2 – Isak Rosen
Isak Rosen acclimated well to the North American game, and he displayed offensive and defensive prowess late, and also in the Prospects Challenge, and in camp. Rosen is still undersized and he needs to get stronger, despite putting on muscle over the past 12 months.
He would be seeing time in the NHL for a rebuilding team, and perhaps even one looking to climb the next rung. With the Buffalo Sabres, however, there is no need to rush the winger given his spotty strength. However, if he picks up where he left off last season, then he will be the next man up after Brandon Biro and Lukas Rousek.
Verdict: Will debut if an injury strikes a Sabres forward or two, if Benson is assigned to Wenatchee, AND his stock passes Brandon Biro’s and Lukas Rousek’s.
3 – Jiri Kulich
Like Rosen and Johnson, Jiri Kulich is one of those players who could handle the NHL right now if he were playing for a lesser-talented team. But with the number of seasoned veterans (finally) in Buffalo, there is no need to rush a prospect whose game is near-complete, and that gives him the ability to complete it in the AHL.
The Sabres will wait for Kulich’s game to become more well-rounded before he debuts, so if they don’t feel it’s quite there this season, that debut will wait until next year. However, if Buffalo needs more help at forward and they feel Kulich can handle a few games, then you’ll see him get the debut out of the way, but not until later in the year at the earliest.
Verdict: Will debut late under the right circumstances, but more likely 2024-25
4 – Matt Savoie
Currently on season-opening injured-reserve, Matt Savoie is one of those, “don’t count them out just yet” types heading into 2023-24. I’m not currently sold on the idea of Savoie debuting for the Buffalo Sabres this season, but until he’s assigned to the WHL, the idea isn’t one we can completely throw out.
He’s practicing with the Sabres, so the possibility is present, even if the odds are beyond slim. Overall, I can’t see it happening any time soon, but because he’s still in Buffalo, he’s getting an honorable mention.
Verdict: Does not debut
5 – Nikita Novikov
Once Nikita Novikov adjusts to the speed of the game, his development will skyrocket. That will come in due course this season, as the rook proved to be a good puck mover and passer. Novikov also disrupted plays well when he didn’t have the puck, and he showed us at times he’s ahead of the development curve.
However, he isn’t the type of player that will debut any time soon, and if it happens this year, it would be a one-off late in the season if the Buffalo Sabres need a blueliner to step in. The odds of that happening are between slim and none, but he showed us enough to at least throw around the idea.
Verdict: Does not debut
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Overall, I’m not incredibly optimistic that we will see many names debuting out of Rochester this season, but that’s good news if you’re a Buffalo Sabres fan. The more talented the big club is, the better the odds of the prospects yet to debut have to fine-tune their respective games, which organically leads to long-term success.
Source: Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen among Sabres prospects in Rochester pushing to reach NHL by Lance Lysowski, Buffalo News